BEIJING, Aug. 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) ("ChinaNet" or the "Company"), a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company providing online-to-offline (O2O) sales channel expansion, business strategies and marketing solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by utilizing data analysis and cloud computing technologies in the People's Republic of China, today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2016.
Second Quarter Financial Highlights
- Gross profit of $2.5 million generated in the second fiscal quarter of 2016, a 10.5% increase from $2.3 million generated in the same period a year ago
- Consolidated gross margin increased to 29.6%, compared to 23.6% in the same period a year ago, a 25.5% increase YOY
- Internet advertising and data service gross margin improved to 43%, compared to 33% in the same period a year ago
Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results
Chairman and CEO of ChinaNet, Mr. Handong Cheng commented, “During the first half of 2016 we have continued our successful path to restructuring our business to reduce low-margin television advertising business, and instead focus on the research and development of our data service system. This effort has begun to payoff, with the internet advertisement and data services segment improving 56.1% from the first quarter of this year to the second. We believe new partnerships like that with Dark Horse Club, and products like our Business Intelligent Marketing Data Services System -- CloudX, now officially launched and with copyright approval, will continue to drive revenue and growth for us in the second half of 2016 and beyond.”
Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2016 were $8.4 million compared to $9.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, representing an 11.9% decrease, which was primarily due to decrease in revenues from TV advertising service during the period. Excluding the impact of RMB depreciation, revenue decreased from RMB 58.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2015 to RMB 55.1 million during the same period in 2016, which was a 6.1% decline. During the second quarter, revenues from improving internet advertisement and data services was $5.7 million, which increased 56.1% from $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2016. ChinaNet continues to focus on integrating and upgrading its internet advertising and data service to SME clients and investing in developing new service modules for clients, and believes that the launch of new services in future will help to increase market penetration and recurring revenues.
Gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $2.5 million compared to $2.3 million for the same period in 2015. Gross margin was 29.6%, up from 23.6% in the second quarter of 2015, primarily due to the improvement in gross margin of the internet advertising and data service, which increased to 43% for the second quarter of 2016 from 33% for the second quarter of 2015. The improvement in gross margin of the internet advertising and data service was primarily due to optimizing and upgrading of the Company’s online promotion analysis and cost control system, which improved the promotion accuracy, Ad. effect conversion rate and promotion cost control.
The Company incurred an operating loss of $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to an operating loss of $1.3 million in the same period a year ago.
Net loss attributable to ChinaNet for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $1.3 million and loss per share was $0.04, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million and loss per share of $0.04 in the second quarter of 2015.
First Half 2016 Financial Results
Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were $13.5 million, a decrease of 11.8% from $15.3 million for the same period a year ago, which was primarily due to decrease in revenues from TV advertising service during the period. Excluding the impact of RMB depreciation, revenue decreased by approximately 6% from RMB 93.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 to RMB 88.1 million during the same period in 2016.
Gross profit was $4.1 million, up 31.6% for the first six months of 2016, and gross profit margin of 30.4%, up 49.0% compared to 2015. Operating expenses increased by 1% to $6.5 million compared to $6.4 million for the first six months of 2015. The Company reported an operating loss of $2.4 million in the first half of 2016.
Net loss attributable to ChinaNet common shareholders and net loss per share was $2.7 million and $0.09 for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The weighted average diluted shares outstanding were 28.4 million shares.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
The Company had $2.9 million in cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2016, compared to $5.5 million as of December 31, 2015, working capital of $10.2 million, compared to $13.7 million as of December 31, 2015, and a current ratio of 2.5 to 1, compared to 2.9 to 1 as of December 31, 2015. Total stockholders' equity of ChinaNet was $25.3 million at June 30, 2016 compared to $27.3 million at December 31, 2015.
The Company had a $0.3 million of cash inflows from operations in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to a $0.9 million of cash inflows in the first six months of 2015.
Business Updates
In June, ChinaNet announced the official launch of its new SME Intelligent Marketing Data Services System, CloudX (the “System” or “CloudX”) an eco-system containing brand promotion, store management, marketing services and membership services. The new System enables ChinaNet to now manage and collect data from on-line business development to offline sales channels. The System is based on CloudX technology and consists of three components: a store management system including a stock and sales system and intelligent Point-of-Sale (POS) system, and a multi-functional app with an online retail store. The store management system collects and analyzes product sale numbers from stores in real time and is analyzed by ChinaNet for suggested adjustments to product stock and inventory to improve customer sales. By utilizing CloudX in stores, ChinaNet can provide owners with sales analysis reports, including each single item’s sales amount and period of time, improving management efficiency and store credibility. The System can be installed on either PC or mobile terminals.
