China Zirconium Limited: 2009 Interim Results Announcement

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 14, 2009) - China Zirconium Limited (TSX:CZL)(HKEX:0395) -

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.

The Board of Directors (the "Board") of China Zirconium Limited (the "Company") is pleased to announce the unaudited consolidated results of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Group") for the six months ended 30 June 2009 together with the comparative figures. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements (the "Interim Financial Statements") have not been audited, but have been reviewed by the Company's Audit Committee.

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Condensed Consolidated Income Statement
For the six months ended 30 June 2009

Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Three months
ended 30 June ended 30 June
2009 2008 2009 2008
Notes RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000

Turnover 3 56,146 292,239 31,216 162,102

Cost of sales (62,355) (216,196) (32,745) (119,122)
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Gross (loss)/profit (6,209) 76,043 (1,529) 42,980

Other income 567 761 12 -
Distribution costs (1,697) (7,387) (930) (4,160)
Administrative expenses (8,410) (8,868) (4,278) (4,700)
Other operating expenses (323) (1,028) (43) (42)
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(Loss)/Profit from operations (16,072) 59,521 (6,768) 34,078
Net finance costs 4(a) (24) (6,453) (219) (4,303)
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(Loss)/Profit before taxation 4 (16,096) 53,068 (6,987) 29,775

Income tax 5 - (14,222) - (7,783)
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(Loss)/Profit for the period (16,096) 38,846 (6,987) 21,992
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company (16,005) 38,846 (6,964) 21,992
Minority interest (91) - (23) -
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(16,096) 38,846 (6,987) 21,992
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Dividends 6 - - - -
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------

Basic (loss)/earnings
per share (RMB) 7 (0.22) 0.55 (0.09) 0.31
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--------------------------------------

Diluted (loss)/earnings
per share (RMB) 7 (0.22) N/A (0.09) N/A
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
At 30 June 2009

Unaudited Audited
30 June 31 December
2009 2008
Notes RMB'000 RMB'000

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment 8 322,587 303,186
Construction in progress 58,383 85,938
Lease prepayments 67,235 68,037
Intangible assets 102 174
Long-term prepayments 35,122 35,119
Deferred tax assets 6,246 6,246
------------------------

489,675 498,700
------------------------

Current assets

Inventories 58,438 48,263
Trade and other receivables
and prepayments 9 32,654 52,681
Amount due from related parties 59 170
Lease prepayments 1,633 1,617
Cash and cash equivalents 10 268,583 278,403
------------------------

361,367 381,134
------------------------

Total assets 851,042 879,834
------------------------
------------------------

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
At 30 June 2009

Unaudited Audited
30 June 31 December
2009 2008
Notes RMB'000 RMB'000

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables 11 55,076 54,167
Amounts due to related parties 8,309 10,185
Interest-bearing borrowings - 6,832
Current taxation 16,282 19,637
------------------------

79,667 90,821
------------------------

Net current assets 281,700 290,313
------------------------

Non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities 530 530
------------------------

NET ASSETS 770,845 788,483
------------------------
------------------------

Capital and reserves

Share capital 13 74,242 74,242
Retained profits 345,995 362,000
Reserves 345,046 348,382
------------------------

Total equity attributable to equity
holders of the Company 765,283 784,624

Minority interest 5,562 3,859
------------------------

TOTAL EQUITY 770,845 788,483
------------------------
------------------------

Notes to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise stated)

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The following notes form an integral part of the Interim Financial Statements.

1 Basis of Preparation

China Zirconium Limited (the "Company") was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on 18 July 2000 as an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands. This interim financial statements comprises the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group") and has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 34, "Interim financial reporting", promulgated by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB").

The interim financial statements do not include all of the information required for a full set of financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the same accounting policies adopted in the 2008 annual financial statements, except for the accounting policy changes that are expected to be reflected in the 2009 annual financial statements. Details of these changes in accounting policies are set out in note 2.

