Press Releases

AgFeed Industries, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

On Tuesday August 11, 2009, 6:55 am EDT

NEW YORK, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- AgFeed Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: FEED - News), one of the largest commercial hog producers and the largest animal nutrients company in China, today announced financial results for the second quarter and first six months of 2009:

  • --Revenue of $38.5 million and $71.9 million, up from $35.6 million and $47.8 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2008, respectively.

  • --Income from operations of $2.3 million and $5.4 million, compared to $8.8 million and $10.5 million for the three and six month periods of 2008, respectively.

  • --Net Income of $1.2 million and $4.2 million for the three and six month 2009 periods, compared to $3.9 million and $4.8 million for the comparable 2008 periods.

  • --Earnings per share of $0.03 and $0.11 for the three and six month 2009 periods, compared to $0.12 and $0.16 for the comparable 2008 periods.

  • --Gross Profit of $5.2 million and $11.0 million, as compared to $11.0 million and $14.5 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2008, respectively.

  • --Balance sheet is strong; cash and cash equivalents on hand on June 30, 2009 was $30.9 million.

  • --Gross margins for the first six months of 2009 were 26.76% in the Company's animal nutrients business and 10.53% (an average price of $159.40 versus a cost of $142.40 per head) on the sale of 316,000 hogs in that business segment.

Management Comments

Dr. Songyan Li, AgFeed's Chairman, commented that, "I am pleased to report on the progress we are making in implementing our previously announced strategic plan. Our second quarter results were stronger, in light of the challenges that we faced - the macro decline in the global economy, hog prices that dipped to a two-year low and the rising cost of corn, soy and fuel. In spite of this, our operating income was a healthy $2.26 million. Hog prices are generally beginning to firm and I believe we will see these prices rise about 15% in the short run and over 25% by 2010 from recent lows. In several key markets, we have already begun to see our hog prices rise significantly above the average national average."

Dr. Li continued, "We are on target across the various phases of our strategic plan. Earlier this year we announced our intention to lead the way in China with the adoption of the western model of hog production. We have begun the transition with our alliance with Hypor, the formation of AgFeed International Protein Technology, our joint venture with M2P2 LLC, and the ongoing upgrading of our existing farms. As we continue to upgrade our facilities and invest in our genetics programs, improve our bio-security, and upgrade our environmental protection systems over the next 30 months we believe that AgFeed will be the standard for top quality, green-certified pork in China. We anticipate producing approximately 2.5 million hogs from now through 2011."

In discussing AgFeed's animal nutrients business, Junhong Xiong, AgFeed's Chief Executive Officer, provided "our revenues in this business were $11.1 million in the second quarter and $21.2 million for the first six months of 2009. Our pre-mix, condensed, complete and fine feed sales totaled 43,500 metric tons for six months. We were able to meet our earlier projections in this business in spite of the down hog market and we are poised to meet our goal of 100,000 metric tons to be sold in 2009. We also added significant numbers to our distribution network, including more than 200 independently owned, AgFeed-exclusive feed distribution chain stores and over 100 large-size commercial hog farms to our network in the last six months for totals of 1,239 stores and 712 farms, respectively. We believe that all of these signs are indicative of an increasing recognition of our brand and the quality of our 'green-certified' feed products and signal a rise in both production and sales going forward."

Mr. Xiong additionally commented on the opportunities the changing Chinese diet presents for AgFeed's animal nutrients business, saying "food preferences in China are rapidly changing and there is a growing diversity in the consumer's meat diets. Distribution and standardization of a wider range of animal feed is becoming more important to the commercial market for meat and meat products. We see a major opportunity for AgFeed to diversify its manufacturing ability to provide quality feed and nutrients for the expanding meat markets, including poultry, lamb, mutton, veal and beef, as the urbanization of the population continues and the demand for a wider diversity of products increases as the standard of life in China continues to improve."