In July, the Company received copyright approval from the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC), establishing the intellectual property rights for the system in China.
In August, ChinaNet announced a new partnership with the restaurant division of Dark Horse Club to provide data-driven marketing services for the fast growing restaurant industry in China. Established in 2008, Dark Horse Club is an entrepreneurs network connecting industry veterans with newcomers in China. At the center of the ChinaNet-Dark Horse Club Partnership is the Super Harbor app, which interfaces the Company’s CloudX ecosystem with consumers. Super Harbor is a membership and point system invested in and technologically supported by ChinaNet. The app constitutes a key component of the Company’s strategic expansion from B2B to the new and differentiated B2B2C business model.
About ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
The Company, a parent company of ChinaNet Online Media Group Ltd., incorporated in the BVI ("ChinaNet"), is a leading digital B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing O2O sales channel expansion service for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial management and networking service for entrepreneurs in China. The Company, through certain contractual arrangements with operating companies in the PRC, provides Internet advertising and other services for Chinese SMEs via its portal websites, 28.com, Liansuo.com and Chuangye.com. 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.
| CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data) | ||||||||
| June 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||
| (US $) | (US $) | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 2,876 | $ | 5,503 | ||||
| Term deposit | 3,197 | 3,265 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 3,206 | 2,549 | ||||||
| Other receivables, net | 464 | 1,910 | ||||||
| Prepayment and deposit to suppliers | 5,017 | 5,843 | ||||||
| Due from related parties | 333 | 41 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 43 | 45 | ||||||
| Assets classified as held for sale | 1,850 | 1,882 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 16,986 | 21,038 | ||||||
| Long-term investments | 1,561 | 1,133 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 661 | 681 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 6,868 | 5,638 | ||||||
| Deposit and prepayment for purchasing of software technology | 1,003 | 1,024 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 4,305 | 4,396 | ||||||
| Deferred tax assets-non current | 1,392 | 1,550 | ||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 32,776 | $ | 35,460 | ||||
| Liabilities and Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 90 | $ | 95 | ||||
| Advances from customers | 800 | 1,313 | ||||||
| Accrued payroll and other accruals | 592 | 685 | ||||||
| Guarantee payment and prepayment from new investors | 924 | 944 | ||||||
| Taxes payable | 3,102 | 3,186 | ||||||
| Other payables | 448 | 234 | ||||||
| Liabilities classified as held for sale | 833 | 913 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 6,789 | 7,370 | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities: | ||||||||
| Deferred tax liability-non current | 58 | 118 | ||||||
| Long-term borrowing from a director | 132 | 135 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | 6,979 | 7,623 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | - | 129 | ||||||
| Equity: | ||||||||
| ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Common stock (US$0.001 par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 30,395,722 shares and 29,640,130 shares at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively) | 30 | 30 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 27,645 | 26,510 | ||||||
| Statutory reserves | 2,607 | 2,607 | ||||||
| Retained deficit | (6,561 | ) | (3,870 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 1,607 | 2,056 | ||||||
| Total ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity | 25,328 | 27,333 | ||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 469 | 375 | ||||||
| Total equity | 25,797 | 27,708 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities and Equity | $ | 32,776 | $ | 35,460 | ||||
| CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended June 30, | Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
| (US $) | (US $) | (US $) | (US $) | ||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||
| From unrelated parties | $ | 13,276 | $ | 14,835 | $ | 8,264 | $ | 9,174 | |||||||||||
