GUANGZHOU, China, March 29 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China Medicine Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: CHME) ("China Medicine" or "the Company"), primarily a manufacturer, leading distributor and developer of Western pharmaceuticals, traditional Chinese medicines ("TCM"), and other nutraceuticals, today announced its fourth quarter and full year 2009 results.



    Full Year 2009 Highlights:
    -- Revenues increased 20.7% to $64.8 million
    -- Gross profit grew 21.9% to $19.0 million
    -- Operating income rose 12.3% to $12.3 million
    -- Adjusted net income, excluding a non-cash expense related to change in
       fair value of warrants in 2009, was $9.0 million, or $0.58 per diluted
       share
    -- GAAP net income was $1.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share
    -- Completed acquisition of Guangzhou LifeTech Pharmaceuticals, Co. Ltd
       ("LifeTech"), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of a portfolio of
       39 TCM and Western medicine products
    -- Entered into a $69.6 million financing agreement with One Equity
       Partners ("OEP"), the global private equity investment arm of JP Morgan
       Chase & Co

    Fourth Quarter 2009 Highlights:
    -- Total revenues of $20.4 million
    -- Gross profit of $6.8 million; gross margin rose to 33.5% from 23.9%
       last year
    -- Operating margins increased to 20.5% as compared to 17.2% in Q4 2008
    -- Adjusted net income, excluding a non-cash expense related to change in
       fair value of warrants in 2009, was $3.0 million, or $0.19 per diluted
       share
    -- GAAP net loss was $2.1 million, or $(0.13) per diluted share

"I am proud to report a very productive fiscal year 2009, including the achievement of record revenues, the closing of a transformational acquisition and a meaningful financing agreement with a world-class private equity firm," Mr. Senshan Yang, Chairman and CEO of China Medicine Corporation. "In the fourth quarter, we successfully introduced LifeTech's higher margin prescription product portfolio into our distribution network and, through the Guangdong Sunshine Bidding System, expanded the products' market penetration from locally in Guangdong province to all provinces throughout China. As a result, our gross margin increased to 33.5% in Q4 2009 from 23.9% in the same period last year. Looking ahead, we anticipate continued growth in our profitability level as we accelerated our transition from a pharmaceutical distributor into a vertically-integrated pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of self-owned products sold through our extensive distribution network."

Fourth Quarter 2009 Results

China Medicine's total revenues decreased 16.3% in the fourth quarter to $20.4 million compared to the corresponding period of 2008 as we mainly allocated our resources in the acquisition of LifeTech in the fourth quarter 2009.

Product sales in the fourth quarter totaled $20.2 million and accounted for 99% of total revenues. Sales of Western prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products accounted for 46.5% of total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2009. Sales of TCM prescription and over-the-counter products accounted for 44.3% of total revenues. Sales of dietary supplements, medical formula, medical equipment and others accounted for the remaining 9.2% of revenues.

Gross profit in the quarter was $6.8 million, an increase of 17.1% over the fourth quarter of 2008. Gross margin increased to 33.5% from 23.9% in the fourth quarter of 2008, primarily reflecting sales contribution from LifeTech's higher margin pharmaceutical product for the first time.

Operating expenses were $2.7 million, up 61.7% from $1.6 million in the year ago quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher selling, general and administrative expenses related payroll and depreciation and amortization. Operating expenses represented 13.0% of total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2009, as compared to 6.7% in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Operating income was $4.2 million, essentially unchanged compared to that in fourth quarter of 2008. Operating margin rose to 20.5% from 17.2% in the same period a year ago, primarily reflecting the year-over-year gross margin improvement.

The Company's provision for income taxes was $1.2 million in the four quarter of 2009, as compared to $0.8 million for the comparable period in 2008. The increase was due to the change of income tax rate. The Company adopted the usual enterprise tax rate of 25% in 2009 following the expiration of a lower tax rate in 2008.

GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $2.1 million, or $(0.13) per share, which included a $5.1 million non-cash expense related to the change in the fair value of warrants, compared to GAAP net income of $3.5 million or $0.23 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2008. The non- cash charge reflected adoption of a new accounting policy that became effective January 1, 2009, requiring changes in the fair value of warrants to be recognized in earnings each quarter. Excluding this expense, adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $3.0 million, or $0.19 per fully diluted share.

Full Year 2009 Results

In 2009, total revenues increased to $64.8 million, up 20.7% from $53.6 million in 2008. Gross profit rose 21.9% to $19.0 million in 2009 from $15.6 million in 2008. Gross margin was 29.3%, as compared to 29.0% in 2008. Operating income increased 12.3% to $12.3 million from $10.9 million a year ago. GAAP net income in 2009 was $1.7 million or $0.11 per diluted share, as compared to $9.1 million, or $0.60 per diluted share in 2008. Adjusted net income, excluding non-cash expense of $7.2 million related to change in fair value of warrants, was $9.0 million in 2009, or $0.58 per diluted share. The slight decline in adjusted net income was primarily due to a tax rate of 25% in 2009 versus a lower tax rate in 2008.

