EX-99.1 2 exhibit99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 exhibit99_1.htm
Exhibit 99.1
SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc. Reports Full Year 2008 Results

Full Year 2008 Revenue Increases 41.8% to $41.6 million;
Full Year 2008 Net Income Increases 31.8% to $10.0 million

XI’AN, China – March 31, 2009 – SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc. (OTC BB: SPFJ) (“SkyPeople” or “the Company”), a leading processor and manufacturer of concentrated apple, kiwifruit, pear and other fruit juices and fruit products in the People's Republic of China, today reported full year 2008 revenue of $41.6 million and net income of $10.0 million.  For the fourth quarter of 2008, revenue was $19.2 million and net income was $6.1 million.

Full Year Fiscal 2008 Highlights

·  
Revenue increased 41.8% to $41.6 million compared to $29.4 million for the prior year.
 
·  
Gross profit margins increased by 16.7% to 43.3% in fiscal 2008, compared to gross profit margins of 37.1% for fiscal 2007.
 
·  
Operating income increased 44.7% to $13.1 million, compared to $9.0 million in 2007.
 
·  
Net income increased 31.8%, to $10.0 million, compared to $7.6 million in fiscal 2007.
 
·  
Raised $3.4 million in gross proceeds in a private placement from certain accredited investors.
 
·  
Completed the acquisition of Huludao Wonder on June 10, 2008.
 
·  
Began production of concentrated peach juice in June and launched the large-scale production of concentrated mulberry juice in September, both at the Company’s Jingyang production base.
 
Management’s Commentary

"We are very proud of our performance in 2008,” said Mr. Yongke Xue, CEO of SkyPeople.  “Due to the diversity and quality of our products and the operating leverage inherent in our business model, we achieved net income of $10 million on total revenue of $41.6 million.”

Mr. Xue continued, “By successfully anticipating consumer preference for healthier fruit-based juice drinks, we are well positioned to meet the growing consumer demand both domestically and internationally.  Interest in small breed fruit products such as kiwifruit and mulberry is increasing worldwide due to their nutritional advantages and unique taste.  We added large-scale capacity to meet the rising demand, and continue to upgrade our existing facilities to increase output. The growth we are seeing in sales of concentrated kiwifruit juice and other related kiwifruit products has more than offset the 8% decrease in concentrated apple juice and apple aroma due to the slowdown in the global economy and decreased volume of concentrated apple juice exported from China.  Our market share of fruit beverages in China is expanding and we are concentrating our sales efforts on further penetrating the high-growth pure juice beverage market.”

 
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Full Year 2008 Results

Total revenue for the full fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 was $41.6 million, or an increase of 41.8% compared to revenue of $29.4 million for the full of 2007.  The increase was primarily due to an increase in sales of concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree, kiwifruit seed, fresh kiwifruits and fruit beverages, partially offset by a decrease in sales of concentrated apple juice and apple aroma.

The gross profit margin was 43.3% in fiscal 2008 compared with 37.1% in fiscal 2007.  The increase in gross margin was primarily due to an increase in the gross margin of concentrated pear juice, concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree and fruit beverages, offset by a decrease in gross margin of concentrated apple juice and apple aroma and fresh fruits.

Operating expenses for the full fiscal year were $5.0 million, compared to operating expenses of $1.9 million in 2007.  General and administrative expenses increased by $1.7 million to $2.8 million in fiscal 2008, compared to $1.2 million in fiscal 2007.  The increase was primarily due to the consolidation of the Company’s Huludao’s operating results with those of Shaanxi Tianren since June 1, 2007 and forward, and an increase in legal and auditing expenses associated with being a public company.   Selling expenses increased by $0.8 million to $1.5 million for fiscal 2008 from $0.7 million in fiscal 2007, mainly due to an increase in freight and transportation expenses as a result of the increase in sales.  Research and development increased to $449,695 in fiscal 2008 from $30,878 for fiscal year 2007 related to the subcontracting of new products to an outside research institute.

Operating income increased 44.7% to $13.1 million in fiscal 2008 from $9.0 million in fiscal 2007.  Net income increased to $10.0 million in fiscal 2008 from $7.6 million in fiscal 2007.
 
Fourth Quarter Results

Revenue for the fourth quarter was $19.2 million, or an increase of 13.9% compared to revenue of $16.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.  The $2.3 million increase was primarily due to an increase in sales of concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree, kiwifruit seed, and fresh kiwifruits and fruit beverages, which was partially offset by a decrease in sales of concentrated apple juice and apple aroma.

Gross profit increased 66.9% to $10.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to $6.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.   Gross margin as a percent of revenue in the fourth quarter was 53.3% compared to 36.4% in the fourth quarter of 2007.  The increase in gross margin was primarily due to increased sales of kiwifruit-related products, which generated a higher gross margin compared to the company’s other juice products.
 
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Balance Sheet Highlights
 
As of December 31, 2008 cash and cash equivalents were $15.3 million and working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities) was $13.4 million and stockholders’ equity was $41.1 million.

