WEIFANG, Shandong, China, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OTC:SGTI) (BULLETIN BOARD: SGTI) ("Shengtai" or "the Company"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality, pharmaceutical grade glucose products in China, today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 ended December 31, 2008. "Sales of our glucose products increased during the second quarter compared with the September quarter," said Mr. Qingtai Liu, Shengtai Pharmaceutical's CEO. "Sales of our cornstarch and other products were impacted in the second quarter due to lower demand from the food and beverage sector along with slower economic growth. We believe that the solid demand for glucose products and the increased healthcare spending included in the Chinese government's recently approved 850 billion RMB healthcare reform plan, will propel the continued growth of our domestic glucose business. With the growth of our higher-margin glucose business, we look to consume more cornstarch internally to feed our glucose production, as our cornstarch plant directly connects into our glucose plant through pipes, eliminating shipping, lowering manufacturing costs and ensuring quality. Furthermore, we are pleased to see the declining corn prices in recent months, which will help improve our margins." "On the sales front, our sales team is aggressively seeking new strategic partnerships, both domestically and internationally, to increase our market share and expand sales channels. In the midst of healthcare reform including new hospital build-out and increased healthcare budgets, many of our key customers are actively launching new products including higher margin non-PVC soft packaging transfusion products. We continue to engage with our current customers in an effort to increase their purchase volumes, as we seek to better understand their current procurement needs and new product development plans. With our new state-of-the-art glucose facilities, we now have the production capacity to meet the anticipated increase in glucose demand. We believe that we are well positioned to benefit from the fast growing healthcare spending in China," Mr. Liu concluded. Second Quarter Fiscal 2009 Financial Results Second quarter 2009 revenues were $14.80 million, as compared to $24.95 million reported in the second quarter of fiscal 2008. Sales of glucose products rose to $9.25 million during the second quarter, representing 62.5% of revenues and 12.7% quarter-over-quarter growth. Cornstarch sales for the quarter totaled $2.03 million or 13.7% of revenues. Sales of other products totaled $3.52 million, or 23.8% of revenues. Gross profit for the three months ended December 31, 2008, was $1.99 million compared with $5.87 million in the same period last year. Gross margin for the quarter was 13.5%, as compared with 23.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 primarily due to lower overall sales, reduced cornstarch and other products production, and higher depreciation costs from our new production facilities. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $2.32 million, an increase of $508,509 compared with the second quarter last year. The increase in SG&A expenses was mainly the result of higher labor costs. Non-cash stock option expenses for the quarter were $158,818. Operating income for the quarter was a loss of $328,730. Net loss for the second quarter 2009 was $473,887 compared with net income of $3.13 million for the year-ago same quarter. Financial Condition As of December 31, 2008, the Company's cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash increased to $13.2 million. The Company's total shareholders' equity amounted to $47.52 million. Business Outlook "For the 2009 third quarter, we expect sales of our pharmaceutical grade glucose will continue to grow and cornstarch and other products should begin to show a recovery," stated Mr. Qingtai Liu, Shengtai Pharmaceutical's CEO. "As we look further into the second half of our fiscal year 2009, we expect our domestic glucose business will further benefit as the government builds more rural hospitals and community health clinics as part of the 850 billion RMB health care reform package. As more patients receive basic health coverage, we believe there will be increased demand for our glucose as medical transfusions are the most common form of medical treatment in China. We continue to execute our plan to optimize our product portfolio by expanding our glucose business, which carries a higher gross margin than our cornstarch business. As an industry leader in the production of pharmaceutical grade glucose with about 40% of China's glucose market share, as well as being one of only three certified Dextrose Monohydrate manufacturer in China, we are confident in our long-term growth opportunities, and in our ability to succeed as a leading supplier of high-quality, pharmaceutical grade glucose products," Mr. Liu concluded. Conference Call The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Friday February 13, 2009 at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time / 10:00 P.M. Beijing Time. