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Wonder Auto Reports Its Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Financial Results

JINZHOU CITY, China, Feb. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Wonder Auto Technology, Inc. ("Wonder Auto" or the "Company"), a leading supplier of automotive electric parts, suspension products and engine components in China, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

  Operational Highlights for Year 2009:
  -- Established a foundation for capacity expansion and strategic
     acquisition through recent financing of approx $70 million;
  -- Sales revenue increased 49.5% year-over-year to a record $211.0 million;
  -- Gross profit rose 41.0% year-over-year to $51.4 million;
  -- Net income attributable to Wonder Auto increased 20.9% year-over-year
     to $22.9 million;
  -- Non-GAAP EPS* was $ 0.86 for the full year 2009, compared with Non-GAAP
     EPS $0.73 in 2008.

  *[Notes]:
                               For the year ended     For the year ended
                               December 31, 2009      December 31, 2008

  GAAP EPS                           $0.82                  $0.70
  Stock-based compensation           $0.04                  $0.03
  Non-GAAP EPS                       $0.86                  $0.73

Mr. Zhao, CEO and Chairman of Wonder Auto commented, "Although we have experienced economic downturn, China's auto popularization was still improving. In 2009, Wonder Auto has successfully captured the dramatic development of China's auto market and our sales revenue increased nearly 50% year over year. Our management team is quite optimistic to Wonder Auto's rapid growth in both market share and capitalization in the following years, especially with the recent financing from the stock market last November."

Business outlook

For the first quarter of 2010, sales revenue is expected to be approximately $58.0 million.

  Growth drivers
  -- China economy growth, as GDP growth rate was 8.7% in 2009
  -- The purchasing desire from Chinese car buyers had been activated
  -- Stimulus programs from Chinese government for Chinese auto industry,
     such as purchase tax reduction, cars to the countryside program,
     subsidy for trade-in cars.

  Selected Financial Results for the Full Year Ended December 31, 2009

Sales revenue in 2009 rose to a record high of $211.0 million, which was a 49.5% increase from $141.2 million in 2008. Revenue from alternators and starters increased $27.8 million, and the sales of rod and shaft products contributed $21.2 million and engine valves valve tappets contributed $46.6 million to revenue. The increase was mainly attributable to the growing market demand for our cost effective and high quality products.

In 2009, gross profit increased 41.0% to a record of $51.4 million from a gross profit of $36.4 million in 2008. Gross margin was 24.3% in 2009 compared with 25.8% for the year 2008. The decreased gross margin was due to the changes of product portfolio, when the majority of our products sold for mid- to small-sized engine vehicles. And this category of products has relatively low gross margin.

Operating expenses for 2009 increased $10.4 million, to $23.6 million from $13.3 million of 2008. The increase was primarily due to the new non-cash stock-based compensation, which was $1.2 million, and from the operating expenses of Jinan Worldwide, which was $7.1 million for the year 2009 compared to $1.4 million in the last quarter of 2008.

The increased administrative expenses were primarily due to administrative expenses of the newly acquired subsidiaries, higher expenses on legal, audit, and due diligence work for acquisitions, maintenance fees as a Nasdaq-listed company. In addition, a non-cash stock-based compensation of $1.2 million was incurred from the newly launched stock option plan. The increase of research and development costs is primarily attributable to the research and development of new and existing products, especially for alternative energy vehicle parts. As a percentage of revenue, research and development expenses increased 83.7% year-over-year from $1.6 million, or 1.2% of sales revenue, in 2008, to $3.0 million, or 1.4% of sales revenue, in 2009. Selling expenses increased to $7.8 million compared with $4.1 million in 2008. The increased selling expenses were mainly caused by the newly acquired subsidiaries.

Income before income taxes and non-controlling interests increased $3.5 million, or 15.0%, to $27.1 million in 2009 from $23.5 million in 2008. Income before income taxes and non-controlling interests as a percentage of revenue was 12.8% in 2009.

