Court Reporting Leader Provides Attorneys with a Completely Digital Exhibit Management Solution
FLORHAM PARK, N.J., March 5 -- Veritext, the established leader in providing deposition and litigation support services, today announced the launch of the Veritext Exhibit Management Solution (XMS), the first and only digital solution for managing exhibits before, during and after the deposition. XMS is an end-to-end digital solution that provides a complete database of exhibits, control over exhibit numbering, and remote access to the exhibits anywhere, anytime. In addition to exhibit management, exhibits can also be viewed in real time during the deposition.
The XMS system was most recently used on the Adelphia Recovery Trust litigation to handle over 180 depositions. "Veritext Exhibit Management Solution system was invaluable to us in the Adelphia case. We were able to seamlessly manage thousands of exhibits and display them in real time at the depositions," said Howard Schub, a partner at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman. "This product, the Exhibit Management Solution, is an essential and efficient tool for today's deposition in complex multi-party litigation."
Upon installation, users can immediately begin loading their exhibits into the XMS system; there is no need to print, ship and distribute paper exhibits at the deposition - saving the litigation team time, money and resources. Once in the system, the exhibits are available 24/7 on the web at every stage of the litigation, making it much easier to prepare for major case events, such as summary judgment. At the deposition, the exhibits are easily called up via bar code and displayed on monitors throughout the room - providing much greater visual impact during the deposition.
In addition, remote deposition participants can view the exhibits in real time along with the scrolling transcript. Exhibits are then immediately available after the deposition to assist in further case preparation for future depositions.
"We know firsthand from our clients that managing deposition exhibits is time-consuming and frustrating, particularly in multi-party, multi-track litigation. In response to this need, we have created the Veritext Exhibit Management Solution," said Lolly Bak, Chief Information Officer of Veritext. "Our solution provides our clients with easier case preparation, a smarter way to manage exhibits, and a green solution to help eliminate much of the paper in litigation."
About Veritext
Veritext was founded in 1997 with the goal of providing superior services to the legal industry. With over a decade of continued industry excellence, Veritext is the established leader in providing technology-driven deposition and litigation support services to law firms and corporations around the globe. More information can be found at http://www.veritext.com/
COOPER CITY, Fla., March 5 -- There are many churches doing Live Internet Services but Flamingo Road Church is taking it to a whole new social level with a Social Network Application. Flamingo Road Church is utilizing the Facebook platform but took it a step further and developed the first Live Interactive Service Video Streaming to connect with its guests.
"Today's society is looking for more interaction with spiritual activities and the Video Streaming does just that. It allows guests to enjoy the benefits of a social network, like Facebook, and attend church," said Troy Gramling, lead pastor of Flamingo Road Church. "We are in the middle of an exciting transition to a new church concept, the Church on the Internet. We are going out of the traditional brick-and-mortar buildings into cyberspace to provide an option for our guests from all over the world to experience one church where they are."
Flamingo Road Church is one of the leading churches that offer an "Internet Campus" to their guests. Virtual church attendees can observe live services and simultaneously interact with Brian Vasil, Internet Campus Pastor. For additional information about Flamingo Road Church Facebook Application, visit http://apps.facebook.com/frclive
About Flamingo Road Church:
Troy Gramling is the Lead Pastor at Flamingo Road Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - a church with a vision to partner with people to reach their God-potential. Flamingo Road is a multi-site church with campuses in North & South America that has grown from 2000 to over 11,000 under Pastor Troy's leadership, and has also been recognized by Outreach magazine as one of the top 100 largest and fastest growing churches in America.
Salesforce.com Named to Fast Company's List of the Top 10 Most Innovative Web Companies
Enterprise cloud computing leader ranked #6 amongst Digg, Facebook, Google and Twitter; Recognized for the Service Cloud 2 and Salesforce Chatter
SAN FRANCISCO, March 5 -- Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM), the enterprise cloud computing company, today announced it has been named to Fast Company's list of the top 10 Most Innovative Web Companies (http://www.fastcompany.com/mic/2010/industry/most-innovative-web-companies). Salesforce.com is ranked #6 along with other Web leaders Digg, Facebook, Google and Twitter.
As Fast Company reports, salesforce.com is recognized for: "Part sales management tool, part developer platform, and part mashup of public and private customer-insight data, salesforce.com is the undisputed leader in helping sales hordes track prospects and win business. New in 2009: Service Cloud, a customer-service software system that also analyzes comments and complaints on Twitter or Facebook; a collaboration with Cisco that offers an online-call-center capability; and Chatter, an internal Twitter-like feed service that will let sales forces interact, securely and in real time. Last November, the company announced third-quarter revenue of $331 million, up 20% year over year."
"We're excited to part of this esteemed group of Internet innovators," said Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of salesforce.com. "Salesforce.com and our millions of users have shown that the Internet has the power to revolutionize business just as it has the consumer world."
The list and related stories appear in the March 2010 issue of Fast Company magazine, on newsstands currently and online at http://www.fastcompany.com/MIC.
About salesforce.com
Salesforce.com is the enterprise cloud computing company. The company's portfolio of Salesforce CRM applications, available at http://www.salesforce.com/products/, has revolutionized the ways that companies collaborate and communicate with their customers across sales, marketing and service. The company's Force.com platform (http://www.salesforce.com/platform/) helps customers, partners and developers to quickly build powerful business applications to run every part of the enterprise in the cloud. Based on salesforce.com's real-time, multitenant architecture, Salesforce CRM and Force.com offer the fastest path to customer success with cloud computing.
As of January 31, 2010, salesforce.com manages customer information for approximately 72,500 customers including Allianz Commercial, Dell, Japan Post, Kaiser Permanente, KONE, and SunTrust Banks. Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase salesforce.com applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce.com has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM". For more information please visit http://www.salesforce.com/, or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.
Copyright (c) 2010 salesforce.com, inc. All rights reserved. Salesforce and the "no software" logo are registered trademarks of salesforce.com, inc., and salesforce.com owns other registered and unregistered trademarks. Other names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
PITTSBURGH, March 5 -- Today GiftCards.com, the leading internet site for Visa gift cards, and discounted gift cards, announced the launch of their first iPhone application. This version of the application allows customers to check the balance on their Visa gift card or to activate a gift card. "The merchants cannot tell you the balance on your gift card so this new application is a great way to check your balance when you are in the store ready to make a purchase," stated Jason Wolfe, CEO of GiftCards.com.
The newly launched iPhone application also works with merchant gift cards. You can use the application to view all of the discounted gift cards for sale on the GiftCards.com website. If you are in the market to get cash for your gift card, you can use the Swapagift Location feature. This feature uses the zip code and GPS to locate an agent location where you can redeem your merchant for cash on the spot.
About GiftCards.com, LLC
GiftCards.com is a leading provider of gift cards to consumers and corporations to expend as gifts, rewards, or incentives. GiftCards.com currently services thousands of corporations for their gift card needs including 25% of the Fortune 1,000. GiftCards.com was founded in 1999. For more information visit: http://www.GiftCards.com
GlobalListings.org Targets craigslist and eBay, Offers Newer, Better Classified Experience
NEW YORK, March 5 -- Let's face it: craigslist's heyday as a vital and useful marketplace is past. These days, nearly all that remains is a haven for spam, a mass of confusion and red tape for legitimate users, and a fading realm of influence. It's high time for some improvements on the "community marketplace" theme to make it more suited to today's truly global community and economy. That is the perspective of http://www.globallistings.org/, a new forum specializing in global, national, or multi-area classified ads that says it has arrived to fill the void.
While craigslist.org states, "If your ad is equally relevant to all locations, your ad does not belong on local craigslist sites at all," GlobalListings acknowledges that there are many valid reasons for posting on a national or even multi-national scale. If a business or service is international in scope - or could become so in the future - why limit its potential?
Imagine that a consulting firm needs to hire a fantastic copywriter, but doesn't care whether they telecommute from London, Miami or Sydney. Or perhaps an artist or artisan living in Madrid is seeking to sell products that can easily be shipped anywhere in the world. While craigslist only allows local ads by its very design, the GlobalListings team understands and supports the idea that much of today's business is conducted on an international scale.
GlobalListings offers solutions to many of the problems that have long plagued craigslist. Instead of polluting the database with millions of low-quality ads that only attract more spammers, GlobalListings feels that the time visitors invest in posting and searching needs to yield results. With quality built into the system and the cost per ad depending on the circulation area, spammers are automatically discouraged, and commerce has room for exponential growth.
Ads placed on GlobalListings can be set to remain online as long as they are relevant, rather than needing to be re-posted frequently - a fix to another key craigslist flaw.
"For Sale" listings on GlobalListings.org are a cost-effective alternative to using eBay, a major craigslist shareholder.
"There are thousands of postings on the Internet where disappointed craigslist customers vent out their frustration, so we took it upon ourselves to develop a better platform," said Alex Konanykhin, the President of KMGi, an internationally acclaimed interactive production company. Founded in 1997, KMGi has provided online solutions to such clients as Intel, Google, Boeing, Molson Coors, CNN, DuPont, General Electric, Macromedia, Pfizer, Aventis, Verizon, Volvo, Accenture, Energizer, CBS, MTV, Best Western, Washington Post, and Siemens. KMGi also owns various online portals including BidsFromLawyers.com, AllPublicists.com and SyndicatedNews.us.
The world may be feeling smaller these days, but with classified ads on GlobalListings.org, every business has limitless room to expand its horizons.
IndiaMART.com Launches State-Wise Tenders to Benefit Local SMEs
NEW DELHI, India, March 5, 2010--
- tenders.indiamart.com to List State-Wise Tenders Across India.
- Exhaustive, Well-Classified and Searchable Database of Over 50,000 Live
Tenders From Across the Country.
- Launched to Benefit State-Level and Local SMEs.
India's leading online B2B marketplace IndiaMART.com has launched
state-wise tenders list under its popular tender's banner to help the SME and
MSME community in the country. The new initiative has been implemented to
simplify search procedure of local tenders for state-level SMEs. State-wise
tender process will cut down the time element, an important factor in tender
processing.
The new initiative has been well received among the 7 lakh strong SME
(Small and medium Enterprises) and MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)
community of IndiaMART.com.
Announcing the launch, Dinesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO of IndiaMART.com
said, "We are always striving towards providing the best of services to the
SME sector. After the free tender services launched last year, which grabbed
clients' attention, the latest state-wise tender offering is a step forward
in the same direction. This will not only boost our clients business but also
bolster their belief in IndiaMART.com."
Late last year, IndiaMART.com had set a precedent, becoming the first
company to launch free subscription of more than 50,000 live government,
corporate and global tenders and procurement notices for its Indian clients.
Since then, the company has seen a significant growth in page visits at over
50 percent in the last three months, a note worthy performance indeed.
Brijesh Agrawal, Chief Operating Officer, IndiaMART.com said, "IndiaMART
has initiated state-wise tenders, so that users can avail desirable and
specific services across a wide range of industry verticals as per their
location, need and business preference in a convenient and structured
fashion."
He further highlights that, customers will be impressed not only by the
quality of the tender information, but also with the user friendly interface
and seamless navigation across the tender pages.
For the last 14 years IndiaMART.com has been playing a leading role in
furthering SME and MSME business in the country, providing them with India's
largest online platform to sell their products and services in the
international marketplace and expand their reach and business opportunity.
The industry has put its trust in IndiaMART.com, making it the country's
largest B2B portal with over 60 percent market share. The company has been
also conferred the prestigious Red Herring 100 Asia & Emerging India award.
Tenders.indiamart.com (http://tenders.indiamart.com/) is among the
largest portals for business tender information both in India as well as
globally, with a large number of free online tenders and registered users
from all over the world.
About IndiaMART.com
IndiaMART.com is India's largest online B2B marketplace connecting global
buyers with suppliers through business directories, online product catalogs,
buy-sell offers, industry specific marketplaces, printed media and trade
shows participation.
Founded in 1996, the company has a pan-India presence in over 100 cities
. With approximately 1200 employees located across 31 offices in the country,
IndiaMART.com offers an extensive range of value-added products and services
to its 700,000 registered members and nearly 5 million global buyers across
various industries and verticals.
IndiaMART.com has won numerous awards over the years and has been widely
covered by media such as CNBC, BBC, BusinessMoney, CNN, Businessworld,
Economic Times, Financial Express, etc for its pioneering role in promoting
SME business in the country.
Its existing investors include Intel Capital and Bennett, Coleman & Co.
Ltd (Times Group), India's largest print media group.
Akamai to Participate in the Raymond James & Associates 31st Annual Institutional Investors Conference
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 5 -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKAM), the leader in powering video, dynamic transactions and enterprise applications online, announced today that it will be participating in the Raymond James & Associates 31st Annual Institutional Investors Conference in Orlando, Florida. Senior Vice President of Networks & Operations, Robert Blumofe, will present an update on Akamai's service offerings.
Where: JW Marriott Grande Lakes Orlando
4040 Central Florida Parkway
Orlando, FL 32837
What: Presentation: Review of company service offerings
A live audio webcast of the presentation and a replay will be available on Akamai's website at http://www.akamai.com/html/investor/index.html. Please go to the "News & Events" section of the Akamai Investor Relations Web page to access the presentation.
The Akamai Difference
AkamaiĀ® provides market-leading managed services for powering video, dynamic transactions, and enterprise applications online. Having pioneered the content delivery market one decade ago, Akamai's services have been adopted by the world's most recognized brands across diverse industries. The alternative to centralized Web infrastructure, Akamai's global network of tens of thousands of distributed servers provides the scale, reliability, insight and performance for businesses to succeed online. Akamai has transformed the Internet into a more viable place to inform, entertain, advertise, interact, and collaborate. To experience The Akamai Difference, visit http://www.akamai.com.
Contacts:
Jeff Young Noelle Faris
Media Relations --or-- Investor Relations
617-444-3913 617-444-4676
jyoung@akamai.comnfaris@akamai.com
Mountain Rescue England and Wales Adopts New Mapyx GIS Platform to Improve Response Times and Coordination
SURBITON, England, March 5, 2010-- A new technology platform is to help mountain rescue teams in
England and Wales achieve significant improvements in the time taken to plan
searches, with better coordination and reporting once a search is under way.
The system, known as SARMAN(TM) (Search & Rescue Management
Solutions), is a modular system providing the capability to plan, coordinate
and more efficiently manage the work of Mountain Rescue England and Wales and
all other search and rescue organisations.