Financial Condition

As of December 31, 2009, China Medicine had $0.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, with working capital of approximately $16.0 million. Accounts receivable stood at $22.3 million at year-end 2009, as compared to $19.3 million at the end of 2008. Stockholders' equity as of December 31, 2009 was $45.0 million, as compared to $42.8 million on December 31, 2008. In 2009, cash generated from operating activities was $17.0 million, an increase from $4.2 million in 2008, and primarily reflected decreases in inventories and advances to suppliers. Cash used in investing activities was $13.5 million in 2009, and reflected $3.4 million for purchase of equipment to expand rADTZ production capacity and $8.2 million for the LifeTech acquisition.

Subsequent to the end of 2009, the Company closed the equity private placement with OEP and raised net proceeds of $66.5 million. China Medicine received approximately $8.9 million of the net proceeds, which is available for working capital and general corporate purpose. The remaining $57.6 million of net proceeds was placed in escrow and will be released to fund additional capital expenditures and acquisitions upon approval by OEP and the Company's board of directors.

Business Outlook

"We will continue to focus the growth of Houerhuan Capsules and Shuangdan Tablets, both of which are very high margin products with limited competition. The Company plans to aggressively promote these two products through our extensive distribution network and expect to increase our overall profitability in 2010" commented Mr. Yang.

China Medicine's proprietary recombinant Aflatoxin Detoxifizyme (rADTZ), used for removing aflatoxins in food and animal feed, is pending Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) approval. The Company has been in communication with the MOA and is currently working on reformatting the statistical data, based on MOA request, for resubmission in the near term. "We are encouraged by our conversations with the MOA and remain confident in the quality of our data submission, despite the delay in receiving the production approval to commercial launch rADTZ," said Mr. Yang. "The Company anticipates rADTZ approval by the end of 2010, although we cannot predict the actual timing of MOA review. China Medicine completed trial production of rADTZ in 2009 and does not anticipate additional sales of the product until the full commercial launch.

"We would like to thank OEP for its confidence in our outlook and for the funding support that provides the Company with greater resources to execute our acquisition strategy and commercialization plans for rADTZ. We anticipate that 2010 will be a transformational year for China Medicine, focused on strengthening our pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, expanding our extensive product pipeline to include more of self-owned products that will support sustainable margin expansion, continuing our R&D effort on new product development and deepening our distribution network to cover more tier II and III cities and towns in China," concluded Mr. Yang.

Conference Call

China Medicine will hold its fourth quarter conference call for all interested persons at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, March 29, 2010, to discuss its results. To participate in the live conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time 866-800-8648. International callers should dial 617-614-2702. When prompted by the operator, mention conference passcode 584 578 41. If you are unable to participate in the call at its scheduled time, a replay will be available for 14 days starting on Monday, March 29 at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the replay, please dial 888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888, and enter the passcode 173 99 619.

About China Medicine Corporation

China Medicine Corporation, a comprehensive enterprise with a research and development centre, manufacturing facilities and well established sales network, engages in the production and distribution of prescription and over the counter ("OTC") drugs, traditional Chinese medicine products, herbs and dietary-supplements, medical devices, and medical formulations in China. The Company distributes its products to wholesale distributors, including more than 300 hospitals and 500 medicine companies that sell to over 2,000 drug stores in 28 provinces throughout China. The Company is developing a number of proprietary products for a variety of uses, including oncology, high blood pressure and the removal of toxins from food and animal feeds.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

GAAP results for three and twelve months ended December 31, 2009 include non cash expenses related to change in the fair value of the Company's warrants. The non-GAAP measure provides a consistent basis for investors to understand our financial performance in comparison to historical periods without variation of non-recurring items and non-operating related charges. In addition, it allows investors to evaluate our performance using the same methodology and information as that used by our management. Non-GAAP measures are subject to inherent limitations because they do not include all of the expenses included under GAAP and because they involve the exercise of judgment of which charges are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measure. However, we compensate for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of the items excluded.

Because these expenses are non-cash, and not related to the Company's operating results, the Company believes that the non-GAAP information is useful to supplement the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. A reconciliation of the adjustments to GAAP results appears in the table accompanying this press release. This additional non-GAAP information is not meant to be considered as a substitute for GAAP financials. The non-GAAP financial information that the Company provides also may differ from the non-GAAP information provided by other companies.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Company's business and products. The Company's actual results may differ materially depending on a number of risk factors including, but not limited to, the following: general economic and business conditions, obtaining regulatory approval for new products, the expected contribution of higher margin products, government support for rural health care, competition from existing and new competitors, changes in technology, and various other factors beyond its control. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Statement and the risk factors detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. China Medicine Corporation undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward- looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.




