Mountain China Resorts Reports 2018 Financial and Operational Results


BEIJING, May 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain China Resorts (Holding) Limited (TSXV: MCG) (“MCR” or the “Company”), today reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018. MCR reports its results in Canadian Dollars.

Financial Results

Total revenue and the net results were from resort operations sales revenue during the Reporting Period. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company generated revenues from resort operations of $7.72 million and a net loss of $8.94 million or $0.03 per share compared to $11.56 million and a net profit of $52.29 million or $0.17 per share in 2017 from continuing operations. Resort Operations EBITDA from continuing operations for 2018 were negative $2.85 million compared to $2.73 million last year. Major reason for the decrease in revenue was that in the debt settlement carried out in the second quarter of 2017, the Company sold four subsidiaries to one of its creditors. After disposal of four subsidiaries, the Ski operation related assets and cash flow have been moved out from MCR, including ski equipment rent income, ski pass for using the lift, ski instructors services fee, slide income, and advertisement income. MCR only keeps two hotels and the cash flow from these hotels and MCR pays to Sun Village for using the lift and their ski instructors. In the second half of 2018, the Ski industry was adversely affected by the overall economic downturn of China as a result of the macro environment of trade war between China and the U.S, as well as a series of economic policies adopted by Chinese government to drop leverage rate. Both 2018 Club Med summer operations and 2018-2019 winter operations were under negative influence of those macroeconomic environment.

Resort operations expenses from continuing operations totaled $9.82 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $9.12 million in 2017. Operations expenses within the resorts are mainly attributable to snow making, grooming, staffing, fuel and utilities, which also include the G&A expenses relating to the resort’s senior management, marketing and sales, information technology, insurance and accounting.

Other income totaled $0.39 million (2017: 1.49 million), major components of other income include $0.39 million (2017 - $0.38 million) recognized from the deposit paid by Club Med. In 2017, the company also recorded advertisement income of $0.83 million.

Corporate general and administrative expenses (“G&A expenses”) totaled $1.14 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $1.19 million in 2017. This amount mainly comprised executive employee costs, public company costs, and corporate information technology costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $3.33 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $5.30 million in 2017. The decrease in depreciation and amortization was mainly caused by the debt settlement in 2017 in which properties and equipment with a book value of $5.24 million was disposed.

The Group incurred interest expenses of $1.29 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $2.16 million in 2017. Financing costs mainly related to the loan interests, accretion expenses of convertible bonds, and also included bank administrative fee, and service charge. The decrease in interest expense was mainly caused by the debt settlement in 2017 in which bank loans balance was reduced to $nil.

Cash totaled $1.13 million (2017: 1.21 million) and working capital was negative $69.13 million as at December 31, 2018 (2017: 60.24 million).

Operations Sun Mountain Yabuli

The 2018-2019 MCR’s Sun Mountain Yabuli Resort winter season operations commenced on November 1st, 2018 and closed on April 7th, 2019 (160 days in total). The revenue of Sun Mountain Yabuli Resort operation comprises mainly by mountain operation, beverage, skiing-related services and hotel lodging before the debt settlement carried out in May, 2017. After disposal of four subsidiaries, most of the Ski operations related assets and cash flow have been moved out from MCR, including ski equipment rent income, ski pass for using the lift, ski instructors services fee, slide income, and advertisement income. MCR only keeps two hotels and the cash flow from these hotels and MCR pays to Sun Village for using the lift and their ski instructors.

The Company reported a revenue decrease of 33% in 2018 compared to 2017. Major reasons for the decrease in revenue include:

(a) In the debt settlement carried out in the second quarter of 2017, the Company sold 4 subsidiaries to one of its creditors. Including Zhiye, SV, SAS and Three Mountains. After disposal of four subsidiaries, the Ski operation related assets and cash flow have been moved out from MCR, including ski equipment rent income, ski pass for using the lift, ski instructors services fee, slide income, and advertisement income. MCR only keeps two hotels and the cash flow from these hotels and MCR pays to Sun Village for using the lift and their ski instructors. In the first quarter of 2017, revenue from ski operations amounted to $2.99 million, and was still included in the revenue of the Company. Historically, revenue from hotels are mainly generated by Club Med operations. Revenue from Club Med increased slightly from 2017 to 2018. In 2017, revenue from Club Med was $7.03 million which takes 60.81% of the total revenue of 2017. In 2018, revenue from Club Med was $7.72 million which takes 100% of the total revenue of 2018.

(b) In the second half of 2018, the Ski industry was adversely affected by the overall economic downturn of China as a result of the macro environment of trade dispute between China and the U.S, as well as a series of economic policies adopted by Chinese government to drop leverage rate. Both 2018 Club Med summer operations and 2018-2019 winter operations were under negative influence of those macroeconomic environment.

