EX-99.1 2 ex99-1.htm

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Press Release

For immediate release

 

Banle Group announces 2023 full year results

 

Hong Kong, April 18, 2024 – Banle Group (the “Group” or “Banle”) (Nasdaq: BANL), a reputable marine fuel logistic company in the Asia Pacific, today reported its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2023 (“FY2023”).

 

Results compared with the full year ended December 31, 2022 (“FY2022”) are as follows:

 

   For the Year Ended December 31,     
   2023   2022   Change 
Revenue  US$ 435,897,718   US$ 462,906,257    -5.8%
Cost of revenue  US$ 428,686,593   US$ 453,781,238    -5.5%
Gross profit  US$ 7,211,125   US$ 9,125,019    -21.0%
Total operating expenses  US$ 5,549,298   US$ 4,364,676    +27.1%
Income from operations  US$ 1,661,827   US$ 4,760,343    -65.1%
Total non-operating expenses, net  US$ 230,572   US$ 260,875    -11.6%
Income before income taxes  US$ 1,431,255   US$ 4,499,468    -68.2%
Provision for income taxes  US$ 298,605   US$ 814,468    -63.3%
Net income including noncontrolling interest  US$ 1,132,650   US$ 3,685,000    -69.3%
Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share*  US$ 0.045   US$ 0.171    -73.7%

 

* Gives retroactive effect to reflect the reorganization in August 2022.

 

Mr. Teck Lim Chia, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “FY2023 marks a significant year for Banle. In March 2023, we raised gross proceeds of US$15 million from an IPO offering. With the additional financial resources from the IPO, we not only successfully expanded our service network to Europe, but also gained new businesses with existing customers and acquired new customers. These accomplishments led to remarkable growth in our sales volume in FY2023. On the environmental protection side, we were approved for biofuel trading activities and launched the first biofuel supply after years of proactively exploring alternative fuel options.

 

Sales volume in FY2023 surged by 18% year-on-year, despite a tepid global economy and a slight decline in global container port throughput, as the Group efficiently utilized the additional funding from the IPO completed in March 2023 to increase sales from existing customers as well as expand customer base through an enlarged service network. Notwithstanding the 20% drop in average oil prices during FY2023, revenue only registered a drop of 5.8% year-on-year to US$435.9 million, thanks to the surge in sales volume which partially offset the negative impact from oil price movement.

 

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Our supply network expanded substantially over the past year, from 36 ports covering the Asia Pacific as of the end of FY2022 to 55+ ports covering both the Asia Pacific and Europe as of the end of FY2023. In the near future, further expansion into the European market is our priority. We will also endeavor to maximize volume growth to balance the impact from the change in customer mix as we further expand our service network.”

 

With the IPO funding, the Group was able to penetrate deeper into the bunkering market by acquiring new customers and businesses in FY2023. The expansion of customer mix post-IPO means that revenue stream as well as customer margin profiles had become more diversified. The move to develop new customers and explore business opportunities inevitably affected gross profit in FY2023, which declined by 21.0% to US$7.2 million compared to FY2022, due to a lower gross profit per metric ton as a result of a more diversified customer base, again partially offset by the increased sales volume.

 

The Group recorded an increase in operating expenses of US$1.2 million in FY2023 which is primarily attributable to the expenses incurred from the listing, business expansion and efforts in exploring and conducting biofuel operation. The listing-related expenses, amounting to approximately US$0.6 million, were primarily required to maintain the Group’s listing status. There were no listing-related expenses in FY2022. As for the expenses related to business expansion and biofuel operation, the Group regards them as vital investments for long-term sustainable growth.

 

Banle generated net income of US$1.1 million in FY2023, compared with US$3.7 million in FY2022. The decrease was mainly attributable to the decline in gross profit and increase in operating expenses as explained above, partially offset by a reduction in provision for income taxes.

 

About CBL International Limited

 

Established in 2015, CBL International Limited (Nasdaq: BANL) is the listing vehicle of Banle Group, a reputable marine fuel logistic company in the Asia Pacific region. We are committed to providing customers with one stop solution for vessel refueling. Banle Group’s business activities are primarily focused in over 55 major ports covering Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Belgium. The Group actively promotes the use of alternative fuels and is awarded with the ISCC EU and ISCC Plus certifications.