The preparation of the interim financial statements in conformity with IAS 34 requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses on a year-to-date process. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The measurement basis used in the preparation of the interim financial statements is the historical cost basis. Items included in the financial statements of each entity comprising the Group are measured using the currency that best reflects the economic substance of the underlying events and circumstances relevant to that entity ("functional currency"). For the purposes of presenting the interim financial statements, the Group adopted Renminbi as its presentation currency, rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. Changes in accounting policies

The IASB has issued one new IFRS, a number of amendments to IFRSs and new Interpretations that are first effective for the current accounting period of the Group. Of these, the following developments are relevant to the Group's financial statements:

- IFRS 8 "Operating Segments" requires segment disclosure to be based on the way that the Group's chief operating decision maker regards and manages the Group, with the amounts reported for each reportable segment being the measures reported to the Group's chief operating decision maker for the purposes of assessing segment performance and making decisions about operating matters. This contrasts with the presentation of segment information in prior years which was based on a disaggregation of the Group's financial statements into segments based on related products and on geographical areas. The new adoption of IFRS 8 has resulted in the presentation of segment information in a manner that is more consistent with internal reporting provided to the Group's most senior executive management. As this is the first period in which the Group has presented segment information in accordance with IFRS 8, additional explanation has been included in the interim financial statements which explains the basis of preparation of the information. Corresponding amounts have also been provided on a basis consistent with the revised segment information.

- The Group adopted revised IAS 23 "Borrowing Costs" which constitute a change in accounting policy for borrowing costs as it removes the option to expense borrowing costs and requires that an entity capitalise the borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset as part of the cost of that asset. In accordance with the transitional provisions, the Group will apply the revised IAS 23 to qualifying assets for which capitalisation of borrowing costs commences on or after the effective date. The adoption of revised IAS 23 has no significant impact on the Group's operating results or financial positions for the current accounting period.

The remainder of the developments has no material impact on the Group's financial statements.

3. Turnover and Segment Information

Turnover represents the sales value of goods sold less returns, discounts and value added taxes and other sales taxes. On the first-time adoption of IFRS 8 "Operating Segments" and in a manner consistent with the way in which information is reported internally to the Group's senior executive management, the Group has identified the following three segments:

- Zirconium and New Energy Materials: this segment sells zirconium compounds and zirconium-related new energy materials products which are manufactured in the Group's manufacturing facilities located in the PRC. These products are sold to customers in the United States, Japan, PRC, the Netherlands and other countries.

- Rechargeable Batteries: this segment sells rechargeable batteries which are manufactured in the Group's manufacturing facilities located in the PRC. This segment's products are primarily sold to customers in the PRC market.

- Mineral Resources: this segment currently operates the Group's mineral concentrates separation and processing facilities located in Indonesia. It produces zircon sand which is either sold internally to the Group's zirconium manufacturing facilities or to external customers primarily located in the PRC.

(a) Segment turnover, results, assets and liabilities

Information regarding the Group's reportable segments for the period is set out below:

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Zirconium and
New Energy Rechargeable Mineral
Materials Batteries Resources Total
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Six months Six months Six months Six months
ended 30 June ended 30 June ended 30 June ended 30 June
2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008
RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000

Revenue
from
external
customers 52,189 286,017 3,957 6,222 - - 56,146 292,239
Inter-
segment
revenue 615 12,948 - - 2,379 - 2,994 12,948
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Reportable
segment
turnover 52,804 298,965 3,957 6,222 2,379 - 59,140 305,187
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(Loss)/
Profit
from
operations (14,338) 61,669 240 (292) 102 - (13,996) 61,377
Net finance
costs 274 (6,371) 5 (6) (289) - (10) (6,377)
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Reportable
segment
(loss)/
profit
before
taxation (14,064) 55,298 245 (298) (187) - (14,006) 55,000
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----------------------------------------------------------------

Zirconium and
New Energy Rechargeable Mineral
Materials Batteries Resources Total
30 31 30 31 30 31 30 31
June December June December June December June December
2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008
RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000

Report-
able
segment
assets 856,656 883,865 16,476 15,331 11,541 8,480 884,673 907,676
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Report-
able
segment
liabil-
ities 110,805 108,146 4,081 3,180 190 604 115,076 111,930
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-------------------------------------------------------------------

(b) Reconciliation of reportable segment turnover, profit or loss, assets
and liabilities

Unaudited
Six months ended 30 June
2009 2008
RMB'000 RMB'000

Turnover
Reportable segment turnover 59,140 305,187
Elimination of inter-segment revenue (2,994) (12,948)
----------------------

