SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. (NYSE: NPD) ("Nepstar" or the "Company"), a leading retail drugstore chain in China based on the number of directly operated stores, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Financial Highlights

For the quarter ended June 30, 2015:


    --  Revenue increased by 12.9% to RMB775.1 million (US$125.0 million)
        compared to RMB686.6 million in the second quarter of 2014
    --  Same store sales increased by 16.7% compared to the second quarter of
        2014
    --  Net income was RMB8.7 million (US$1.4 million) compared to a net loss of
        RMB15.9 million in the second quarter of 2014.

Ms. Rebecca Zhang, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Our accelerated same-store-sales growth propelled the increase in our revenue. We are encouraged by higher store traffic as a result of our effective promotions on pharmaceutical products and professional store service training. While we focus on productivity at the store level, we also managed to achieve better operational efficiency by reducing our general and administrative expenses and constantly optimizing our store management."

Second Quarter Results

During the second quarter of 2015, the Company opened 38 new stores and closed 59 stores. As of June 30, 2015, the Company had 1,948 directly operated stores in total.

Revenue for the second quarter of 2015 increased by 12.9% to RMB775.1 million (US$125.0 million) from RMB686.6 million for the same period in 2014. Same store sales (for the 1,768 stores opened before December 31, 2013 and which were still operating as of June 30, 2015) for the second quarter increased by 16.7% compared to the same period in 2014. The increase in same store sales was primarily due to in-store promotional initiatives and marketing of pharmaceutical products.

In the second quarter of 2015, the Company's revenue by product contribution was 23.1% attributable to prescription drugs (23.9% for the same period in 2014), 41.4% attributable to over-the-counter ("OTC") drugs (39.0% for the same period in 2014), 18.7% attributable to convenience and other products (18.8% for the same period in 2014), 12.1% attributable to nutritional supplements (14.8% for the same period in 2014), and 4.7% attributable to herbal products (3.5% for the same period in 2014).

The Company's gross profit increased by 5.7% to RMB309.5 million (US$49.9 million) for the second quarter of 2015 from RMB292.9 million for the same period in 2014. Gross margin in the second quarter of 2015 was 39.9%, compared with 42.7% for the same period in 2014. The year-over-year decrease in gross margin was primarily the result of proactive promotional activities on pharmaceutical products.

The Company's portfolio of private label products included 2,155 types of products as of June 30, 2015. Sales of private label products represented approximately 14.7% of the Company revenue and 22.0% of the gross profit for the second quarter of 2015.

Sales, marketing and other operating expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 35.7% for the second quarter of 2015 from 39.0% for the same period in 2014, as the steady growth in revenue outpaced the increases in sales, marketing and other operation expenses.

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue were also reduced to 3.8% for the second quarter of 2015, from 4.6% for the second quarter of 2014. This was primarily due to the improvements in management efficiency.

During the second quarter of 2015, the Company recognized an impairment loss of RMB4.6 million (US$0.7 million), compared to RMB5.2 million for the same period in 2014, representing the reduction of the carrying amount of the property and equipment of certain underperforming stores.

Loss from operations in the second quarter of 2015 was RMB1.6 million (US$0.3 million) compared to loss from operations of RMB11.5 million in the same period of 2014. The loss from operations was mainly due to the lower gross margin.

Interest income for the second quarter of 2015 was RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million), compared to RMB1.9 million for the same period in 2014.

Dividend income from cost method investments for the second quarter of 2015 was RMB2.9 million (US$0.5 million) compared to RMB 0.9 million for the same period in 2014.

Income before income tax expense for the second quarter of 2015 was RMB3.3 million (US$0.5 million), while we suffered a loss before income tax expense of RMB8.7 million for the same period in 2014.

The Company recorded a net income tax benefit (credit) of RMB5.5 million (US$0.9 million) for the second quarter of 2015, compared to an income tax expense of RMB7.2 million for the same period in 2014. The change included the decreases in the amounts of valuation allowance for certain subsidiaries with improving operating results and certain prior year unrecognized tax benefits being recognized during the current period when the recognition threshold was met..

