BEIJING, December 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- China Finance Online Co. Limited ("China Finance Online", or the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") (NASDAQ GS: JRJC), a technology-driven, user-focused market leader in China providing vertically integrated financial information and services including news, data, analytics, securities investment advisory and brokerage-related services, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012.
2012 Third Quarter Financial Summary
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 Financial Summary
Key Developments
2012 Third Quarter Results
Net revenues for the third quarter of 2012 were $7.2 million compared with $13.5 million for the third quarter of 2011. The main sources of the Company's net revenues were subscription fees from individual customers, subscription fees from institutional customers, advertising revenues and revenues from brokerage-related services, which contributed 55%, 11%, 24% and 10% to total revenues respectively, compared with 75%, 6%, 13%, and 5%, respectively, for the comparable period in 2011. Revenues from subscription fees paid by individual customers decreased 61.0% year-over-year to $4.0 million. The decrease is largely the result of the Company's previously disclosed strategic transition and the continued weakening of China's stock market. Institutional subscription revenues decreased 4.1% year-over-year to $0.8 million. Revenues from advertising were $1.7 million, in line with the third quarter of 2011. Revenues from brokerage-related services decreased slightly year-over-year to $0.7 million.
For the third quarter of 2012, gross profit was $5.5 million compared with $11.2 million for the third quarter in 2011. Gross margin for the third quarter of 2012 was 75.5% compared with 83.0% for the third quarter of 2011. The year-over-year decrease in gross margin was mainly due to lower revenues.
General and administrative ("G&A") expenses for the third quarter of 2012 were $2.9 million, or 40.6% of net revenues, compared with $3.1 million, or 23.2% of net revenues for the comparable period in 2011. The decrease in G&A expenses in absolute value was mainly due to lower fees for professional services. The increase in G&A expenses as a percentage of quarterly revenues was mainly due to lower revenues.
Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of 2012 were $3.1 million, or 42.4% of net revenues compared with $5.3 million, or 38.9% in the third quarter of 2011. The decrease in sales and marketing expenses in absolute value was due to lower marketing expenses and sales commissions.
Product development expenses for the third quarter of 2012 were $2.6 million, or 36.4% of net revenues, compared with $3.4 million, or 25.3% of net revenues for the same quarter in 2011. The Company continues to prioritize investment in its data, product and technical capabilities while streamlining for higher efficiency.
Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2012 were $8.6 million, down from $14.1 million in the third quarter of 2011.
Net loss attributable to China Finance Online for the third quarter of 2012 was $3.2 million, compared with a net loss of $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2011. Both basic and diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares in the third quarter of 2012 was 109 million. Each ADS represents five ordinary shares of the Company.
As of September 30, 2012, total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $72.4 million and short-term investments were $2.7 million. Accounts receivable in non-margin related business were $4.6 million while Daily Growth had margin-related accounts receivables of $18.7 million. Daily Growth continues to implement strict margin account screening and ongoing monitoring to ensure the safe return of capital.
Total China Finance Online Co. Limited's shareholders' equity was $84.1 million as of September 30, 2012.
The combined current and non-current deferred revenues at the end of the third quarter of 2012, which represented prepaid service fees made by customers for subscription services that have not been rendered as of September 30, 2012, were $13.1 million.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 Results
Total net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $24.4 million, compared with $42.2 million in the first nine months last year. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2012 was $18.1 million, compared with $35.5 million in the same period in 2011. Gross margin was 74.2% for the first nine months of 2012. Net loss attributable to China Finance Online for the first nine months of 2012 was $7.0 million, compared with a net loss of $3.9 million in the same period in 2011.
Change of Auditor
In November, the Company changed its independent registered public accounting firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd. to Grant Thornton China ("GT"). The change was driven by fee considerations as part of the Company's recent cost control measures, recommended by the Company's audit committee and approved by the Company's Board of Directors.
The Company believes that GT is one of the top-ranked independent accounting firms with the highest level of service, global expertise and impeccable track records in both China and the United States. The Company does not believe that such auditor change will affect the timely filing of its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ending December 31, 2012.
Recent Development
In November, the Company entered into an agreement with Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance E-finance Lab for a long-term strategic cooperation mainly on financial research and project incubation. Leveraging on China Finance Online's expertise in financial services and internet capabilities and Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance's strength in in-depth financial research, the collaboration aims to explore new opportunities in the field of internet-based financial services.
Established in 1981, the PBC School of Finance was previously the Graduate School of People's Bank of China (PBC). The School has graduated two thousand alumni over the last thirty years, many of who currently hold key leadership positions at strategically important financial institutions and government agencies. With its top-tier education and elite alumni network, the School enjoys the highest reputation for graduate and post-graduate programs in finance, and was integrated into Tsinghua University, one of the most renowned universities in China, in early 2012.
