China Internet Cafe Holdings Group Announces Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results

SHENZHEN, China, November 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- China Internet Cafe Holdings Group, Inc. ("CICC" or the "Company") (OTCQB: CICC), one of the largest owners and chain operators of internet cafes in Southern China, today announced its financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

SUMMARY FINANCIALS

Third Quarter of 2011 Financial Results

For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, net revenue increased 47% to $8.6 million, compared to $5.8 million in the third quarter of 2010. The increase was mainly due to the revenue generated by the 13 new cafes opened in the first three quarters of 2011. Revenue growth from locations opened at least one year was 1.3% and represented approximately $4.2 million in total revenues. In the quarter ended September 30, 2011, the Company issued over 182,000 membership cards, a 282.8% increase from 47,000 in the third quarter 2010.

"We are seeing balanced growth in our new and existing cafes," explained Mr. Dishan Guo, Chief Executive Officer of China Internet Cafe. "Revenues from our cafes opened one year or longer increased 1.3%, representing 66% of total sales. More customers are coming to our cafes because of our convenient locations, high speed connectivity and new games and movies at an affordable price. With strong economic growth and migrant flows in Shenzhen, we expect to maintain solid growth for the remainder of 2011 and into 2012."

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2011 increased by $0.8 million to $3.5 million, up 29% from the third quarter of 2010. Gross margin decreased from 46.6% to 40.7% due to the increases in salaries, depreciation and other costs as compared to the same period in 2010.

Operating expenses increased 16% to $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2010. The increase was primarily due to higher expenses related to being a public company and $0.2 million in non-cash stock-based compensation expenses.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2011 was $2.9 million compared to $2.2 million in the comparable period of 2010, and increase of 32%. Operating margin was 33.7% in the third quarter of 2011 compared to 37.9% in the third quarter of 2010.

Income tax expense for the third quarter of 2011 to $0.8 million compared to $0.6 million in the same period last year. The effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2011 was 24% as compared to 22% in 2010.

Net income attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $2.3 million, or $0.11 per diluted share. Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the period was $2.0 million, a 25% increase from the $1.6 million for the year ago period. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share were $0.09 compared to $0.08 for the third quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively. Diluted earnings per share were calculated using weighted average shares of 21.1 million and 20.2 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, respectively.

First nine months of 2011 Financial Results

For the nine months September 30, 2011, net revenue increased 68% to $23.7 million, compared to $14.1 million in the first nine months of 2010. Revenue growth from locations opened at least one year was 2.9% and represented approximately $12.2 million in total revenues. At September 30, 2011, the Company issued over 2.2 million membership cards, a 82.9% increase from 1.2 million at the end of the first nine months of 2011.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased 50% to $9.5 million, up from $6.3 million in the first nine months of 2010. Gross margins were 40.1% and 44.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Operating expenses increased by $1.1 million to $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2011. Operating income was $7.6 million compared to $5.6 million in the comparable period of 2010, and increase of 37%. Operating margin was 32.1% in the first nine months of 2011 compared to 39.3% in the first nine months of 2010.

Income tax expense for the first nine months of 2011 increased 62% to $2.2 million, equating to an effective tax rate of approximately 30%.

Net income attributable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $4.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share. Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the period was $5.2 million, a 25% increase from the $4.2 million for the year ago period. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share were $0.25 compared to $0.22 for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively. Diluted earnings per share were calculated using weighted average shares of 20.9 million and 19.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, respectively.

Financial Condition

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had $20.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $3.8 million at year-end 2010 due to growth in cash flows from operations and the $3.9 million equity financing completed in the first quarter of 2011. Working capital was $7.1 million and the current ratio was 2.0:1. CICC operates a cash business, with revenue from IC cards credited in its bank account approximately 15 days after a credit is purchased. The Company does not run accounts receivable balances.

Deferred revenue increased 238% from December 31, 2010 to $2.0 million. As of September 30, 2011, shareholders' equity was $18.7 million compared to $13.5 million at the end of 2010.

In the first nine months of 2011, the Company generated $13.0 million in cash from operating activities, compared with $6.0 million for the same period last year due to higher net income and improved working capital management. China Internet Cafe spent approximately $4.8 million on capital expenditures related to the opening of new cafes during the first nine months of 2011.

Business Updates

During the first nine months of 2011, the Company opened 13 new locations, bringing the total number of cafes to 57. The average capital expenditure to open a new store varies by size and location but typically average $250,000. With average annual revenue per store of $500,000 and a 28% net margin, the average payback period is less than 2 years.

Management continues to evaluate potential acquisitions outside Shenzhen in order to expand its geographic footprint and to eventually secure a national internet cafe license. In order to meet the basic requirements to acquire a national internet chain license, the Company has an objective to establish or acquire at least 20 internet cafes in two provinces other than Guangdong Province. In the past twelve months, the Company has conducted research in Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan and Hubei provinces to evaluate the growth potential in each market. The Company will follow a strict set of criteria for all acquisition candidates in order to maximize returns to shareholders.

About China Internet Cafe Holdings Group, Inc.

Since opening its first internet cafe in 2006 under the name Shenzhen Junlong Culture Communication CO. Ltd., China Internet Cafe Holdings Group, Inc. has expanded quickly to 57 cafes in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. The Company provides high quality, affordable internet services to consumers who purchase reloadable cards. Customers can access a range of online services, including email, web surfing, watching movies, online gaming, voice over IP, and social media in a comfortable, friendly and safe environment. CICC offers a variety of internet connectivity stations with varying speeds, monitor sizes and seating arrangements.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors because they exclude non-cash charges that our management excludes when it internally evaluates the performance of the Company's business and makes operating decisions, including internal budgeting, and performance measurement, because these measures provide a consistent method of comparison to historical periods. Moreover, management believes these non-GAAP measures reflect the essential operating activities of China Internet Cafe. Accordingly, management excludes the expenses related to financing and derivative financial instrument. The Company believes that providing the non-GAAP measures that management uses to its investors is useful to investors for a number of reasons. The non-GAAP measures provide a consistent basis for investors to understand the Company's financial performance in comparison to historical periods. In addition, it allows investors to evaluate the Company's performance using the same methodology and information as that used by our management. Non-GAAP measures are subject to inherent limitations because they do not include all of the expenses included under GAAP and because they involve the exercise of judgment of which charges are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measure. However, our management compensates for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of the items excluded.

The following table provides the non-GAAP financial measure and the related GAAP measure and provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measure to the equivalent GAAP measure.

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income:

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including risks outlined in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's registration statement on Form F-1, as amended. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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