Hurray! Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Unaudited Financial Results

Author
SySAdmin
Posted
February 28, 2010
Views
3206

Page All:

Page 1
Hurray! Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Unaudited Financial Results

BEIJING, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-Asia/ Hurray! Holding Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: HRAY), a leading company in artist development, music production and wireless music distribution and other wireless value-added services in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

  (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050314/CNM005LOGO)

  Financial Highlights

  Highlights for the Fourth Quarter of 2009:
  --  Total revenues: $6.2 million, representing a decrease of $0.7 million
      quarter-over-quarter and a decrease of $8.2 million year-over-year.
  --  Wireless value-added services ("WVAS") revenues: $2.3 million,
      representing a decrease of $2.2 million quarter-over-quarter and a
      decrease of $9.2 million year-over-year.
  --  Recorded music revenues, which are from our record label businesses:
      $3.9 million, representing an increase of $1.5 million
      quarter-over-quarter and an increase of $0.9 million year-over-year.
  --  Net loss attributable to Hurray! Holding: $4.6 million
  --  EBITDA(1) : a net loss of $4.5 million
  --  Loss per ADS-basic and diluted: $0.21

  Highlights for the Fiscal Year 2009:
  --  Total revenues: $34.6 million, as compared with $54.0 million for 2008
  --  WVAS revenues: $20.1 million, as compared with $42.7 million for 2008.
  --  Recorded music revenues: $14.5 million, as compared with $11.3 million
      for 2008
  --  Net loss attributable to Hurray! Holding: $22.7 million, as compared
      with net loss of $12.0 million for 2008
  --  EBITDA(1) : $20.6 million, as compared with $ 9.7 million for 2008
  --  Loss per ADS-basic and diluted: $1.03

Commenting on the fourth quarter results, Mr. Haibin Qu, Acting CEO of Hurray! stated:

"As a result of Hurray!'s focused effort in restructuring our business resources in the past few months, we are pleased to have improved our non-WVAS business profitability despite ongoing WVAS industry headwinds which have impacted our WVAS business. Going forward, we will execute our new strategic initiatives according to our long-term strategies to further develop Hurray! into a leading digital media entertainment distribution platform."

Business Results

Total revenues for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009 were $6.2 million, representing a decrease of 10.2% from $6.9 million for the previous quarter and 57.2% from $14.4 million for the same quarter last year.

Total revenues for fiscal year 2009 were $34.6 million, representing a decrease of 35.8% from $54.0 million for fiscal year 2008.

Total WVAS revenues were $2.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, representing a decrease of 48.2% from $4.5 million in the previous quarter and 79.9% from $11.5 million in the same quarter of 2008 as a result of business operation environment changes and our internal integrations.

Total WVAS revenues for fiscal year 2009 were $20.1 million, a decline of 52.7% as compared with $42.7 million in fiscal year 2008.

Recorded music revenues, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009, which represent revenues of our controlled music companies Freeland Music, Huayi Brothers Music, Hurray! Secular Bird and Seed Music, which was acquired on January 1, 2009, were $3.9 million, increased from $2.4 million in the previous quarter and $3.0 million in the same period of 2008, mainly reflects the effects of our ongoing resource realignment and business integration.

Total recorded music revenues for fiscal year 2009 were $14.5 million, representing growth of 28.2% as compared with $11.3 million in 2008.

Gross margin was 20.1% for the fourth quarter of 2009 as compared with 20.7% for the previous quarter and 5.0% for the same period of 2008.

For fiscal year 2009, gross margin was 19.3% as compared with 26.7% for fiscal year 2008.

Gross margin for WVAS was 33.1% for the fourth quarter of 2009, as compared with 27.3% in the previous quarter, and 2.9% for the same period of 2008.

Gross margin for WVAS was 24.0% for fiscal year 2009 as compared with 23.0% for fiscal year 2008.

Recorded music gross margin was 12.3% for the fourth quarter of 2009 as compared with 8.6% in the previous quarter and 13.0% for the same period of 2008.