"We are honored to be selected as a long-term strategic partner for Tsinghua's PBC School of Finance. We look forward to launching collaboration on a variety of fields including research and project incubation related to internet finance, providing internship and employment opportunities, co-education of post-doctor students, as well as co-hosting high-end commerce and finance themed forums and conferences. The agreement serves as a solid acknowledgement of our industry-leading competency and future prospect," said Mr. Zhiwei Zhao, Chairman and CEO of China Finance Online.
"Business environment remains considerably challenging as the Chinese economy grows at its slowest pace in three years and the Chinese stock market continues its slide to new multi-year lows. Facing difficulties, we have streamlined our operations to become a leaner and more efficient Company. We also have plans to initiate additional cost-cutting measures going forward," commented Mr. Zhao. "We are starting to see early signs of stabilization in cash attrition and anticipate our financial position to improve further in 2013. With significant number of high net worth households and the rising middle-class, the market prospect for securities investment advisory and wealth management in China remains exciting in the long run. We continue to lay the foundation for future growth through attracting customers through our flagship financial portal sites, enhancing our financial data and product capabilities, developing technology and human infrastructure, and resource consolidation."
Conference Call Information
The Company will host a conference call and a simultaneous webcast, on December 13, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time/December 14, 2012 9:00 a.m. Beijing Time. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing approximately five minutes before the call start time at U.S. +1-877-847-0047, Hong Kong +852-3006-8101, Singapore 8008-523-396, or China 800-876-5011, and the pass code for all regions is 686390.
A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the event through 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 20, 2012 (or 12:00 p.m. Beijing Time on December 21, 2012). The dial-in details for the replay: U.S. +1-866-572-7808, Hong Kong +852-3012-8000, Singapore 800-101-2157, China 800-876-5013. Access code: 686390.
The conference call will be available as a live webcast and replay at: http://www.media-server.com/m/p/mt8s64hm
About China Finance Online
China Finance Online Co. Limited is a technology-driven, user-focused market leader in China in providing vertically integrated financial information and services including news, data, analytics, securities investment advisory and brokerage-related services. Through its flagship portal sites, www.jrj.com and www.stockstar.com, the Company offers basic software and information services to individual investors which integrate financial and listed-company data, information and analytics from multiple sources. Leveraging on its robust internet capabilities and registered user base, China Finance Online is developing securities investment advisory and over time wealth management services. Through its subsidiary, Genius, the Company provides financial database and analytics to institutional customers including domestic brokerages and investment firms. Through its subsidiary, Daily Growth, the Company provides securities brokerage services in Hong Kong.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of 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 can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, this release contains the following forward-looking statements regarding:
Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, which risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following:
Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F under "Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors". The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.
Contact:
Julie Zhu
China Finance Online Co. Limited
+86-10-5832-5288
ir@jrj.com
Shiwei Yin
Grayling
646-284-9474
shiwei.yin@grayling.com
China Finance Online Co. Limited | ||
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||
(In thousands of U.S. dollars) | ||
Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | |
Assets | ||
Current assets: | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | 43,710 | 64,641 |
Restricted cash | 28,690 | 29,861 |
Trust bank balances held on behalf of customers | 8,490 | 18,664 |
Accounts receivable, net - others | 4,608 | 1,468 |
Accounts receivable, net - margin clients | 18,718 | 12,889 |
Loan receivable | 1,605 | 9,566 |
Short-term investments | 2,685 | 10,701 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 3,399 | 3,577 |
Deferred tax assets, current | 492 | 634 |
Total current assets | 112,397 | 152,001 |
Property and equipment, net | 5,402 | 6,530 |
Acquired intangible assets, net | 4,718 | - |
Rental deposits | 746 | 738 |
Goodwill | 3,023 | - |
Deferred tax assets, non-current | 257 | 484 |
Other deposits | 230 | 224 |
Total assets | 126,773 | 159,977 |
Liabilities and equity | ||
Current liabilities: | ||
Deferred revenue, current (including deferred revenue, current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $3,799 and $7,037 as of September 30,2012 and December 31,2011, respectively) | 9,240 | 17,287 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $1,891 and $3,127 as of September 30,2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 4,299 | 6,458 |