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation. Mr. Qingtai Liu (Chief Executive Officer), Ms. Yiru Melody Shi (Chief Financial Officer), and Ms. Haining Michelle Wang (Investor Relations Manager) will be the primary speakers on the call. To participate, please call the following numbers ten minutes before the call start time: Phone Number + 1 (877) 407-8035 (North America) Phone Number + 1 (201) 689-8035 (International) A live webcast of the conference call will be available by accessing the below website at http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=141087 or on the Investor Relations page of Shengtai Pharmaceutical's website at http://www.shengtaipharmaceutical.com/ . Please visit the website at least 15 minutes early to register for the webcast and download any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available through Saturday, February 21, 2009, at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. For the replay, please call: Phone Number +1 (877) 660-6853 (North America) Phone Number +1 (201) 612-7415 (International) Account Number: 286 Conference ID Number: 313673 About Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc. Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc. through its wholly owned subsidiary, Shengtai Holding, Inc. (SHI), and the Chinese operating company of Weifang Shengtai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., is a leading manufacturer and supplier of pharmaceutical grade glucose used for medical purposes. It also manufactures and supplies glucose and cornstarch products to the food, beverage and industrial production industries in China. For more information about Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc., please visit http://www.shengtaipharmaceutical.com/ . Forward-looking Statements Certain statements made in this news release, may contain forward-looking statements concerning the Company's business and products. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our ability to prepare the Company for growth, the Company's planned capacity expansion and predictions and guidance relating to the Company's future financial performance. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, but they involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors may include, but are not limited to, such factors as unanticipated changes in product demand especially in the pharmaceutical industry, pricing and demand trends for the Company's products, changes to government regulations, risk associated with operation of the Company's new facilities, risk associated with large-scale implementation of the Company's business plan, the ability to attract new customers, ability to increase its products' applications, cost of raw materials, downturns in the Chinese economy, and other information detailed from time to time in the Company's filings and future filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations. Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income and Other Comprehensive Income For the three and six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited) Three months ended Six months ended December 31, December 31, 2008 2007 2008 2007 SALES REVENUE $14,795,746 $24,954,288 $32,919,474 $44,327,357 COST OF SALES 12,801,591 19,086,274 27,732,778 33,865,306 GROSS PROFIT 1,994,155 5,868,014 5,186,696 10,462,051 SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 2,322,885 1,814,376 4,752,675 3,510,931 INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS (328,730) 4,053,638 434,021 6,951,120 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): Earnings on equity investment 31,561 977 33,412 149,756 Other income 43,312 69,962 55,181 109,709 Other expense (242,202) (26,495) (251,112) (203,844) Interest expense and other charges (41,667) (519,417) (63,506) (935,881) Interest income 79,380 32,243 96,673 98,404 Other income (expense), net (129,616) (442,730) (129,352) (781,856) INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (458,346) 3,610,908 304,669 6,169,264 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 15,541 481,323 148,760 787,168 NET INCOME (LOSS) (473,887) 3,129,585 155,909 5,382,096 OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME: Foreign currency translation adjustments 123,453 140,556 287,726 1,412,651 COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) $(350,434) $3,270,141 $443,635 $6,794,747 EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE Basic $(0.02) $0.17 $0.01 $0.28 Diluted $(0.02) $0.15 $0.01 $0.27 WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES Basic 19,123,338 18,961,992 19,109,149 18,918,496 Diluted 19,123,338 20,296,006 19,109,149 20,000,956 Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets As of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008 ASSETS December 31, June 30, 2008 2008 (Unaudited) CURRENT ASSETS: Cash $6,881,595 $3,405,606 Restricted cash 6,319,465 6,763,500 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $493,507 and $440,701 