(1) Adjusted net income and EPS excludes a non-cash gain of $1.9 million related to changes in fair value of warrants for the year ended December 31, 2010.
BEIJING, March 31, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) ("ChinaNet" or the "Company"), a leading full-service B2B fully integrated Internet service provider for small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") to expand their sales networks in China, today announced fourth quarter and year-end financial results.
Summary Financials
(2) Non-GAAP net income and EPS excludes a non-cash loss of $3.2 million related to changes in fair value of warrants for the three month period ended December 31, 2009.
Fourth Quarter 2010 Financial Results
Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2010 were $10.4 million compared to $10.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2009. In concert with management's plan and focus for 2010, internet advertising increased 72.2% year-over-year to $8.8 million, and comprised 84.7% of total revenue. Growth was driven by focused marketing campaigns which resulted in net new customer additions, including new premium franchise customers, which was complemented by the sale of additional web based services to the installed customer base. Lower margin TV production and advertising service revenues declined 71.8% year-over-year to approximately $1.4 million or 13.6% of total revenues. As of December 31, 2010, the number of active customers, including branded clients for the Company's internet advertising business was 883, which was up 16% from the third quarter. The number of customers utilizing the TV advertising business was about 175 and approximately 20% of these customers were serviced by both platforms. On account of the client marketing budget and the nature of their business, they practically do not use TV advertising on a regular month-over-month basis.
"Our fourth quarter results demonstrate further execution of our internet advertising based growth strategy and the inherent operating leverage in our business model," stated Mr. Handong Cheng, Chairman and CEO of the Company. "The decision to allocate resources toward growing our 28.com customer base helped us expand margins and grow both earnings and cash flows. As we introduce new services to monetize our installed base of advertising customers, we see substantial opportunities to further expand our market share in the rapidly growing SME franchise market."
Cost of sales for the three months ended December 31, 2010 was approximately $3.2 million, down 40.2% due to a significant reduction in purchased television advertisement time from TV networks and local stations.
Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $7.2 million, representing gross margin of 69.5%, compared to $5.1 million in gross profit and a gross margin of 49% in the fourth quarter of 2009. Higher revenues in the Company's core internet service and advertising business, 28.com were responsible for the increase in gross profit. Gross margins in internet advertising and TV were 78.3% and 13.1%, respectively during the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to 79.3% and 17.7% in the corresponding period in 2009.
Operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2010 were approximately $2.6 million, up 31.6% from corresponding period in 2009. Selling expenses for the period were $1.2 million, up 28.5% from $0.9 million from the fourth quarter of 2009. Research and development expenses grew by 130.3% year-over-year to $0.3 million. General and administrative expenses were $1.1 million and $0.9 million in the fourth quarter 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2010 totaled $4.7 million, a 47.9% increase from the $3.2 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2009. Operating margins improved 1454 basis points year-over-year to 44.8% during the fourth quarter of 2010.
GAAP net income for the fourth quarter 2010 was $4.7 million, an increase of 495.8% compared to $0.8 million reported in the same period of the prior year, while adjusted net income increased 19.9% to $4.7 million from $3.9 million reported in the same period 2009. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter 2010 was $0.23 compared to $0.02 reported in the same period of the prior year, while adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.23 in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to $0.18 in the same period in 2009, based on 20.9 million and 21.4 million outstanding shares, respectively. Adjusted net income and EPS excludes a non-cash loss of $3.2 million related to changes in the fair value of warrants for the three month period ended December 31, 2009.
Full Year 2010 Financial Results
(3) FY 2010 Adjusted net income and EPS excludes a $1.9 million non-cash gain related to changes in fair value of warrants
(4) FY 2009 Non-GAAP net income excludes a $4.4 million non-cash charge related to changes in fair value of warrants
(5) FY 2009 Non-GAAP EPS (Diluted) excludes a $4.4 million non-cash charge related to changes in fair value of warrants, a $5.9 million non-cash charge related to the beneficial conversion feature of Series A preferred stock
Please note: On March 29, 2010, the Company and the holders of the Warrants entered into agreements to remove the "Down-round protection" rights that were applicable if the Company were to issue new shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the Warrants. In addition, the amendment to the warrants added a provision to grant the holders of a majority of the warrants an approval right until December 31, 2010, over any new issuance of shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the warrants. As a result of this amendment, the Warrants issued in the August 2009 financing were qualified as indexed to the Company's own stock and then met the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815, and were eligible to be reclassified as equity. Therefore, no further non-cash gain or loss will be recognized for the changes in fair value of warrants going forward.
Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased 10.2% to $41.6 million compared to $37.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Internet advertising increased 59.5% year-over-year to $28.3 million from $17.7 million, representing 68.0% of total revenue. TV advertising revenues fell 32.8% during the full year 2010 to $12.5 million or 30.0% of total revenues. Management expects internet advertising to account for an increasingly larger percent of total sales going forward as it focuses its marketing resources on growing 28.com.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, gross profit increased 37.1% to $22.6 million, resulting in a gross margin of 54.4% compared to 43.7% for the same period in 2009. Improved gross margin was driven by accelerated growth in the internet advertisement business and improving revenue mix. ChinaNet's internet advertising business generated gross profit margin of 76%, while TV advertising gross margin was 4%.
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 were approximately $7.8 million compared to $7.1 million in 2009. Selling expenses for the period were $3.4 million, down 18.9% as a result of lower spending on TV advertising. Research and development costs were $0.9 million, or 2.2% of revenues compared to 1.3% of revenues in the prior year as the Company increased its commitment to developing new software products.
