Sales rise 10% at apparel retailer Ever-Glory in Q2 (China)

Ever-Glory International Group Inc. a leading apparel supply chain manager and retailer based in China reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012.

Total sales for the quarter were $47.2 million, an increase of 10.0% compared to $42.9 million in the second quarter of last year.

Retail sales for the quarter from LA GO GO, the Company's branded retail division, increased 98.6% to $18.4 million, compared to $9.3 million last year. This increase was primarily due to the increase in new stores opened and same store sales. Ever-Glory had 562 LA GO GO stores as of June 30, 2012, compared to 368 LA GO GO stores as of June 30, 2011. Currently, there are LA GO GO stores in more than 20 provinces in China.

Wholesale sales generated from the Company's wholesale business for the quarter decreased 14.4% to $28.8 million, compared to $33.7 million last year. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreased sales in Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.

The reduced sales in the wholesale segment was primarily due to the global economic uncertainty and instability, the advanced economies represented by Europe and the US are recovering slowly, which seriously impacted China's apparel exports, as a result, our overseas wholesale business also faced declining orders.

Total gross profit for the quarter was $13.6 million, or 28.8% of total sales, compared to $10.4 million, or 24.1% of total sales last year.

Selling expenses for the quarter increased 84.9% to $7.0 million compared to $3.8 million last year. As a percentage of sales, selling expenses increased 600 basis points to 14.8% compared to 8.8% last year. The increase was attributable to the increased number of retail employees and increased average salaries, as well as the increased store decoration and marketing expenses associated with the promotion of the LA GO GO brand.

General and administrative expenses for the quarter increased 2.0% to $4.2 million compared to $4.1 million last year. As a percentage of sales, general and administrative expenses decreased 70 basis points to 8.9% compared to 9.6% last year. The decrease was attributable to the increase in our sales.

Income from operations for the quarter decreased 2.0% to $2.4 million compared to $2.5 million last year.

For the second quarter, net income was $2.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, an increase of 4.1% from $2.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2011. Net income in the second quarter of 2012 includes approximately $0.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, of non-cash income related to the change in fair value of a derivative liability compared to approximately $0.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, of non-cash income related to the change in fair value of a derivative liability in the second quarter of 2011. Excluding this non-cash item for the second quarter 2012 and 2011, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.15 in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $0.14 in the second quarter of 2011.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of June 30, 2012, Ever-Glory had approximately $7.2 million of cash and cash equivalents, compared to approximately $8.8 million as of December 31, 2011. Ever-Glory had working capital of approximately $39.0 million as of June 30, 2012, and outstanding bank loans of approximately $22.5 million as of June 30, 2012.

Business Outlook

For the third quarter of 2012, Every-Glory anticipates total net sales in the range of $50 to $60 million and net income in the range of $1.8 to $2.0 million. For full year 2012, Every-Glory anticipates total net sales in the range of $210 to $250 million and net income in the range of $9.5 to $12 million. The full year revenue forecast is comprised of $140 to $160 million in anticipated wholesale revenue and $70 to $90 million in anticipated revenue from retail operations.

Based in Nanjing, China, Ever-Glory International Group, Inc. is a leading apparel supply chain manager and retailer in China.