EX-99.1 2 ea021024201ex99-1_chinajo.htm EARNING RELEASE DATED JULY 30, 2024, ANNOUNCING ITS FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2024

Exhibit 99.1

 

China Jo-Jo Drugstores Reports Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

 

HANGZHOU, China, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc. (Nasdaq: CJJD) (“Jo-Jo Drugstores” or the “Company”), a leading online and offline retailer, wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical and other healthcare products and healthcare provider in China, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024.

 

Mr. Lei Liu, Chairman and CEO of Jo-Jo Drugstores, commented, “We are pleased to present our financial performance for fiscal year 2024, which reflects our commitment to maintaining a resilient business model in a dynamic market. We achieved a significant 42.1% revenue growth in our wholesale business, a result of our dedicated efforts in targeting wholesale buyers with competitively priced product offerings, and leveraging modern wholesale platforms to boost sales. We believe this strategy will benefit us for long-term and sustainable growth. Our dedication to high-quality services and products remains strong. By adopting agile product and pricing strategies, we have successfully navigated a competitive landscape in China’s healthcare market. Looking ahead, we will keep strengthening our competitive advantages to differentiate our business and deliver outstanding results. We plan to actively seek as great growth potential opportunities as possible to strengthen our business, improve our customer experience, and expand our product portfolio to meet evolving customer needs. We will also continue to seize opportunities to facilitate market expansion and remain focused on gaining efficiencies and controlling costs to achieve the accelerated growth. We are deeply committed to contributing to China’s healthcare market and communities we support, and we will continue to create greater value for our shareholders, ensuring that our contributions benefit all our shareholders.”

 

Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Highlights

 

   For the Year Ended March 31, 
($ millions, except per share data)  2024   2023   % Change 
Revenue   154.54    148.81    3.8%
Retail drugstores   75.68    83.35    (9.2)%
Online pharmacy   31.86    32.38    (1.6)%
Wholesale   47.00    33.08    42.1%
Gross profit   31.11    34.28    (9.3)%
Gross margin   20.1%   23.0%   (2.9)pp
Loss from operations   (3.53)   (20.93)   83.1%
Net loss   (4.23)   (21.14)   80.0%
Loss per share   (2.93)   (41.46)   92.9%

 

*Notes: pp represents percentage points

 

Revenue increased by 3.8% to $154.54 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $148.81 million for the same period of last year.

 

Gross profit was $31.11 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $34.28 million for the same period of last year.

 

 

 

 

Gross margin was 20.1% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to 23.0% for the same period of last year.

 

Net loss was $4.23 million, or $2.93 per basic and diluted share, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to net loss of $21.14 million, or $41.46 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of last year.

 

Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

 

Revenue

 

Revenue increased by $5.73 million, or 3.8%, to $154.54 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $148.81 million for the same period of last year.

 

   For the Year Ended March 31, 
   2024   2023 
($ millions)  Revenue   Cost of Goods   Average  Gross Margin   Revenue   Cost of Goods   Average Gross Margin 
Retail drugstores   75.68    53.06    29.9%   83.35    56.55    32.2%
Online pharmacy   31.86    28.24    11.3%   32.38    28.51    12.0%
Wholesale   47.00    42.13    10.4%   33.08    29.47    10.9%
Total   154.54    123.43    20.1%   148.81    114.53    23.0%

 

Revenue from the retail drugstores business decreased by $7.67 million, or 9.2%, to $75.68 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $83.35 million for the same period of last year. After excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuation, the actual retail drugstores sales decreased by 5.0%. The decrease in its retail drugstore sales is primarily due to local consumption cutback, extremely competitive market and the temporary surge of sale in the second half of fiscal 2023, which is nonrecurring and is due to Chinese government’s sanction lift on COVID-19.

 

Revenue from the online pharmacy business decreased by $0.53 million, or 1.6%, to $31.86 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $32.38 million for the same period of last year. The decrease was primarily caused by a decrease in sales via e-commerce platforms such as JD and Pinduoduo. Because the online prices are transparent, to be competitive in online sales, the Company has to keep low prices. More competitors came into the online retail sales market. As the Company does not have dominating power such as lowest prices or exclusive products, it may not be able to improve its sales significantly in the near future.