Recorded music gross margin was 12.8% for fiscal year 2009 as compared with 40.4% for fiscal year 2008.

Total gross profit was $1.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, as compared with $1.4 million for the previous quarter, and $0.7 million for the same period of 2008.

For fiscal year 2009, total gross profit was $6.7 million, a decline of 53.5% as compared with $14.4 million for fiscal 2008.

Total operating expenses were $6.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2009. This represents a decrease of 3.5% as compared with the total operating expenses of $6.5 million for the previous quarter, and an increase of 5.0% as compared with the total operating expenses of $6.0 million for the same period of 2008.

For fiscal year 2009, total operating expenses, which included provisions for account receivable and other current assets of $3.8 million, professional service fees relating to the Shanda tender offer of $2.5 million, impairment for goodwill of $3.6 million and a write-down for intangible assets of $ 3.5 million for our music business due to the continued challenging business conditions, were $33.4 million, representing an increase of 47.3% as compared with $22.7 million for fiscal 2008 which included impairment for intangible assets of $2.5 million and goodwill of $2.7 million.

The income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2009 was approximately $6,000, as compared with $0.7 million in the previous quarter and an income tax benefit of approximately $93,000 for the same period of 2008.

For fiscal 2009, interest income was $0.5 million as compared with $1.6 million in 2008, and income tax expense was $0.2 million compared with $0.5 million in 2008.

Net loss attributable to Hurray! Holding was $4.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.

For the fiscal year 2009, net loss attributable to Hurray! was $22.7 million, compared with net loss of $12.0 million for the fiscal 2008.

EBITDA was negative $4.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, as compared with an EBITDA of negative $4.0 million in the previous quarter. A reconciliation of net loss attributable to Hurray! Holding Company under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and adjusted EBITDA is included at the end of this release.

EBITDA was negative $20.6 million for fiscal year 2009, as compared with negative $9.7 million in the previous year.

Fully diluted loss per ADS was $0.21 based on a weighted average of 22.0 million diluted ADSs for the fourth quarter of 2009, as compared with the diluted loss per ADSs of $0.23 based on a weighted average of 22.0 million diluted ADSs for the previous quarter, and a fully diluted loss per ADS of $0.42 based on a weighted average of 21.9 million diluted ADSs for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Fully diluted loss per ADS was $1.03 based on a weighted average of 22.0 million diluted ADSs for fiscal year 2009 as compared with $0.55 based on a weighted average of 21.9 million diluted ADSs for fiscal 2008.

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had $48.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, and short term time deposit of $10.0 million.

Business Highlights

Hurray! continued executing its strategy of developing proprietary content and diversifying distribution channels, with the following highlights:

  --  Hurray! launched 11 new mobile games and mobile themes on China
      Mobile's portal in the fourth quarter of 2009, including "Heavy Metal
      World 2", and "X-Snake". In the first quarter of 2010, we are
      launching another 12 new mobile games, mobile themes and mobile
      software on China Mobile's portal, and 3 new mobile games on each
      China Unicom's and China Telecom's portal respectively

  --  In November, "The World of Legend - Magical Land" was selected as one
      of the high-rated mobile games in China Mobile's G-plus game package,
      and was the number one downloaded mobile games for the month.

  --  Hurray! affiliated music companies, including Huayi Brothers Music,
      Freeland Music, New Run Entertainment, Secular Bird and Seed Music,
      released a series of new songs, including 28 albums, and launched
      successful marketing programs to promote the new releases
      simultaneously over Internet and wireless platforms. Subsequently,
      "Love Embrace" by Kuo Shu Yao (better known as "Yao Yao"), topped the
      Taiwan best-seller list as album sales soared for 2 consecutive weeks.
      Another Seed Music's popular singer, Landy Wen ("Wen Lan"), held a
      press conference in Beijing to promote her latest album "Dancing
      Queen" on October 27. Huayi Brothers Music artist, Laure Shang ("Shang
      Wen Jie") also released her most impressive album so far, "Time Lady"
      during this quarter.