Peter Bell, President of Mountain Rescue England and Wales stated:
"Mapyx has worked tirelessly to fine-tune their QUO digital mapping
software to encompass the operational demands of a mountain rescue
environment and to develop its new SARMAN(TM) software. Linked to, indeed
part of, this advanced facility, they have similarly fine-tuned their
SARMAN(TM) system to operate with various communications platforms, which
will provide the integrated, on scene, partner to the Mapyx search and
rescue management applications. QUO and SARMAN(TM) software coupled with
approved hand-held devices are not, however, restricted to search and rescue
operations. This combination will, I am convinced, provide a most valuable
adjunct to safety, whatever the environment."
Ewan Thomas, National Water Officer of MREW: "Mapyx has been
an excellent development partner for the project to provide MR teams with
class leading search planning and management software.
The SARMAN(TM) application has been developed from first
principles to provide an incident management system that is fully integrated
into the Quo digital mapping platform.
The powerful combination of Quo, the Mapyx tracking system and
SARMAN(TM) will make a significant contribution to search and rescue
planning and incident management in England and Wales."
Steven Wood, Chairman of Mapyx, stated, "Following on from
MREW selecting Mapyx as "Official GIS and Mapping Partner", Mapyx elected to
develop specific search and rescue software to assist MREW in its operations.
Our new SARMAN(TM) software is our contribution to the important work of MREW
and, by working closely together with MREW, we believe that we have developed
a system that will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all search and
rescue operations. Sarman(TM) is undergoing field testing with MREW in March
2010 and will be operational in April 2010."
The SARMAN(TM) software has been designed in conjunction with
MREW and provides operational improvements including:
1. Use of digital topographic maps and aerial maps at various
scales to provide accurate ground data.
2. Use of Mapyx Quo Professional software functionality to
provide detailed routing and tracking information.
3. Reduction of set-up time for establishing search parameters
to improve planning and management resulting in increased efficiency
and accuracy of searches.
4. Live communication and tracking interfaces permitting better
coordination of search teams and providing immediate feedback of
search progress.
5. Coordination of multiple search teams and equipment across
multiple incidents.
6. Automated process management tasks to provide better, faster and more
reliable information with fast, bespoke or standardised
reporting functionality.
7. A modular system that can be expanded or reduced depending upon
functionality requirements.
8. 'Black box' recording of all planning and field operations.
For more information, contact
Mapyx at mediarelations@mapyx.com, phone +44(0)2089721556 or visit http://www.mapyx.com.
Mapyx Limited, a Surbiton based company, delivers affordable digital
maps and tools to a wide range of users. Mapyx products offer value for
money, help people share their data (routes, pictures, reviews and more)
and build communities around their hobbies, clubs and associations.
The team behind Mapyx has been involved with digital mapping applications
for government, military and commercial organisations for over two decades.
Mapyx developed its successful 'Quo' product as the essential digital mapping
software for outdoor pursuits. Mapyx Quo is free of charge, fully-functional
digital mapping software that has won numerous awards. Download a free copy
at http://www.mapyx.com/quo .
About Mountain Rescue England & Wales (MREW)
MREW is a registered charity. Its mountain and cave rescue service in
England and Wales is provided by around 3,500 volunteers, available 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather.
Besides being called to help people who become ill or injured
on the moorlands and mountains, MREW teams frequently help the police search
semi-urban areas for missing persons. Its teams also help the ambulance
service access remote or difficult areas. MREW has provided expertise and
personnel during major civil emergencies such as the Grayrigg train crash and
the Lockerbie disaster; assisted the fire service with moorland fires in
Yorkshire and the Lake District; helped rescue people from their own homes
during extensive flooding in Gloucestershire, Carlisle and South Yorkshire;
and searched snowbound roads for stranded motorists. It has also searched for
forensic evidence and helped preserve crime scenes.
Images accompanying this release are available to download at:
Bridgepoint Education's Ashford University Introduces a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in English
SAN DIEGO, March 5 -- Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI), a provider of post-secondary education services focused on providing higher access to higher education, announced today that Ashford University has launched a new Bachelor of Arts degree in English. It is available online and is a natural extension of Ashford's many liberal arts programs. The program focuses on literature and the English language and its practical usage and application in modern society.
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English may choose to pursue careers in business, research, education, finance, theatre and entertainment, communications, health care and many other fields.
"The College of Arts and Sciences is very pleased to add the Bachelor's Degree in English to its repertoire of liberal arts degree programs. English majors are increasingly in demand as the emphasis on communication and writing skills increase," said Dr. James Jeremiah, vice president of online academic affairs. "Employers value the analytical, critical thinking and research skills of the English major, and the creativity these students bring to the workplace. Students find their own lives enriched with the range and breadth of the material they learn."
"We are delighted to add an English major to our already wide array of online Arts and Sciences programs. English majors find success in many fields. The ability to read thoughtfully and use language with precision and confidence is of great value," said Dr. Curtis Lowe, dean of Ashford University's College of Arts and Sciences.
Ashford University's bachelor's degree in English is currently available online. It does not include any additional professional licensures or certifications.
About Ashford University
Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (http://www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit http://www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.
About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in such disciplines as business, education, psychology, social sciences and health sciences. Bridgepoint Education's regionally accredited academic institutions - Ashford University and University of the Rockies - deliver their programs online as well as at traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit http://www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations at 858.668.2580.
Source: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
CONTACT: Shari Rodriguez, Director of Public Relations of Bridgepoint
Education, Inc., +1-858-668-2580, shari.rodriguez@bridgepointeducation.com
Mobiletag is already a downloadable application on all major
mobile stores: Android, Iphone, Blackberry, Windows... And now on NOKIA OVI
Store!
Mobile Tag has always tried to develop new technology from the
consumer's point of view, and the mobiletag Universal Reader & shopping on
OVI Store is no exception.
The concept behind this application is to send, receive and
share information and best prices to everyone and for everyone through all
standardized barcodes. The millions clients of NOKIA across the world have
now the possibility to update their mobiletag application already embedded or
to download the latest version.
Scanning a barcode with your Nokia mobile phone is simply
taking a picture of it with your phone, using the mobiletag application.
Mobiletag on OVI Store is free!
Go to OVI Store and enter "mobiletag".
Mobiletag: Universal Reader available on OVI Store
For the first time, your mobile phone can scan the three international
standard barcodes with a single application. Mobiletag scans 1D barcodes (EAN
13, UPC, etc.) and 2D barcodes (Datamatrix, flashcode, Fotokody, QR-Code,
etc.). This version is, for the moment, compatible with the latest mobile top
sales of NOKIA (N97 & 5800 coming soon).
Finally, a Universal reader that is truly Universal!
Mobiletag: Shopping
In addition to the Universal reader, mobiletag has developed a
shopping offer based on product price comparator. Consumers can compare the
best offers from different merchants.
The price comparator works on 1D barcodes.
Initially, you can compare prices offered by websites. You
will then also be able to get product information from stores around you.
Get the best price and purchase products using your Nokia
mobile phone, or go to the store to find your product.
There are 1D barcodes everywhere around us so scanning can
become a game; however, mobiletag really allows you to save money on your
purchases.
About Mobile Tag.
Innovative company, Mobile Tag is a leading software developer
specialising in mobile handset software solutions.
In 2006, the company launched mobiletag, an embedded software application
that allows mobile phones to read 2D barcodes, otherwise known as tags,
simply by using the phone's camera. Mobile Tag developed the software to
create quick access to external content.
Mobile Tag received a venture capital investment of 4 million euros in
October 2008, funded by new lead investor Alven Capital and by existing
shareholders (XangeCapital and IDF Capital). This capital increase will allow
mobiletag to pursue its international growth strategy in the market of
barcodes (Europe, USA). mobiletag has already established business
partnerships with the major mobile network Operators and with international
brands.
SpiveyWorks Becomes a 'Front Runner' With the Release of Its Newest Application, SpiveyWorks Notes
SpiveyWorks Notes in combination with the Windows Azure platform helps enable customers to use their computer or mobile phone to take and share mobile notes easier and faster
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 5 -- SpiveyWorks today announced it will launch a new application using the Windows Azure Platform. SpiveyWorks Notes in combination with the Windows Azure platform helps enable customers to use their computer or mobile phone to take and share mobile notes easier and faster. The Windows Azure platform, Microsoft's cloud services platform, provides SpiveyWorks with the ability to build, manage, and deploy cloud based applications.
"Through the technical and marketing support provided by the Front Runner program, we are excited to see the innovative solutions built on the Windows Azure platform by the ISV community," said Doug Hauger, general manager for Windows Azure Microsoft Corp. "The companies who choose to be a part of the Front Runner program show initiative and technological advancement in their respective industries."
"Windows Azure platform provides greater choice and flexibility in how we develop and deploy web-based applications to our mobile worker customers, both on-premises or in the cloud," said Michael Spivey, CEO of SpiveyWorks.
SpiveyWorks Notes automates critical processes such as mobile worker information systems that support decision-making on the go, conveniently using devices commonly held by today's mobile worker. Windows Azure was a critical component of the platform, providing the reliability and scalability our customers demanded.
Founded in 2003, SpiveyWorks is a software company that creates innovative web-based software to increase productivity of mobile workers.
Product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Michael Spivey
SpiveyWorks Corporation
+1-919-971-2998
michaelspivey@spiveyworks.com
Source: SpiveyWorks
CONTACT: Michael Spivey of SpiveyWorks Corporation, +1-919-971-2998,
michaelspivey@spiveyworks.com
Identive Group Announces Fourth Quarter 2009 and Year End Results
SANTA ANA, Calif. and ISMANING, Germany, March 5 -- SCM Microsystems, Inc. d.b.a. Identive Group (Nasdaq: INVE; Frankfurt Stock Exchange: INV), a provider of products, services and solutions for the security, identification and RFID industries, today announced final results for its 2009 fiscal fourth quarter (Q4) and year (FY).
Q4 2009 Results
On April 30, 2009, the Company completed its merger with Hirsch Electronics Corporation, and the Company's financial results have included operating results for the Hirsch subsidiary since the date of acquisition. All figures are reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Revenue in Q4 2009 was $11.9 million, in line with the estimate provided on January 21, 2010 and up 32% from $9.0 million in Q4 2008. The increase in Q4 2009 revenues was due to the inclusion of revenue from the Hirsch business unit, partially offset by lower revenues from the SCM smart card reader and digital media reader businesses.
Gross profit margin was 37% in Q4 2009, compared with 46% in the Q4 2008, as a result of a $0.8 million write-off of inventory related to terminals for the stalled German eHealth program, as the government authorities in Germany have indefinitely halted broad implementation of the project.
Operating expenses were $11.3 million in Q4 2009, up 111% from $5.4 million in Q4 2008. The increase primarily was due to the inclusion of operating expenses relating to the Hirsch business, as well as $1.3 million in transaction costs primarily related to the acquisition of Bluehill ID, which were above the estimate of $1.0 million provided on January 21, 2010. Operating loss was $(6.9) million in Q4 2009, compared with operating loss of $(1.2) million in Q4 2008.
Loss from continuing operations in Q4 2009 was $(8.5) million, or $(0.34) per share, compared with loss from continuing operations of $(3.7) million, or $(0.23) per share in Q4 2008. Included in Q4 2009 is a $1.4 million impairment charge related to the write off of equity investments related to the Company's investment in TranZfinity, Inc. and a related impairment charge of $0.6 million for the exclusivity fees paid to TranZfinity, which was recorded as an intangible asset in the consolidated balance sheet.
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q4 2009 were $4.8 million, down from $6.2 million at the end of the previous quarter.
FY 2009 Full Year Results
Total revenue was $41.3 million in FY 2009, in line with the estimate provided January 21, 2010 and up 46% compared with $28.4 million in FY 2008. The increase in FY 2009 revenues was due to the inclusion of eight months of revenue from the Hirsch business unit, partially offset by lower revenues from the SCM smart card reader and digital media reader businesses.
Gross profit margin in FY 2009 was 45% of revenue, compared to gross profit margin of 44% in FY 2008. During FY 2009, gross profit margin was positively impacted by the inclusion of sales of higher-margin Hirsch products in the second, third and fourth quarters, offset by the Q4 2009 inventory write-off described above.
Operating expenses were $32.0 million in FY 2009, up 59% compared with operating expenses of $20.1 million in FY 2008, primarily due to transaction costs and the addition of eight months of expenses for the Hirsch business in FY 2009. Operating loss was $(13.5) million in FY 2009, compared with ($7.6) million in FY 2008.
The Company reported a loss from continuing operations in FY 2009 of $(14.6) million, compared with a loss from continuing operations of $(10.5) million in FY 2008.
"The 2009 merger with Hirsch Electronics was a true transformation for SCM, moving the Company into a leadership position in the area of convergence of physical and logical access control. With the January 2010 business combination with Bluehill ID, we now have the critical components with which to begin to build the signature company in the secure ID market," said Ayman S. Ashour, CEO and Chairman of Identive. "Our focus now is on vigorous cost reduction to bring down the inflated overhead costs of the Company and to stabilize our financial base. Going forward, we aim to capitalize on our unique position in the market with strong organic growth and continued execution of our acquisition strategy in a more economic manner that reduces the historically high transaction costs. Ultimately, the executive management and the Board are committed to completing the transformation of the company into profit driven growth that delivers value to our stakeholders."
About Identive Group
Identive Group (Nasdaq: INVE; Frankfurt Stock Exchange: INV) is an international technology group focused on building the world's signature company in secure identification-based technologies. Through its group of recognized brands, Identive provides leading-edge products and solutions in the areas of physical and logical access control, identity management and RFID systems to governments, commercial and industrial enterprises and consumers. The organization's growth model is based on a combination of disciplined acquisitive development and strong technology-driven organic growth from its member companies. For additional info visit: http://www.identive-group.com
NOTE: This press release contains 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. These include, without limitation, the statements by Ayman S. Ashour, including statements about our focus on cost reduction to reduce our expense overhead, reducing the transaction costs of acquisitions, achieving strong organic growth, achieving profit driven growth and building the signature company in secure ID. These statements are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated herein. Our financial results may not meet expectations, we may not become profitable and we may not be successful in our strategy of pursuing both organic and acquisitive growth. Readers should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, that could cause our actual business and operating results to differ, including, but not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate the Bluehill ID business into ours; our ability to effect significant reductions in our expense base; we may not be able to reduce the transaction costs associated with mergers and acquisitions; our ability to grow the Company based on a strategy of providing products, components and services for the identification systems value chain; our ability to complete additional acquisitions that add to the value of our Company; our ability to complete transactions for mergers and acquisitions at a lower cost than in the past; our ability to grow market share and revenues based on participation in early stage markets for contactless products; our ability to successfully develop and introduce new products that satisfy the evolving and increasingly complex requirements of customers; the markets in which we participate or target may not grow, converge or standardize at anticipated rates or at all, including the identification and identity markets that we are targeting; and we may not successfully compete in the markets in which we participate or target. For a discussion of further risks and uncertainties related to our business, please refer to our public company reports, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and subsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
All trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders.