 

Revenue from the wholesale business increased by $13.93 million, or 42.1%, to $47.00 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $33.08 million for the same period of last year. In the year ended March 31, 2024, Online platforms such as Pharmacist Help, Yiyao Help and Yao Help have become popular ways to transact medical products by bulk. The platforms attract a plenty of buyers and sellers, so both parties have extended opportunities to expose themselves. The Company has spent significant efforts in exploring these buyers with certain products at reasonable prices as a result, the Company is able to attract more buyers and promote its sales. The Company believes that selling on the modern wholesale platform may be a new growth point. Therefore, the Company is actively looking for potential acquisition targets with trading platform to strengthen its wholesale business.

 

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Gross profit and gross margin

 

Total cost of goods sold increased by $8.90 million, or 7.8%, to $123.43 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $114.53 million for the same period of last year. Gross profit decreased by $3.17 million, or 9.3%, to $31.11 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 from $34.28 million for the same period of last year. Overall gross margin decreased by 2.9 percentage points to 20.1% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from 23.0% for the same period of last year, due to lower retail drugstores profit margins.

 

Gross margins for retail drugstores, online pharmacy and wholesale were 29.9%, 11.3%, and 10.4%, respectively, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to gross margins for retail drugstores, online pharmacy and wholesale of 32.2%, 12.0%, and 10.9%, respectively, for the same period of last year.

 

Loss from operations

 

Sales and marketing expenses decreased by $1.79 million, or 6.1%, to $27.39 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 from $29.18 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in selling expenses was primarily due to a decrease in expense related to Normal Nucleic Acid Testing (“NNAT”) as it is no longer requested by local government and a decrease in fee charged by distribution channels resulting from the decrease in retail drugstores and online pharmacy sales.

 

General and administrative expenses decreased by $8.41 million, or 53.7%, to $7.26 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 from $15.67 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to the decrease in bad debt expense. Such expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 4.7% from 10.5% for the same period a year ago. In the year ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded a reduction of $0.22 million in the allowance account for bad debts as compared to the increase of $7.58 million in the allowance account for bad debts in FY2023.

 

Loss from operations was $3.53 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $20.93 million for the same period of last year. Operating margin was (2.3)% and (14.1)% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Net loss

 

Net loss was $4.23 million, or $2.93 per basic and diluted share for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to net loss of $21.14 million, or $41.46 per basic and diluted share for the same period of last year.

 

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Financial Condition

 

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash of $20.15 million, compared to $18.81 million as of March 31, 2023. Net cash used in operating activities was $3.16 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $3.28 million for the same period of last year. The change is primarily attributable to an increase in net income of $16.90 million, an increase in accounts receivable of $0.73 million, an increase in cash provided by accounts payable of $4.24 million and an increase in cash provided by other payables and accrued liabilities of $2.21 million, offset by a decrease in bad debt direct write-off and provision of $6.79 million, a decrease in inventories and biological assets of $1.18 million and a decrease in stock compensation of $10.36 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $2.04 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $0.32 million for the same period of last year. The change is primarily attributable to investment in a joint venture and purchases of long-term assets. Net cash provided by financing activities was $8.00 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $2.37 million for the same period of last year. The change is primarily due to notes payable and proceeds from short-term bank loan.

 

About China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc.

