Asia Time Reports Revenue Growth of 74% Year-Over-Year and EPS of $0.15 for Third Quarter 2008.Management to Host Conference Call and Webcast Today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time HONG KONG Hong Kong (hŏng kŏng), Mandarin Xianggang, special administrative region of China, formerly a British crown colony (2005 est. pop. 6,899,000), land area 422 sq mi (1,092 sq km), adjacent to Guangdong prov. & LOS ANGELES Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. -- Asia Time Corporation (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange Alternext US: TYM TYM Thank You Much TYM Tao Yeu Mai (Vietnamese: People Loving People; Vietnam microfinance) TYM Total Yeast & Mold Count ) ("Asia Time"), a Hong Kong-based watch movement and complete watch distributor, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008. Third Quarter Financial Highlights * Revenue growth of 74.3% year-over-year to $40.0 million * Total operating expense Operating Expense The essential things that a company must purchase in order to maintain business. Notes: For example, the payment of employees wages are an operating expense. Also known as OPEX. decrease of 10.3% year-over-year * Net income increase of 44.5% year-over year to $4.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share * Backlog of approximately $3.6 million at September 30, 2008, compared with backlog of approximately $2.4 million at June 30, 2008(1) "Our strong third quarter performance was on track with our expectations, and we continue to target revenue and net earnings growth for the full year 2008 of more than 50% compared with 2007," said Kwong Kai kai Noun NZ informal food [Maori] kai noun N.Z. (informal) food, grub (slang) provisions, fare, board, commons, eats (slang Shun Shun In Chinese mythology, one of the three legendary emperors, along with Yao and Da Yu, of the golden age of antiquity (c. 23rd century BC), singled out by Confucius as models of integrity and virtue. , Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Asia Time. "Despite global economic weakness, backlog at September 30 gives us good visibility to order fulfillments Order fulfillment (in BE also: order fulfilment) is in the most general sense the complete process from point of sales inquiry to delivery of a product to the customer. Sometimes Order fulfillment as we proceed with the 2008 holiday selling season. This is indicative of the strength of our repeatable core revenue streams and long-established customer and supplier relationships, along with our scale and diversification as one of the largest Hong Kong-based distributors of timepiece movements worldwide. We have a broad portfolio of products, healthy inventories and ample capital resources to continue to execute well within the current environment and position for expansion in the year ahead." Third Quarter Financial Results Net sales Net Sales The amount a seller receives from the buyer after costs associated with the sale are deducted. Notes: This amount is calculated by subtracting the following items from gross sales: merchandise returned for credit, allowances for damaged or missing goods, freight for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008 increased 74.3% to $40.0 million, compared with $23.0 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007. The total volume of movements sold increased to 33.6 million pieces in the third quarter of 2008 from 26.2 million pieces in the comparable three-month period in 2007, reflecting higher sales of middle- to high-end movements. Sales of completed watches for the three months ended September 30, 2008 totaled $3.4 million, compared with $4.6 million for the comparable period in 2007, a decrease of 25.5%. The total volume of completed watches sold decreased from 540,000 pieces to 60,000 pieces, or 88.9%. The decrease in completed watch volume was due to the Company's strategic shift to focus this business segment on high-end mechanical watches, which have a longer production lead time but higher profit margins. Third quarter gross profit increased 42.8% to $6.5 million, compared with $4.6 million for the third quarter of 2007. Gross margin was 16.3% for the third quarter of 2008, compared with 19.9% for the third quarter of 2007. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was primarily attributable to an increase in sales of watch movements as a percentage of total revenue for the third quarter of 2008. Watch movements generally carry lower gross profit margins Gross profit margin Gross profit divided by sales, which is equal to each sales dollar left over after paying for the cost of goods sold. gross profit margin A measure calculated by dividing gross profit by net sales. compared with completed watches. Administrative and other operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. including stock-based compensation totaled $620,000 for the third quarter of 2008, compared with $691,000 for the third quarter of 2007, a decrease of 10.3%. The decrease was primarily due to higher stock-based compensation expense in the prior-year period offset by higher professional and legal expense in the current-year period associated with public company reporting requirements. Income taxes for the third quarter of 2008 were $953,000, or 2.4% of net sales, compared with $698,000, or 3.0% of net sales, for the third quarter of 2007. The increase in income taxes was primarily due to an increase in operating profit Operating profit (or loss) Revenue from a firm's regular activities less costs and expenses and before income deductions. operating profit See operating income. . The taxation rate decreased from 17.5% for the third quarter of 2007 to 16.5% for the third quarter of 2008. Net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $4.