Net income for the second quarter of 2015 was RMB8.7 million (US$1.4 million), or RMB0.09 (US$0.01) basic and diluted income per ADS, compared to a net loss of RMB15.9 million, or RMB0.16 basic and diluted losses per ADS for the second quarter of 2014. As of June 30, 2015, the Company had 197.4 million outstanding ordinary shares. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares of the Company.

In the second quarter of 2015, net cash inflow from operating activities was RMB12.0 million (US$1.9 million), compared to net cash outflow of RMB79.0 million for the same period in 2014, as a result of our growth in net profit, as well as the utilization of prepayments made to suppliers.

As of June 30, 2015, the Company's total cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term bank deposits and restricted cash were RMB349.6 million (US$56.4 million) and its shareholders' equity was RMB836.9 million (US$135.0 million), compared to RMB316.9 million and RMB831.6 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2014.

Business Outlook

"As we gradually achieve recovery in growth on profit, we will focus on accelerating our organic revenue growth by fine-tuning our store management system and improving our store image to customers," Ms. Zhang concluded.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call, to be simultaneously webcasted, on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 8:00 p.m. Beijing Time. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing +1-877-407-9210 (North America) or +1-201-689-8049 (International) approximately five minutes before the call start time. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on Nepstar's website at www.nepstar.cn.

A replay of the call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the conference call through September 9, 2015 at11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. An archived webcast of the conference call will be available on Nepstar's website at http://www.nepstar.cn. Interested parties may access the replay by dialing +1-877-660-6853 (North America) or +1-201-612-7415 (International) and entering conference ID number 13617349.

About China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd.

China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. (NYSE: NPD) is a leading retail drugstore chain in China. As of June 30, 2015, the Company had 1,948 directly operated stores across 72 cities, one headquarter distribution center and 15 regional distribution centers in China. Nepstar uses directly operated stores, centralized procurement and a network of distribution centers to provide its customers with high-quality, professional and convenient pharmaceutical products and services and a wide variety of other merchandise, including OTC drugs, nutritional supplements, herbal products, personal care products, family care products, and convenience products. Nepstar's strategy of centralized procurement, competitive pricing, customer loyalty programs and private label offerings has enabled it to capitalize on the continuing economic growth in China and take advantage of the demographic trend in China to achieve a strong brand and leading market position. For further information, please go to http://www.nepstar.cn.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's strategic operational plans and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

Exchange Rate Information

The United States dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this press release are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. Translations of amounts from RMB into United States dollars were calculated at the certified exchange rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.2000 on June 30, 2015 as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at that rate on June 30, 2015, or at any other date. The percentages stated are calculated based on RMB amounts.

Contacts

Zixin Shao
China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd.
Chief Financial Officer
+86-755-2641-4065
ir@nepstar.cn

(Tables Follow)




                                                     China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd.

                                  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/Loss

                                         (amounts in thousands - except per-share and per-ADS data)


                                                                                                                Three-month period ended

                                                     June 30,

                                                                                                                2014          2015         2015

                                                                                                              RMB          RMB         USD


    Revenue                                                                                                  686,553       775,083      125,013

    Cost of goods sold                                                                                     (393,606)    (465,627)    (75,101)
                                                                                                            --------      --------      -------

    Gross profit                                                                                             292,947       309,456       49,912

    Sales, marketing and other operating expenses                                                          (267,539)    (276,719)    (44,632)

    General and administrative expenses                                                                     (31,703)     (29,741)     (4,797)

    Impairment losses of property and equipment                                                              (5,182)      (4,555)       (734)

    Loss from operations                                                                                    (11,477)      (1,559)       (251)

    Interest income                                                                                            1,863         1,944          313

    Dividend income from cost method investments                                                                 920         2,881          465

    (Loss)/income before income tax expense                                                                  (8,694)        3,266          527

    Income tax expense                                                                                       (7,201)        5,451          879

    Net(loss)/income                                                                                        (15,895)        8,717        1,406
                                                                                                             =======         =====        =====


    Basic and diluted(loss)/income per ordinary share                                                        (0.081)        0.044        0.007

    Basic and diluted (loss)/income per ADS                                                                  (0.162)        0.088        0.014


    Net (loss)/income                                                                                       (15,895)        8,717        1,406


    Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:

    Foreign currency translation adjustments                                                                      25          (13)         (2)

    Comprehensive(loss)/income                                                                              (15,870)        8,704        1,404
                                                                                                             =======         =====        =====




                                                                                 China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd.

