EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

VisionChina Media Announces Second Quarter 2008 Results and Raises Full-Year Guidance

Total Revenues in Second Quarter 2008 Grew 332.4% Year-Over-Year

Net Income in Second Quarter 2008 Grew 56.7% Quarter-Over-Quarter

BEIJING, July 25, 2008 — VisionChina Media Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: VISN), one of China’s largest out-of-home digital television advertising networks on mass transportation systems, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Second Quarter 2008 Highlights

 

 

Total revenues in the second quarter of 2008 grew 332.4% year-over-year and 48.8% quarter-over-quarter to $20.3 million, out of which advertising service revenues grew 405.4% year-over-year and 52.4% quarter-over-quarter to $20.2 million.

 

 

Net income in the second quarter of 2008 was $8.5 million, an increase of 56.7% from $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2008, and a significant increase of 3,039.7% from $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2007.

 

 

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2008 was $11.9 million, an increase of 64.5% from $7.2 million in the first quarter of 2008 and a significant increase of 775.5% from $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2007.

 

 

Operating profit in the second quarter of 2008 was $7.8 million, an increase of 71.1% from $4.5 million in the first quarter of 2008, and a significant increase of 3,210.8% from $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2007.

 

 

Fully diluted net income per share in the second quarter of 2008 was $0.12 (each of our ADSs represents one common share) compared to $0.08 for the first quarter of 2008.

 

 

The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $124.2 million as of June 30, 2008, a decrease of $9.6 million from $133.8 million as of March 31, 2008. The decrease is mainly due to deposits paid to secure exclusive agency agreements in additional cities and deposits paid to acquire several mobile television media planning agencies. As part of our ongoing growth strategy, the Company has paid a total of $14.4 million in deposits for the acquisitions of these television media planning agencies and the final purchase considerations will be based on such agencies’ operating results over the next three years, as stipulated by the earned-out arrangements. The purchase price allocation was preliminary as of June 30, 2008.

 

 

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had installed 60,160 digital displays on buses, subways trains and subway platforms, compared with 48,719 at the end of the first quarter of 2008.


 

The number of cities covered by the Company’s bus network increased to 16 in the second quarter of 2008 to include Shenyang, the capital city of Liaoning province. The number of cities covered by the Company’s subway network increased to three in the second quarter of 2008 to include digital televisions on subway trains in Guangzhou as well as on the platforms that service Guangzhou’s subway systems.

 

 

Network capacity, which is measured by total broadcasting hours, reached 29,523 hours in the second quarter of 2008, compared to 25,980 hours in the first quarter of 2008 and 15,536 in the second quarter of 2007.

 

 

On average, the Company sold 8.14 advertising minutes per broadcasting hour in the second quarter of 2008, compared to 6.24 advertising minutes per broadcasting hour in the first quarter of 2008 and 6.59 advertising minutes per broadcasting hour in the second quarter of 2007. The Company lost a total of approximately 540 advertising hours, equal to $2.6 million in lost revenue, in the weeks following the earthquake in Sichuan province in China that occurred on May 12, 2008 due to cancellation of all advertisements during a three day national mourning period from May 19 though May 21, as well as broadcast and advertisement disruption during the weeks following the earthquake. As the utilization of the Company’s network capacity was already relatively high in June 2008, the ability to broadcast advertisements displaced by the earthquake was limited.

 

 

Average advertising service revenues per broadcasting hour grew 34.0% quarter-over-quarter to $661 per broadcasting hour from $493 per broadcasting hour in the first quarter of 2008, compared to $240 in the second quarter of 2007, primarily as a result of the implementation of our rate card increase on May 1, 2008.

Limin Li, VisionChina Media’s chairman and chief executive officer, commented, “We are pleased to announce a very successful quarter. Despite the negative impact on our operations and sales over the few weeks following the earthquake in Sichuan province in mid-May, we were able to beat both our top-line and bottom-line guidance.” Mr. Li continued, “I am proud of all of our employees for their dedication and ability to achieve extraordinary results in the face of such challenges.”