Consolidated turnover 56,146 292,239
----------------------
----------------------

(Loss)/Profit
Reportable segment (loss)/profit (14,006) 55,000
Unallocated head office and
corporate expenses (2,090) (1,932)
----------------------

Consolidated (loss)/profit before taxation (16,096) 53,068
----------------------
----------------------

30 June 31 December
2009 2008
RMB'000 RMB'000

Assets
Reportable segment assets 884,673 907,676
Elimination of inter-segment receivables (68,755) (62,047)
Deferred tax assets 6,246 6,246
Unallocated head office and corporate assets 28,878 27,959
----------------------

Consolidated total assets 851,042 879,834
----------------------
----------------------

Liabilities
Reportable segment liabilities 115,076 111,930
Elimination of inter-segment payables (68,755) (62,047)
Deferred tax liabilities 530 530
Unallocated head office and
corporate liabilities 33,346 40,938
----------------------

Consolidated total liabilities 80,197 91,351
----------------------
----------------------

4 (Loss)/Profit before Taxation

(Loss)/Profit before taxation is arrived at after (crediting)/charging:

Unaudited
Six months ended 30 June
2009 2008
RMB'000 RMB'000

(a) Net finance costs:

Interest income (76) (105)
Interest on bank borrowings wholly
repayable within five years 51 146
Net exchange loss 49 6,412
----------------------

24 6,453
----------------------
----------------------

(b) Staff costs:

Salaries, wages and other benefits 9,581 8,604
Contributions to defined contribution
retirement scheme 429 358
----------------------

10,010 8,962
----------------------
----------------------

(c) Other items:

Amortisation
- lease prepayments 857 678
- intangible assets 72 365
Depreciation 9,211 8,148
Research and development costs - 737
Operating lease charges in respect of
the office premises in Hong Kong 323 304
Cost of inventories 64,733 216,196

5 Income Tax

Unaudited
Six months ended 30 June
2009 2008
RMB'000 RMB'000

Current tax - the People's
Republic of China (the "PRC")
income tax
Provision for the period - 14,014

Deferred tax
Origination and reversal of
temporary differences - 208
----------------------

- 14,222
----------------------
----------------------

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(i) Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands ("BVI"), the Group is not subject to any income tax in the Cayman Islands and BVI.

(ii) No provision for Hong Kong Profits Tax has been made as the Company's subsidiary domiciled in Hong Kong incurred losses for the purposes of Hong Kong Profits Tax for the six months ended 30 June 2009.

(iii) Pursuant to the income tax rules and regulations of the PRC and Indonesia, the provision for income tax of the Group is calculated based on the following rates:

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Six months ended 30 June
2009 2008
Notes % %

Yixing Xinxing Zirconium
Company Limited ("YXZL") (1) - 25%

Yixing Better Batteries
Company Limited ("YBBL") (2) - -

Binhai Dragon Crystal Chemicals
Company Limited ("BHDC") (3) - -

P.T. Asia Prima Resources ("APR") (4) - N/A

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Notes:

(1) Pursuant to the relevant income tax laws in the PRC, YXZL is subject to Enterprise Income Tax ("EIT") at a tax rate of 25% (six months ended 30 June 2008: 25%) on the assessable profit for the period. No EIT provision is made for YXZL as it incurred tax losses for the six months ended 30 June 2009.

(2) Pursuant to the relevant income tax laws in the PRC, YBBL is subject to EIT at a tax rate of 25% on the assessable profit (Six months ended 30 June 2008: 25%). No EIT provision is made for YBBL as it incurred tax losses for the six months ended 30 June 2008 and is entitled to tax exemption for the six months ended 30 June 2009.

(3) Pursuant to the relevant income tax laws in the PRC, BHDC is subject to EIT at a tax rate of 25% on the assessable profit (Six months ended 30 June 2008: 25%). No EIT provision is made for BHDC as it has no assessable profit for both six months ended 30 June 2008 and 2009.

(4) APR was established on 1 July 2008. No corporate income tax provision is made as it has no assessable profits for the period. APR is subject to corporate income tax at progressive rates ranging from 10%-30%, based on the level of assessable profit earned by the enterprise.

The deferred tax assets/liabilities of subsidiaries in the PRC are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

6 Dividends

The directors do not recommend the payment of an interim dividend for the six months ended 30 June 2009 (Six months ended 30 June 2008: Nil).

7 (Loss)/Earnings per Share

(a) Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding

For the purposes of calculating the basic and diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding for the six months ended 30 June 2008 has been retrospectively adjusted for the consolidation of the Company's ordinary shares on a 10 for 1 basis which took place on 30 June 2008.

(b) Basic (loss)/earnings per share

The calculation of basic (loss)/earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2009 is based on the loss attributable to equity holders of the Company of RMB16,005,000 (Six months ended 30 June 2008: profit of RMB38,846,000) and the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period of 71,616,994 (Six months ended 30 June 2008 (restated): 70,967,094).

(c) Diluted (loss)/earnings per share

The calculation of diluted loss per share for the six months ended 30 June 2009 is based on the loss attributable to the equity holders of the Company of RMB16,005,000 and the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period after adjusting for the effect of potential dilutive shares, assuming they were exercised.

/T/

Weighted average number of shares (diluted):
2009
'000

Weighted average number of shares 71,617

Effect of deemed issue of shares under
the Company's Share Options Scheme
at consideration of HK$2.85 per share -
--------

Weighted average number of shares (diluted) 71,617
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--------

/T/

No disclosure of diluted earnings per share was presented for the six months ended 30 June 2008 as there was no potential dilutive ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

8 Property, Plant and Equipment

During the six months ended 30 June 2009, the Group acquired items of plant and machinery with a cost of RMB1,179,000 (six months ended 30 June 2008: RMB48,464,000). Total net book value of the machinery and equipment being disposed of by the Group during the six months ended 30 June 2009 was RMB717,000 (Six months ended 30 June 2008: Nil).

At 30 June 2009, the Group was in the process of obtaining the relevant property ownership certificates of certain buildings in the PRC and Indonesia from the relevant government authorities, the carrying value of which amounted to approximately RMB42,615,000 (31 December 2008: RMB14,932,000).

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9 Trade and Other Receivables and Prepayments

30 June 31 December
2009 2008
(unaudited) (audited)
RMB'000 RMB'000

Trade receivables 24,187 34,566
Less: Allowance for doubtful debts (2,515) (3,720)
---------------------

21,672 30,846
Advance payments to suppliers 4,837 16,657
Deposits, prepayments and
other receivables 6,145 5,178
---------------------

32,654 52,681
---------------------
---------------------

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(a) Ageing analysis

All of the trade and other receivables and prepayments are expected to be recovered within one year. An ageing analysis of trade receivables (net of allowance for doubtful debts) as of balance sheet dates follows:

/T/

30 June 31 December
2009 2008
(unaudited) (audited)
RMB'000 RMB'000

Current 16,133 21,015
---------------------

Less than 3 months past due 4,654 8,897
More than 3 months but less
than 1 year past due 237 286
Over 1 year past due 648 648
---------------------

Amounts past due 5,539 9,831
---------------------

21,672 30,846
---------------------
---------------------

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Trade receivables are normally due within 30 to 90 days from the date of billing.

(b) Impairment of trade receivables

Impairment losses in respect of trade receivables are recorded using an allowance account unless the Group is satisfied that recovery of the amount is remote, in which case the impairment loss is written off against trade receivables directly.

At 30 June 2009, RMB2,920,000 (31 December 2008: RMB4,125,000) of the Group's trade receivables were individually determined to be impaired. The individually impaired receivables related to customers that were in financial difficulties and management assessed that only a portion of the receivables is expected to be recovered. Consequently, specific allowances for doubtful debts of RMB2,515,000 (31 December 2008: RMB3,720,000) were recognised. The Group does not hold any collateral over these balances.

(c) Trade receivables that are not impaired

The ageing analysis of trade receivables that are neither individually nor collectively considered to be impaired are as follows:

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30 June 31 December
2009 2008
(unaudited) (audited)
RMB'000 RMB'000

Neither past due nor impaired 16,133 21,015
---------------------

Less than 3 months past due 4,654 8,897
More than 3 months but less
than 1 year past due 237 286
Over 1 year past due 243 243
---------------------

5,134 9,426
---------------------

21,267 30,441
---------------------
---------------------

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Receivables that were neither past due nor impaired