Short-term loan(including short-term loan of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited nil and nil as of September 30,2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 13,542 | 19,171 |
Amount due to customers for trust bank balances held on behalf of customers(including amount due to customers for trust bank balances held on behalf of customers of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited nil and nil as of September 30,2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 8,490 | 18,664 |
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $234 and $115 as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 489 | 144 |
Deferred tax liabilities, current(including deferred tax liability, current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $319 and $3 as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 320 | 45 |
Income taxes payable (including income taxes payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited nil and $25 as of September 30,2012 and December 31,2011, respectively) | 436 | 135 |
Total current liabilities | 36,816 | 61,904 |
Deferred tax liabilities, non-current (including deferred tax liabilities, non-current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $1,179 and nil as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 1,179 | - |
Deferred revenue, non-current (including deferred revenue, non-current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $1,277 and $3,033 as of September 30,2012 and December 31,2011, respectively) | 3,850 | 7,237 |
Total liabilities | 41,845 | 69,141 |
Noncontrolling interests | 817 | (105) |
Total China Finance Online Co. Limited Shareholders' equity | 84,111 | 90,941 |
Total liabilities and equity | 126,773 | 159,977 |
China Finance Online Co. Limited | |||||
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | |||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and ADS related data) | |||||
Three months ended | Nine months ended | ||||
Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2011 | |
Net revenues | 7,228 | 13,515 | 8,100 | 24,437 | 42,248 |
Cost of revenues | (1,771) | (2,303) | (2,552) | (6,311) | (6,704) |
Gross profit | 5,457 | 11,212 | 5,548 | 18,126 | 35,544 |
Operating expenses | |||||
General and administrative(includes share-based compensation expenses of $198, $347, $197, $569 and $1,110, respectively) | (2,933) | (3,137) | (2,602) | (8,301) | (8,481) |
Sales and marketing (includes share-based compensation expenses of $6, $33, $6,$20 and $103, respectively) | (3,063) | (5,251) | (3,281) | (9,893) | (16,884) |
Product development (includes share-based compensation expenses of $3, $23, $3, $9 and $73, respectively) | (2,633) | (3,415) | (2,696) | (8,534) | (9,898) |
Loss from impairment of intangible assets | - | (641) | - | - | (641) |
Loss from impairment of goodwill | - | (1,667) | - | - | (1,667) |
Total operating expenses | (8,629) | (14,111) | (8,579) | (26,728) | (37,571) |
Government subsidies | 54 | 14 | - | 73 | 251 |
Loss from operations | (3,118) | (2,885) | (3,031) | (8,529) | (1,776) |
Interest income | 687 | 565 | 885 | 2,660 | 2,005 |
Interest expense | (100) | (64) | (206) | (430) | (190) |
Investment gain, net | 47 | 497 | 184 | 409 | 854 |
Other income (loss), net | (41) | 15 | (21) | 17 | 69 |
Exchange gain (loss), net | (69) | 481 | (131) | (175) | 1,104 |
Loss from impairment of cost method investment | - | - | - | - | (1,480) |
Income (loss) before income tax expenses | (2,594) | (1,391) | (2,320) | (6,048) | 586 |
Income tax expenses | (629) | (2,359) | (276) | (961) | (4,646) |
Net loss | (3,223) | (3,750) | (2,596) | (7,009) | (4,060) |
Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest | (65) | (232) | (14) | (16) | (139) |
Net loss attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited | (3,158) | (3,518) | (2,582) | (6,993) | (3,921) |
Net loss | (3,223) | (3,750) | (2,596) | (7,009) | (4,060) |
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment | (263) | 1,109 | (200) | (403) | 2,520 |
Net unrealized gain loss on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effects of $9, nil, ($3), $6 and nil, respectively | - | - | 47 | 32 | - |
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | (263) | 1,109 | (153) | (371) | 2,520 |
Comprehensive loss | (3,486) | (2,641) | (2,749) | (7,380) | (1,540) |
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | (65) | (232) | (14) | (16) | (139) |
Comprehensive loss attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited | (3,421) | (2,409) | (2,735) | (7,364) | (1,401) |
Net loss per share attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited | |||||
Basic | (0.03) | (0.03) | (0.02) | (0.06) | (0.04) |
Diluted | (0.03) | (0.03) | (0.02) | (0.06) | (0.04) |
Loss per ADS | |||||
Basic | (0.14) | (0.16) | (0.12) | (0.32) | (0.18) |
Diluted | (0.14) | (0.16) | (0.12) | (0.32) | (0.18) |
Weighted average ordinary shares | |||||
Basic | 108,982,101 | 108,967,101 | 108,982,101 | 108,982,101 | 108,956,762 |
Diluted | 108,982,101 | 108,967,101 | 108,982,101 | 108,982,101 | 108,956,762 |
Weighted average ADSs | |||||
Basic | 21,796,420 | 21,793,420 | 21,796,420 | 21,796,420 | 21,791,352 |
Diluted | 21,796,420 | 21,793,420 | 21,796,420 | 21,796,420 | 21,791,352 |