| From related parties | 220 | 468 | 172 | 405 | |||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 13,496 | 15,303 | 8,436 | 9,579 | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | 9,395 | 12,187 | 5,939 | 7,319 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 4,101 | 3,116 | 2,497 | 2,260 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sales and marketing expenses | 1,943 | 2,230 | 1,063 | 1,045 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 3,538 | 3,139 | 1,832 | 1,894 | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development expenses | 1,016 | 1,063 | 590 | 573 | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 6,497 | 6,432 | 3,485 | 3,512 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (2,396 | ) | (3,316 | ) | (988 | ) | (1,252 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other income (expenses) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 53 | 63 | 26 | 34 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | - | (34 | ) | - | (17 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Other (expenses)/income | (13 | ) | 31 | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total other income | 40 | 60 | 25 | 16 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss before income tax expense, equity method investments, noncontrolling interests and discontinued operation | (2,356 | ) | (3,256 | ) | (963 | ) | (1,236 | ) | |||||||||||
| Income tax (expense)/benefit | (152 | ) | 308 | (180 | ) | 86 | |||||||||||||
| Loss before equity method investments, noncontrolling interests and discontinued operation | (2,508 | ) | (2,948 | ) | (1,143 | ) | (1,150 | ) | |||||||||||
| Share of income in equity investment affiliates | - | 2 | - | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss from continuing operations | (2,508 | ) | (2,946 | ) | (1,143 | ) | (1,149 | ) | |||||||||||
| Loss from and on disposal of discontinued operation, net of income tax | (60 | ) | (109 | ) | (14 | ) | (84 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net loss | (2,568 | ) | (3,055 | ) | (1,157 | ) | (1,233 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from continuing operations | (123 | ) | 58 | (123 | ) | 24 | |||||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. | $ | (2,691 | ) | $ | (2,997 | ) | $ | (1,280 | ) | $ | (1,209 | ) | |||||||
| Net loss | $ | (2,568 | ) | $ | (3,055 | ) | $ | (1,157 | ) | $ | (1,233 | ) | |||||||
| Foreign currency translation (loss)/gain | (478 | ) | 23 | (590 | ) | 143 | |||||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | (3,046 | ) | $ | (3,032 | ) | $ | (1,747 | ) | $ | (1,090 | ) | |||||||
| Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (94 | ) | 58 | (111 | ) | 25 | |||||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. | $ | (3,140 | ) | $ | (2,974 | ) | $ | (1,858 | ) | $ | (1,065 | ) | |||||||
| Loss per share | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loss from continuing operations per common share | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | |||||||
| Loss from discontinued operations per common share | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 28,376,797 | 26,572,856 | 28,396,797 | 26,776,650 | |||||||||||||||
| CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) | ||||||||
| Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | |||||||
| (US $) | (US $) | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (2,568 | ) | $ | (3,055 | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 760 | 888 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation expenses | 1,135 | 956 | ||||||
| Loss on disposal of fixed assets | 21 | - | ||||||
| Reverse of allowances for doubtful accounts | - | (77 | ) | |||||
| Share of income in equity investment affiliates | - | (2 | ) | |||||
| Loss on deconsolidation of VIEs | 9 | - | ||||||
| Deferred taxes | 152 | (328 | ) | |||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | (771 | ) | (1,619 | ) | ||||
| Other receivables | 1,325 | 1,856 | ||||||
| Prepayment and deposit to suppliers | 612 | 1,236 | ||||||
| Due from related parties | (25 | ) | (56 | ) | ||||
| Other current assets | 1 | (75 | ) | |||||
| Accounts payable | (154 | ) | (273 | ) | ||||
| Advances from customers | (388 | ) | 1,490 | |||||
| Accrued payroll and other accruals | (89 | ) | 26 | |||||
| Other payables | 296 | (8 | ) | |||||
| Taxes payable | 86 | (109 | ) | |||||
| Commitment and contingencies | (129 | ) | - | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 273 | 850 | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
| Payment for office equipment and leasehold improvement | (148 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||
| Long-term investment in and advance to cost/equity method investees | (754 | ) | (186 | ) | ||||
| Payment for purchasing of software technology | (1,991 | ) | (1,958 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from disposal of VIEs | 28 | - | ||||||
| Cash effect on deconsolidation of VIEs | (18 | ) | - | |||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (2,883 | ) | (2,164 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
| Repayment of short-term loan to noncontrolling interest of VIE | - | (82 | ) | |||||
| Guarantee payment and prepayment from new investors | - | 1,000 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | - | 918 | ||||||
| Changes in cash and cash equivalents included in assets held for sale | 55 | - | ||||||
| Effect of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents | (72 | ) | 4 | |||||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (2,627 | ) | (392 | ) | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period | 5,503 | 5,037 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period | $ | 2,876 | $ | 4,645 | ||||