- FINANCIALS FOLLOW -
---------------------
SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC. d.b.a. IDENTIVE GROUP
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three months ended Twelve months ended
December 31, December 31,
------------ ------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Revenues $11,865 $8,985 $41,315 $28,362
Cost of revenues 7,432 4,856 22,804 15,817
----- ----- ------ ------
Gross profit 4,433 4,129 18,511 12,545
----- ----- ------ ------
Operating expenses:
Research and development 1,286 844 5,062 3,902
Sales and marketing 4,949 2,611 15,584 9,620
General and administrative 4,426 3,356 12,091 8,075
Impairment of intangibles 647 - 647 -
Gain on sale of assets - (1,455) (1,417) (1,455)
--- ------ ------ ------
Total operating expenses 11,308 5,356 31,967 20,142
------ ----- ------ ------
Income (loss) from operations (6,875) (1,227) (13,456) (7,597)
Loss and impairment on equity
investments (1,449) (256) (2,244) (256)
Interest and other, net (406) (1,588) (411) (1,881)
---- ------ ---- ------
Loss from continuing operations
before income taxes (8,730) (3,071) (16,111) (9,734)
Benefit (provision) for income
taxes 242 (601) 1,549 (752)
--- ---- ----- ----
Loss from continuing
operations (8,488) (3,672) (14,562) (10,486)
Gain (loss) from
discontinued operations 36 (486) 226 (213)
Gain (loss) on sale of
discontinued operations 41 36 157 589
--- --- --- ---
Net loss $(8,411) $(4,122) $(14,179) $(10,110)
======= ======= ======== ========
Loss per share from continuing
operations:
Basic and diluted $(0.34) $(0.23) $(0.66) $(0.66)
Gain (loss) per share from
discontinued operations:
Basic and diluted $0.00 $(0.03) $0.02 $0.02
----- ------ ----- -----
Net loss per share:
Basic and diluted $(0.34) $(0.26) $(0.64) $(0.64)
------ ------ ------ ------
Shares used in computing loss
per share:
Basic and diluted 25,135 15,744 22,013 15,743
----------------- ------ ------ ------ ------
Note: Financial results contained in this release reflect continuing
operations of the Company's Security and Identity Products and Digital
Media and Connectivity businesses only. The Company completed the sale of
its Digital TV solutions business in May 2006; therefore, financial
results for the Digital TV solutions business are being accounted for as
discontinued operations.
SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC. d.b.a. IDENTIVE GROUP
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
December 31, December 31,
ASSETS 2009 2008
------ ---- ----
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $4,836 $20,550
Accounts receivable, net 6,739 8,665
Inventories, net 5,379 5,065
Other current assets 1,921 1,139
----- -----
Total current assets 18,875 35,419
Equity investments - 2,244
Property, equipment and other assets, net 1,719 3,168
Goodwill 21,895 -
Intangibles, net 22,082 307
------ ---
Total assets $64,571 $41,138
======= =======
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $5,530 $3,555
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 9,231 7,933
----- -----
Total current liabilities 14,761 11,488
Long-term income taxes payable 456 184
Long-term liabilities to related parties 7,899 -
Deferred tax liability 3,515 1,340
Stockholders' equity 37,940 28,126
------ ------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $64,571 $41,138
======= =======
Source: SCM Microsystems, Inc.
CONTACT: United States, Darby Dye, +1-949-553-4251,
ddye@identive-group.com, or Europe, Fabien B. Nestmann, +41 44 783 8043,
fnestmann@identive-group.com, both of SCM Microsystems, Inc.
Companies Will be Able to Reach Almost 1 Billion Customers via Smartphone Applications by 2013
BERLIN, Germany, March 5, 2010--
- Worldwide Smartphone Application Download Market Will Reach
US$15.65 Billion by 2013, Representing a Significant Revenue Opportunity for
Companies
The worldwide number of consumers using smartphone applications will grow
from 102 Million (2009) to 974 Million in 2013, according to
research2guidance. The new report focuses on the corporate perspective of app
publishing for smartphone devices. Currently, only 10% of Fortune 2000
companies are targeting their customers with a smartphone application.
"Despite the hype around the iPhone and other cutting-edge devices,
corporations are only just beginning to realize that smartphone applications
offer a direct channel to their customers," explains Ralf-Gordon Jahns,
Research Director at research2guidance.
Virtually all of the "first mover" companies selected the Apple App Store
as the publishing platform for their first application. In 2010 with the
increased number of application stores available, any app publisher will have
to carefully select where to promote their applications. "Our App Store
Ranking shows that there are other app stores besides the Apple App Store
that offer good publishing opportunities in 2010," explained Ralf-Gordon
Jahns. "Especially independent stores like Handango or Mobihand scored high
in our rankings".
The vast majority of corporate early adopters have published applications
to give access to their core products or for promotional purposes (91%). Only
a minor share (9%) use applications as a stand-alone product. With the market
for app downloads poised to grow from US$1.94 billion in 2009 to US$15.65
billion in 2013, companies will begin to focus more on application business
models which offer additional revenue opportunities.
"To succeed in the dynamic app market, corporate publishers must leverage
their internal assets to be able to effectively compete against the mass of
specialized developers" Jahns concludes. "These include existing marketing
channels, service platforms and infrastructure that give them a key advantage
over mobile specialists."
Additional information is available in the research2guidance report,
"Global Smartphone Application Report 2010." More information is available on
the research2guidance website at http://www.research2guidance.com/shop/.
About research2guidance:
research2guidance (http://www.research2guidance.com/) is a Berlin-based
research organization specialized on the mobile industry. The company's
service offerings include comprehensive market studies, as well as bespoke
research and consultancy.
Contact:
Robert Kuersten
research2guidance
+49-30-609-893-366
robert.kuersten@research2guidance.com
Source: research2guidance
Contact: Robert Kuersten, research2guidance, +49-30-609-893-366, robert.kuersten@research2guidance.com
Kingdee Opens its First R&D Centre Outside of China
Kingdee recognises Singapore as an important ICT hub in the region
SINGAPORE, March 4 -- Kingdee International Software Group Company Limited, a leading provider of enterprise management software and e-Business application solution in the Asia-Pacific region, today announced the official opening of its corporate premises and Research & Development Centre in Singapore. Mr. Robert Xu, Chairman of Kingdee International Software Group and Mr. Leo Yip, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board led today's ceremonial opening at the Raffles City Convention Centre.
Kingdee, which has been operating here since early last year, established its Asia R&D facility in the country as a testament to its long-term investment commitment and recognition of Singapore's role as ICT hub in Southeast Asia.
"Kingdee chose to establish its South East Asia R&D Centre in Singapore as it provides a strategic platform for leading hardware, software and IT services and Internet companies to tap into new business opportunities in the region. The Singapore Government has been fully supporting the growth of the ICT industry and enabling excellent infrastructure. IT companies from across the value chain are drawn to Singapore because of its robust intellectual property protection regime, good logistics connectivity, and easy access to global talent." Mr. Xu said.
"We congratulate Kingdee on the opening of its first R&D centre outside of China, here in Singapore. Kingdee's R&D centre is the first software development initiative by a leading Chinese software company in Singapore. The investment attests to Singapore's strong capabilities for innovation and knowledge intensive activities. Kingdee's expansion also reflects Singapore's growing role as a strategic location for Asian enterprises in their regionalisation and internationalisation thrust." said Mr Leo Yip, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board.
The new office and R&D Centre in Singapore is Kingdee's latest initiative to expand its network of competencies into strategically important regions. With this new set-up, Kingdee now operates its first R&D Centre outside of China to support the South East Asia market.
Kingdee Singapore will provide a variety of services for the ASEAN region that include research, development and software-related management consultation, implementation and technical support services. Kingdee customers come from diversify industries that include manufacturing, wholesales /retail, service, trading and logistics.
ERP solutions are the core of most companies' IT applications and over the past decades, ERP has evolved and is considered a mature market. However, companies are always on the lookout for next-generation ERP solutions that have new capabilities and are easy to use and deploy.
"Kingdee will continue to invest in the creation and development of enterprise management software technology, improve its range of offerings to companies of various sizes and scales. We will remain steadfast in supporting our customers in this part of the region to improve their strategic business planning, and to enable enterprises to achieve faster returns on their investments, reduce total costs and own a flexible IT infrastructure that accelerates business growth." said Zeng Liang, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Kingdee Asia Pacific, Kingdee International Software Group.
Kingdee enterprise software suite includes enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, knowledge management and business process management. With a strong heritage in the industry since 1993, Kingdee provides management consultation and information services to over 600,000 enterprises, government departments and organisations around the world.
About Kingdee
Kingdee International Software Group Company Limited (HK Stock Code: 268) is a leading provider of enterprise management software and e-Business application solution in the Asia-Pacific region, one of the fastest-growing independent software vendors in the global market, and a leading provider in China's software industry, Kingdee is engaged in developing and selling enterprise management software and e-Business application software, and middleware of e-Business and e-government platforms for enterprises or government. Kingdee also provides software-related management consultation, implementation and technical support services for worldwide customers. With its unique product and service position of "Fast Configuration, Fast Implementation, Fast Application, and Fast Results," Kingdee is able to help customers to easily face the challenges of uncertainty brought by the dynamic business environment, perfectly integrate the business processes and information technology, effectively manage changes, and ensure the fast, sustainable and healthy growth of the organization.
Digi Launches ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51 Digi JumpStart Kit at Embedded World Nuremberg
-Kit speeds development of low power, wireless multimedia devices-
MINNETONKA, Minn., March 4 -- Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII) today introduced the ConnectCore(TM) Wi-i.MX51 Digi JumpStart Kit(R) featuring the ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51, the industry's first core module designed specifically for low power, wireless multimedia applications. The kit includes all of the tools necessary to make wireless product development easy including development board, Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 board support package and a 7" WVGA LCD. The ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51 enables wired and 802.11n networking for low power embedded applications with demanding performance requirements such as medical devices, digital signage, transportation, security and surveillance, point-of-sale equipment and industrial automation technology. Kits will be available at Embedded World Nuremberg on Digi's booth located in Hall 12, booth 12-244.
"The ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51 Digi JumpStart Kit features all of the tools necessary to build network enabled low power, wireless devices with leading user interface and multimedia capabilities," said Larry Kraft, senior vice president of global sales and marketing, Digi International. "Design engineers can focus on other elements of a product design allowing organizations to get to market quickly."
The ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51 is a 32-bit module featuring the new high- performance Freescale i.MX515 ARM(R) Cortex(TM)-A8 processor with 600 and 800 MHz processor speeds. With Freescale's 10-year processor availability guarantee and Digi's five-year product warranty, it is an outstanding long- term availability solution.
The ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51 features 10/100 MBit Ethernet networking and a pre-certified 802.11a/b/g/n wireless interface. Pre-certification eliminates the need to certify wireless products which can be costly and time consuming. It also includes powerful image/video processing and dual-display capabilities, an on-chip hardware encryption accelerator, industrial temperature rating, integrated accelerometer and ZigBee connectivity options. ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51 early availability Digi JumpStart kits for Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 are available now for US$795. Embedded Linux support is also available. Customization capabilities are available through Spectrum Design Solutions, Digi's design and wireless consulting division. For more information, visit http://www.digi.com/ccwimx51 .
About Digi International
Digi International is making wireless M2M easy by developing reliable products and solutions to connect and securely manage local or remote electronic devices over the network or via the Web. Digi offers the highest levels of performance, flexibility and quality, and markets its products through a global network of distributors and resellers, systems integrators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). For more information, visit Digi's Web site at http://www.digi.com/ , or call +852-2833-1008.
All brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Press Contact:
Kylie Chan
Channel Marketing Manager, Asia Pacific
Digi International
Tel: +852-2833-1008
Fax: +852-2572-9989
Email: kylie.chan@digi.com
Source: Digi International
CONTACT: Kylie Chan of Digi International, Channel Marketing Manager,
Asia Pacific, +852-2833-1008, fax, +852-2572-9989, kylie.chan@digi.com
Priceline.com Announces Pricing of $500 Million Private Offering of Convertible Senior Notes and Common Stock Repurchase
NORWALK, Conn., March 4 -- Priceline.com Incorporated (NASDAQ:PCLN) announced today the pricing of $500 million principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 through a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The notes will pay interest semiannually at a rate of 1.25% per annum. In certain circumstances, the notes may be converted into cash up to their principal amount, and into shares of priceline.com common stock and/or cash at the Company's election for the conversion value above the principal amount based on a conversion rate of 3.2997 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the notes (which is equal to a conversion price of approximately $303.06 per share, representing a 30% conversion premium based on the closing price of $233.12 per share on March 4, 2010).
Priceline.com estimates that the net proceeds from the offering of notes will be approximately $488,400,000 million, after deducting estimated fees and expenses. Priceline.com granted the initial purchasers a 30-day option to purchase up to $75 million principal amount of additional notes solely to cover over-allotments.
Priceline.com plans to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to repurchase approximately $100 million of its outstanding common stock in privately negotiated, off-market transactions, which may be effected through one or more of the initial purchasers of the notes or their respective affiliates, concurrently with the offering. The net proceeds will also be used for general corporate purposes, which may include repurchasing shares of priceline.com common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time, repaying outstanding debt and corporate acquisitions.
The sale of the notes and the repurchase of the shares of common stock are expected to close on March 10, 2010.
This notice does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Any offers of the securities will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum. The notes and any priceline.com common stock issuable upon the conversion of the notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.
Source: Priceline.com Incorporated
CONTACT: Brian Ek, priceline.com Incorporated, +1-203-299-8167,
brian.ek@priceline.com
Independent Production Company WorldsLastHero Productions Sets Its Slate of Films
LOS ANGELES, March 4 -- Up-and-coming actor/writer/director/producer Jeremiah Sayys and his producing partner Sheila Ryan have been very busy producing a slate of films under their independent production company, WorldsLastHero Productions. Two of their films, The Legends of Nethiah and Jeremiah Sayys' directorial debut Of Silence, are currently in post-production and are both slated to be released at the end of the year. The Legends of Nethiah is a sci-fi fantasy film that tells the story of a young boy, whose parents are going through a bitter divorce, that is given hope and courage through the powerful stories embellished by his grandfather. The stories give the boy the inner strength and resolve to confront the inevitable challenges which lie ahead. Of Silence is a psychological thriller about an ailing former scuba diver facing extremely tough times who begins experiencing otherworldly incidents.