Gerard Daignault, AgFeed's Chief Operating Officer, commented specifically on the growth of the hog business, saying "AgFeed's hog sales for the first six months of the year totaled 316,000 hogs, with 183,000 sold in the second quarter. This puts us in line to meet our goal of 650,000 hogs produced for 2009." Mr. Daignault continued, "The rural to urban migration of the Chinese population is fostering the industrialization and consolidation by the central and local government of the pork industry. As small farmers are slowly eliminated and larger scale commercial breeding farms (typically holding 3000-5000 head) evolve, opportunities unfold for AgFeed in the hog production of weaned pigs. We have been able to capitalize on this trend and we are making great strides to continue this growth, reaching tentative agreements with local governments in Jiangxi and Guangxi provinces to begin the building of very large farms as a reflection of the consolidation of the hog industry in China."

About AgFeed Industries, Inc.

NASDAQ Global Market listed AgFeed Industries (www.agfeedinc.com) is a U.S. company with its primary operations in China. AgFeed has two profitable business lines -- premix and blended animal feed and hog production. AgFeed is China's largest commercial hog producer in terms of total annual hog production as well as the largest premix feed company in terms of revenues. China is the world's largest hog producing country that produces over 600 million hogs per year, compared to approximately 100 million hogs in the U.S. China also has the world's largest consumer base for pork consumption. Over 62% of total meat consumed in China is pork. Hog production in China enjoys income tax free status. The pre-mix feed market in which AgFeed operates is an approximately $1.6 billion segment of China's $40 billion per year animal feed market, according to the China Feed Industry Association.

Safe Harbor Disclosure Notice

The information contained in this earnings release and the attachments is as of August 10, 2009. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this earnings release or the attachments as a result of new information or future events or developments.

This earnings release and the attachments contain forward-looking information about the Company's financial results and estimates, business plans and prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "forecast" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or business plans and prospects. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the availability and prices of live hogs, raw materials, fuel and supplies; food safety; livestock disease; live hog production costs; product pricing; the competitive environment and related market conditions; operating efficiencies; interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; access to capital; the cost of compliance with environmental and health standards; actions of the Chinese government; governmental laws and regulations affecting our operations, including tax obligations; the ability to make effective acquisitions at the prices we expect and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations; the success of our research and development activities, changes in generally accepted accounting principles; uncertainties related to general economic, political, business, industry, regulatory and market conditions; any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to the threat of terrorist activity; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. Any forward-looking statement that the Company makes speaks only as of the date of such statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.


    Contact:
    Investor Relations:
    AgFeed Industries, Inc.
    Tel: (917) 804-3584
    Email: ir@agfeedinc.com
The Company's policy is to handle all questions by email to ir@agfeedinc.com and they will be answered as soon as possible.


                     AGFEED INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME


                            Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                                  June 30,                  June 30,
                             2009         2008          2009         2008
                             ----         ----          ----         ----
                         (unaudited)  (unaudited)   (unaudited)  (unaudited)

    Revenues             $38,527,770  $35,635,327   $71,957,044  $47,782,411

    Cost of goods sold    33,306,111   24,600,502    60,931,980   33,314,625
                          ----------   ----------    ----------   ----------

    Gross profit           5,221,659   11,034,825    11,025,064   14,467,786

    Operating expenses                                                      
  Selling expenses       999,342      873,580     1,863,209    1,627,202
      General and                                                               
     administrative                                                           
       expenses            1,960,520    1,389,088     3,717,692    2,343,309
                           ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------
           Total operating                                                             
            expenses       2,959,862    2,262,668     5,580,901    3,970,511
                           ---------    ---------     ---------   ----------
    Income from                                                           
     operations            2,261,797    8,772,157     5,444,163   10,497,275


    Non-operating                                                           
     income (expense):                                                        
      Other income                                                              
       (expense)            (189,205)     (10,999)        3,476      (25,570)
      Interest income         52,554       76,060       113,116      126,235
      Interest and                                                          
       financing costs      (624,514)  (4,312,559)     (777,428)  (4,639,201)
      Foreign currency                                                          
         transaction gain                                                             
       (loss)                  5,133     (319,273)        3,302     (543,746)
                            --------   ----------      --------   ----------
                              Total non-operating income                                                                    
            (expense)       (756,032)  (4,566,771)     (657,534)  (5,082,282)