  --  Hurray! artists, including Landy Wen received awards for their
      outstanding performances at various prestigious music award ceremonies
      in Asia, including "Best EP" for Landy Wen.

  Business Outlook

  Completion of Merger with Ku6 Holding Limited ("Ku6")

On January 21, 2010, the Company announced the completion, effective January 18, 2010, of the previously announced merger with Ku6, a leading online video portal in China, pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement by and among Hurray!, Ku6 and the shareholders of Ku6 dated as of November 26, 2009. Following the completion of this merger, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Danian Chen and Mr. Shanyou Li to the Hurray! Board of Directors, effective January 19, 2010.

Note to the Financial Information

The unaudited financial information disclosed above is preliminary. The audit of the financial statements and related notes to be included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2009 is still in progress. Adjustments to the financial statements may be identified when audit work is completed, which could result in significant differences from the audited financial statements to this preliminary unaudited financial information relating to. In addition, because management's evaluation of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting in connection with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has not yet been completed, the Company makes no representation as to the effectiveness of those internal controls as of the end of the Company's fiscal year 2009.

  Conference Call

  The Company will host a conference call
   to discuss the fourth quarter and 2009
   fiscal year results at

              10: 00 pm Eastern Standard Time
  Time:       on February 28, 2010
              or 11:00 am Beijing/Hong Kong
              Time on March 1, 2010

  The dial-
   in
   number:   +1-800-510-9691 (US)
             +1-617-614-3453(International)
             Password: 65049841

  A replay of the call will be available
   from March 1, 2010 until March 8, 2010
   as follows:
             +1-888-286-8010  (US)
             +1-617-801-6888  (International)
             Password: 28033228

Additionally, a live and archived web cast of this call will be available at: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/playerlink.zhtml?c=187793&s=wm&e=2732667

  or http://www.hurray.com.cn/english/home.htm

  About Hurray! Holding Co., Ltd.

Hurray! is a leading company in artist development, music production and offline distribution in China through its record labels and also organizes concerts and other music events in China through its music subsidiaries.

Hurray! is also a leading online distributor of music and music-related products such as ringtones, ringbacktones, and truetones to mobile users in China through the full range of wireless value-added services platforms over mobile networks and through the internet.

The Company also provides a wide range of other wireless value-added services to mobile users in China, including games, pictures and animation, community, and other media and entertainment services.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward- looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "believes" and similar statements. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including risks related to: continued competitive pressures in China's wireless value-added services market; changes in technology and consumer demand in this market; the risk that Hurray! may not be able to control its expenses in future periods; Hurray!'s ability to succeed in the music development, production and distribution business, with which it has only limited experience; changes in the policies of the mobile operators in China or the laws governing wireless value-added services; the state of Hurray!'s relationships with China's mobile operators and the risk that Hurray! may be subject to further sanctions and penalties from them in future periods; and other risks outlined in Hurray!'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 20-F. Hurray! does not undertake any obligation to update this forward-looking information, except as required under applicable law.

(1) A non-GAAP measure, which is defined as net loss attributable to Hurray! Holding company except for income (loss) before interest, income tax, depreciation and amortization.

                          Hurray! Holding Co., Ltd.
              Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                         As of                As of
                                       December              December
                                      31, 2009(1)            31, 2008
                                                          (As Adjusted)(1)
                                       (in thousands of U.S. dollars)

  Assets
  Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents             $48,489                 $59,473
  Short-term investment                  10,000                       -
  Accounts receivable, net                3,192                  12,658
   Prepaid expenses and other
   current assets                         1,834                   4,170
  Amount due from related parties            63                     745
   Current deferred tax assets                -                     363
   Inventories, net                         197                     255
  Receivable on disposal of subsidiary        -                      47
                                    -----------------------------------
  Total current assets                   63,775                  77,711

  Deposits and other non-current assets     332                     720
  Prepaid acquisition cost                    -                   2,507
  Property and equipment, net               880                     980
  Acquired intangible assets, net         1,082                   1,945
  Investment in equity affiliate              -                     825
  Goodwill                                2,099                   3,157
  Non-current deferred tax assets             -                     479
                                    -----------------------------------
  Total assets                          $68,168                 $88,324
                                    ===================================