Financial Highlights

Summary Financial Results

(in thousands of Canadian dollars except for per
share data)
 For the year ended
December 31, 2018
 For the year ended
December 31, 2017
 Revenue 7,717  11,555 
 Operating expenses (9,815) (9,116)
 Other income 388  1,487 
 General and administrative expenses (1,142) (1,194)
 Depreciation and amortization (3,334) (5,295)
 Operating loss from continuing operations (6,186) (2,563)
 Total non-operating income and expenses (2,756) 54,839 
 Deferred income tax recovery   -   9 
 Profit/(Loss) from continuing operations (8,942) 52,285 
 Profit/(Loss) from discontinued operations   -     -  
 Net Profit/(loss) (8,942) 52,285 
     
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing
operations (Basic and Diluted)
 (0.03) 0.17 
 Weighted average number of shares
 outstanding(Basic and Diluted)
 308,859,103  308,859,103 

Balance Sheet Key Indicators

(in thousands of Canadian dollars except for ratios)  2018 2017 
Current Ratio0.05 0.07 
Free Cash 1,133 1,211 
Working Capital (69,134) (60,235) 
Total Assets62,292 64,364 
Total non-current liabilities771 1,125 
Total Debt73,519 66,058 
Total Equity(11,227) (1,694) 
Total Debt to Total Equity Ratio(6.55) (39.02) 

Note:
Current ratio is defined as total current assets divided by total current liabilities
Total debt is defined as total current liabilities plus total non-current liabilities

The Company has an accumulated deficit and a working capital deficiency which cast a substantial doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company's ability to meet its obligations as they fall due and to continue to operate as a going concern is dependent on further financing and ultimately, the attainment of profitable operations. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. Management has taken a series of actions to improve the Company’s capital structure. The debt settlement in 2017 reduced the balance of bank loans to $nil and moved the majority part of construction payables out of the Company, and the Company still own the hotels free from pledge which generates majority of the total revenue in the past. Management of the Company plans to fund its future operation by obtaining additional financing through loans or private placements. However, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain additional financing.

     
  December 31,
2018
 December 31,
2017
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)    
Accumulated deficit    $ 341,863    $ 332,921
Working capital (deficiency)    $ 69,134    $ 60,235


SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

There has been no substantial subsequent event up to the reporting date.

2018 MAJOR CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS

Club Med carried out 2018 summer operations

Club Med carried out 2018 summer operations from July 1st, to August 26th, 2018 (57 days in total). Historically the Company had carried out Club Med summer operations around August to September from 2012 to 2014. The resort provided outdoor activities in summer including: archery, cross country mountain bike/hiking, mountain top afternoon tea parties and so on. In 2015, based on the historical data of unsatisfactory performance in summer and also as a result of unfavorable environment of competition among summer resort destinations, the Company had decided not to carry out Club Med summer operations to cut loss. In 2018, management and Club Med decided to re-launch the summer operations. Total revenue generated in 2018 summer operations amounted to $0.5 million (2014 summer operations – $0.7 million). The decrease was probably caused by the overall economic downturn of China in the second half of 2018 as a result of the macro environment of trade war between China and the U.S, as well as a series of economic policies adopted by Chinese government to drop leverage rate.

The cooperation contract with Club Med will expire after 2019-2020 winter operations, management had started negotiation with Club Med on the renewal of the contract.

About MCR

MCR is a developer of four-season destination ski resorts in China. MCR’s goal is to transform existing China ski properties into world-class, four seasons luxury mountain resorts. In February 2009, the Company’s Sun Mountain Yabuli Resort was awarded Best Resort Makeover in Asia by TIME Magazine. Yabuli is also the permanent home of the China Entrepreneur’s Forum the leading and most influential community of China’s most distinguished and successful entrepreneurs and business leaders with over 5,000 members from across a variety of key industries.

www.mountainchinaresorts.com

For more information, please contact:
Mountain China Resorts (Holding) Limited
Mr. Han Gang
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Tel: 0086-10-66420868
Email: investor_relations@mountainchinaresorts.com

The TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

The TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Information in this press release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws, and actual results may vary from the forward-looking information. Implicit in this information are assumptions regarding future operations, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, such as the plans to develop the ski resorts in China. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by MCR at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned that actual future operating results and economic performance of MCR are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including general economic, market and business conditions, uncertainty relating to land use rights in China, adverse industry events for the ski and real estate industries, real estate prices in general in China, MCR’s ability to make and integrate acquisitions, the requirements of recent Chinese regulations relating to cross-border mergers and acquisitions, the inability to obtain required approvals or approvals may be subject to conditions that are unacceptable to the parties, changing industry and government regulation, as well as MCR’s ability to implement its business strategies, dispose of assets or raise sufficient capital, MCR’s ability to obtain additional financial resources and sufficient working capital, MCR’s ability to complete the announced non-brokered private placement, seasonality, weather conditions, competition, currency fluctuations and other risks, and could differ materially from what is currently expected as set out above.

Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on current estimates, expectations and projections, which MCR believes are reasonable as of the date of this press release. MCR uses forward-looking statements because it believes such statements provide useful information with respect to the operation and financial performance of MCR, and cautions readers that the information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While MCR may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required by applicable law.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

Throughout this news release we use certain non-IFRS measures such as the term "EBIDTA" to analyze operating performance. We define EBITDA as operating revenues less operating expenses from continuing operations and therefore reflect earnings before interest, income tax, depreciation and amortization, non-controlling interest and any non-operating and non-recurring items.  These non-IFRS measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. These non-IFRS measures are referred to in this news release because we believe they are indicative measures of a company’s performance and are generally used by investors to evaluate companies in the resort operations and resort development industries. Figures used in calculation of EBITDA are in compliance with IFRS, therefore no reconciliation is needed.