Full Press Release Details
China Jo-Jo Drugstores Reports Fiscal Year 2022
HANGZHOU, China, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc. (NASDAQ: CJJD) ("Jo-Jo Drugstores" or the "Company"), a leading online
and offline retailer, wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical and other healthcare products and healthcare provider in China, today announced
its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.
Mr. Lei Liu, Chairman and CEO of Jo-Jo Drugstores,
commented, "We are pleased with our fiscal year 2022 financial results, which reflect our continued growth momentum that we have
achieved overall improvement across all key financial metrics. Compared with fiscal year 2021, our total revenue and gross profit increased
by 23.5% and 24.9%, respectively, while our net loss narrowed down by 61.8%. Our solid financial performance demonstrates the resilience
of our business and the reliability of our current business strategies in the current challenging market amid COVID-19 pandemic. Through
leveraging the advantage of our stable supplier network, extensive distribution channels, and deep customer connections, we have proven
our capability to execute our multifaceted growth plan and scale our business. Our dedicated team continues to provide high-quality services
to customers, which has improved our brand awareness, strengthened customer relationships and distinguished us from peers in the market."
Mr. Liu continued, "The project of 'Healthy
China 2030' advances the healthcare sector reforms and greatly enhances overall medical service quality and efficiency in China. We remain
confident in the business we've built and our ability to capture the significant opportunity going forward brought by the project
of 'Healthy China 2030'. We will continue to focus on executing our growth strategy and drive initiatives to deliver sustainable
development. To realize the potential of our business model, we have enhanced various information and data systems, continued to develop
the management system for patients with chronic diseases, upgraded our 'Medical + Medicine' business model, introduced digital services,
developed 24-hour service stores, launched a new Office Automation system, and accelerated comprehensive budget management. We look forward
to bringing our excellent services and products to more customers and continuing to add value to our existing customers. We will keep
our efforts in investing in our team and business, expanding our distribution network, growing our customer base and building continued
momentum toward our growth objectives. We believe that we are well-positioned to deliver profitable growth over the long-term and generate
long-term shareholder value."
Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Highlights
| For the Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| ($ millions, except per share data) | 2022 | 2021 | % Change | |||||||||
| Revenue | 164.39 | 133.13 | 23.5 | % | ||||||||
| Retail drugstores | 84.23 | 76.10 | 10.7 | % | ||||||||
| Online pharmacy | 30.22 | 22.48 | 34.4 | % | ||||||||
| Wholesale | 49.94 | 34.55 | 44.6 | % | ||||||||
| Gross profit | 36.52 | 29.24 | 24.9 | % | ||||||||
| Gross margin | 22.2 | % | 22.0 | % | 0.2 pp | * | ||||||
| Loss from operations | (2.69 | ) | (8.84 | ) | 69.5 | % | ||||||
| Net loss | (3.20 | ) | (8.38 | ) | 61.8 | % | ||||||
| Loss per share | (0.92 | ) | (2.39 | ) | 61.5 | % |
Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Revenue for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022
increased by $31.25 million, or 23.5%, to $164.39 million from $133.13 million for the same period of last year. The increase in revenue
was primarily due to the growth in retail drugstores, online pharmacy and wholesale business.
| For the Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ millions) | Revenue | Cost of Goods | Gross Margin | Revenue | Cost of Goods | Gross Margin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Retail drugstores | 84.23 | 57.29 | 32.0 | % | 76.10 | 53.09 | 30.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Online pharmacy | 30.22 | 26.62 | 11.9 | % | 22.48 | 20.15 | 10.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Wholesale | 49.94 | 43.96 | 12.0 | % | 34.55 | 30.65 | 11.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 164.39 | 127.87 | 22.2 | % | 133.13 | 103.89 | 22.0 | % |
Revenue from the retail drugstores business increased
by $8.13 million, or 10.7%, to $84.23 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 from $76.10 million for the same period of last
year. After excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuation, the actual retail drugstores sales increased by 5.2%. The actual increase
in retail drugstore sales was primarily due to continuous adjustments of merchandises, suitable to the market and improved store employee
incentive plan, and contribution from the new store sales.