  Liabilities and shareholders' equity
  Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                       $3,959                  $2,454
  Accrued expenses and other
   current liabilities                    6,261                   3,033
  Amount due to related parties             440                     208
  Income tax payable                        655                     124
  Current deferred tax liabilities           12                     497
                                    -----------------------------------
  Total current liabilities              11,327                   6,316

  Long term payable                          17                      24
  Non-current deferred tax
   liabilities                              263                     292
                                    -----------------------------------
  Total liabilities                      11,607                   6,632
                                    -----------------------------------

  Redeemable non-controlling interest       371                       -

  Shareholders' equity:
  Ordinary shares                           110                     110
  Additional paid-in capital             75,190                  75,013
  Accumulated deficit                   (30,859)                 (8,201)
  Accumulated other comprehensive
   income                                 9,954                   9,987
                                    -----------------------------------
  Total Hurray! Holding
   shareholders' equity                  54,395                  76,909
                                    -----------------------------------
  Non-controlling interest(2)             1,795                   4,783
                                    -----------------------------------
  Total shareholders' equity             56,190                  81,692
                                    -----------------------------------
  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity                 $68,168                 $88,324
                                    ===================================

                               Hurray! Holding Co., Ltd.
               Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

                       For the three months ended       For the year ended
                       December        December        December     December
                          31,             31,             31,          31,
                         2009            2008            2009         2008
                        (in thousands of U.S.         (in thousands of U.S.
                         dollars, except share         dollars, except share
                         and per share data)           and per share data)
                       --------         -------        --------     -------
  Revenues:
  Wireless value- added
   services               2,300         11,454         20,169        42,672
  Recorded music          3,870          2,972         14,473        11,287
                       --------        -------       --------       -------
  Total revenues          6,170         14,426         34,642        53,959

  Cost of revenues:
  Wireless value- added
   Services               1,538         11,117         15,332        32,840
  Recorded music          3,392          2,586         12,625         6,730
                       --------        -------       --------       -------
  Total cost of revenues  4,930         13,703         27,957        39,570
                       --------        -------       --------       -------
  Gross profit            1,240            723          6,685        14,389

  Operating expenses:
  Product development        88            154            467           992
  Selling and marketing   1,116          2,370          6,330         9,132
  General and
   Administrative         4,518          2,520         22,992        11,427
   Impairment of goodwill   584            965          3,593         2,675
  Gain on reduction of Unicom
   liability                  -              -              -        (1,557)
  Total operating
   expenses               6,306          6,009         33,382        22,669
                       --------        -------       --------       -------

  Loss from operations   (5,066)        (5,286)       (26,697)       (8,280)

  Interest income            83            215            454         1,613
  Other income               37              6            342           247
  Interest expense           (3)             -            (14)            -
  Foreign exchange loss       -         (4,518)             -        (8,990)
  Gain on reduction of
   acquisition payable        -              -              -         5,000
                       --------        -------       --------       -------
  Loss before provision for
   income taxes, equity in
   (loss) earnings of
   affiliate             (4,949)        (9,583)       (25,915)      (10,410)

  Income tax (benefit)
   expense                    6            (93)           234           486
                       --------        -------       --------       -------
  Loss before equity in
   (loss) earnings of
   affiliate             (4,955)        (9,490)       (26,149)      (10,896)

  Equity in (loss)earnings of
   affiliate, net of tax   (377)            30           (704)           64
   Impairment of the
    investment in music
    equity affiliate          -              -           (210)       (1,871)

  Loss from continuing
   operations            (5,332)        (9,460)       (27,063)      (12,703)
   Discontinued operations:
  Gain on sale of subsidiary,
   net of tax                 -             47            222           413
     
  Net loss               (5,332)        (9,413)       (26,841)      (12,290)
  Less: Net loss attributable
   to the non- controlling
   interest(2)              746            235          4,183           337

  Net loss attributable
   to Hurray!
   Holding Company       (4,586)        (9,178)       (22,658)      (11,953)