    Income before                                                           
     provision for                                                            
     income taxes          1,505,765    4,205,386     4,786,629    5,414,993

    Provision for                                                        
     income taxes            285,958      116,826       501,508      213,089
                           ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------
    Net income                                                           
     including                                                              
     noncontrolling                                                         
     interest              1,219,807    4,088,560     4,285,121    5,201,904

    Less: Net income                                                      
     (loss) attributed                                                       
      to noncontrolling                                                       
     interest                 (6,445)     167,047        40,029      361,094
                           ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------
     Net income                                                             
     attributed to                                                          
     AgFeed                1,226,252    3,921,513     4,245,092    4,840,810

      Other comprehensive                                                     
     income                                                                 
         Foreign currency                                                           
          translation gain                                                            
          (loss)               5,953    1,776,427      (147,901)   2,788,128
                          ----------   ----------    ----------   ----------
    Comprehensive                                                         
     Income               $1,232,205   $5,697,940    $4,097,191   $7,628,938
                          ==========   ==========    ==========   ==========

    Weighted average                                                    
     shares outstanding:                                                  
      Basic               39,549,944   32,054,366    38,746,009   29,928,503
                          ==========   ==========    ==========   ==========
      Diluted             41,446,344   32,404,339    39,581,891   30,233,681
                          ==========   ==========    ==========   ==========

    Earnings per share                                                  
      attributed to AgFeed                                                  
      common stockholders:                                                  
      Basic                    $0.03        $0.12         $0.11        $0.16
                               =====        =====         =====        =====
      Diluted                  $0.03        $0.12         $0.11        $0.16
                               =====        =====         =====        =====



                AGFEED INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
               AS OF JUNE 30, 2009 AND DECEMBER 31, 2008


                                           June 30,    December 31,
                                             2009          2008
                                             ----          ----
                                         (unaudited)
                       ASSETS
                       ------

    CURRENT ASSETS:
       Cash and cash equivalents         $30,912,081   $24,839,378
        Accounts receivable, net of                                
         allowance for doubtful accounts                             
         of $69,660 and $520,413          14,610,095     9,462,380
       Advances to suppliers                 689,152       518,829
       Other receivables                      93,811     2,066,030
       Inventory                          22,519,961    20,616,560
       Prepaid expenses                    1,351,221     1,166,646
       Debt issue costs                       49,875       246,223

                                          ----------    ----------
         Total current assets             70,226,196    58,916,046

     PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net          23,547,427    20,810,094
     CONSTRUCTION-IN-PROCESS              12,573,209    10,853,389
     INTANGIBLE ASSETS                    43,770,481    43,833,705
     OTHER ASSETS                          2,498,826     2,641,902
                                        ------------  ------------
       TOTAL ASSETS                     $152,616,139  $137,055,136
                                        ============  ============

                             LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                               
                              ----------------------                                                

     CURRENT LIABILITIES:                                     
       Short-term loans                   $4,541,500            $-
       Accounts payable                    6,357,298     5,214,596
       Other payables                      3,716,938     5,766,741
       Unearned revenue                      263,329       321,664
       Accrued expenses                      302,681       164,558
       Accrued payroll                       661,496       818,052
       Tax and welfare payable               282,867       465,875
       Interest payable                       84,642       121,139
                                          ----------    ----------
          Total current liabilities       16,210,751    12,872,625

      CONVERTIBLE NOTES, net of debt                           
       discount of $117,371 and $579,444     882,629     3,220,556
                                          ----------    ----------
     TOTAL LIABILITIES                    17,093,380    16,093,181
                                          ----------    ----------

     COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                                
      (Note 11)                                    -             -
                                                 ---           ---