Sayys and Ryan have currently went into production on Ryan's writing and directorial debut Opious, which started filming last week, that stars Jeremiah Sayys and up-and-coming actor Paolo Cruz as ghost hunters that, along with their group of ghost hunters, track down a journal said to belong to a demonic cult's leader and upon finding it they unleash an unseen evil. Films that Sayys and Ryan are in pre-production on are the drama/horror/thriller DeadLands Cry, the werewolf horror film Wulf, and the dark comedy Smoke Jokers.
In DeadLands Cry, a morally upstanding single father and his strong-willed teenage daughter are put to the test when volunteers renovating an old schoolhouse find themselves trapped and hunted by an inconceivable monster with an ominous past that reaches deep into local legend. Wulf is the story of a mechanic struggling to make peace with his tragic past while battling an inner monster from folklore legend, after being attacked by an injured wolf in Alaska. Smoke Jokers was written by Ryan and her brother Sean Ryan and it tells the story of Grant McCadden and his band Smoke Jokers trying to find success while being harassed by a duo of bike cops with a newfound personal vendetta.
Sayys will write, direct, produce and star in both DeadLands Cry and Wulf. Ryan will produce with Sayys on both projects. As for Smoke Jokers, Sayys and Ryan will also produce and are currently seeking a director. Raquel Castro, from Jersey Girl, and Hanieh Jodat, from the short film Rabia, have signed on to DeadLands Cry. Jodat has also signed on to help produce DeadLands Cry. Seems that WorldsLastHero Productions will be busy this year and for years to come.
Giant Interactive Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Results
SHANGHAI, March 4 -- Giant Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE:GA) ("Giant" or "the Company"), one of China's leading online game developers and operators, announced today its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
Fourth Quarter 2009 Highlights:
-- Net revenue was RMB276.0 million (US$40.4 million), compared to
RMB290.2 million in the third quarter 2009 and RMB353.1 million in the
fourth quarter 2008.
-- Gross profit was RMB231.6 million (US$33.9 million), compared to
RMB244.8 million in the third quarter 2009 and RMB296.5 million in the
fourth quarter 2008. Gross profit margin for the fourth quarter 2009
was 83.9%.
-- Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders was
RMB197.8 million (US$29.0 million), compared to RMB197.7 million in the
third quarter 2009 and RMB290.3 million in the fourth quarter 2008. The
margin of net income attributable to the Company's shareholders for the
fourth quarter 2009 was 71.7%.
-- Basic and diluted earnings per American Depositary Share ("ADS") were
RMB0.87 (US$0.13) and RMB0.85 (US$0.12), respectively, compared to
basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB1.26 and RMB1.23, respectively,
for the fourth quarter 2008, and basic and diluted earnings per ADS of
RMB0.87 and RMB0.84, respectively, for the third quarter 2009. Each ADS
represents one ordinary share.
-- Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company's shareholders
excluding non-cash share-based compensation was RMB204.5 million
(US$30.0 million), compared to RMB205.4 million in the third quarter
2009 and RMB298.3 million in the fourth quarter 2008. The margin of
non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company's shareholders
excluding non-cash share-based compensation was 74.1%.
-- Basic and diluted non-GAAP earnings excluding non-cash share-based
compensation per ADS were RMB0.90 (US$0.13) and RMB0.87 (US$0.13),
respectively, compared to basic and diluted non-GAAP earnings per ADS
of RMB1.29 and RMB1.26, respectively, for the fourth quarter 2008, and
basic and diluted non-GAAP earnings per ADS of RMB0.91 and RMB0.88,
respectively, for the third quarter 2009.
-- Active Paying Accounts ("APA") for online games(1) in the fourth
quarter 2009 reached 1,138,000, an increase of 2.7% from the third
quarter 2009 and a decrease of 11.8% from the fourth quarter 2008.
-- Average Revenue Per User ("ARPU") for online games(1) was RMB240.5, a
decrease of 7.3% from the third quarter 2009 and a decrease of 11.8%
from the fourth quarter 2008.
-- Average Concurrent Users ("ACU") for online games(1) was 485,000, an
increase of 14.0% from the third quarter 2009 and a decrease of 12.7%
from the fourth quarter 2008.
-- Peak Concurrent Users ("PCU") for online games(1) was 1,391,000, an
increase of 8.6% from the third quarter 2009 and a decrease of 7.6%
from the fourth quarter 2008.
Fiscal Year 2009 Highlights:
Compared to fiscal year 2008 results,
-- Net revenue decreased 18.2% to RMB1,303.8 million (US$191.0 million).
-- Gross profit decreased 20.1% to RMB1,099.8 million (US$161.1 million).
-- Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders decreased 22.8%
to RMB859.3 million (US$125.9 million).
-- Basic and diluted net income per ADS decreased 18.3% and 18.3%,
respectively, to RMB3.80 (US$0.56) and RMB3.67 (US$0.54), respectively.
-- Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company's shareholders
excluding non-cash share-based compensation decreased 23.3% to
RMB889.9 million (US$130.4 million).
-- Basic and diluted non-GAAP net income excluding non-cash share-based
compensation per ADS decreased 18.8% and 18.8%, respectively, to
RMB3.93 (US$0.58) and RMB3.80 (US$0.56), respectively.
Mr. Yuzhu Shi, Giant's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, "Although our financial results in the second half of 2009 were adversely impacted by the cancellation of 'Treasure Box' monetization features within ZT Online, we are beginning to see signs of recovery in our key performance metrics driven by our segmentation strategy and commitment to innovative gameplay. Since the launch of limited closed beta testing in October 2009, our ZT Online Green Edition has quickly gained traction among China's online gamers and has achieved robust ACU and PCU levels. Ongoing enhancements and the addition of new features to ZT Online have also helped stabilize user levels and contributed to a rebound in players within our flagship game.
"While our strategic initiatives to reach a broader, more diverse audience will ultimately improve the vitality and sustainability of the ZT Online family of games, we are also actively developing new potential growth drivers through our pipeline, partnerships and licensing opportunities. In recent months, we have partnered with Astrum Nival to expand ZT Online's geographic footprint into Russia and bolstered our own game pipeline by becoming the exclusive operator of Allods Online in China. With a healthy ZT Online series and a number of new products slated for release in the coming year, we believe the first quarter of 2010 will lay the foundation for a return to sustainable growth in 2010."
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Unaudited Financial Results
Net Revenue. Net revenue for the fourth quarter 2009 was RMB276.0 million (US$40.4 million), representing a 4.9% decrease from RMB290.2 million in the third quarter 2009 and a 21.8% decrease from RMB353.1 million in the fourth quarter 2008.
Net revenue decreased 18.2% to RMB1,303.8 million (US$191.0 million) for the fiscal year 2009, from RMB1,594.7 million in 2008.
Revenue from online games(1) in the fourth quarter totaled RMB273.7 million (US$40.1 million), representing a decrease of 4.8% from RMB287.5 million in the third quarter 2009 and a 22.2% decrease from RMB351.9 million in the fourth quarter 2008. Online game net revenue decreased sequentially and year-over-year quarterly as ZT Online experienced continued pressure from the cancellation of selected in-game monetization features, such as "Treasure Box," during the third quarter 2009.
ACU for online games(1) in the fourth quarter 2009 was 485,000, representing a 14.0% sequential increase and a 12.7% decrease over the fourth quarter 2008. PCU for online games(1) in the fourth quarter 2009 was 1,391,000, representing an 8.6% sequential increase and a 7.6% decrease over the fourth quarter 2008. ACU and PCU were up on a sequential basis due to increased interest and usage for the newly launched games such as ZT Online Green Edition. ARPU for online games(1) in the fourth quarter 2009 decreased 7.3% sequentially and 11.8% year-over-year quarterly to RMB240.5. The sequential decline in ARPU in the fourth quarter of 2009 is attributable to the launch of new games geared toward users with lower spending habits. APA for online games(1) in the fourth quarter 2009 increased 2.7% sequentially and decreased 11.8% from the fourth quarter 2008 to 1,138,000. The sequential increase in APA is attributable to users subscribing for paying accounts within the Company's newly launched games. The year-over-year quarterly decreases in operating metrics were primarily attributable to the cancellation of "Treasure Box" monetization features within ZT Online during the third quarter 2009.
Cost of Services. Cost of services was RMB44.4 million (US$6.5 million), representing a decrease of 2.2% from the third quarter 2009 and a 21.6% decrease over the fourth quarter 2008. The sequential decrease in cost of services was primarily due to a slight decrease in business tax and the Company's continuous efforts to control operating costs such as IDC expenses.
Cost of services decreased 6.3% to RMB204.1 million (US$29.9 million) for the fiscal year 2009, from RMB217.9 million in 2008. This decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease in business tax resulting from lower sales of prepaid game cards and more stringent cost control in IDC costs and other operating expenses.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin. Gross profit for the fourth quarter 2009 was RMB231.6 million (US$33.9 million), representing a 5.4% sequential decrease and a 21.9% year-over-year quarterly decrease. Gross margin for the fourth quarter 2009 was 83.9%, down slightly from 84.3% in the third quarter 2009 and in line with 84.0% in the fourth quarter 2008.
Gross profit fell to RMB1,099.8 million (US$161.1 million) for the fiscal year 2009, from RMB1,376.8 million in 2008, caused by the decrease in net revenue. Gross margin for the fiscal year 2009 was 84.3%, compared with 86.3% in 2008.
Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter 2009 were RMB55.8 million (US$8.2 million), representing an increase of 5.0% from RMB53.1 million in the third quarter 2009 and a decline of 32.7% from RMB82.9 million in the fourth quarter 2008. The sequential increase in operating expenses is mainly attributable to higher R&D expenditure and increased sales and marketing expenses.
For the fiscal year 2009, total operating expenses decreased 34.9% to RMB265.9 million (US$39.0 million) from RMB408.8 million in 2008, as the Company raised the effectiveness and efficiency of marketing resources and cut back its sales and marketing spending. Also, due to stringent cost controls, G&A expenses decreased in fiscal year 2009. These decreases more than offset the increase in R&D spending, which was used to broaden the Company's game pipeline.
Research and product development ("R&D") expenses for the fourth quarter 2009 increased 12.2% sequentially to RMB27.5 million (US$4.0 million) from RMB24.5 million in the third quarter 2009 and 9.3% year-over-year quarterly from RMB25.2 million in the fourth quarter 2008. The sequential rise in R&D expenses was mainly due to the increase in staff headcount as additional R&D talents were hired for the development of new game projects. For the fiscal year 2009, R&D expenses increased 28.0% to RMB113.4 million (US$16.6 million) from RMB88.5 million in 2008 as the R&D department expanded to accommodate additional product development and existing game enhancements.
Sales and marketing ("S&M") expenses were RMB34.8 million (US$5.1 million) in the fourth quarter 2009, up 14.5% sequentially from RMB30.4 million in the third quarter 2009, as the Company spent more on advertisements and marketing campaigns for the promotion of ZT Online Green Edition. However, S&M expenses were down 23.4% year-over-year quarterly from RMB45.4 million in the fourth quarter 2008, as the Company exercised tighter cost controls over S&M liaison personnel and implemented more streamlined advertising campaigns compared to a year ago. For fiscal year 2009, S&M expenses were RMB119.6 million (US$17.5 million), down 50.5% from RMB241.6 million for fiscal year 2008, as the Company enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of its marketing expenditure throughout the year.
General and administrative expenses ("G&A") for the fourth quarter 2009 were RMB33.2 million (US$4.9 million), up 23.3% sequentially from RMB26.9 million in the third quarter 2009, but down 20.7% from RMB41.8 million in the fourth quarter 2008. The sequential rise was mainly caused by an increase in consulting fees and year-end human resources-related expenditures. The year-over-year quarterly decrease in G&A expenses was mainly attributable to management's strict control of expenses. For fiscal year 2009, G&A expenses decreased 14.3% to RMB121.4 million (US$17.8 million) from RMB141.8 million in fiscal year 2008, caused by the decrease of consulting fees and option expenses due to the implementation of the accelerated amortization method.
Financial Incentive. The financial incentive, which mainly relates to sales tax received from the municipal government, was RMB39.7 million (US$5.8 million) in the fourth quarter 2009. This refund mainly relates to the sales tax accounted for in the Company's cost of services and is treated as a deduction in operating expenses. The total financial incentive received for fiscal year 2009 increased to RMB88.5 million from RMB63.1 million in 2008.
Interest Income. Interest income for the fourth quarter 2009 was RMB30.1 million (US$4.4 million), compared to RMB23.1 million in the third quarter 2009 and RMB41.3 million in the fourth quarter 2008. The sequential increase in interest income was mainly due to the Company's efforts to more efficiently manage short-term and held-to-maturity securities, while the year-over-year quarterly decrease was primarily caused by a decline in the market interest rate.
For the fiscal year 2009, interest income decreased to RMB102.2 million (US$15.0 million) from RMB185.0 million in fiscal year 2008, which was mainly attributable to the decrease in market interest rates.
Income Tax. Income tax expense for the fourth quarter 2009 was RMB15.3 million (US$2.2 million), compared to income tax expense of RMB18.1 million in the third quarter 2009 and income tax benefit of RMB34.9 million in the fourth quarter 2008. Income tax expense for fiscal year 2009 was RMB85.1 million (US$ 12.5 million).
Net Income Attributable to the Company's Shareholders. Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders for the fourth quarter 2009 was RMB197.8 million (US$29.0 million), in line with RMB197.7 million in the third quarter 2009 and a year-over-year quarterly decrease of 31.9% from RMB290.3 million. Net income declined from the same period last year as the Company remained in a transitional period following the cancellation of certain monetization features in ZT Online during the third quarter 2009. The margin of net income attributable to the Company's shareholders was 71.7% for the fourth quarter 2009, compared to 68.1% in the third quarter 2009 and 82.2% in the fourth quarter 2008.
For fiscal year 2009, net income attributable to the Company's shareholders decreased 22.9% to RMB859.3 million (US$125.9 million), from RMB1,113.6 million in 2008. Net income margin declined to 65.9% for the fiscal year 2009, as compared to 69.8% in 2008.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Short-Term Investments and Held-To-Maturity Investments. As of December 31, 2009, Giant's cash, cash equivalents, short- term investments and held-to-maturity securities totaled RMB5,399.2 million (US$791.0 million), compared to RMB5,179.4 million as of September 30, 2009. The sequential increase consists of cash generated by the Company's operating business.
Share Repurchase Program. In August 2009, the Board of Directors terminated the share repurchase plan authorized in August 2008 and approved a new share repurchase plan, authorizing the Company to repurchase up to US$150.0 million of its ADSs. Under this share repurchase plan, the Company may repurchase its shares under one year, unless further extended or shortened by the Board of Directors within one year, as under the board resolution and as defined by SEC regulations. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had not repurchased any shares under this new plan.