  Net loss per share- basic
  Loss from continuing
   Operations            ($0.00)        ($0.00)        ($0.01)       ($0.01)
   Gain from discontinued   
    operations            $0.00          $0.00          $0.00         $0.00
   Net loss              ($0.00)        ($0.00)        ($0.01)       ($0.01)

  Net loss per ADS- basic
  Loss from continuing
   Operations            ($0.21)        ($0.42)        ($1.04)       ($0.57)
   Gain from discontinued
    operations            $0.00          $0.00          $0.01         $0.02
   Net loss              ($0.21)        ($0.42)        ($1.03)       ($0.55)

  Net loss per share- diluted
  Loss from continuing
   operations            ($0.00)        ($0.00)        ($0.01)       ($0.01)
   Gain from discontinued
    operations            $0.00          $0.00          $0.00         $0.00
   Net loss              ($0.00)        ($0.00)        ($0.01)       ($0.01)

  Net loss per ADS- diluted
  Loss from continuing
   Operations            ($0.21)       ($0.42)         ($1.04)       ($0.57)
   Gain from discontinued
    operations            $0.00          $0.00          $0.01         $0.02
   Net loss              ($0.21)        ($0.42)        ($1.03)       ($0.55)
   
  Weighted average shares
   used in calculating
   basic loss per
   share           2,197,770,091 2,189,982,906  2,196,291,947  2,185,615,129
  Weighted average
   ADSs used in
   calculating
   basic loss per
   ADS                21,977,701    21,899,829     21,962,919     21,856,151
  Weighted average
   shares used in
   calculating diluted
   loss per
   share           2,197,770,091 2,189,982,906  2,196,291,947  2,185,615,129
  Weighted average
   ADSs used in
   calculating diluted
   loss per ADS       21,977,701    21,899,829     21,962,919     21,856,151

  The use of non-GAAP financial measures:

To supplement its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States, Hurray! uses a non-GAAP measure of EBITDA, which is adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude certain expenses. Hurray!'s management believes the use of this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses that are not related to the company's operations. This non-GAAP financial measure also facilitates management's internal comparisons to Hurray!'s historical performance and our competitors' operating results. Hurray! believes this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. The presentation of this additional financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.  Please see below financial table for a reconciliation of EBITDA.

Reconciliation of Net loss attributable to Hurray! Holding Company under GAAP to EBITDA for the following periods:

                                  For the three months       For the year
                                          ended                 ended
                                  December   December    December   December
                                     31,        31,         31,        31,
                                    2009       2008        2009       2008
                                   (in thousands of       (in thousands of
                                     U.S. dollars)           U.S. dollars)
                                  --------   --------    --------   --------
  Net loss attributable to
   Hurray! Holding Company        ($4,586)   ($9,178)   ($22,658)  ($11,953)
  Add (deduct):
  Interest expense                      3          -          14          -
  Income tax expense (benefit)          6        (93)        234        486
  Depreciation and amortization       185        712       2,245      3,340
  Interest income                     (83)      (215)       (454)    (1,613)
                                  --------   --------    --------   --------
  EBITDA                          ($4,475)   ($8,774)   ($20,619)   ($9,740)
                                  ========   ========    ========   ========

(1) Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted ASC 810 (formerly referred to as SFAS 160, "Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements - an amendment of ARB No.51"). ASC 810, which was retrospectively applied, requires non-controlling interests to be separately presented as a component of stockholders' equity on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

(2) December 31, 2008 balances were extracted from the form 6-K for the quarters ended December 31, 2008, as adjusted resulting from the adoption of ASC 810.

  For more information, please contact:
  Christina Low
  Investor Relations Officer
  Tel: 8610-88695237
  IR@hurray.com.cn

Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050314/CNM005LOGO
Source: Hurray! Holding Co., Ltd.
   

CONTACT:  Christina Low, Investor Relations Officer, Tel: 8610-88695237,
IR@hurray.com.cn

Web Site:  http://www.hurray.com.cn/

Title

Medium Image View Large