                          - FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW -



                   CHINA MEDICINE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

                              Three Months ended        Twelve months ended
                                  December 31,              December 31,
                                 2009        2008        2009         2008
    REVENUES
      Product sales         $20,177,585  24,425,182  $64,120,538  $52,307,211
      Medical formula sales     264,005       7,254      630,480    1,340,595
       Total revenues        20,441,590  24,432,436   64,751,018   53,647,806

    COST OF REVENUES         13,599,386  18,589,095   45,766,628   38,074,919

    GROSS PROFIT              6,842,204   5,843,341   18,984,390   15,572,887

    OPERATING EXPENSES
      Research and
       development              872,996     507,928    1,454,402      992,497
      Selling, general and
       administrative         1,786,006   1,137,016    5,263,697    3,652,525
       Total operating
        expenses              2,659,002   1,644,944    6,718,099    4,645,022

    INCOME FROM OPERATIONS    4,183,202   4,198,397   12,266,291   10,927,865

    OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME:
      Other (expense)
       income, net              (13,265)     40,167      (82,077)      85,622
      Change in fair value
       of warrant
       liabilities           (5,118,799)         --   (7,232,388)          --

    INCOME BEFORE INCOME
     TAXES AND NON-
     CONTROLLING INTERESTS     (948,862)  4,238,564    4,951,826   11,013,487

    PROVISION FOR INCOME
     TAXES                    1,218,223     753,304    3,549,680    2,006,137

    NET INCOME (CHINA
     MEDICINE CORPORATION
     AND NONCONTROLLING      (2,167,085)  3,485,260    1,402,146    9,007,350
     INTERESTS)

    Add: Net loss
     attributable to
     noncontrolling
     interests                   72,578      33,180      315,531      118,266

    NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE
     TO CHINA
     MEDICINE CORPORATION    (2,094,507)  3,518,440    1,717,677    9,125,616

    OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
     INCOME (LOSS)
      Foreign currency
       translation
       adjustment                 6,074     135,806        9,800    2,305,499
      Foreign currency
       translation
       attributable to
       noncontrolling
       interests                    (11)      2,434         (194)      60,461
    COMPREHENSIVE INCOME    $(2,088,444)  3,656,500    1,727,283  $11,491,576

    EARNINGS PER SHARE
      Basic                      $(0.14)       0.23         0.11        $0.60
      Diluted                    $(0.13)       0.23         0.11        $0.60

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
     OUTSTANDING
      Basic                  15,344,339  15,362,158   15,267,512   15,173,113
      Diluted                16,044,787  15,362,158   15,411,144   15,308,529



                   CHINA MEDICINE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                      ASSETS
                                                December 31,      December 31,
                                                    2009              2008
    CURRENT ASSETS
      Cash                                         $471,769        $2,791,814
      Restricted Cash                             1,760,400                --
      Notes receivables                               4,401           600,911
      Accounts receivable, trade, net of
       allowance for doubtful accounts of
       $157,083 and $96,609 as of December
       31, 2009 and 2008, respectively           22,314,660        19,225,091
      Inventories                                 2,731,097         4,725,322
      Advances to suppliers                       2,518,396         6,121,974
      Other current assets                          461,006           192,080
        Total current assets                     30,261,729        33,657,192

    Plant and Equipment, Net                     12,000,687         3,761,637

    OTHER ASSETS
      Long term prepayments                       7,900,212         6,014,920
      Intangible assets, net                     16,681,854         1,247,567
        Total other assets                       24,582,066         7,262,487

          Total assets                          $66,844,482       $44,681,316



                       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    CURRENT LIABILITIES
      Short term Loans                           $9,506,160               $--
      Accounts payable, trade                     1,324,269            61,243
      Other payables and accrued
       liabilities                                  939,887            50,559
      Customer deposits                             483,358           151,429
      Taxes payable                               2,119,745           772,289
      Liquidated damages payable                     44,003            44,003
        Total current liabilities                14,417,422         1,079,523

    Fair value of warrant liabilities             6,918,068                --
        Total liabilities                        21,335,490         1,079,523

    Commitments and contingencies

    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value;
       10,000,000 shares authorized,
       no shares issued and outstanding                  --                --
      Common stock, $0.0001 par value;
       90,000,000 shares authorized,
       15,451,105 and 15,226,742 shares
       issued and outstanding at
       December 31, 2009 and 2008,
       respectively                                   1,544             1,522
      Paid-in capital                            13,380,444        13,011,012
      Statutory reserves                          4,293,116         3,178,861
      Retained earnings                          22,875,987        22,146,572
      Accumulated other comprehensive
       income                                     4,438,094         4,428,294
        Total shareholders' equity               44,989,185        42,766,261

    NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS                        519,807           835,532

        Total equity                             45,508,992        43,601,793

          Total liabilities and equity          $66,844,482       $44,681,316



                   CHINA MEDICINE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                    Years ended December 31,
                                                    2009               2008
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
     ACTIVITIES:
      Net income attributable to China
       Medicine Corporation                      $1,717,677        $9,125,616
      Net loss attributable to
       noncontrolling interests                    (315,531)         (118,266)
      Net income                                  1,402,146         9,007,350
      Adjustments to reconcile net income
       to cash
       provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization             1,012,149           420,769
        Bad debt expense                             45,938            36,428
        Loss on sale of assets                       21,241             9,416
        Stock-based compensation                    131,127            88,463
        Change in fair value of warrants
         liabilities                              7,232,388                --
       Change in operating assets and
        liabilities:
        Notes receivables                           596,143          (590,466)
        Accounts receivable, trade               (2,278,004)       (4,786,654)
        Inventories                               3,369,333          (491,874)
        Advances to suppliers                     3,614,991           461,695
        Other current assets                       (213,245)         (105,081)
        Accounts payable, trade                     608,589           (20,683)
        Other payables and accrued
         liabilities                                638,074           (21,947)
        Customer deposits                           331,850           (64,938)
        Taxes payable                               446,664           266,606
         Net cash provided by operating
          activities                             16,959,384         4,209,084

    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
     ACTIVITIES:
        Purchase of intangible assets              (234,576)               --
        Purchase of building improvement
         and equipment                           (3,438,924)       (2,666,014)
        Cash proceeds from disposition of
         fixed assets                                21,992                --
        Long term prepayments                    (1,884,135)       (5,197,253)
        Cash paid out for acquiring new
         subsidiaries                            (8,176,871)               --
        Cash received from newly acquired
         subsidiaries                               176,421                --
        Net cash used in investing
          activities                            (13,536,093)       (7,863,267)

    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
     ACTIVITIES:
      Proceeds from exercise of warrants
       and options                                   50,000           362,500
      Loan proceeds                               6,597,450                --
      Loan payments                             (10,637,419)               --
      Increase in restricted cash                (1,759,320)               --
        Net cash (used in) provided by
         financing activities                    (5,749,289)          362,500

    EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH                   5,954           315,723

    DECREASE IN CASH                             (2,320,045)       (2,975,960)

    CASH, beginning of year                       2,791,814         5,767,774

    CASH, end of year                              $471,769        $2,791,814

    Supplemental disclosure of cash
     flows:
      Cash paid interest                            $75,765               $--
      Cash paid income tax                       $3,219,733        $2,059,396



                  CHINA MEDICINE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
     RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
                                  AND DILUTED EPS

                                For the Three Months ended December 31,
                                  2009                       2008
                        Net Income   Diluted EPS  Net Income    Diluted EPS
    Amount per
     consolidated
     statement of
     operations         (2,094,507)        (0.13)  3,518,440            0.23
    Adjustment
    Change in fair
     value of warrants   5,118,799          0.32          --              --

    Adjusted Amount of
    Net Income
     available to
     Common
    Shareholders         3,024,292          0.19   3,518,440            0.23


    Weighted average
     diluted shares,
     16,044,787 for
     three months
     ended December
     31,2009 and
     15,362,158 for
     three months ended
     December 31, 2008
    Weighted average
     diluted shares,
     15,411,144 for the
     twelve months ended
     December 31, 2009
     and 15,308,529 for
     the Twelve
     months ended
     December 31, 2009

                                For the Twelve months ended December 31
                                2009                  2008
                                      Diluted
                         Net Income     EPS     Net Income     Diluted EPS
    Amount per
     consolidated
     statement of
     operations            1,717,677      0.11   9,125,616              0.60
    Adjustment
    Change in fair value
     of warrants           7,232,388      0.47          --                --

    Adjusted Amount of
    Net Income
     available to Common
    Shareholders           8,950,065      0.58   9,125,616              0.60


    Weighted average
     diluted shares,
     16,044,787 for
     three months
     ended December
     31, 2009 and
     15,226,742 for
     three months ended
     December 31, 2008
    Weighted average
     diluted shares,
     15,411,144 for the
     twelve months ended
     December 31, 2009
     and 15,308,529 for
     the Twelve
     months ended
     December 31, 2009



    For more information, please contact


    Company Contact:
     Mr. Robert Lu
     Interim Chief Financial Officer
     China Medicine Corporation
     Phone: +86-20-8739-1718
     Email: robert.lu@cmc621.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
     Mr. Crocker Coulson, President
     CCG Investor Relations
     Tel:   +1-646-213-1915 (NY Office)
     Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
     Web:   http://www.ccgirasia.com

SOURCE China Medicine Corporation