(1) Online games includes nine games that are currently operated by the
Company
Business Highlights and Outlook
ZT Online - The Company continued enhancing the original ZT Online by reducing redundant in-game tasks, upgrading the skill system, creating a new map, and introducing the baby-sitter system. New shards were added in ZT Online Classic Edition that simplify certain gaming experiences, such as relieving the burden of redundant tasks and lowering the difficulty of acquiring certain equipment. ZT Online Green Edition, which surpassed 200,000 PCU during limited closed beta testing with persistent accounts and monetization features, entered into closed beta testing and joint operation with Tencent at the end of December. During closed beta testing, ZT Online Green Edition surpassed 300,000 PCU. The Company plans to launch open beta testing at the end of the first quarter 2010.
Giant Online - During the fourth quarter 2009, various new features such as a parenthood system and a robotic pet system were introduced. Numerous in-game activities were added during the holiday season, and generated more interest from gamers. The Company is now optimizing the state system and believes this will better cater to the current needs of gamers and stabilize the number of concurrent players.
King of Kings III - Since the fourth quarter 2009, King of Kings III has been under limited closed beta testing with persistent accounts and monetization features. During this phase, the Company unlocked higher character ranks and enhanced other content, in order to improve playability and user churn rates. King of Kings III is currently scheduled to begin open beta testing near the beginning of the second quarter 2010.
ZT Online II - ZT Online II will feature greatly improved 2D technology and graphics with more vibrant colors and artwork. The game will also incorporate a revised in-game economy, enriched task systems and new types of gameplay. In January 2010, the Company conducted limited internal testing and plans to proceed to engineering testing at the end of the second quarter of 2010.
Dragon Soul - Dragon Soul is a 3D ancient Chinese PK massively multiplayer online role playing game ("MMORPG") developed by the Company's internal R&D team based in Chengdu, Sichuan. Efforts in the fourth quarter 2009 were focused on developing in-depth PVP gameplay for the state battle system, improving the server capacity and other game details. In the first quarter, 2010, Dragon Soul began limited closed beta testing with persistent user accounts and monetization features. Closed beta testing is expected to begin during the third quarter 2010.
The Golden Land - The Golden Land officially underwent limited closed beta testing with persistent accounts and monetization features in the fourth quarter 2009, with focus mainly on testing and enhancement of monetization features and gameplay associated with mid- and long-term in-game pursuits. Currently, additional features are under development and a revised version is expected in the first quarter 2010.
Win@Giant Program -
-- XT Online-Since the start of limited closed beta testing with
persistent user accounts and monetization features in the fourth
quarter 2009, the Company has been continuously improving the
interactive gameplay features and fine-tuning the economy system. XT
Online recently entered into the ultimate limited closed beta testing
phase and is expected to unlock the new content for level 100
characters and undergo further beta testing to accommodate a larger
scale of gamers.
-- My Sweetie - The Company continued to update the game, including
festive content and activities during the holiday season. The Company
is also developing another version of My Sweetie that will feature
combat and an upgraded client-end engine that supports full-screen play.
Instance dungeons are currently being added.
Allods Online - Allods Online is a free-to-play MMORPG developed by Astrum Nival, LLC ("Astrum Nival"), a studio owned by Mail.Ru Inc. ("Mail.Ru"). The Company recently signed an exclusive agreement with Mail.Ru to operate Allods Online in mainland China. Allods Online is currently operated in the Russian speaking markets, and is under closed beta testing in Europe and USA. Over the coming months, Giant will localize and tailor the game to Chinese gamers' preferences in advance of expected commercial launch in late 2010.
First Quarter 2010 Guidance-Throughout the fourth quarter 2009, the Company was encouraged by signs of increasing stability and positive growth momentum in the performance of ZT Online as the effects from the cancellation of "Treasure Box" diminished. Supported by a strengthening ZT Online and expected contributions from new games such as ZT Online Green Edition, the Company anticipates a return to sustainable top-line growth in the first quarter 2010. However, Giant does not expect profit to move in-line with revenues in the near term due to an expected reduction in contribution from certain non-operating factors such as financial incentive.
Conference Call
Giant's senior management will host a conference call on March 4, 2010 at 8:00 pm (US Eastern Standard Time) / 5:00 pm (US Pacific Standard Time) / 9:00 am (Beijing Time on March 5) to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 financial results and recent business activity. The conference call may be accessed by calling +1 866 272 9941 (for callers in the US), +86 (10) 800 852 1490 (for callers in Southern China), +86 (10) 152 1490 (for callers in Northern China) or +1 617 213 8895 (for callers outside of the US and China) and entering pass code 51568491.
A recording of the conference call will be available starting 11: 00 pm (US Eastern Standard Time) on March 4, 2010, by calling +1 (888) 286 - 8010 (for callers in the US) or +1 (617) 801 - 6888 (for callers outside the US) and entering pass code 43196348.
A live webcast of the conference call and replay will be available on the investor relations page of Giant Interactive Group's website at http://www.ga-me.com/earningsannouncements.php .
Currency Convenience Translation
This release contains translations of certain Renminbi (RMB) amounts into US dollars (US$) at the rate of US$1.00 to RMB6.8259, which was the noon buying rate as of December 31, 2009 in the City of New York for cable transfers in Renminbi per US dollar as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Company makes no representation that the Renminbi or US dollar amounts referred to in this release could have been, or could be, converted into US dollars at such rate or at all.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Giant has reported net income attributable to the Company's shareholders for the period indicated below on a non-GAAP basis excluding non-cash share-based compensation. Giant believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the performance of Giant and when planning and forecasting future periods. Giant computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter.
Readers are cautioned not to view non-GAAP results on a stand-alone basis or as a substitute for results under GAAP, or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies, and should refer to the reconciliation of GAAP results with non-GAAP results in the attached financial information.
The table below sets forth the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures for the indicated periods:
Giant Interactive Group, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP (Unaudited)
Three months ended
December September December December
31, 2008 30, 2009 31, 2009 31, 2009
(RMB) (RMB) (RMB) (US$)
GAAP net income
attributable to the
Company's
shareholders: 290,260,391 197,735,865 197,785,813 28,975,785
For the year ended
December December December
31, 2008 31, 2009 31, 2009
(RMB) (RMB) (US$)
GAAP net income attributable to
the Company's shareholders: 1,113,588,154 859,313,746 125,890,175
Statement Regarding Unaudited Financial Information
The unaudited financial information set forth above is preliminary and subject to adjustments. Adjustments to the financial statements may be identified when audit work is performed for the year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited financial information.
About Giant Interactive Group Inc.
Giant Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE:GA) is a leading online game developer and operator in China in terms of market share according to iResearch Consulting Group, an independent Chinese research center, and focuses on massively multiplayer online role playing games. Currently, Giant operates multiple games, including ZT Online, ZT Online Green Edition, Giant Online, King of Kings III, The Golden Land, XT Online, and My Sweetie. Giant has several additional online games that it intends to launch, including ZT Online II, Dragon Soul, and Allods Online. Giant has built a nationwide distribution network to sell the prepaid game cards and game points required to play its games, which as of December 31, 2009 consisted of over 290 distributors, and reached over 116,500 retail outlets, including internet cafes, software stores, supermarkets, bookstores, newspaper stands, and convenience stores located throughout China. For more information, please visit Giant Interactive Group on the web at http://www.ga-me.com/ .
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this release 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 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 and among others, include our business outlook for the first quarter of 2010, the ability of ZT Online to attract players and extend its life cycle with the enhancement introduced in the fourth quarter 2009, our expectations on the performances of our newly launched games, our ability to successfully commercially launch our new games, our continued efforts to successfully operate and adjust features of our existing games, including introduction of expansion packs, and our ability to continue to grow our business and build long-term shareholder value. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition and other circumstances may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause our actual results to differ from what we currently anticipate may include failure by ZT Online gamers to resume in-game spending or continue in-game spending at historical levels, our ability to develop, purchase or license additional online games that are attractive to our players, our ability to develop and successfully launch expansion packs for our online games, our ability to adjust and enhance our online games to users' preferences to generate revenues, our dependence on one online game, which currently accounts for the majority of our historical net revenues, our ability to respond to competition, our ability to adjust to the current global economic crisis, our need to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, our limited operating history and unproven long-term potential of our online game business model, our uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal and regulatory environments and volatility in the markets we operate in. The financial information contained in this release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 20F for the fiscal year 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2009, and is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov/ . For additional information on these and other important factors that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 8 of our annual report for fiscal year 2008. Our actual results of operations for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 are not necessarily indicative of our operating results for any future periods. Any projections in this release are based on limited information currently available to us, which is subject to change. Although such projections and the factors influencing them will likely change, we undertake no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Contact:
Rich Chiang, IR Manager
Giant Interactive Group Inc.
Tel: +86-21-6451-1258
Investor Relations (HK):
Ruby Yim, Managing Director
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +852-3196-3712
Investor Relations (US):
Mahmoud Siddig, Director
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
Media Contact:
Michael Henson, Director
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
GIANT INTERACTIVE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Audited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited
December September December December
31, 2008 30, 2009 31, 2009 31, 2009
ASSETS (RMB) (RMB) (RMB) (US$)
Current
assets:
Cash and
cash
equivalents 1,696,272,856 854,016,847 1,097,155,269 160,734,155
Prepayments
and other
current
assets 48,916,555 83,920,471 125,522,286 18,389,119
Accounts
receivable -- 1,143,934 1,623,703 237,874
Due from a
related
party -- -- 3,592 526
Inventories 1,452,802 736,170 724,055 106,075
Deferred tax
assets 117,590,965 69,577,691 75,893,065 11,118,397
Short-term
investments 3,371,827,722 3,825,410,000 3,802,050,000 557,003,472
Total
current
assets 5,236,060,900 4,834,805,113 5,102,971,970 747,589,618
Non-current
assets:
Property and
equipment,
net 213,905,124 187,574,442 178,669,982 26,175,300
Intangible
assets, net 96,126,394 114,888,675 118,328,290 17,335,192
Goodwill -- 6,224,587 6,224,587 911,907
Available-
for-sale
securities 450,006,853 475,021,469 450,966,634 66,066,985
Held-to-
maturity
securities -- 500,000,000 500,000,000 73,250,414
Deferred tax
assets 6,324,526 9,257,497 10,840,757 1,588,180
Other assets -- 85,239,597 84,659,968 12,402,755
Total non-
current
assets 766,362,897 1,378,206,267 1,349,690,218 197,730,733
Total assets 6,002,423,797 6,213,011,380 6,452,662,188 945,320,351
Total non-
current
liabilities -- -- 420,947 61,669
Total
liabilities 629,294,342 496,146,532 547,868,915 80,263,250
Shareholders'
equity
Ordinary shares
(par value
US$0.0000002
per share;
500,000,000
shares
authorized as
at December 31,
2008, September
30, 2009 and
December 31,
2009
respectively;
263,110,626
shares issued
and 227,018,426
shares
outstanding
at December 31,
2008,
263,110,626
shares issued
and 226,441,541
shares
outstanding
at September
30, 2009,
263,110,626
shares issued
and
226,819,007
shares
outstanding
at December
31, 2009) 417 417 417 61
Additional
paid-in
capital 5,985,416,631 6,024,441,066 6,036,189,677 884,306,784
Statutory
reserves 43,890,273 43,890,273 43,890,273 6,429,961
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss (167,236,828) (188,444,945) (212,770,129) (31,171,000)
Retained
earnings
(accumulated
losses) 1,625,004,920 2,008,880,649 2,206,666,461 323,278,463
Treasury
stock (2,113,945,958) (2,176,792,033) (2,176,792,033) (318,901,835)
Total
shareholders'
equity 5,373,129,455 5,711,975,427 5,897,184,666 863,942,434
Non
controlling
interest -- 4,889,421 7,608,607 1,114,667
Total equity 5,373,129,455 5,716,864,848 5,904,793,273 865,057,101
Total
liability
and
shareholders'
equity 6,002,423,797 6,213,011,380 6,452,662,188 945,320,351
GIANT INTERACTIVE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the year ended
December 31, December 31, December 31,
2008 2009 2009
(RMB) (RMB) (US$)
Audited Unaudited Unaudited
Net revenue:
Online game 1,589,675,915 1,293,018,121 189,428,225
Overseas licensing revenue 4,391,427 10,687,252 1,565,691
Other revenue, net 612,444 130,074 19,056
Total net revenue 1,594,679,786 1,303,835,447 191,012,972
Cost of services (217,899,466) (204,069,659) (29,896,374)
Operating (expenses) income:
Research and product
development expenses (88,539,393) (113,354,460) (16,606,522)
Sales and marketing expenses (241,575,189) (119,600,377) (17,521,554)
General and administrative
expenses (141,785,677) (121,446,102) (17,791,954)
Government financial incentives 63,084,300 88,460,000 12,959,463
Total operating expenses (408,815,959) (265,940,939) (38,960,567)
Income from operations 967,964,361 833,824,849 122,156,031
Interest income 184,963,678 102,200,467 14,972,453
Other (expense) income, net (842,825) 14,024,846 2,054,652
Investment income (loss) 1,171,241 (5,970,899) (874,742)
Unrealized loss on investment
held-for-trading (300,493) -- --
Income before income tax
expenses 1,152,955,962 944,079,263 138,308,394
Income tax expense (39,367,808) (85,060,010) (12,461,362)
Net income 1,113,588,154 859,019,253 125,847,032
Net loss attributable to non
controlling interest -- 294,493 43,143
Net income attributable to the
Company's shareholders 1,113,588,154 859,313,746 125,890,175
Other comprehensive loss, net
of tax
Foreign currency translation (192,424,438) (12,768,786) (1,870,638)
Reclassification adjustment -- (1,813,513) (265,681)
Unrealized holding gain (loss) 76,969,037 (30,951,003) (4,534,348)
Total other comprehensive loss,
net of tax (115,455,401) (45,533,302) (6,670,667)
Comprehensive income 998,132,753 813,780,444 119,219,508
GIANT INTERACTIVE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Three months ended
December September December December
31, 2008 30, 2009 31, 2009 31, 2009
(RMB) (RMB) (RMB) (US$)
Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited
Net revenue:
Online game 351,851,278 287,546,644 273,743,227 40,103,609
Overseas licensing
revenue 1,221,708 2,640,216 2,269,980 332,554
Other revenue, net 52,654 14,031 11,225 1,644
Total net revenue 353,125,640 290,200,891 276,024,432 40,437,807
Cost of services (56,662,035) (45,436,528) (44,440,785) (6,510,612)
Operating (expenses)
income:
Research and product
development expenses (25,185,542) (24,538,213) (27,538,052) (4,034,347)
Sales and marketing
expenses (45,405,004) (30,394,878) (34,802,464) (5,098,590)
General and
administrative
expenses (41,824,995) (26,915,756) (33,174,412) (4,860,079)
Government financial
incentives 29,516,000 28,730,000 39,730,000 5,820,478
Total operating
expenses (82,899,541) (53,118,847) (55,784,928) (8,172,538)
Income from operations 213,564,064 191,645,516 175,798,719 25,754,657
Interest income 41,258,109 23,102,435 30,069,886 4,405,263
Other income
(expense), net 791,245 748,786 7,200,020 1,054,809
Unrealized loss on
investment held-for-
trading (300,493) -- -- --
Income before income
tax expenses 255,312,926 215,496,738 213,068,625 31,214,730
Income tax
benefit/(expense) 34,947,465 (18,051,287) (15,258,628) (2,235,402)
Net Income 290,260,391 197,445,451 197,809,997 28,979,328
Net loss(income)
attributable to non
controlling interest -- 290,415 (24,185) (3,543)
Net income
attributable to the
Company's
shareholders 290,260,391 197,735,865 197,785,812 28,975,785
Other comprehensive
loss, net of tax
Foreign currency
translation 62,158,879 (3,107,122) (328,105) (48,068)
Reclassification
adjustment -- (1,813,513) -- --
Unrealized holding
gain (loss) 5,124,455 (1,116,473) (23,997,079) (3,515,592)
Total other
comprehensive loss,
net of tax 67,283,334 (6,037,108) (24,325,184) (3,563,660)
Comprehensive income 357,543,725 191,698,757 173,460,628 25,412,125
CONTACT: Investors, Rich Chiang, IR Manager of Giant Interactive Group
Inc., +86-21-6451-1258; or Investors (HK), Ruby Yim, Managing Director, +852-
3196-3712, or Investors, (US), Mahmoud Siddig, Director, +1-212-889-4350, or
Media, Michael Henson, Director, +1-212-889-4350, all of Taylor Rafferty, for
Giant Interactive Group Inc.