“In the second quarter of 2008, we were able to continue expanding our network coverage, following our carefully-structured growth plan,” Mr. Li reported. “We entered into an exclusive contract in Shenyang, Liaoning province to operate on public buses and expanded our position in Guangzhou to include subway trains as well as subway platforms. I am also extremely pleased to announce that we recently expanded into Shanghai, covering the platforms of two subway lines in the city’s metro system. Our entrance into Shanghai is a significant milestone as it marks VisionChina Media’s penetration into every Tier I city in


China. Tier I cities, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen, together account for over 60% of advertising spending in China. We will continue to strengthen our position and increase our penetration in these prosperous markets as we continue to build up our sales and marketing teams to capture the fast-paced growth in advertising spending in China.”

Dina Liu, VisionChina Media’s chief financial officer, added, “This was another strong quarter for us. We saw impressive growth in our top and bottom-lines and continued to increase sales even as we increased our prices. I am confident in VisionChina’s ability to weather any storm. Our diverse base of customers from a broad range of nondiscretionary industries increases the stability of our business. Entry into Shanghai, China’s largest advertising market, completes our mission to become a premier national network with a strong and scalable business model.”

Second Quarter 2008 Results

VisionChina Media’s total revenues were $20.3 million in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of 48.8% compared to $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2008 and an increase of 332.4% compared to $4.7 million in the second quarter of 2007.

Advertising service revenues were $20.2 million in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of 52.4% compared to $13.2 million in the first quarter of 2008 and an increase of 405.4% compared to $4.0 million in the second quarter of 2007. Total broadcasting hours reached 29,523 in the second quarter of 2008 compared to 25,980 in the first quarter of 2008. Average advertising revenues per broadcasting hour were $661 in the second quarter of 2008 compared to $493 in the first quarter of 2008. On average, the Company sold 8.14 advertising minutes per broadcasting hour in the second quarter of 2008 compared to 6.24 advertising minutes per broadcasting hour in the first quarter of 2008. As of June 30, 2008, 594 advertisers had purchased advertising time on the Company’s network either directly or through an advertising agent.

Media cost, the most significant component of advertising service cost of revenues, was $6.2 million in the second quarter of 2008, representing 75.0% of total advertising service costs, compared to $4.7 million, or 77.3% of total advertising service costs, in the first quarter of 2008.

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2008 was $11.9 million, an increase of 64.5% compared to $7.2 million in the first quarter of 2008 and a significant increase of 775.5% compared to $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2007. Advertising service gross margin was 59.1% in the second quarter of 2008, compared to 54.3% in the first quarter of 2008. The advertising equipment gross margin in the second quarter of 2008 was 13.0%, compared to 17.3% in the first quarter of 2008.

Selling and marketing expenses were $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of 84.4% compared to $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2008, and an increase of 832.3% compared to $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2007, primarily due to an increase in the sales and marketing team which grew to 276 employees as of June 30, 2008, up from 208 employees as of March 31, 2008. Selling and marketing expenses represented 14.8% of the Company’s advertising service revenues in the second quarter of 2008 compared to 12.2% in the first quarter of 2008.


General and administrative expenses were $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of 21.3% compared to $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2008, and an increase of 91.2% compared to $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2007.

Losses from equity method investments amounted to $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2008, compared to a $0.3 million loss in the first quarter of 2008, and a $0.3 million loss in the second quarter of 2007.

Operating profit was $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of 71.1% from $4.5 million in the first quarter of 2008, and a significant increase of 3,210.8% from $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2007.

In the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a tax expense of $0.03 million. The Company is a certified “Cultural Enterprise” and therefore benefits from full tax exemption from 2005 through 2008. The Company expects that it will be subject to an effective PRC tax rate of 15% starting in 2009.

Net income was $8.5 million in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of 56.7% from $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2008, and a significant increase of 3,039.7% from $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2007. Fully diluted net income per share for the second quarter of 2008 was $0.12. The Company’s second quarter net income, excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) was $8.9 million.

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had 60,160 digital television displays in its network, compared to 48,719 as of March 31, 2008. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $124.2 million as of June 30, 2008. In the second quarter of 2008, depreciation and amortization was $0.7 million and capital expenditures were $1.4 million.

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had 437 employees, compared to 346 employees as of March 31, 2008, of which 276 employees are sales and marketing personnel, compared to 208 as of March 31, 2008.

Other Recent Developments

VisionChina Media has entered into an exclusive contract, effective on July 1, 2008, with Shanghai Shentong Metro Asset Operation and Management Corporation, the asset management arm of Shanghai Metro, to act as the exclusive advertising agent for two of Shanghai’s subway lines. The addition of Shanghai to VisionChina Media’s network increases the Company’s coverage to 17 of China’s economically prosperous cities. Shanghai is ranked first among Chinese cities in terms of GDP and disposable income per capita. Shanghai attracts a large portion of the total advertising spending in China.