Net income attributable to Wonder Auto increased $3.9 million, or 20.9%, to $22.9 million in 2009 from $18.9 million in 2008. The Non-GAAP net income increased $4.4 million, or 22.5%, to $24.0 million in 2009 from $19.6 million in 2008. Non-GAAP EPS was $0.86 in 2009, without considering the non-cash stock-based compensation of $1.2 million incurred from the stock option plan.

As of December 31, 2009, Wonder Auto had $82.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of $15.8 million, a current ratio of 1.7-to-1, working capital of $97.8 million, and $20.9 million long-term bank loan. Total Wonder Auto Stockholders' equity increased to $192.7 million. As of December 31, 2009, the value of property, plant and equipment rose to $73.8 million from $69.1 million as of December 31, 2008.

Events overview

On November 2009, Wonder Auto closed a follow-on offering of 6.9 million shares of common stock at a public offering price of $10.75 per share.

On October 30, 2009, Wonder Auto's subsidiaries Jinzhou Wonder Motor Co., Ltd. and Jinzhou Halla Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd. have entered into framework agreements with Jinzhou Wonder Alternative Energy Vehicle Technology Co., Ltd., for the supply of electric motors to Jinzhou AEV for use in its electric and alternative energy vehicles. The Company expects the aggregate value of the agreements to be approximately US$6.13 million.

On September 28, 2009, Wonder Auto's subsidiary Jinzhou Halla entered into a joint development agreement with Shenzhen BYD Auto Company Limited ("Shenzhen BYD") to design and develop alternator prototypes for Shenzhen BYD's F3/F3R sedan models, which have engine sizes between 1.3 liters and 1.5 liters, and were among the top ten best-selling models in China in the first nine months in 2009.

On September 22, 2009, Wonder Auto's subsidiary Jinzhou Wanyou Mechanical Parts Co., Ltd. acquired Friend Birch Limited. By the acquisition, Jinzhou Wanyou expanded its capacity to meet increasing customer demand.

On July 3, 2009, our subsidiary, Jingzhou Halla closed the acquisition of 100% ownership of Yearcity Limited. As a result of our acquisition of Jinan Worldwide, we have become one of the largest engine valves and tappets manufacturers in China.

In April 2009, Mr. Xiaoyu Zhang and Mr. Xianzhang Wang were appointed to be the Company's new independent directors. The Company values the two outstanding experts as tremendous assets for the company as they will be of immense benefit to the company attributable to their background. Mr. Xiaoyu Zhang is the president of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China and the vice president of China Machinery Industry Federation. Mr. Xianzhang Wang is the president of the Insurance Association of China and vice president of China Insurance Academy.

In February 2009, the Company won the bid to supply starters to Dongfeng Automotive Co., Ltd with prototype deliveries for road testing to be commenced in 2009. The expected revenue under this agreement will be approximately $20 million during the period of 2011 to 2015 progressively.

Conference call

The company will host a conference call on Thursday, February 11 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Standard time. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation. Mr. Qingjie Zhao (Chairman & CEO), Mr. Ryan Yuan (CFO) and Mr. Patrick Sun (IR Manager) will be the primary speakers for the call.

To participate, please call the following numbers ten minutes before the call start time:

  International Toll Free Dial-in Number(s):
  Phone number:   +1 8662421388       (United States)
  Phone number:   +852 800968831      (Hong Kong)
  Phone number:   +86 10 8002640084   (China, China Telecom)
  Phone number:   +86 10 8006400084   (China, NetCom Users)
  Phone number:   +44 08082347860     (United Kingdom)
  Conference ID:  54026566

A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the investor relations page of Wonder Auto's web site at http://www.watg.cn/ .

About Wonder Auto

Based in Jinzhou City, Liaoning, China, Wonder Auto Technology, Inc., through its Chinese subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures and sells automotive electrical parts, suspension products and engine components. Wonder Auto ranked second and third in sales revenue in the Chinese market for automobile alternators and starters in 2008, respectively. Wonder Auto's products are used in a wide range of passenger and commercial automobiles with special focus on the fast-growing small- to medium-engine passenger vehicle market. For more information, please log on http://www.watg.cn/ .