as of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, respectively 6,192,651 7,614,236 Notes receivable 703,206 458,630 Other receivables 175,554 691,215 Inventories 6,773,059 5,039,278 Prepayments 217,503 310,381 Loan to related party 440,100 -- Total current assets 27,703,133 24,282,846 PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net 70,803,112 69,943,021 OTHER ASSETS: Investment in Changle Shengshi Redian Co., Ltd. 3,665,602 3,607,912 Loan to related party - noncurrent -- 437,700 Intangible assets - land use right, net of accumulated amortization 3,032,706 3,042,183 Total other assets 6,698,308 7,087,795 Total assets $105,204,553 $101,313,662 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable $7,377,921 $7,669,728 Accounts payable - related parties 1,104,312 714,776 Notes payable - banks 10,767,780 10,942,500 Short term loans 23,266,620 22,658,270 Accrued liabilities 257,281 261,187 Other payable 2,474,936 2,146,108 Employee loans 1,080,531 1,382,287 Employee loan - officer 53,871 53,605 Third party loan 242,783 640,228 Customer deposit 1,203,835 804,323 Taxes payable 2,863,436 4,631,252 Current portion of capital lease obligations 58,445 -- Total current liabilities 50,751,751 51,904,264 LONG TERM LIABILITIES: Capital lease obligation, net of current portion 5,076,055 -- Other payable - noncurrent 1,859,323 2,653,995 Total long term liabilities 6,935,378 2,653,995 Total liabilities 57,687,129 54,558,259 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES -- -- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding -- -- Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 19,169,805 and 19,094,805 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, respectively 19,170 19,095 Paid-in capital 20,306,019 19,987,708 Statutory reserves 3,003,993 2,894,902 Retained earnings 19,183,395 19,136,577 Accumulated other comprehensive income 5,004,847 4,717,121 Total shareholders' equity 47,517,424 46,755,403 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $105,204,553 $101,313,662 Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited) 2008 2007 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $155,909 $5,382,096 Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Depreciation 2,124,286 1,187,166 Amortization 26,110 23,820 Bad debt expense 77,061 -- Stock option expense 317,636 -- (Gain) Loss on equipment disposal 201,766 (90,098) Loss on disposal of land use right -- 5,955 Earnings on equity investment (33,412) (149,756) Change in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 1,383,582 (311,689) Notes receivable (243,183) (772,571) Other receivables 482,406 1,186,223 Other receivables - related party -- 2,531,257 Other receivables - shareholder -- 1,254,248 Inventories (1,703,009) 159,692 Prepayments (1,549,571) (472,365) Accounts payable 1,492,834 (1,668,080) Accounts payable - related parties (717,373) (293,176) Accrued liabilities - related party (61,824) -- Accrued liabilities 1,102,279 (150,906) Other payable (2,538,294) (313,162) Customer deposit 394,375 417,062 Payable - officer -- 31,145 Taxes payable (1,789,911) 1,671,334 Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (878,333) 9,628,195 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of plant and equipment (1,033) (28,455) Proceeds from equipment disposal 5,125,050 34,733 Additions to construction in progress (841,746) (5,865,225) Acquisition of land use right -- (317,183) Purchase of software program -- (5,343) Advances on plant and equipment purchase -- (5,226,396) Loan repayment from related party -- 667,950 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 4,282,271 (10,739,919) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Decrease in restricted cash 479,144 3,842,060 Borrowings on notes payable - banks 10,747,962 1,335,900 Payments on notes payable - banks (10,982,250) (9,084,120) Borrowings on short term loans 4,392,900 3,566,853 Payments on short term loans (3,909,682) (7,440,963) Borrowings on employee loans 787,061 1,271,112 Payments on employee loans (1,095,828) (137,616) Borrowings on third party loan 113,633 1,781,556 Payments on long term loans (513,852) -- Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock 750 506,493 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 19,838 (4,358,725) EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGE IN CASH 52,213 96,016 INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH 3,475,989 (5,374,433) CASH, beginning of period 3,405,606 6,420,439 CASH, end of period $6,881,595 $1,046,006 For more information, please contact: Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc. Ms. Yiru Melody Shi Chief Financial Officer Email: Grayling Eddie Cheung Investor Relations Tel: +1-646-284-9414 Email: DATASOURCE: Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc. CONTACT: Ms. Yiru Melody Shi, Chief Financial Officer of Shengtai Pharmaceutical, Inc., ; or Eddie Cheung, Investor Relations, Grayling, +1-646-284-9414, Web site: http://www.shengtaipharmaceutical.com/

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