On July 1, 2008, the Company significantly increased the rate card for all advertising time on screens in subway platforms for Shenzhen as well as on the five large-size screens in Guangzhou subway platforms.

In May, VisionChina Media and CTR Market Research, the largest media and market research company in China, agreed to jointly develop the first media evaluation standard for China’s mass transit mobile TV. China has experienced rapid growth in the mass transit mobile TV market, but the industry lacks a standardized and authoritative audience measurement index which advertisers and media owners may use to judge the efficacy and value of advertisements placed on mobile TV network on public transit systems. The creation of third party evaluation standards will provide criteria to compare mass transit mobile TV with traditional TV, which is expected to help raise the status of the emergent mass transit mobile TV industry.

VisionChina Media has been categorized by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee as a “Class B” medium. In an effort to ensure that Olympic sponsors reap the full rewards of their sponsorship entitlements, the Committee recently differentiated between which media platforms can display advertisements from non-Olympic Sponsors in cities hosting Olympic events during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “Class A” media are only allowed to display advertisements of official Olympic sponsors, whereas “Class B” media are allowed to display advertisements from both Olympic sponsors and non-Olympic sponsors which are not direct competitors of Olympic sponsors. As a “Class B” medium, VisionChina Media’s Beijing network is not restricted to displaying advertisements of Olympic sponsor companies.

Business Outlook

The Company estimates its total revenues for the third quarter of 2008 will range from $34.0 million to $36.0 million, out of which advertising service revenues is expected to be between $33.8 million to $35.8 million. Third quarter 2008 net income excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) is expected to be between $15.0 million and $17.0 million.

The Company has increased its full-year estimates of results of operations and expects that total revenues for full year 2008 will range from $101.0 million to $105.0 million. Net income for full year 2008, excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP), is expected to be between $44.0 million to $48.0 million.

The Company bases these estimates on a foreign exchange rate of RMB 6.8591 per US$1.00.


Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

US Toll Free: +1-866-713-8563

Hong Kong: +852-3002-1672

International: +1-617-597-5311

Passcode for all regions: VisionChina Earnings Call

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers until July 31, 2008.

US Toll Free: +1-888-286-8010

International: +1-617-801-6888

Passcode: 30106904

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of VisionChina’s website at www.visionchina.cn.

About VisionChina Media, Inc.

VisionChina Media (Nasdaq: VISN) operates an out-of-home advertising network on mass transportation systems, including buses and subways that reach over 26 million viewers each day in China, according to CTR Market Research. As of June 30, 2008, VisionChina’s advertising network included over 60,160 digital television displays on mass transportation systems in 16 of China’s economically prosperous cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. VisionChina Media has the ability to deliver real-time, location-specific broadcasting, including news, stock quotes, weather and traffic reports and other entertainment programming. For more information, please visit http://www.visionchina.cn.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to VisionChina Media’s consolidated financial results under GAAP, the company also provides non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP net income, excluding non-cash share-based compensation. The company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with another method for assessing VisionChina Media’s operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing operations. Readers are cautioned not to view non-GAAP results on a stand-alone basis or as a substitute for results under GAAP, or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies. The company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the performance of VisionChina Media’s liquidity and when planning and forecasting future periods.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “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 can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements.


Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its registration statement on Form F-1 and its annual report on Form 20-F. 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.

VISIONCHINA MEDIA INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Amounts in U.S. dollars ($), except number of shares and per share data)

 

     June 30,
2008
   March 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007
     (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)    (Note 1)

ASSETS

        

Current Assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   124,168,704    133,800,325    131,139,659

Accounts receivable, net

   19,832,753    12,513,750    13,256,450

Amounts due from related parties

   4,213,491    4,242,166    3,632,864

Prepaid expense and other current assets

   14,763,519    10,610,582    9,683,059

Deferred tax assets

   279,285    304,950    332,386

Total current assets

   163,257,752    161,471,773    158,044,418

Non-current Assets:

        