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may include certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts, but are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning our expected 2009 financial results, our expected financial performance in 2010 and future strategic and operational plans, our future operating results, our expectations regarding the market for our products, our expectations regarding the continued growth of the automobile market, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs about our relative strength and about future events. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will," "believe," "expect," "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "future," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "estimate" or similar expressions. Such information is based upon assumptions and expectations of our management that were reasonable when made but may prove to be incorrect. All of such assumptions and expectations are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies beyond our control and based upon premises with respect to future business decisions, which are subject to change. We do not undertake to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, except as required under applicable law. For a description of the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, see our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and our subsequent SEC filings. Copies of filings made with the SEC are available through the SEC's electronic data gathering analysis retrieval system at http://www.sec.gov/ . All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release.

  For more information, please contact:

   Patrick Sun
   Investor Relations Manager
   Tel:   +86-10-8478-5339
   Cell:  +86-153-1161-1742
   Email: ir@watg.cn

  Wonder Auto Technology, Inc.
  Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
   (Stated in US Dollars)

                                           Year ended December 31,
                                     2009            2008          2007

  Sales revenue                 $211,024,016    $141,189,559  $102,083,722
  Cost of sales                  159,659,681     104,750,150    76,459,944

  Gross profit                    51,364,335      36,439,409    25,623,778

  Operating expenses
      Administrative expenses     11,673,683       6,827,200     3,565,332
      Stock-based
       compensation                1,171,935         706,295            --
      Research and
       development expenses        3,026,895       1,647,888     1,135,997
      Selling expenses             7,767,770       4,093,413     3,290,689
      Unusual charge - make
       good provision                     --              --    18,265,500
                                  23,640,283      13,274,796    26,257,518

  Income/(loss) from
   operations                     27,724,052      23,164,613      (633,740)
      Other income                 1,177,215       1,359,883       287,322
      Government grants            2,754,978         192,882     1,496,547
      Net finance costs           (4,577,660)     (2,246,099)   (2,409,021)
      Equity in net income of
       non-consolidated
        affiliates                        --       1,072,788        34,147

  Income/(loss) before income
   taxes and Noncontrolling
   interests                      27,078,585      23,544,067    (1,224,745)
  Income taxes                    (3,223,881)     (2,174,948)   (1,389,008)

  Net income before
   noncontrolling interests       23,854,704      21,369,119    (2,613,753)
  Net income attributable to
   noncontrolling interests         (996,114)     (2,460,352)   (1,136,694)

  Net income/(loss)
   attributable to Wonder
   Auto Technology, Inc.
   common stockholders           $22,858,590     $18,908,767   $(3,750,447)

  Net income/(loss) before
   noncontrolling interests       23,854,704      21,369,119    (2,613,753)
  Other comprehensive income
      Foreign currency
       translation adjustments       149,199       4,613,096     3,132,459

  Comprehensive income            24,003,903      25,982,215       518,706
  Comprehensive income/(loss)
   attributable to
   noncontrolling interests         (996,881)     (3,071,210)   (1,299,259)

  Comprehensive income/(loss)
   attributable to Wonder Auto
   Technology, Inc. common
   stockholders                  $23,007,022     $22,911,005     $(780,553)

  Earnings/(loss) per share
   attributable to Wonder
   Auto Technology, Inc.
   common stockholders:
      basic                            $0.82           $0.70        $(0.16)
      diluted                          $0.82             N/A           N/A
  Weighted average number of
   shares
      outstanding: basic          27,829,583      26,959,994    24,140,816
              diluted             27,843,009             N/A           N/A

  Wonder Auto Technology, Inc.
  Consolidated Balance Sheets
  (Stated in US Dollars)

                                                     As of December 31,
                                                  2009             2008
  ASSETS
      Current assets
          Cash and cash equivalents           $82,414,287       $8,159,156
          Restricted cash                      15,753,748       24,181,645
          Trade receivables, net               49,522,583       46,571,619
          Bills receivable                     21,965,065        8,388,926
          Other receivables,
           prepayments and deposits            14,826,460       16,408,304
          Inventories                          51,119,562       44,016,192
          Amount due from Hony Capital                 --        7,637,216
          Income tax recoverable                       --          289,000
          Deferred taxes                        1,186,410        1,075,766

      Total current assets                    236,788,115      156,727,824
      Intangible assets                        32,907,720       22,062,560
      Property, plant and equipment,
       net                                     73,770,329       69,131,579
      Land use rights                          10,618,853       10,391,527
      Deposit for acquisition of
       property, plant and equipment            7,435,563        3,845,774
      Deferred taxes                              731,575          870,500

  TOTAL ASSETS                               $362,252,155     $263,029,764

  LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

  LIABILITIES
      Current liabilities
          Trade payables                   $34,126,534         $21,616,932
          Bills payable                     29,388,653          31,247,100
          Other payables and
           accrued expenses                 14,886,909          20,465,014
          Provision for warranty             2,272,322           2,377,620
          Income tax payable                   892,340                  --
          Payable to Hony Capital                   --          10,187,216
          Secured borrowings                57,082,779          44,055,803
          Early retirement
           benefits cost                       353,584             419,301

      Total current liabilities            139,003,121         130,368,986

      Secured borrowings                    20,908,721          16,054,478
      Deferred revenue -
       government grants                     3,315,762           2,806,777
      Early retirement
       benefits cost                           550,397             798,115

  TOTAL LIABILITIES                        163,778,001         150,028,356

  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Preferred stock: par value
       $0.0001 per share; authorized
       10,000,000 shares in 2009 and
       2008; none issued and
       outstanding                                  --                  --
      Common stock: par value $0.0001
       per share Authorized 90,000,000
       shares in 2009 and 2008; issued
       and outstanding 33,859,994 in
       2009 and 26,959,994 shares in
       2008                                      3,386               2,696
          Additional paid-in
           capital                         137,542,702          71,349,599
          Statutory and other
           reserves                         10,186,701           7,628,541
          Accumulated other
           comprehensive
           income                            9,647,051           8,424,270
          Retained earnings                 35,270,596          14,654,587

  TOTAL WONDER AUTO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
   STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                    192,650,436         102,059,693

  NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS                   5,823,718          10,941,715

  TOTAL EQUITY                             198,474,154         113,001,408

  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY            $362,252,155        $263,029,764

  Wonder Auto Technology, Inc.
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
  (Stated in US Dollars)

                                          Year ended December 31,
                                     2009            2008          2007
  Cash flows from operating
   activities
    Net income/(loss)            $23,854,704     $21,369,119   $(2,613,753)
    Adjustments to reconcile
     net income/(loss) to net
     cash provided by
     operating activities:
      Depreciation                 5,858,870       3,734,534     2,014,045
      Amortization of
       intangible assets and
       land use right                687,148         169,641        90,712
      Deferred taxes                  26,640        (112,140)     (263,993)
      Loss/(gain) on disposal
       of property, plant and
       equipment                     299,018        (129,374)       20,255
      Gain on disposal of Man
       Do Auto Technology Co.,
       Ltd.                               --              --          (500)
      Loss on disposal of non-
       consolidated affiliate             --         122,788            --
      Provision for
       doubtful debts                180,718           8,577         2,159
      Provision of obsolete
       inventories                 1,018,826          46,917        39,115
      Exchange loss/(gain) on
       translation of monetary
       assets and liabilities        195,307      (1,242,479)      532,738
      Equity in net income of
       non-consolidated
       affiliate                          --      (1,072,788)      (34,147)
      Share-based compensation     1,171,935         706,295            --
      Deferred revenue
       amortized                    (260,372)        (59,848)           --
      Unusual charge -
       make good provision                --              --    18,265,500
    Changes in operating
     assets and liabilities:
      Trade receivables           (2,959,820)      2,993,828   (10,651,989)
      Bills receivable           (13,570,634)      6,251,024    (6,504,351)
      Other receivables,
      prepayments and
       deposits                    4,380,259      (3,948,637)        2,902
      Inventories                 (7,043,479)    (14,773,890)    2,265,298
      Trade payables              12,040,815         (53,217)    2,554,508
      Bills payable               (1,846,976)       (956,502)    5,110,761
      Amount due from a
       related company                    --          78,516            --
      Other payables and
       accrued expenses           (6,608,069)     (2,644,372)    1,099,131
      Provision for warranty        (105,569)        262,316         6,124
      Income tax payable           1,151,157      (1,526,913)      235,971
      Early retirement
       benefits cost                (313,139)       (117,834)           --