 

China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc. (“Jo-Jo Drugstores” or the “Company”), is a leading online and offline retailer and wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical and other healthcare products and a provider of healthcare services in China. Jo-Jo Drugstores currently operates an online pharmacy and retail drugstores with licensed doctors on site for consultation, examination and treatment of common ailments at scheduled hours. It is also a wholesale distributor of products similar to those carried in its pharmacies. For more information about the Company, please visit http://jiuzhou360.com. The Company routinely posts important information on its website.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains information about the Company’s view of its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with its ability to raise additional funding, its ability to maintain and grow its business, variability of operating results, its ability to maintain and enhance its brand, its development and introduction of new products and services, the successful integration of acquired companies, technologies and assets into its portfolio of products and services, marketing and other business development initiatives, competition in the industry, general government regulation, economic conditions, dependence on key personnel, the ability to attract, hire and retain personnel who possess the technical skills and experience necessary to meet the requirements of its clients, and its ability to protect its intellectual property. The Company’s encourages you to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s annual reports and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Company Contact:

 

Frank Zhao

Chief Financial Officer

+86-571-88077108

frank.zhao@jojodrugstores.com

 

Investor Relations Contact:

 

Tina Xiao

 

Ascent Investor Relations LLC

+1-646-932-7242

investors@ascent-ir.com

 

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CHINA JO-JO DRUGSTORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   March 31,   March 31, 
   2024   2023 
ASSETS        
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents  $20,149,806   $18,807,936 
Restricted cash   12,724,365    12,762,708 
Trade accounts receivables   15,824,103    14,119,606 
Inventories   16,248,373    15,309,100 
Other receivables, net   2,938,049    2,725,015 
Advances to suppliers   914,776    142,417 
Due from related parties   313,346    - 
Other current assets   569,544    616,008 
Total current assets   69,682,362    64,482,790 
           
OTHER ASSETS          
Property and equipment, net   4,906,589    5,100,264 
Long-term investment   1,195,261    1,772,072 
Farmland assets   634,153    666,721 
Long-term deposits   1,119,006    1,038,125 
Other noncurrent assets   682,437    790,056 
Operating lease right-of-use assets   13,827,360    13,924,826 
Intangible assets, net   3,009,922    3,195,748 
Total other assets   25,374,728    26,487,812 
Total assets  $95,057,090   $90,970,602 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
CURRENT LIABILITIES          
Short-term loan payable  $276,997   $- 
Accounts payable   31,630,131    26,990,250 
Notes payable   31,676,335    29,255,776 
Other payables   2,493,482    1,314,919 
Due to related parties   1,833,509    683,560 
Customer deposits   518,241    695,931 
Taxes payable   682,239    1,706,909 
Accrued liabilities   386,395    756,516 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities   4,862,766    5,131,373 
Total current liabilities   74,360,095    66,535,234 
           
Long-term operating lease liabilities   6,403,858    7,768,216 
Total liabilities   80,763,953    74,303,450 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES          
           
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Ordinary shares; $0.24 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 1,743,362 and 1,184,861 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively   418,407    284,367 
Preferred shares; $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; nil issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and 2023   -    - 
Additional paid-in capital   86,413,978    83,958,418 
Statutory reserves   1,309,109    1,309,109 
Accumulated deficit   (73,507,246)   (69,273,018)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   1,005,762    1,735,135 
Total shareholders’ equity attributed to China Jo-Jo   15,640,010    18,014,011 
Noncontrolling interests   (1,346,873)   (1,346,859)
Total shareholders’ equity   14,293,137    16,667,152 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $95,057,090   $90,970,602 

 

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CHINA JO-JO DRUGSTORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

   For the years ended March 31, 
   2024   2023   2022 
REVENUES, NET  $154,541,077   $148,811,976   $164,392,555 
                
COST OF GOODS SOLD   123,432,529    114,531,512    127,873,515 
                
GROSS PROFIT   31,108,548    34,280,464    36,519,040 
                
SELLING EXPENSES   27,385,587    29,177,163    30,876,959 
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES   7,257,524    15,668,684    8,187,176 
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION   -    10,360,000    - 
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS   -    -    148,795 
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES   34,643,111    55,205,847    39,212,930 
                
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS   (3,534,563)   (20,925,383)   (2,693,890)
                
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):               
INTEREST INCOME   516,637    883,908    401,921 
INTEREST EXPENSE   (13,604)   (65,854)   (262,218)
INVESTMENT LOSS   (1,607,537)   (2,316,994)   - 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)   467,687    1,680,087    455,547 
                
