Yew Bio-Pharm Group Announces Second-Quarter 2013 Results

HARBIN, China, Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Yew Bio-Pharm Group, Inc. ("Yew Bio" or the "Company") (OTCBB: YEWB), a major grower and seller of yew trees, yew raw materials used in the manufacture of traditional Chinese medicine and products made from yew timber in China, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013.

Second-Quarter Financial and Operating Highlights:

• Total revenues were $2.1 million, a 10.5% increase from $1.9 million in the year-ago quarter
• Revenue from the sale of yew trees was $0.8 million, an increase of 18.3% from the year-ago quarter
• Gross profit was $1.6 million, in line with the year-ago quarter.  The gross margin was 76.0%, as compared with 84.4% in the year-ago quarter
• Operating profit was $1.3 million, as compared to $1.5 million in the year-ago quarter
• Net income was $1.3 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, as compared to $1.5 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter

"We are pleased to report a solid increase in revenues driven by sales growth in all our product categories, which offset higher expenses in the second quarter of 2013," commented Mr. Zhiguo Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yew Bio. "We are building upon the recent approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for our stock to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board and the eligibility of our shares by the Depository Trust Corporation (DTC) for electronic trading by investors, and we look forward to sharing further details of our business with our shareholders in the future."

Total revenues in the second quarter of 2013 were $2.1 million, an increase of 10.5% from $1.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The revenue increase was primarily due to an 18.3% increase in revenue from sales of yew trees, and revenues increased year-over-year in all product categories.  Sales of TCM raw materials amounted to 49.8% of total revenues, sales of yew trees amounted to 47.6% of total revenues, and sales of handicrafts made up the remaining 2.6%.

Total cost of revenues was $0.5 million, a 69.8% increase from $0.3 million in the year-ago quarter.  Gross profit was $1.6 million, roughly in line with the year-ago quarter.  The gross margin was 76.0% in the quarter, as compared to 84.4% in the year-ago quarter. Gross margins declined year-over-year due to higher margins from the sale of yew trees being more than offset by lower margins from the sale of TCM raw materials and handicrafts.

Operating expenses were $0.3 million in the quarter, as compared to $0.2 million in the year-ago quarter.  Operating expenses increased year-over-year primarily due to higher general and administrative expense.  Operating income and net income was $1.3 million, as compared to operating income of $1.5 million in the year-ago quarter.

Net income in the second quarter of 2013 was $1.3 million, as compared to $1.5 million in the year-ago quarter.  Earnings per diluted share were $0.03, in line with the same period last year.

Six Months 2013 Financial Results

Total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2013 were $3.9 million, a 12.9% increase from $3.5 million in the same period last year.  The revenue increase was primarily due to a 13.5% increase in revenue from sales of yew trees, and revenues increased period-over-period in all product categories.  Sales of TCM raw materials amounted to 55.5% of total revenues, sales of yew trees amounted to 42.3% of total revenues, and sales of handicrafts made up the remaining 2.2%.

Total cost of revenues increased 27.8% to $1.1 million from $0.6 million in the same period last year.  Gross profit was $2.8 million, as compared to $2.9 million in the same period last year.  The gross margin was 72.2% in the six months ended June 30, 2013, as compared to 82.5% in the year-ago period. Gross margins declined year over year due to lower margins in all product categories.

Operating expenses were $0.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, as compared to $0.4 million in the same period last year.  Operating expenses increased year-over-year primarily due to higher general and administrative expense.  Operating income and net income was $2.3 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2013, as compared to operating income of $2.5 million in the same period last year.

Net income in the first half of 2013 was $2.3 million, as compared to $2.5 million in the year-ago quarter.  Earnings per diluted share were $0.05 in the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, in line with the same period last year.

ABOUT YEW BIO-PHARM GROUP, INC

Yew Bio-Pharm Group, Inc., through its operating entity, Harbin Yew Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. (HDS), is a major grower and seller of yew trees, yew raw materials used in the manufacture of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and products made from yew timber in China. Raw material from the species of yew tree that the Company grows contains taxol, and TCM containing yew raw materials has been approved as a traditional Chinese medicine in China for secondary treatment of certain cancers.  The Company uses a patented, accelerated growth technology to speed the growth and maturity and commercialization of yew trees and believes that it is one of the few companies possessing a permit to sell them.

SAFE HARBOR

This press release forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.  These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: our ability to collect from our largest customers; our dependence on a small number of customers for raw materials, including a related party; our ability to continue to purchase raw materials at relatively stable prices; our dependence on a small number of customers for our yew trees for reforestation; our ability to market successfully raw materials used in the manufacture of traditional Chinese medicines; and our ability to receive continued preferential tax treatment for the sale of yew trees and potted yew trees.  From time to time, these risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K.  Yew Bio does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

- financial tables follow-

SOURCE Yew Bio-Pharm Group, Inc.