                                                                           Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                                                       (amounts in thousands)


                                                                                                                           As of               As of            As of

                                                              December 31,                                                June 30,           June 30,

                                                                                                                                        2014               2015            2015

                                                                                                                            RMB                 RMB              USD


    ASSETS

    Current assets

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                        252,174            300,219          48,422

    Short-term bank time deposits                                                                                                     24,000              9,000           1,451

    Long-term bank time deposits due within one year                                                                                   3,256              3,256             525

    Restricted cash                                                                                                                   37,423             37,124           5,988

    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts                                                                      136,568            130,087          20,982

    Bills receivable                                                                                                                     400                122              20

    Amounts due from related parties                                                                                                   3,366              4,772             770

    Prepaid expenses, deposits and other current assets                                                                              245,254            179,284          28,917

    Inventories                                                                                                                      546,312            577,386          93,127

    Deferred tax assets                                                                                                                2,038              4,993             805
                                                                                                                                       -----              -----             ---

    Total current assets                                                                                                           1,250,791          1,246,243         201,007
                                                                                                                                   ---------          ---------         -------


    Non-current assets

    Property and equipment, net                                                                                                      137,750            145,602          23,484

    Rental deposits                                                                                                                   42,257             41,916           6,761

    Cost method investments                                                                                                           12,638             12,638           2,038

    Intangible assets, net                                                                                                             2,509              2,509             405

    Goodwill                                                                                                                          51,819             51,819           8,358

    Deferred tax assets                                                                                                               16,340             15,404           2,484

    Other non-current assets                                                                                                               -            35,445           5,717
                                                                                                                                         ---            ------           -----

    Total non-current assets                                                                                                         263,313            305,333          49,247
                                                                                                                                     -------            -------          ------

    Total assets                                                                                                                   1,514,104          1,551,576         250,254
                                                                                                                                   =========          =========         =======


    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


    Current liabilities

    Accounts payable                                                                                                                 409,428            451,827          72,875

    Amounts due to related parties                                                                                                    25,636             26,217           4,229

    Accrued expenses and other payables                                                                                              122,236            113,565          18,317

    Income tax payable                                                                                                                25,743             20,271           3,270

    Deferred income                                                                                                                   25,715             34,312           5,534
                                                                                                                                      ------             ------           -----

    Total current liabilities                                                                                                        608,758            646,192         104,225
                                                                                                                                     -------            -------         -------


    Non-current liabilities

    Deferred income                                                                                                                   15,677             13,253           2,137

    Deferred tax liabilities                                                                                                          14,711             15,233           2,457

    Other non-current liabilities                                                                                                     43,326             39,949           6,443
                                                                                                                                      ------             ------           -----

    Total non-current liabilities                                                                                                     73,714             68,435          11,037
                                                                                                                                      ------             ------          ------

    Total liabilities                                                                                                                682,472            714,627         115,262
                                                                                                                                     -------            -------         -------


    Shareholders' equity

    Share capital                                                                                                                        158                158              25

    Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                       640,341            640,341         103,281

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                            (41,746)          (41,753)        (6,734)

    Retained earnings                                                                                                                232,879            238,203          38,420
                                                                                                                                     -------            -------          ------

    Total shareholders' equity                                                                                                       831,632            836,949         134,992
                                                                                                                                     -------            -------         -------


    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                                                                     1,514,104          1,551,576         250,254
                                                                                                                                   =========          =========         =======

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SOURCE China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd.