HIHO Highway Holdings Limited

HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Highway Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: HIHO, "the Company" or "Highway Holdings") today reported results for its fiscal year 2023 second quarter and six-months ended September 30, 2022.

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 were $3 million, compared with $3.4 million in the year ago period, reflecting the adverse impact of shutdowns, disruptions and supply chain issues related to the Zero-COVID policy in China and Hong Kong. Net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 was $396,000, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared with a net income of $242,000, or $0.06 per diluted share in the year ago period.

Net sales for the first half of fiscal year 2023 were $6 million compared with $6.4 million in the year ago period. Net income for the first half of fiscal year 2023 was $783,000, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared with $575,000 or $0.14 per diluted share in the year ago period.

"Our team remained focused during this challenging period and continued to work closely with our customers to best support their demands. The governments in China and Hong Kong helped during this period with some subsidies, which helped us achieve modest profitability on the reduced revenue level as we actively controlled operating and supply chain costs," said Roland Kohl, chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Mr. Kohl emphasized, "China's Zero Covid policy has caused virtually constant disturbances to our day-to-day business. For example, suppliers, customers and our own employees have to deal with office and residence closures and quarantines, which can last for several days, or more. This has a highly disruptive and disturbing impact on both our production cycles and on the broader supply chain, with the normal flow of supplies, components and people being upended. Even though the governments in China and Hong Kong provide us with occasional financial subsidies, these subsidies do not fully compensate for all the disturbances to our business. We will continue to take appropriate actions to adjust to the current environment. We hope the restrictions will be lifted in the near future, which should lead to more normal business levels and an acceleration of the encouraging new business opportunities we are developing."

Gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 was $1,099,000 compared with $1,093,000 a year ago. Gross profit as a percentage of sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 increased to 36.1 percent from 32.5 percent in the year ago period. Gross profit for the first half of fiscal year 2023 was $2.1 million compared with $2.0 million in the year ago period. Gross profit as a percentage of sales for the first half of fiscal year 2023 was 36.0 percent compared with 31.8 percent in the year ago period. The Company noted the comparisons are not very meaningful because of the disruptions and subsidies impacting different periods and distorting the numbers.

Net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 reflects a currency exchange gain of $6,000 compared to a $3,000 gain in the year ago period. The company reported a currency exchange gain of $24,000 for the first half of fiscal year 2023, compared with a $4,000 loss in the year ago period.

The Company noted that its balance sheet remains strong, with cash and cash equivalents in excess of $6 million, or approximately $1.4 per diluted share, exceeding all of its short- and long-term liabilities by approximately $1.5 million, with a $12.5 million dollar balance of current assets. Total shareholders' equity at September 30, 2022 was $9.7 million, or $2.3 per diluted share.

About Highway Holdings Limited 

Highway Holdings is an international manufacturer of a wide variety of quality parts and products for blue chip equipment manufacturers based primarily in Germany. Highway Holdings' administrative offices are located in Hong Kong and its manufacturing facilities are located in Yangon, Myanmar and Shenzhen, China. For more information visit website www.highwayholdings.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, political and technological factors affecting the company's revenues, operations, markets, products and prices, and other factors discussed in the company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, the company's annual reports on Form 20-F.

(Financial Tables Follow)

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SOURCE Highway Holdings Limited