Murdoch and Shields to Give Joint Keynote at MIPTV 2010
PARIS, March 4 -- Elisabeth Murdoch and Joanna Shields will deliver a joint MIP Digital Keynote at MIPTV 2010. On Tuesday April 13, the pair will provide further details of their recently-announced partnership that is aimed at innovating at the intersection of TV, digital and social entertainment.
The Shine Group Chair and CEO, Elisabeth Murdoch and the former CEO of Bebo and President of AOL's social media and communications businesses, Joanna Shields, will explore what, in their view, are new frontiers of storytelling and will demonstrate how entertainment now extends beyond its conventional platforms with audiences programming their own experiences.
The keynote will be a highlight of the MIPTV 2010 conference programme entitled "Charting the Next Decade of TV and Digital Entertainment."
Since founding Shine in 2001, Elisabeth Murdoch has steered its growth from a single multi-genre independent to a global group boasting 24 globally-respected, prolific production companies across three continents. It consists of the UK's admired genre specialists Dragonfly (factual), Kudos (drama), Princess Productions (entertainment) and award-winning, multi-genre producers Shine TV; in the US, market-leading independent producers Reveille and international sales arm Shine International. In 2008, the group unveiled Shine Pictures, a joint-venture with New Regency to develop, produce and distribute films globally.
Recent international start-up companies include Shine Germany, Shine France and Shine Australia, headed by renowned executives Axel Kuehn, Thierry Lachkar and Mark and Carl Fennessy respectively. Metronome Film & Television, the Nordic region's pre-eminent production group, responsible for a string of hit programmes from both home-grown and international formats, joined the Shine Group in 2009.
Prior to setting up Shine, Murdoch joined British Sky Broadcasting as General Manager before rising to Managing Director, Sky Networks with overall responsibility for Sky's programming business, group consumer marketing and its news, film and entertainment channels. She began her career in television at the Nine Network in Australia as a researcher in 1990, later joining Fox Television in Los Angeles as Programme and Promotion Manager for seven stations. She then went to the FX Cable Network as Director of Acquisitions. In 1995 she started her own company, EP Communications, managing two dominant NBC affiliate television stations KSBW-TV and KSBY-TV. The stations won one national and five Californian Emmy Awards as well as the 1995 Peabody Award for Broadcast Excellence. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the UK Film Council and was appointed a Tate Trustee by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in August 2008.
Joanna Shields was most recently Chief Executive of Bebo and after spearheading its acquisition by AOL for $850M, she became President of AOL's social media and communications division responsible for all social and instant messaging products including AIM and ICQ desktop and mobile clients. During her tenure at Bebo, the network enjoyed explosive growth up to 50M users and became profitable before its acquisition by AOL, then a unit of Time Warner.
Shields pioneered numerous innovations in ad-sponsored programming combining original productions with brand sponsorship and a new business model for media companies to distribute and monetize their content through viral sharing on the network. Bebo's first, and the Internet's most successful serialized drama, KateModern, was nominated for two BAFTA (the British Oscars) awards and generated over 70 million views. KateModern was followed by Sony's Sofia's Diary, the first online show to cross over to TV in the UK, Endemol's The Gap Year, the most successful reality show not on TV and The Secret World of Sam King, the first co-production between Universal Music and a social network. Bebo Originals have been viewed over 130 million times to date.
Prior to Bebo, Joanna Shields was Managing Director at Google where she was responsible for developing and managing the company's advertising and syndication network across Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa. Other key positions have included Vice President, International, for RealNetworks, the pioneer in web audio and video streaming technology and Chief Executive of Veon. Her career started in 1987 in Silicon Valley.
ABOUT REED MIDEM
Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is a leading organiser of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, and MIPJUNIOR for the television and digital content industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia, MIPIM HORIZONS and MAPIC for the property and retail real estate sectors.
Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organiser, with over 470 events in 37 countries. In 2008 Reed brought together over seven million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organised by 38 fully staffed offices.
Reed organises a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 470 events serves 44 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, broadcasting, building & construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing, environment, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT & telecoms, jewellery, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical education, printing & graphics, property & real estate, security & safety, sports & recreation, travel.
Halifax Corporation of Virginia Acquisition By Global Iron Holdings Completed
ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 4 -- Halifax Corporation of Virginia (Pink Sheets: HALX) today announced that its acquisition by Global Iron Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Global Equity Capital, LLC, was completed. The transaction involved the merger of Halifax with a subsidiary of Global Iron. As result of the transaction, which was approved by the shareholders holding more than 2/3 of the common stock at an annual meeting on March 2, 2010 the shareholders of Halifax are receiving approximately $3.8 million in the aggregate in cash or, $1.20 per share of common stock.
Charles McNew, President and CEO, stated, "We are pleased to announce the completion of our acquisition by Global and our ability to provide a liquidity event for our shareholders. We look forward to being part of a larger, better-financed organization. Global Equity Capital portfolio companies have a highly regarded presence in the service marketplace and will provide excellent positioning for continuity of our outstanding customer service and a good home for our loyal base of employees."
"With our portfolio companies National Support Services and Halifax being leaders in the IT services, support and enterprise logistics markets, we believe the combination of the two will be a powerful force in the marketplace," according to Mike Adkins, Senior Vice President of Operations of Global Equity Capital, LLC or GEC. "This transaction will enable both to expand their service offerings benefiting existing and new customers. Lastly, the Halifax acquisition is further validation of GEC's strategy to expand its portfolio in the high value IT services space," he added.
Halifax has requested that its stock cease trading on the over the counter market. Halifax expects that it will file a Form 15 with the SEC following the merger, which will result in the voluntary deregistration of Halifax common stock and immediate suspension of Halifax's obligation to file periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. The deregistration itself is expected to be made effective by the SEC within 90 days of the filing of the Form 15.
Halifax shareholders of record as of the effective time of the merger will be contacted by our transfer agent with instructions on how to convert their shares to merger consideration. It is expected that shares held in book entry form with brokers and banks will be automatically converted, with no further action required, but no assurances can be made in that regard.
About Halifax Corporation of Virginia
Founded in 1967, Halifax Corporation of Virginia is an enterprise logistics and maintenance solutions company providing a wide range of technology services to commercial and government customers throughout the United States. The Company's principal products are enterprise logistics solutions and high availability hardware maintenance services. More information on Halifax can be found at http://www.hxcorp.com.
About Global Iron Holdings, LLC
With the support of private equity investor, Global Equity Capital, LLC, Global Iron Holdings, LLC was formed to acquire Halifax and complementary IT services businesses. Global Equity Capital, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, is led by an experienced team, which has demonstrated over time a reliable track record of creating substantial value in its portfolio companies for shareholders and management. For more information visit http://www.globalequitycap.com.
About National Support Services
In business since 1970, National Support Services (North America), LLC provides superior IT hardware and software maintenance to medium and large scale computing environments. NSS services include technology project management, desk side software support, warranty service, technology refresh and break/fix support to customers in more than 35 states nationwide. More information about NSS is available at http://www.nss-na.com. NSS is a portfolio company of Global Equity Capital, LLC.
Cautionary Statement on Risks Associated with Halifax Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The words "believe," "expect," "target," "goal," "project," "anticipate," "predict," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "may," "will," "should," "could" and similar expressions and their negatives are intended to identify such statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, anticipated trends or growth in businesses, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances and are to be interpreted only as of the date on which they are made. Halifax undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risks faced by Halifax described in documents filed with the SEC from time to time. Halifax's SEC filings can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of our website, http://www.hxcorp.com, or through the SEC's EDGAR Database at http://www.sec.gov.
Source: Halifax Corporation of Virginia
CONTACT: Rob Drennen of Halifax Corporation of Virginia, +1-717-506-4700
x2228, rdrennen@hxcorp.com; Thomas A. Waldman, for Global Equity Capital, LLC,
+1-858-764-2536, communications@globalequitycap.com
There.com Users Suddenly Find Themselves in a Whole New World
Utherverse.com is poised to purchase more than 1 Billion Therebucks
VANCOUVER, March 4 -- The abrupt announcement Tuesday by Makena Technologies that There.com would be closing for good came as a shock to the virtual world's thousands of active users who feared they would be left homeless. Many residents further expressed outrage that their bank accounts, filled with billions of Therebucks, were suddenly made worthless by the announcement.
In the midst of the maelstrom, virtual world competitor Utherverse.com announced a stream of offerings to former There.com users designed to prevent them from becoming homeless and penniless on March 9 at midnight.
Among the incentives Utherverse.com is providing is a buyout program where There.com users can convert their bank accounts from Therebucks into Rays (the virtual currency used within the Utherverse network of virtual worlds). Utherverse has offered to purchase up to 130,000 Therebucks per user converted directly into Rays and to allow users to spend an unlimited additional amount of Therebucks to purchase Utherverse virtual goods and services.
Users have pounced on the offer, and within the first 24 hours of the announcement, more than 2.5 million Therebucks had been redeemed for Rays.
"There.com users are disappointed that they're losing their homes, but they're outraged that they're losing their virtual money," said Utherverse CEO Brian Shuster. "We're doing everything we can to minimize the pain that There.com users are feeling right now, and we hope to show by our actions just how welcome they are to join our amazing community."
Utherverse.com expects to convert more than one billion Therebucks into Rays by the time the program is completed.
The other major initiative undertaken by Utherverse.com was the creation of an uncensored forum board dedicated to There.com users who wish to stay in touch with each other, complain about the closing of the virtual world, or for general discussion.
"Utherverse's 'There.com Forum Board' is designed to replace the forum board that was abruptly closed by Makena at the same time that they announced the pending closure of There.com," noted Shuster. "Users want and need a place to vent and discuss issues freely. We're responding by giving them this free outlet to use as they see fit."
For more information about the Therebucks Buyout Program or the Utherverse There.com Forum Boards, visit http://www.utherverse.com/Forum/
About Utherverse.com
Utherverse is the Internet's most sophisticated and advanced 3D virtual reality universe. The company was formed in 2002 to create a virtual-world web of massive multiplayer online communities. Specifically designed to appeal to the 21-49 year-old demographic market, the site offers users virtual nightclubs, hotels, movie theaters, stores, and community events.
Among Utherverse's offerings are the Virtual World Web -TheVWW.com - which provides simple software that enables anyone to create their own Virtual World, RedLightCenter.com, an adult-themed virtual world modeled after the infamous district in Amsterdam, and Virtual-Vancouver.com, a music-focused online community.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 4 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM) today announced it has been named Best Security Company by SC Magazine. The award, recognizing IBM's leadership in IT and its outstanding security solutions, was presented yesterday at the SC Awards Gala, held in conjunction with the annual RSA Conference in San Francisco.
For nearly 50 years, IBM has helped businesses and governments secure their critical infrastructures with solutions that go beyond just collections of niche products. IBM's customers rely on the most comprehensive security solutions and services addressing compliance mandates, applications, data, identity and access management, networks, threat prevention, systems security, email, encryption, virtualization and cloud security.
"With the Best Security Company Award, our judges have recognized IBM as a leader in the constant battle to protect businesses, customers and data," said Illena Armstrong, editor-in-chief, SC Magazine. "IBM is at the forefront of helping companies meet the evolving security challenges of today."
Through an end-to-end approach to security across people and identity, data, applications, infrastructure, compliance and the physical infrastructure, IBM's security capabilities are among the top in the industry.
IBM's excellence in security includes:
-- IBM software and services manage more than seven billion security
events daily
-- The IBM X-ForceĀ® research and development database tracks more than
48,000 vulnerabilities and advises clients and the general public on
how to respond to emerging and critical threats
-- 15,000 IBM researchers, developers and subject matter experts from
around the world are committed to security initiatives
-- IBM monitors and manages the security infrastructures of more than
4,000 customers at IBM Security Operations Centers around the world
-- IBM holds more than 3,000 patented inventions that enable clients to
secure their business information and processes
IBM and other 2010 Excellence Awards winners were chosen by an expert panel of leading security officers from large, medium and small enterprises from all major vertical markets - representing the wide distribution of SC Magazine readers and breadth of knowledge and experience in the information security industry.
"The convergence of physical and digital infrastructures provides new possibilities, but with those possibilities come new complexities and risks," said Al Zollar, general manager, IBM Tivoli software. "IBM helps clients achieve smarter security while enabling client innovation, and we are honored to be recognized by SC Magazine for our contributions and end to end approach in security."