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, based on 27.2 million weighted average shares outstanding. This compares with third quarter 2007 net income of $2.9 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, based on 25.4 million weighted average shares outstanding. Year-to-Date Financial Results Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased 77.0% to $115.0 million, compared with $65.0 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2007. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2008 increased 72.3% to $17.5 million, compared with $10.1 million for the first nine months of 2007. Gross margin was 15.2% for the first nine months of 2008, compared with 15.6% for the first nine months of 2007. Administrative and other operating expenses including stock-based compensation was $2.9 million for the first nine months of 2008, compared with $3.3 million for the first nine months of 2007, a decrease of 11.1%. The 2007 period includes a one-time recognition of approximately $1.9 million of stock-based compensation pursuant to escrow escrow Instrument, such as a deed, money, or property, that constitutes evidence of obligations between two or more parties and is held by a third party. It is delivered by the third party only upon fulfillment of some condition. shares provided by Mr. Kwong related to a January 2007 private placement. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $9.8 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, based on 27.1 million weighted average shares outstanding. This compares with net income of $3.9 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, based on 24.9 million weighted average shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Balance Sheet and Capital Resources At September 30, 2008, Asia Time's cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.0 million and total assets were $73.0 million. Working capital totaled $32.0 million. As of September 30, 2008, Asia Time's general banking facilities amounted to approximately $24.8 million, of which $0.8 million was available as unused credit. During September 2008, Asia Time obtained a $ 2.6 million extendible revolving credit Revolving Credit A line of credit where the customer pays a commitment fee and is then allowed to use the funds when they are needed. It is usually used for operating purposes, fluctuating each month depending on the customers current cash flow needs. facility from HSBC HSBC Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation HSBC Humane Society of Broward County (Florida) HSBC Humane Society of Bay County (Bay County, Michigan) Hong Kong to be used as needed as needed prn. See prn order. for general operating purposes. Conference Call and Webcast Management of Asia Time will host a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time/5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss third quarter 2008 financial results and answer questions. Individuals interested in participating in the conference call may do so by dialing (800) 891-5765 from the U.S., or (660) 422-4961 from outside the U.S. Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Investor Relations Investor relations The process by which the corporation communicates with its investors. section of the Company's Web site at www.asiatimecorp.com. A telephone replay will be available for 48 hours following the conclusion of the call by dialing 800-642-1687 from the U.S., or 706-645-9291 from outside the U.S., and entering reservation code 74793029. A webcast replay will be available on the Company's web site for one year. About Asia Time Corporation Asia Time is a watch movement and watch distributor headquartered in Hong Kong. The Company distributes watch movement components used in the manufacture and assembly of watches to a wide variety of timepiece manufacturers. Asia Time markets more than 350 products from over 30 vendors, including such market leaders as Citizen, Seiko and Ronda. For more information, please visit www.asiatimecorp.com. To be added to the Company's email distribution for future news releases, please send your request to asiatime@finprofiles.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. ," as defined in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and the actual results and future events could differ materially from management's current expectations. Such factors include, but are not limited to, adverse capital and credit market conditions, our dependence on a limited number of suppliers, cyclicality of our business, decline in the value of our inventory, significant order cancellations or delays, competitive nature of our industry, vulnerability of our business to general economic downturn, our ability to obtain all necessary government certifications and/or licenses to conduct our business, changes in the laws of the People's Republic People's Republic n. A political organization founded and controlled by a national Communist party. of China that affect the Company's operations, costs and expenses related to our bond and warrant financing; development of a public trading market for the Company's securities, cost of complying with current and future governmental regulations and the impact of any changes in the regulations on the Company's operations and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. The risks included here are not exhaustive. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] (1) Asia Time views backlog as an important statistic in evaluating its level of sales activity and short-term sales trends in its business. It also cautions that backlog is only one indicator and not the most effective indicator of the ultimate profitability of its revenue. |
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