Revenue from the online pharmacy business increased
by $7.74 million, or 34.4%, to $30.22 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 from $22.48 million for the same period of last
year. The increase was primarily caused by sales to commercial insurance customers via the Company's official website and an increase
in sales of prescription drugs via e-commerce platforms such as Tmall. The sales via the Company's official website were primarily
made by certain pharmacy benefit management providers and insurance companies. For example, the Company has signed a service contract
with Yingda Taihe Life Insurance Co. Ltd. ("Yingda"), a national insurance company. Certain companies bought private
health insurances from Yingda for their employees. By linking the Company's online pharmacy platform with Yingda and training Yingda's
employees, they are able to buy health products on the Company's online stores. The sales from these customers contributed significantly
to the Company's official website sales.
Prescription drugs used to be prohibited from
online sales due to safety concern. After the nation has lifted the ban order, online prescription drug sales become popular. As a result,
the sale of prescription drugs was $10.33 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 as compared to $8.24 million for the same period
Revenue from the wholesale business increased
by $15.39 million, or 44.6%, to $49.94 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, from $34.55 million for the same period of last
year. In order to obtain rebates from its major suppliers, the Company is required to make more purchase from the suppliers. To quickly
resell these products, the Company chose to lower its sales price to local vendors, which in turn helped increase the sales significantly.
Gross profit and gross margin
Total cost of goods sold increased by $23.98 million,
or 23.1%, to $127.87 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, from $103.89 million for the same period of last year. Gross profit
increased by $7.28 million, or 24.9%, to $36.52 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 from $29.24 million for the same period
of last year. Overall gross margin increased by 0.2 percentage points to 22.2% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, from 22.0% for
the same period of last year, due to higher retail drugstores profit margins.
Gross margins for retail drugstores, online pharmacy
and wholesale were 32.0%, 11.9%, and 12.0%, respectively, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared to gross margins for retail
drugstores, online pharmacy and wholesale of 30.2%, 10.4%, and 11.3%, respectively, for the same period of last year.
Loss from operations
Selling and marketing expenses increased by $3.93
million, or 14.6%, to $30.88 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 from $26.95 million for the same period of last year. The
increase in selling and marketing expenses was primarily due to increase in rent and the sales and marketing expenses.
General and administrative expenses decreased
by $2.71 million, or 24.9%, to $8.19 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 from $10.90 million for the same period of last
year. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to the decrease in stock-based compensation, offset by the
increase in bad debt expense. In December 2020, the Company issued a total of 3,790,000 shares of common stock and recorded stock-based
compensation of approximately $3.94 million. In the year ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded the reduction in the allowance for
bad debts of $0.17 million as compared to the increase in the allowance for bad debts of $1.0 million in fiscal year 2022.
Loss from operations was $2.69 million for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared to $8.84 million for the same period of last year. Operating margin was (1.6) % and (6.6)%
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Net loss was $3.20 million, or $0.92 per basic
and diluted share for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared to net loss of $8.38 million, or $2.39 per basic and diluted share
for the same period of last year.
As of March 31, 2022, the
Company had cash of $18.46 million, compared to $22.05 million as of March 31, 2021. Net cash used in operating activities was $5.39 million
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared to $0.06 million for the same period of last year. The change is primarily attributable
to a decrease in cash provided by accounts payable of $9,938,165, a decrease in cash provided by stock compensation of $3,941,600, a decrease
in cash provided by other receivables of $2,396,659 offset by an increase of $5,138,115 in inventories and biological assets, an increase
in cash provided by net loss of $5,177,212. Net cash used in investing activities was $0.31 million for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2022, compared to $2.00 million for the same period of last year. The change is primarily attributable to an increase in cash provided
by investment in a joint venture of $1,470,119 and an increase of $170,445 in additions to leasehold improvements. Net cash provided by
financing activities was $4.84 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared to $3.08 million for the same period of last
year. The change is primarily due to repayment of notes payable and proceeds from equity and debt financing.
About China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc.
China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc. ("Jo-Jo
Drugstores" or the "Company"), is a leading online and offline retailer and wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical
and other healthcare products and a provider of healthcare services in China. Jo-Jo Drugstores currently operates an online pharmacy
and retail drugstores with licensed doctors on site for consultation, examination and treatment of common ailments at scheduled hours.
It is also a wholesale distributor of products similar to those carried in its pharmacies. For more information about the Company, please
visit http://jiuzhou360.com. The Company routinely posts important information on its website.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains information about
the Company's view of its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may
differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including,
but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with its ability to raise additional funding, its ability to maintain and grow
its business, variability of operating results, its ability to maintain and enhance its brand, its development and introduction of new