As the industry's preeminent awards program, the annual SC Awards has recognized security's key contributors and outstanding products for more than a decade. For more information and a detailed list of categories and winners, please visit http://www.scmagazineus.com/awards.
tw telecom Announces Pricing of Private Offering of Senior Notes
LITTLETON, Colo., March 4 -- tw telecom inc. (NASDAQ:TWTC) today announced that its subsidiary, tw telecom holdings inc., has priced an offering of $430 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2018 in a private offering to "qualified institutional buyers", as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. The senior notes were priced to investors at 99.284% of their principal amount. The net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund tw telecom holdings inc.'s purchase of its 9 1/4% Senior Notes due 2014 in a concurrent tender offer and consent solicitation. The offering is expected to close on March 17, 2010.
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, the senior notes. Any offers of the senior notes will be made only by means of a private offering circular. The senior notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views and expectations with respect to future events. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside tw telecom's control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties are based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: the current conditions in the public debt market, the current uncertainty in the global financial markets and the global economy, disruptions in the financial markets that could affect tw telecom holdings inc.'s ability to offer and sell the senior notes, tw telecom's substantial indebtedness and the restrictive covenants imposed by that indebtedness, as well as the business risks disclosed in tw telecom's SEC filings, especially the section entitled "Risk Factors" in its 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. tw telecom undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About tw telecom
tw telecom inc., headquartered in Littleton, CO provides managed network services, specializing in Ethernet and data networking, Internet access, local and long distance voice, VPN, VoIP and network security, to enterprise organizations and communications services companies throughout the U.S., including their global locations. As a leading provider of integrated and converged network solutions, tw telecom delivers customers overall economic value, quality service, and improved business productivity.
CONTACT: Investor Relations, Carole Curtin, +1-303-566-1000,
carole.curtin@twtelecom.com, or Media Relations, Pat Mulcahy, +1-303-566-1470,
patrick.mulcahy@twtelecom.com, both of tw telecom inc.
FiberTower Reports 2009 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
SAN FRANCISCO, March 4 -- FiberTower Corporation (NASDAQ:FTWR), a wireless backhaul services provider, today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.
Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2009 included the following:
-- Service revenues grew 17% to $16.7 million from $14.3 million in the
fourth quarter of 2008. Service revenues grew 28% on an annual basis.
-- Average monthly revenue per billing site grew 15% to $1,995 from
$1,732 in the fourth quarter of 2008.
-- Adjusted EBITDA improved to a loss of $2.2 million in the fourth
quarter of 2009 as compared to a loss of $4.9 million in the fourth
quarter of 2008. Annually, Adjusted EBITDA improved by 60%.
-- Cash and cash equivalents balance of $50.7 million at December 31,
2009.
-- Completion of a debt transaction resulting in reductions in
outstanding indebtedness and future cash interest payments and,
extensions to maturities.
"Our consistent growth trends continued in the fourth quarter as we benefit from the dramatic increase in data demand that is driving the wireless industry," said Kurt Van Wagenen, FiberTower's President and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, we experienced an increase in sales activity toward the end of the year. We expect this momentum to continue in 2010 as we leverage our many accomplishments over the past year."
2009 Fourth Quarter Consolidated Results
Service revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2009 increased by $2.4 million, or 17%, to $16.7 million compared to $14.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The sale of additional capacity and co-locations on our network drove most of the increase in service revenues during the fourth quarter of 2009.
Operating expenses in the fourth quarter decreased by $50.1 million, or 59%, from the fourth quarter of 2008. Excluding an impairment charge to FCC licenses of $54.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, operating expenses increased by $4.4 million or 15% in the fourth quarter 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to $4.2 million in legal and other costs related to completing the debt exchange transaction that closed on December 22, 2009 and an additional $3.2 million in stock-based compensation as a result of the debt exchange transaction.
On an Adjusted EBITDA basis, the loss in the fourth quarter of 2009 improved to $2.2 million compared to a loss of $4.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, representing a 55% improvement. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) from operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment and restructuring charges, stock-based compensation, gain on early extinguishment of debt, debt exchange expenses and other income (expense). The reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to net income (loss) is provided at the end of this news release.
Net loss was $27.8 million for the fourth quarter compared to a net loss of $62.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 which includes the above mentioned impairment charge, and a corresponding recognition of an income tax benefit of $20.2 million.
On December 18, 2009, the Company completed a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our common stock.
Twelve Months 2009 Consolidated Results
Service revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 increased by $14.0 million, or 28%, to $63.2 million compared to $49.2 million for 2008. Increases throughout the year were driven by sales of additional capacity and increased co-locations.
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 decreased by $159.6 million, or 58%, compared to 2008. Operating expenses in 2008 included the above mentioned impairment charge to FCC licenses of $54.5 million, a goodwill impairment charge of $86.1 million, restructuring charges of $6.1 million and impairment charges to property and equipment of $16.4 million.
On an Adjusted EBITDA basis, the loss in 2009 improved to $13.3 million compared to a loss of $33.6 million in 2008 representing a 60% improvement on an annual basis.
Net loss for 2009 was $2.1 million compared to a net loss of $249.8 million for 2008. The 2009 net loss includes a gain of $98.2 million on the early extinguishment of debt related to repurchases of debt during the first six months of 2009.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During the fourth quarter of 2009, cash consumption was $34.3 million compared to $9.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Consolidated cash consumption for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $4.8 million excluding the impact of placing in escrow $11.0 million related to interest payments on the new 9% Senior Secured Notes due 2016, $12.7 million paid to note-holders as part of the debt exchange transaction, $3.8 million paid for debt exchange related expenses and $2.0 million in retention bonuses which were accelerated as a consequence of the transaction.
Outstanding debt, including accretion, at December 31, 2009 was $154.5 million comprised of $124.4 million in the 9.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 and $30.1 million in the 9.0% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2012.
Capital acquisitions for the fourth quarter of 2009 totaled $5.9 million of which $4.2 million was an indefeasible right of use of fiber acquired under a capital lease. The majority of the capital investments made by FiberTower in the fourth quarter were used towards adding incremental customers at existing sites.
Consolidated cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2009 were $50.7 million compared to $85.0 million at September 30, 2009. In addition, at December 31, 2009, FiberTower held $11.6 million in restricted cash and investments primarily comprised of $11.0 million in cash and U.S. government agency bonds to be used for the payment of the first six semi-annual cash interest payments for the Notes due 2016.
"Over the last twelve months, we have taken actions to ensure that FiberTower is ideally positioned to actively participate in emerging opportunities," said Thomas Scott, Chief Financial Officer of FiberTower. "Entering into 2010, we are now better able to consider other areas of investment activity including new site deployment and opportunistic fiber purchases."
Conference Call Details
FiberTower has scheduled a conference call for Friday, March 5, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss 2009 fourth quarter results. Please dial 480-629-9723 and ask for the FiberTower call (ID #4218083) at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. A telephonic replay of the call will be available through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 12, 2010 and may be accessed by dialing 303-590-3030 using the passcode ID #4218083. During the call, the Company will review a slide presentation that summarizes results for the fourth quarter and 2009 full year and provides guidance for 2010 results. The presentation may be accessed at http://www.fibertower.com/corp/investors-presentations-and-events.shtml. An audio archive will also be available on FiberTower's website at http://www.fibertower.com/ shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately ninety days.
About FiberTower
FiberTower is a backhaul and access services provider focused primarily on the wireless carrier market. With its extensive spectrum footprint in 24 GHz and 39 GHz bands, carrier-class microwave and fiber networks in 13 major markets and master service agreements with nine U.S. wireless carriers, FiberTower is considered to be the leading alternative carrier for wireless backhaul. FiberTower also provides backhaul and access service to government and enterprise markets. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.fibertower.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes "forward-looking" statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, in its rules, regulations and releases. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. These include statements regarding, among other things, guidance for expected ranges of 2010 revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and capital expenditures, our financial and business prospects, the deployment of our services, capital requirements, financing prospects, planned capital expenditures, expected cost per site, anticipated customer growth, expansion plans, and anticipated cash balances. There are many risks, uncertainties and other factors that can prevent the achievement of goals or cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including, among other things, negative cash flows and operating losses, additional liquidity requirements, potential loss of significant customers, downturns in the wireless communication industry, regulatory costs and restrictions, potential loss of FCC licenses, equipment supply disruptions and cost increases, competition from alternative backhaul service providers and technologies, along with those risk factors described in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC.
Company Contact:
Ornella Napolitano, VP and Treasurer
FiberTower Corporation
415-659-3580
onapolitano@fibertower.com
FIBERTOWER CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
------------------- ----------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Service revenues $16,733 $14,270 $63,244 $49,227
Operating expenses:
Cost of service
revenues (excluding
depreciation and
amortization) 15,249 17,270 58,220 79,808
Sales and
marketing 1,204 855 3,262 5,456
General and
administrative 11,037 4,744 27,834 20,237
Depreciation and
amortization 6,800 6,989 27,840 24,897
Restructuring
charges 81 125 372 6,087
Impairment of FCC
licenses - 54,505 - 54,505
Impairment of
goodwill - - - 86,093
--- --- --- ------
Total operating
expenses 34,371 84,488 117,528 277,083
------ ------ ------- -------
Loss from operations (17,638) (70,218) (54,284) (227,856)
------- ------- ------- --------
Other income (expense):
Interest income 36 559 295 5,316
Interest expense (10,150) (13,436) (47,605) (47,742)
Gain on early
extinguishment of
debt, net - - 98,248 -
Miscellaneous
income (expense),
net (206) 216 (39) 264
---- --- --- ---
Total other
income
(expense), net (10,320) (12,661) 50,899 (42,162)
------- ------- ------ -------
Loss before income
taxes (27,958) (82,879) (3,385) (270,018)
Income tax benefit 160 20,189 1,247 20,189
--- ------ ----- ------
Net loss $(27,798) $(62,690) $(2,138) $(249,829)
======== ======== ======= =========
Basic and diluted net
loss per share
attributable to
common stockholders $(1.53) $(4.16) $(0.13) $(16.65)
====== ====== ====== =======
Shares used in
computing net loss
per share 17,771 14,531 15,481 14,462
====== ====== ====== ======
FIBERTOWER CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except par value)
December 31, December 31,
2009 2008
------------- -------------
(unaudited)
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $50,669 $154,357
Restricted cash and
investments, current portion 3,898 343
Accounts receivable, net of
allowances of $50 and $37
at December 31, 2009 and
December 31, 2008, respectively 6,824 6,652
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 2,119 2,502
----- -----
Total current assets 63,510 163,854
Restricted cash and investments 7,702 134
Property and equipment, net 221,417 236,585
FCC licenses 287,495 287,495
Debt issuance costs, net 466 9,599
Intangible and other long-term
assets, net 3,836 3,802
----- -----
Total assets $584,426 $701,469
======== ========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $3,209 $3,826
Accrued compensation and
related benefits 1,769 2,052
Accrued interest payable 465 4,628
Other accrued liabilities 1,138 1,984
Current portion of accrued
restructuring costs 1,215 1,342
Current portion of obligations
under capital lease 253 -
--- ---
Total current liabilities 8,049 13,832
Other liabilities 809 1,419
Deferred rent 7,206 6,175
Asset retirement obligations 4,550 4,048
Accrued restructuring costs, net
of current portion 1,560 2,436
Obligations under capital lease,
net of current portion 3,471 -
Long-term debt 154,528 430,317
Deferred tax liability 71,904 73,372
------ ------
Total liabilities 252,077 531,599
------- -------
Commitments and contingencies - -
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value;
400,000 shares authorized,
45,701 and 15,052 shares issued
and outstanding at December 31,
2009 and December 31, 2008,
respectively 46 15
Additional paid-in capital 958,817 794,231
Accumulated deficit (626,514) (624,376)
-------- --------
Total stockholders' equity 332,349 169,870
------- -------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $584,426 $701,469
======== ========
FIBERTOWER CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------
2009 2008
---- ----
(unaudited)
Operating activities
Net loss $(2,138) $(249,829)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 27,840 24,897
Gain on early extinguishment of debt, net (98,248) -
Non-cash payment-in-kind of interest 33,529 -
Decline in value of embedded derivative - -
Accretion of convertible notes 15,572 14,539
Accretion of investments in debt
securities - (917)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 501 440
Amortization of debt issuance costs 1,365 2,256
Stock-based compensation 8,016 6,274
Loss on disposal of equipment 254 68
Impairment of long-lived assets and other
charges 270 16,439
Restructuring charges 372 4,046
Impairment of FCC licenses - 54,505
Impairment of goodwill - 86,093
Income tax benefit (1,247) (20,189)
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net (172) (2,968)
Prepaid expenses and other current
assets 383 (662)
Other long-term assets (333) (127)
Accounts payable (617) (9,846)
Accrued compensation and related benefits (283) (1,317)
Accrued interest payable (4,163) (1)
Other accrued liabilities 559 1,342
--- -----
Net cash (used) in operating activities (18,540) (74,957)
Investing activities
Purchases of short-term investments - -
Maturities of short-term investments - -
Maturities of certificates of deposit - 5,000
Maturities of restricted cash and
investments - 37,419
Increase in restricted cash and investments (11,123) -
Deposit under capital lease obligation (500) -
Purchase of property and equipment (8,632) (36,795)
------ -------
Net cash (used) provided in investing
activities (20,255) 5,624
Financing activities
Cash paid for repurchases of Notes due 2012 (52,180) -
Cash paid upon redemption of Interim Notes (12,713) -
Proceeds from exercise of stock options - 360
--- ---
Cash (used) provided in financing activities (64,893) 360
------- ---
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (103,688) (68,973)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 154,357 223,330
------- -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $50,669 $154,357
======= ========
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
This news release includes the use of adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure management uses to monitor the financial performance of the Company's operations. This measurement, together with GAAP measures such as revenue and loss from operations, assists management in its decision-making processes relating to the operation of the Company's business. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) from operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment and restructuring charges, stock-based compensation, gain on early extinguishment of debt, debt exchange expenses and other income (expense). Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for operating income, net income (loss), or cash flow used in operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP, as a measure of performance or liquidity. In addition, the Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. This non-GAAP financial measure should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP. The following table shows the calculation of the Company's total Adjusted EBITDA reconciled to net income (loss).
Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
------------------- ----------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Net loss $(27,798) $(62,690) $(2,138) $(249,829)
Depreciation and
amortization 6,800 6,989 27,840 24,897
Stock-based compensation 4,462 1,548 8,016 6,274
Exchange offer and redemption
of debt expenses 4,222 - 4,476 -
Impairment of FCC licenses - 54,505 - 54,505
Impairment of goodwill - - - 86,093
Interest income (36) (559) (295) (5,316)
Interest expense 10,150 13,436 47,605 47,742
Gain on early extinguishment
of debt, net - - (98,248) -
Impairment of long-lived
assets and other charges and
credits 150 2,030 681 22,262
Income tax benefit (160) (20,189) (1,247) (20,189)
---- ------- ------ -------
CONTACT: Gus Okwu of DRG&E, +1-404-532-0086, gokwu@drg-e.com, for
FiberTower Corporation; or Ornella Napolitano, VP and Treasurer of FiberTower
Corporation, +1-415-659-3580, onapolitano@fibertower.com
Belden to Participate in Jefferies Global Technology Conference on March 8, 2010
ST. LOUIS, March 4 -- Belden (NYSE:BDC), a leader in comprehensive cable, wireless signal, industrial networking and other transmission solutions, today announced it will participate in Jefferies Global Technology Conference in New York. Gray Benoist, Chief Financial Officer, will present an overview of the business and highlights of Belden's fourth quarter results on Monday, March 8, at 2:00 pm EST.