  Net cash flows provided by
   operating activities          $18,157,339      $9,105,561   $12,170,486

  Wonder Auto Technology, Inc.
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Cont'd)
  (Stated in US Dollars)

                                            Year ended December 31,
                                       2009           2008         2007
  Cash flows from investing
   activities
      Payments to acquire
       intangible assets             $(155,622)   $(1,472,868)     $(1,982)
      Payments to acquire land
       use right                            --     (1,856,268)          --
      Payments to acquire and
       for deposit for
       acquisition of
       property, plant and
       equipment                   (12,959,259)   (17,308,878)  (8,023,761)
      Proceeds from sales of
       property, plant and
       equipment                        30,592        242,044       25,803
      Proceeds from sales of
       Money Victory Limited         5,950,000             --           --
      Advanced to Winning           (8,013,693)            --           --
      Net cash paid to acquire
       Jinzhou Wanyou               (1,705,437)      (293,400) (14,146,485)
      Net cash paid to acquire
       Friend Birch                (11,728,042)            --           --
      Net cash paid to acquire
       Jinzhou Dongwoo                      --             --   (2,420,000)
      Cash inflow from disposal
       of Man Do                            --             --          500
      Net cash paid to acquire
       Jinzhou Hanhua                       --     (4,040,472)          --
      Net cash paid to acquire
       Jinzhou Karham                       --       (703,712)          --
      Net cash paid to acquire
       Money Victory                        --     (5,000,000)          --
      Net cash paid to acquire
       Fuxin Huirui                         --       (140,990)          --
      Net cash paid to acquire
       Yearcity                     (9,936,057)    (6,691,434)          --

  Net cash flows used in
   investing activities            (38,517,518)   (37,265,978) (24,565,925)

  Cash flows from financing
   activities
      Government grants
       received                        769,006             --           --
      Decrease/(Increase) in
       restricted cash               8,418,349      2,293,532   (3,736,383)
      Dividend paid to Winning              --       (644,030)    (343,934)
      Dividend paid to minority
       stockholders                 (1,320,385)    (1,653,271)    (743,240)
      Proceeds from secured
       borrowings                   79,457,451     18,426,341   29,486,379
      Repayment of secured
       borrowings                  (61,781,846)    (9,196,570) (18,161,716)
      Net proceeds from issue
       of shares                    68,994,141             --   22,730,461

  Net cash flows provided by
   financing activities             94,536,716      9,226,002   29,231,567

  Effect of foreign currency
   translation on cash
   and cash equivalents                 78,594        990,578    1,063,166

  Net increase / (decrease) in
   cash and cash equivalents        74,255,131    (17,943,837)  17,899,294

  Cash and cash equivalents -
   beginning of year                 8,159,156     26,102,993    8,203,699

  Cash and cash equivalents -
   end of year                     $82,414,287     $8,159,156  $26,102,993

  Supplemental disclosures for cash
   flow information:
    Cash paid for:
        Interest                      $4,418,494    $2,849,664  $1,445,534
        Income taxes                  $2,023,001    $2,464,548  $1,316,837

  Cash investing activities:
  Acquisitions
    Fair value of assets
     acquired                         $9,823,946  $101,208,984  $3,149,361
    Fair value of liabilities
     assumed                          $3,107,514   $86,049,295    $309,044