Operating income for 2010 totaled approximately $14.8 million, up 57.8% from the $9.4 million reported for the full year of 2009. Operating margins were 35.7% and 24.9% for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as the Company was able to leverage its fixed costs and prudently manage expenses.
GAAP net income for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $16.6 million, an increase of 312.8% compared to $4.0 million reported in the same period of the prior year. Adjusted for the non-cash items, net income was $14.7 million and earnings per diluted share was $0.70 for the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to $8.4 million net income and $0.50 in diluted earnings per share for 2009, based on 20.9 million and 16.7 million outstanding shares, respectively.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
The Company had $15.6 million in cash and equivalents on December 31, 2010, compared to $13.9 million on December 31, 2009, working capital of $26.6 million, compared to $19.4 million, and a current ratio of 5.3 to 1 compared 5.0 to 1 on December 31, 2009. The Company generated $11.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $4.6 million in the 2009 period. Accounts receivable were $4.3 million on December 31, 2010, up from to $3.2 million on December 31, 2009, with an average Days Sales Outstanding of 38 days compared to 31 days. The balance sheet remained debt free.
Guidance for 2011
Management expects revenues to be between $50 and $54 million for 2011, and net income guidance of $17.5 million to $18.2 million, which represents year-over-year growth of 20%-30% and 19%-24%, respectively. The Company's strategy is aimed at gaining market share by exclusively targeting the SME market. The Company expects branded customers to drive higher revenue per customer across its advertising platform while value added services generate incremental higher margin revenue from the installed customer base.
Business Updates
ChinaNet is focused on strategically expanding its rapidly growing internet service and advertising business, 28.com portal which connects SME franchisors with new franchisees, and generates gross margins of 70%-75%.
Internet Advertising -- During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company's http://www.28.com web portal increased its market share to approximately 37%. ChinaNet provides qualified leads to SME franchisors through a multi-media branding campaign centered around an integrated internet advertising platform which can be complemented with TV advertising.
With 21 research and development staff added since the beginning of 2010, the Company is committed to developing technologies and services to further differentiate ChinaNet from its competitors. The Company expects to spend 4-6% of revenues to develop new software products for its customer base.
Add-on brand management services tailored for clients operating in various industries are being marketed. Over the past year, 5% of clients purchased add-on services from ChinaNet as adoption has accelerated throughout the year. In 2011 the Company expects to begin offering cloud management tools, including point of sale (POS) systems and inventory management, to help clients manage their growing base of franchise operators. The Company introduced an online consulting service for franchisees during the third quarter of 2010, which will drive increased traffic to 28.com.
In January and February, 2011, the Company purchased two privately held advertising agencies with an installed customer base. The combination will allow these agencies to introduce ChinaNet's internet advertising and marketing, IIM and other online management tools to a captive customer base, allowing them to reach their expansion targets by providing a broader spectrum of integrated services. In addition, these agencies will introduce new franchisors to the 28.com advertising platform.
In March, ChinaNet launched a mobile platform, including SMS text alert functionality to drive increased traffic to its 28.com portal and better service its customer base. During three months of testing, the SMS mobile platform increased traffic to 28.com by up to 20%. To expand this offering, ChinaNet expects to launch an Android, iPad and iPhone related application by August 2011 which will enable users to seamlessly view 28.com across multiple mobile devices. Top branded clients will receive the platforms as part of their bundled package, which ranges from $27,500 - $33,500 per month, while traditional clients will pay a fixed fee or pay-per-lead generated from usage. Gross margin on this business is expected to be greater than 50%.
Management continues to evaluate acquisitions which include agencies that maintain SME customer bases, in addition to companies that have unique technology which would complement or expand the current product offering.
Conference Call
The conference call will take place at 10:00 am ET on Thursday, March 31, 2011. Interested participants should call 1-877-941-1427 when calling within the United States or 1-480-629-9664 when calling internationally (passcode 4428281).
A playback will be available through April 7, 2011. To listen, please call 1-877-870-5176 within the United States or 1-858-384-5517 when calling internationally. Utilize the pass code 4428281 for the replay.
This call is being webcast by ViaVid Broadcasting and can be accessed by clicking on this link http://viavid.net/dce.aspx?sid=00008377, or visiting ViaVid's website at http://www.viavid.net, where the webcast can be accessed through April 7, 2011.
About ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
The Company, a parent company of ChinaNet Online Media Group Ltd., incorporated in the BVI ("ChinaNet"), a leading B2B fully integrated internet service provider for small and medium companies (SMEs) to expand their sales networks in China. Founded in 2003 and based in Beijing, PRC, the Company's services include its 28.com portal to connect SME franchisors with new franchisees, Internet advertising and marketing with other value-added communication channels, brand management & sales channel solutions, and cloud-based management tools (introduced in 2011). Website: http://www.chinanet-online.com.
Safe Harbor
This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc., which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including business uncertainties relating to government regulation of our industry, market demand, reliance on key personnel, future capital requirements, competition in general and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on ChinaNet's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting ChinaNet will be those anticipated by ChinaNet. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the Company) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. ChinaNet undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which statements are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use the following non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted net income and adjusted EPS (basic and diluted). The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. We use these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Our management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our "recurring core business operating results." We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors both because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making and (2) they are used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the health of our business.
CONTACT: HC International, Inc. Ted Haberfield, Executive VP +1-760-755-2716 thaberfield@hcinternational.net