Business Outlook

Mr. Xue stated, "We enter 2009 with a growing product line, increasing market share, and strong momentum overall.  We will continue to upgrade our existing facilities to improve our operational efficiency and productivity, as well as look for targeted acquisition candidates to expand our position in the domestic and international fruit juice market.”

About SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc.

SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc. is a holding company for Shaanxi Tianren Organic Food Co., Ltd. (“Shaanxi Tianren”). Shaanxi Tianren is a company organized according to the laws of the People's Republic of China. SkyPeople's main products are concentrated apple, kiwifruit, pear and other fruit juices for domestic and international consumers. Its brand, HEDETANG, is positioned as a high quality, healthy and nutritious juice concentrate and clear juice product used both as an ingredient component in other products and an end-use juice concentrate product. Shaanxi Tianren owns the largest kiwifruit plantation in China and is a leading worldwide producer of concentrated kiwifruit juice. For more information, please visit www.skypeoplefruitjuice.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" 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, the Company's ability to obtain the necessary financing to continue and expand operations, to market its products in new markets and to offer products at competitive pricing, to attract and retain management, and to integrate and maintain technical information and management information systems, political and economic factors in the People's Republic of China, compliance requirement of laws and regulations of the PRC, the effects of currency policies and fluctuations, general economic conditions 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 Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 


-- Financial Tables Follow --

 
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SKYPEOPLE FRUIT JUICE, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
             
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
ASSETS
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
CURRENT ASSETS
           
Cash and equivalents
  $ 15,274,171     $ 4,094,238  
Accounts receivable
    11,610,506       9,153,687  
Other receivables
    297,394       55,737  
Inventories
    1,844,397       4,460,149  
Advances to suppliers and other current assets
    1,087,076       101,628  
                       Total current assets
    30,113,544       17,865,439  
                 
RELATED PARTY RECEIVABLE
    -       480,254  
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, Net
    20,406,967       17,564,147  
LAND USAGE REIGHT
    6,404,771       6,138,297  
OTHER ASSETS
    2,362,049       71,818  
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 59,287,331     $ 42,119,955  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
 CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
        Accounts payable
  $ 663,092     $ 2,997,740  
        Payable-acquisition of a subsidary
    -       1,818,418  
        Accrued expenses
    1,657,437       557,577  
       Accrued liquidated damages
    254,301       -  
        Related Party Payable
    23,452       143,366  
       Income taxes payable
    1,450,433       114,909  
        Advances from customers
    1,375,460       708,291  
       Short-term notes payable
    11,256,871       6,406,922  
                   Total current liabilities
    16,681,046       12,747,223  
                 
NOTE PAYABLE, net of current portion
    -       2,053,501  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
  $ 16,681,046     $ 14,800,724  
                 
                 
MINORITY INTEREST
    1,546,319       1,073,364  
                 
                 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
        Preferred B stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized
               
        3,448,480 Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding
    3,448       -  
       Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized
               
      22,271,786 and 22,006,173 shares issued and outstanding as of
               
       December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively
    222,718       220,062  
       Additional paid-in capital
    13,791,723       10,682,755  
        Accumulated retained earnings
    22,468,934       12,458,632  
        Accumulated other comprehensive income
    4,573,143       2,884,418  
                   Total stockholders' equity
    41,059,966       26,245,867  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 59,287,331     $ 42,119,955  

 
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SKYPEOPLE FRUIT JUICE, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
             
   
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Revenue
  $ 41,648,605     $ 29,361,941  
Cost of sales
    23,607,409       18,467,045  
Gross Margin
    18,041,196       10,894,896  
                 
Operating Expenses
               
General and administrative expenses
    2,830,739       1,158,759  
Selling expenses
    1,453,461       686,819  
Research and development expenses
    449,695       30,878  
Liquidated damages
    254,301       -  
Total operating expenses
    4,988,196       1,876,456  
                 
Income from Operations
    13,053,000       9,018,440  
                 
Other  Income (Expenses)
               
         Interest Income
    63,775       18,295  
         Subsidy Income
    316,152       500,468  
Interest expense
    (932,048 )     (70,622 )
Other income (expenses)
    353,698       (400,517 )
    Total other income (expenses)
    (198,423 )     47,624  
Income Before Income Tax
    12,854,577       9,066,064  
Income Tax Provision
    2,231,140       1,109,160  
Income Before Minority Interest
    10,623,437       7,956,904  
                 
Minority interest
    613,135       360,501  
                 
Net Income
  $ 10,010,302     $ 7,596,403  
                 
Earnings Per Share:
               
  $ 0.37     $ 0.35  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.37     $ 0.35  
                 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
               
Basic
    22,230,334       22,006,173  
Diluted
    26,831,961       22,006,173  
                 
Comprehensive Income
               
   Net income
  $ 10,010,302     $ 7,596,403  
   Foreign currency translation adjustment
    1,688,725       2,349,283  
Comprehensive Income
  $ 11,699,027     $ 9,945,686  

 
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Contact:
 
SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc.
Ms. Spring Liu, CFO
818-390-1272
springliu@skypeoplejuice.com
 
 
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Ms. Brandi Piacente
212-481-2050
esley@thepiacentegroup.com