 

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

 

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Group’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Group believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The Group undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Group believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Group cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Group’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

 

CBL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

(Incorporated in Cayman Islands with limited liabilities)

 

For more information, please contact:

 

CBL International Limited

 

Email: investors@banle-intl.com

 

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CBL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Expressed in U.S. dollars, except for the number of shares)

 

   December 31,   December 31, 
   2023   2022 
Assets:          
Current Assets          
Cash  $7,402,890   $5,032,890 
Accounts receivable   25,125,851    18,446,176 
Derivative assets   28,776    - 
Prepayments and other current assets   19,317,189    253,779 
Tax recoverable   252,209    - 
Total current assets   52,126,915    23,732,845 
           
Property, plant and equipment, net   996,512    394,090 
Right-of-use lease assets, net   338,481    341,625 
Deferred offering costs   -    1,128,453 
           
Total assets  $53,461,908   $25,597,013 
           
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:          
Liabilities          
Current liabilities          
Accounts payable  $27,452,815   $12,652,514 
Taxes payable   -    244,096 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   343,813    125,701 
Derivative liabilities   -    109,346 
Short-term lease liabilities   177,761    124,095 
Total current liabilities   27,974,389    13,255,752 
           
Long-term lease liabilities   194,373    229,076 
Total liabilities   28,168,762    13,484,828 
           
Commitment and contingencies        - 
           
Shareholders’ equity:          
Ordinary shares, $0.0001 per value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 25,000,000 and 21,250,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively*   2,500    2,125 
Additional paid-in capital   12,536,087    488,198 
Retained earnings   12,761,088    11,621,862 
Total stockholders’ equity   25,299,675    12,112,185 
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries   (6,529)   - 
Total liabilities and equity  $53,461,908   $25,597,013 

 

* Gives retroactive effect to reflect the reorganization in August 2022.

 

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CBL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Expressed in U.S. dollars, except for the number of shares)

 

   For the Years Ended December 31, 
   2023   2022 
         
Revenue  $435,897,718   $462,906,257 
Cost of revenue   428,686,593    453,781,238 
           
Gross profit   7,211,125    9,125,019 
           
Operating expenses:          
Selling and distribution   1,242,157    1,212,108 
General and administrative   4,307,141    3,152,568 
Total operating costs and expenses   5,549,298    4,364,676 
           
Income from operations   1,661,827    4,760,343 
           
Other (income) expense:          
Interest expense, net   231,633    259,993 
Currency exchange (gain) loss   (1,674)   (45,767 
Write off of property, plant and equipment   613    48,399 
Others   -    (1,750 
           
Total other expenses   230,572    260,875 
           
Income before provision for income taxes   1,431,255    4,499,468 
Provision for income taxes   298,605    814,468 
Net income  $1,132,650   $3,685,000 
           
Comprehensive income  $1,132,650   $3,685,000 
           
Attributable to:          
Equity holders of the Company  $1,139,226   $3,685,000 
Non-controlling interests   (6,576)   - 
   $1,132,650   $3,685,000 
           
Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share*  $0.045   $0.171 
           
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding - basic and diluted*   25,000,000    21,250,000 

 

* Gives retroactive effect to reflect the reorganization in August 2022.

 

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CBL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Expressed in U.S. dollars)

 

   For the Years Ended December 31, 
   2023   2022 
         
Cash Flows from operating activities:          
Net income  $1,132,650   $3,685,000 
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   170,826    88,175 
Depreciation of right-of-use assets   142,888    94,865 
Write off of property, plant and equipment   613    48,399 
Early termination of lease   -    (1,750 
Change in fair value of derivative   (138,122)   109,346 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities          
Accounts receivable   (6,679,675)   (402,941 
Prepayments and other current assets   (19,042,364)   3,580,806 
Due from related parties   -    1,509,988 
Accounts payable   14,779,300    (5,644,677 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   218,115    78,242 
Derivatives   -    291,860 
Lease liabilities   (120,781)   (83,859 
Taxes payable   (496,305)   145,679 
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities   (10,032,854)   3,499,133 
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchase of property, plant and equipment   (773,863)   (373,111 
Net cash used in investing activities   (773,863)   (373,111 
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceed from issuance of shares net of share offering costs   13,176,717    - 
Deferred offering costs   -    (1,128,453 
Net cash provided by /(used in) financing activities   13,176,717    (1,128,453 
           
Net increase in cash   2,370,000    1,997,569 
Cash at the beginning of the year   5,032,890    3,035,321 
Cash at the end of the year  $7,402,890   $5,032,890 
           
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:          
Cash paid during the year for:          
Interest  $302,486   $261,703 
Income taxes  $794,910   $688,790 
           
NON-CASH TRANSACTION OF INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES          
Operating lease right-of-use asset and lease liabilities  $496,230   $370,439 

 

Note: The accompanying notes in our 2023 Annual Report are an integral part of the above consolidated financial statements. Please refer to our Form 20-F 2023 Annual Report filed with SEC on April 18, 2024 on www.banle-intl.com for details of our consolidated financial statements.

 

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