     EQUITY:                                                      
        AgFeed stockholders' equity:                                
        Common stock, $0.001 per share;                             
           75,000,000 shares authorized;                                
         41,285,554 issued and 40,918,259                           
         outstanding at June 30, 2009                               
         38,300,436 issued and 37,933,141                           
        outstanding at December 31, 2008      41,286        38,300
       Additional paid-in capital        102,179,512    90,903,261
       Other comprehensive income          4,019,316     4,167,217
       Statutory reserve                   3,838,442     3,236,054
       Treasury stock (367,295 shares                             
        held in treasury)                 (1,811,746)   (1,811,746)
       Retained earnings                  25,953,962    22,311,258
                                          ----------    ----------
          Total AgFeed stockholders'                                   
             equity                            134,220,772   118,844,344      
        Noncontrolling interest            1,301,987     2,117,611
                                           ---------     ---------
         Total equity                    135,522,759   120,961,955

                                        ------------  ------------
       TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY     $152,616,139  $137,055,136
                                        ============  ============




               AGFEED INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


                                         Six Months Ended June 30,
                                             2009         2008
                                             ----         ----
                                         (unaudited)  (unaudited)

    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                   
      Net income including                                     
       noncontrolling interest           $4,285,121   $5,201,904
      Adjustments to reconcile net                             
       income including noncontrolling                           
       interest to net cash provided by                           
       operating activities:                                     
        Depreciation                      1,282,959      548,435
        Amortization                         38,779       26,297
        Loss on disposal of assets          524,409       16,774
        Stock based compensation            282,497       30,882
        Amortization of debt issuance                           
         costs                              196,348    1,292,858
        Amortization of discount on                            
         convertible debt                   462,073    3,042,523
        (Increase) / decrease in assets:                      
          Accounts receivable            (5,163,082)  (1,181,173)
          Other receivable                1,530,631     (261,770)
          Inventory                      (1,932,432)  (6,734,125)
          Due from former stockholders            -     (320,799)
          Advances to suppliers            (171,112)    (716,690)
          Prepaid expense                  (186,209)    (152,889)
          Other assets                      139,541   (1,714,363)
        Increase / (decrease) in current                      
         liabilities:                                         
          Accounts payable                1,150,362    1,752,653
          Other payables                 (2,011,532)   2,754,802
          Due to related party                                 -
          Unearned revenue                  (57,926)     (32,436)
          Accrued expenses                  138,378      385,186
          Accrued payroll                  (155,514)     157,328
          Tax and welfare payable          (182,459)     122,047
          Interest payable                  (36,497)     296,033
                                            -------    ---------
      Net cash provided by operating                          
       activities                           134,335    4,513,477
                                            -------    ---------

    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                  
        Acquisition of property and                            
         equipment                       (6,336,942)  (3,097,732)
        Acquisition of intangible                              
         assets                             (35,309)     (71,646)
        Cash paid for purchase of                              
         subsidiaries                    (1,266,374) (47,798,825)
        Cash from the sale of subsidiary    307,650            -
                                         ----------  -----------
         Net cash used in investing                                 
       activities                        (7,330,975) (50,968,203)
                                         ----------  -----------

    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                  
        Proceeds from the sale of                                  
         common stock                    10,000,000   57,200,058
        Offering costs paid              (1,380,720)  (5,908,325)
        Proceeds from short-term loans    4,541,500            -
        Proceeds from the exercise of                         
         warrants                                 -    2,061,760
          Proceeds from the issuance of                           
         convertible notes                        -   19,000,000
        Issuance costs for convertible                         
         notes                                    -   (1,716,666)
        Payment on note payable                   -   (1,110,413)
        Capital contributed by                                
         noncontrolling interest                                
         holders                            118,664            -
                                         ----------   ----------
      Net cash provided by financing                         
       activities                        13,279,444   69,526,414
                                         ----------   ----------

    Effect of exchange rate changes on                        
     cash and cash equivalents              (10,101)     499,830
                                            -------      -------

    NET INCREASE IN CASH & CASH                               
     EQUIVALENTS                          6,072,703   23,571,518

    CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING                        
     BALANCE                             24,839,378    7,696,209
                                         ----------    ---------

    CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS, ENDING                           
     BALANCE                            $30,912,081  $31,267,727
                                        ===========  ===========

     SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH                            
     FLOW INFORMATION:                                          
      Interest paid                        $147,982      $40,696
                                           ========      =======
      Income taxes paid                    $416,012      $90,878
                                           ========      =======

                  



 
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