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES   (4,171,380)   (20,744,236)   (2,098,640)
                
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES   62,862    394,541    1,099,726 
                
NET LOSS   (4,234,242)   (21,138,777)   (3,198,366)
                
LESS: NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST   (14)   (252)   (6,247)
                
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHINA JO-JO DRUGSTORES, INC.   (4,234,228)   (21,138,525)   (3,192,119)
                
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS               
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENTS   (729,373)   (2,617,857)   1,534,807 
                
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS   (4,963,615)   (23,756,634)   (1,663,559)
                
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES:               
Basic   1,444,263    509,828    173,966 
Diluted   1,444,263    509,828    173,966 
                
LOSS PER SHARE:               
Basic  $(2.93)  $(41.46)  $(18.35)
Diluted  $(2.93)  $(41.46)  $(18.35)

 

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CHINA JO-JO DRUGSTORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   For the years ended March 31, 
   2024   2023   2022 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:            
Net loss  $(4,234,242)  $(21,138,777)  $(3,198,366)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:               
Depreciation and amortization   790,449    718,002    1,256,491 
Bad debt direct write-off and provision and reversal   (249,257)   7,579,886    939,720 
Amortization of right-of-use assets   4,594,172    -    - 
Loss from disposal of property and equipment   107,251    -    - 
Impairment of long lived assets   -    -    148,795 
Share-based compensation   -    10,360,000    - 
Investment loss   1,607,537    2,316,994    - 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:               
Accounts receivable   (1,804,440)   (2,531,755)   (2,657,283)
Notes receivable   19,943    (20,861)   40,260 
Inventories and biological assets   (1,699,621)   (522,550)   1,523,098 
Other receivables   (672,830)   (958,671)   (1,927,692)
Advances to suppliers   (839,221)   201,984    (171,783)
Long term deposit   (132,568)   589,653    (159,508)
Other current assets   19,076    331,426    376,134 
Other noncurrent assets   69,539    (30,483)   62,394 
Amount due from related parties   (317,828)   -    - 
Accounts payable   6,002,186    1,765,488    (3,558,050)
Other payables and accrued liabilities   868,975    (1,341,447)   99,132 
Customer deposits   (144,761)   (1,035,456)   678,601 
Taxes payable   (948,277)   433,054    1,162,084 
Operating lease liabilities   (6,191,522)   -    - 
Net cash used in operating activities   (3,155,439)   (3,283,513)   (5,385,973)
                
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:               
Acquisition of equipment and building   (330,677)   (118,272)   (89,960)
Investment in a joint venture   (1,116,212)   (4,379)   - 
Purchases of intangible assets   (66,973)   (12,774)   (7,012)
Additions to leasehold improvements   (525,988)   (180,672)   (209,166)
Net cash used in investing activities   (2,039,850)   (316,097)   (306,138)
                
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:               
Proceeds from short-term bank loan   1,116,212    -    - 
Repayment of short-term bank loan   (837,159)   -    (779,059)
Repayment of third parties loan   -    (1,811,558)   (2,613,965)
Proceeds from notes payable   56,875,403    57,965,013    65,370,181 
Repayment of notes payable   (52,997,171)   (60,273,598)   (57,829,269)
Proceeds from issuance of shares and warrants in private placements   2,589,600    7,325,000    - 
Proceeds from other payable-related parties   1,257,406    43,785    689,010 
Repayment of other payable-related parties   -    (882,486)     
Net cash provided by financing activities   8,004,291    2,366,156    4,836,898 
                
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH   (1,505,475)   (2,535,479)   1,522,146 
                
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH   1,303,527    (3,768,933)   666,933 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of year   31,570,644    35,339,577    34,672,644 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of year  $32,874,171   $31,570,644   $35,339,577 
                
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:               
Cash paid for income taxes  $149,023   $63,668   $3,955 
Cash paid for interest   13,604    64,943    262,218 
                
NON-CASH ACTIVITIES               
Cashless exercise of warrants  $-   $135,118   $- 

 

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