Fixed assets, net

   9,771,198    8,677,599    7,709,204

Investments under equity method

   6,684,371    6,710,352    6,714,853

Other investments

   2,263,890    2,214,524    2,128,732

Long-term prepaid expenses

   705,485    699,087    703,069

Long term prepayments and deposits

   16,537,272    1,711,352    —  

Intangible assets

   10,568,461    —      —  

Total non-current assets

   46,530,677    20,012,914    17,255,858

TOTAL ASSETS

   209,788,429    181,484,687    175,300,276

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

        

Current Liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

   3,771,974    3,837,967    4,236,695

Amounts due to related parties

   410,242    267,175    327,532

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   5,848,321    3,576,757    6,054,552

Total current liabilities

   10,030,537    7,681,899    10,618,779

Non-current Liabilities:

        

Contingent Consideration

   8,677,700    —      —  

Deferred tax liabilities

   2,218,766    —      —  

Total non-current liabilities

   10,896,466    —      —  

Total liabilities

   20,927,003    7,681,899    10,618,779

Minority Interest

   612,009    633,907    652,678

Shareholders’ equity

        

Common shares

   6,920    6,839    6,839

Additional paid-in capital

   167,604,519    163,981,497    163,820,443

Accumulated profit/(deficit)

   10,615,387    2,121,488    -3,300,654

Accumulated other comprehensive income

   10,022,591    7,059,057    3,502,191

Total shareholders’ equity

   188,249,417    173,168,881    164,028,819

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   209,788,429    181,484,687    175,300,276

 

Note 1: Information extracted from the audited financial statements included in the 2007 Form 20-F of the Company filed on April 3, 2008.


VISIONCHINA MEDIA INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in USD thousand, except number of shares and per share data)

 

     For three months ended
     June 30,
2008
   March 31,
2008
    June 30,
2007
     (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)

Revenues:

       

Advertising revenue

   20,165    13,229     3,990

Equipment revenue

   124    403     702

Total revenues

   20,289    13,632     4,692

Cost of revenues

       

Advertising cost

   -8,257    -6,050     -2,757

Equipment cost

   -108    -333     -573

Total costs of revenues

   -8,365    -6,383     -3,330

Gross profit

   11,924    7,249     1,362

Operating expenses:

       

Selling and marketing

   -2,987    -1,620     -320

General and administrative

   -991    -817     -518

Total operating expenses

   -3,978    -2,437     -838

Loss from equity method investees

   -173    -269     -289

Operating profit

   7,773    4,543     235

Interest income

   733    918     44

Other expenses

   -2    -17     -8

Net income before income taxes

   8,504    5,444     271

Income taxes

   -32    -41     —  

Net income after income taxes

   8,472    5,403     271

Minority interest

   22    19     —  

Net income

   8,494    5,422     271

Deemed dividend on convertible redeemable preferred shares

   —      —       -1,537

Net income (loss) attributable to holders of common shares

   8,494    5,422     -1,266

Net income (loss) per share:

       

Basic

   0.12    0.08     -0.06

Diluted

   0.12    0.08     0.01

Shares used in computation of net income (loss) per share:

       

Basic

   68,888,659    68,387,019     22,000,000

Diluted

   72,115,604    70,897,070     22,000,000

Share-based compensation expenses during the related periods included in:

       

Cost of revenues

   -9    -11     -7

Selling and marketing expenses

   -347    -136     -41

General and administrative expenses

   -37    -18     -11
Selected Operating Data
     2Q08    1Q08     2Q07

Total broadcasting hours

   29,523    25,980     15,536

Advertising minutes per broadcasting hour

   8.14    6.24 (1)   6.59

Total advertising minutes sold

   240,317    162,115     102,382

Average advertising service revenue per broadcasting hour (US$)

   661    493 (2)   240

Total digital television displays in the network

   60,160    48,719    

 

Notes:

 

(1) Excluding the three new exclusive agency agreements that the company entered into in the first quarter, advertising minutes per broadcasting hour is 6.43
(2) Excluding the three new exclusive agency agreements that the company entered into in the first quarter, advertising services revenues should have been $543 per broadcasting hour


For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Investor Relations Department, VisionChina Media, Inc.

Tel:     +86-755-8831-8683

Email: ir@visionchina.cn

Mrs. Helen Plummer

Ogilvy Financial, Beijing

Tel:     +86-10-8520-3090

Email: helen.plummer@ogilvy.com

In the United States:

Mr. Jeremy Bridgman

Ogilvy Financial, New York

Tel:     +1-212-880-5363

Email: jeremy.bridgman@ogilvypr.com