The presentation will be webcast live over the internet and can be accessed through the link on the Company's website at http://investor.belden.com/events.cfm
About Belden
St. Louis-based Belden is a leader in comprehensive cable, wireless signal, industrial networking and other transmission solutions. It has approximately 6,200 employees, and provides value for industrial automation, enterprise, education, healthcare, entertainment and broadcast, sound and security, transportation, infrastructure, consumer electronics and other industries. Belden has manufacturing capabilities throughout North America and Europe and a market presence in nearly every region of the world. Belden was founded in 1902, and today is a leader with some of the strongest brands in the signal transmission industry. For more information, visit http://www.belden.com.
51job, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Financial Results
SHANGHAI, March 4 -- 51job, Inc. (NASDAQ:JOBS), a leading provider of integrated human resource services in China, announced today unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
Fourth Quarter 2009 Financial Highlights:
-- Total revenues increased 15.2% over Q4 2008 to RMB226.0 million
(US$33.1 million), above the Company's guidance range of RMB215 million
to RMB225 million
-- Gross margin expanded to 62.8% compared with 51.0% in Q4 2008
-- Operating income increased to RMB41.7 million (US$6.1 million) compared
with RMB5.9 million in Q4 2008
-- Fully diluted earnings per common share were RMB0.84 (US$0.24 per ADS)
-- Excluding share-based compensation expense and foreign currency
translation loss, non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per common
share were RMB0.95 (US$0.28 per ADS), exceeding the Company's guidance
range of RMB0.58 to RMB0.68
-- Cash and short-term investments increased to RMB1,214.7 million
(US$178.0 million) as of December 31, 2009
Fiscal Year 2009 Financial Highlights:
-- Total revenues decreased 5.0% from 2008 to RMB817.1 million (US$119.7
million)
-- Gross margin of 60.5% compared with 53.7% in 2008
-- Operating income increased 24.3% over 2008 to RMB120.3 million (US$17.6
million)
-- Fully diluted earnings per common share were RMB2.02 (US$0.59 per ADS)
-- Excluding share-based compensation expense and foreign currency
translation loss, non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per common
share were RMB2.51 (US$0.73 per ADS)
Commenting on the results, Rick Yan, President and Chief Executive Officer of 51job, Inc., said, "In light of the challenges we faced and overcame in 2009, we were especially pleased to end the year on a high note by achieving record profit in the fourth quarter. We have observed a strengthening trend in market conditions and believe our online business in particular has carried solid momentum into 2010. In addition, with the opening of our new call center in Wuhan, this business is well positioned to not only extend our geographic reach and addressable employer base, but also streamline our service network for greater efficiency and margin expansion. We believe the year is off to a robust start for 51job."
Fourth Quarter 2009 Unaudited Financial Results
Total revenues for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009 were RMB226.0 million (US$33.1 million), an increase of 15.2% from RMB196.2 million for the same quarter in 2008.
Print advertising revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased 8.2% to RMB64.6 million (US$9.5 million) compared with RMB59.7 million for the same quarter in 2008. The increase was primarily due to higher average revenue per page, which was partially offset by a lower volume of print advertising pages in 51job Weekly resulting from a decline in market demand. Although print advertising prices in each city remained relatively unchanged, overall average revenue per page increased 39.8% over the fourth quarter of 2008 due to an increase in page volume contribution from cities where print advertising prices are generally higher as compared to the same quarter of the prior year. The estimated number of print advertising pages generated in the fourth quarter of 2009 decreased 22.6% to 2,672 compared with 3,452 pages in the same quarter in 2008.
Online recruitment services revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 were RMB97.3 million (US$14.2 million), representing a 33.7% increase from RMB72.7 million for the same quarter of the prior year. The increase primarily resulted from a greater number of unique employers using the Company's online recruitment services, which was partially offset by lower average revenue per unique employer. Unique employers increased 66.4% to 94,993 in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with 57,071 in the same quarter of the prior year driven by greater customer acceptance and usage of online recruitment services. Average revenue per unique employer decreased 19.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009 due to employers purchasing lower priced products and/or reducing their overall spending on online services as compared to the same quarter in 2008.
Other human resource related revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased 0.5% to RMB64.1 million (US$9.4 million) from RMB63.8 million in the same quarter of 2008.
Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased 42.1% to RMB134.3 million (US$19.7 million) from RMB94.5 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Gross margin, which is equal to gross profit divided by net revenues, expanded to 62.8% in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with 51.0% in the same quarter in 2008 primarily due to lower printing related and other direct expenses resulting from the implementation of cost control and efficiency measures in 2009.
Operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2009 were RMB92.5 million (US$13.6 million) compared with RMB88.6 million for the same quarter of 2008. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 43.2% for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with 47.8% for the fourth quarter of 2008.
Sales and marketing expenses for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased 8.4% to RMB63.1 million (US$9.2 million) from RMB58.2 million for the same quarter of the prior year primarily due to increased commissions resulting from higher sales, which were partially offset by lower travel and entertainment expenses as compared to the same quarter in 2008.
General and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2009 decreased 3.2% to RMB29.4 million (US$4.3 million) from RMB30.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 primarily due to lower office expenses and professional fees, which were partially offset by higher rental and depreciation expenses incurred in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased to RMB41.7 million (US$6.1 million) from RMB5.9 million for the same quarter of the prior year. During the fourth quarter of 2009, one of the Company's main subsidiaries received notification from relevant tax authorities that it had qualified as a High Technology Enterprise under the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, which reduced its tax rate for 2009 from 20% to 15% in Shanghai and from 25% to 15% in other localities. The cumulative impact of this tax change resulted in an effective tax rate of 1.0% in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased to RMB46.4 million (US$6.8 million) from RMB6.8 million for the same quarter in 2008. Fully diluted earnings per common share for the fourth quarter of 2009 were RMB0.84 (US$0.12) compared with RMB0.12 for the same quarter in 2008. Fully diluted earnings per ADS for the fourth quarter of 2009 were RMB1.67 (US$0.24) compared with RMB0.24 in the fourth quarter of 2008.
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recognized total share-based compensation expense of RMB6.2 million (US$0.9 million) compared with RMB7.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. The Company also recognized a foreign currency translation loss of RMB37,000 (US$5,000) in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with a translation gain of RMB0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Excluding share-based compensation expense and the impact of foreign currency translation loss, non-GAAP adjusted income for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased to RMB52.6 million (US$7.7 million) compared with RMB13.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per common share were RMB0.95 (US$0.14) in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with RMB0.24 in the fourth quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per ADS in the fourth quarter of 2009 were RMB1.90 (US$0.28) compared with RMB0.48 in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Fiscal Year 2009 Unaudited Financial Results
Total revenues for 2009 were RMB817.1 million (US$119.7 million), a decrease of 5.0% from RMB860.4 million in 2008 as a result of the impact of the global financial crisis on market demand. However, due to the implementation of cost control, realignment and efficiency measures, income from operations for 2009 increased 24.3% to RMB120.3 million (US$17.6 million) from RMB96.8 million for 2008.
The estimated number of print advertising pages generated in 2009 decreased 29.4% to 11,661 compared with 16,512 estimated pages in 2008. Unique employers using the Company's online recruitment services grew 39.9% to 143,451 in 2009 from 102,562 in 2008. Employers who purchase online services multiple times or in multiple quarters throughout the fiscal year are counted as one unique employer for the annual total.
Net income for 2009 increased 46.9% to RMB112.5 million (US$16.5 million) from RMB76.6 million in 2008. Fully diluted earnings per common share for 2009 increased to RMB2.02 (US$0.30) from RMB1.35 in 2008. Fully diluted earnings per ADS for 2009 were RMB4.03 (US$0.59) compared with RMB2.70 in 2008.
Excluding share-based compensation and foreign currency translation loss, non-GAAP adjusted net income for 2009 increased to RMB139.8 million (US$20.5 million) from RMB121.8 million in 2008. Non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per common share were RMB2.51 (US$0.37) in 2009 compared with RMB2.15 in 2008. Non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per ADS in 2009 were RMB5.01 (US$0.73) compared with RMB4.29 in 2008.
In September 2008, the Company announced that its shareholders had approved a share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to US$25 million worth of outstanding ADSs. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company repurchased 51,422 ADSs, representing 102,844 common shares, in the open market for an aggregate consideration of US$0.7 million, including transaction fees. Since the inception of this share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased a total of 846,027 ADSs, representing 1,692,054 common shares, for an aggregate consideration of US$7.8 million.
As of December 31, 2009, the Company had cash and short-term investments totaling RMB1,214.7 million (US$178.0 million) compared with RMB1,074.4 million at December 31, 2008. Short-term investments consist of certificates of deposit held by the Company in banking institutions in China.
Business Outlook
For the first quarter of 2010, based on current market and operating conditions, the Company's revenue target is in the estimated range of RMB230 million to RMB240 million (US$33.7 million to US$35.2 million). Excluding share-based compensation expense and any foreign currency translation loss or gain, the Company's non-GAAP fully diluted earnings target for the first quarter of 2010 is in the estimated range of RMB0.68 to RMB0.78 per common share (US$0.20 to US$0.23 per ADS). The Company expects aggregate share-based compensation expense in the first quarter of 2010 to be in the estimated range of RMB6 million to RMB7 million (US$0.9 million to US$1.0 million).
Other Company News
In February 2010, the Company's newly established sales and customer service call center became operational in the city of Wuhan, China.
In January and March 2010, the Company terminated the publication of the local edition of 51job Weekly in Tianjin and Hefei, respectively. The Company continues to maintain sales offices in both cities.
Currency Convenience Translation
For the convenience of readers, certain Renminbi amounts have been translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of RMB6.8259 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate on December 31, 2009 in New York for cable transfers of Renminbi per U.S. dollar as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.
Conference Call Information
Management will hold a conference call at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 4, 2010 (8:00 a.m. Shanghai / Hong Kong time zone on March 5, 2010) to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 results, operating performance and business outlook.
To dial in to the call, please use conference ID 4245617 and the following telephone numbers:
US: +1-877-941-2928
Hong Kong: +852-3009-5027
International: +1-480-629-9726
The call will also be available live and on replay through 51job's investor relations website, http://ir.51job.com/ . Please go to the website at least fifteen minutes early to register or install any necessary audio software.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), 51job uses non-GAAP measures of adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per common share and adjusted earnings per ADS, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the impact of share-based compensation expense and foreign currency translation gain or loss. The Company believes excluding share-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful for its management and investors to assess and analyze the Company's core operating results as such expense is not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the Company's business operations and do not impact its cash earnings. The Company believes excluding foreign currency translation gain or loss from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful for its management and investors as such translation gain or loss is unrelated to the Company's core business operations and will not result in cash settlement nor impact the Company's cash earnings. 51job also believes these non-GAAP measures excluding share-based compensation expense and foreign currency translation gain or loss are important in helping investors to understand the Company's current financial performance and future prospects and to compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis. The presentation of these additional measures should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies. The non-GAAP measures have been reconciled to GAAP measures in the attached financial statements.
About 51job
51job, Inc. (NASDAQ:JOBS) is a leading provider of integrated human resource services in China with a strong focus on recruitment related services. Through print advertisements in 51job Weekly and online recruitment services at http://www.51job.com/ , 51job enables enterprises to attract, identify and recruit employees and connects millions of job seekers with employment opportunities. 51job also provides a number of other value-added human resource services, including business process outsourcing, training, executive search and salary surveys. 51job has a call center in Wuhan and a nationwide sales office network spanning 26 cities across China.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this release regarding targets for the first quarter of 2010, future business and operating results constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management's current expectations, and actual results could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ are the number of recruitment advertisements placed, sales orders received and customer contracts executed during the remaining weeks of the first quarter of 2010; any accounting adjustments that may occur during the quarterly close; fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies; behavioral and operational changes of customers in meeting their human resource needs as they respond to evolving social, economic and political changes in China as well as stock market volatilities; introduction by its competitors of new or enhanced products or services; price competition in the market for the various human resource services that the Company provides in China; acceptance of new products and services developed or introduced by the Company outside of the human resources industry and fluctuations in general economic conditions. For additional information on these and other factors that may affect the Company's financial results, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 51job undertakes no obligation to update these targets prior to announcing final results for the first quarter of 2010 or as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
- Financial tables to follow -
51job, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three Months Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31,
2008 2009 2009
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
RMB RMB USD (Note 1)
(In thousands, except number
of shares and per share data)
Revenues:
Print advertising 59,699 64,594 9,463
Online recruitment services 72,741 97,252 14,248
Other human resource
related revenues 63,771 64,110 9,392
Total revenues 196,211 225,956 33,103
Less: Business and related tax (10,866) (12,019) (1,761)
Net revenues 185,345 213,937 31,342
Cost of services (Note 2) (90,879) (79,677) (11,673)
Gross profit 94,466 134,260 19,669
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing (Note 3) (58,192) (63,103) (9,245)
General and administrative
(Note 4) (30,398) (29,413) (4,309)
Total operating expenses (88,590) (92,516) (13,554)
Income from operations 5,876 41,744 6,115
Gain (Loss) from foreign
currency translation 637 (37) (5)
Interest and investment
income 6,193 3,895 571
Other (expense) income (487) 1,245 182
Income before income tax
expense 12,219 46,847 6,863
Income tax expense (5,463) (466) (68)
Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding:
Basic 56,584,296 55,055,425 55,055,425
Diluted 56,659,627 55,538,208 55,538,208
Notes:
1. The conversion of RMB amounts into USD amounts is based on the noon
buying rate of USD1.00=RMB6.8259 on December 31, 2009 in New York for
cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical
release of the Federal Reserve Board.
2. Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB1,210 and RMB1,027
(US$150) for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively.
3. Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB1,040 and RMB882
(US$129) for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively.
4. Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB5,220 and RMB4,305
(US$631) for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively.
5. Each ADS represents two common shares.
51job, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Year Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31,
2008 2009 2009
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
RMB RMB USD (Note 1)
(In thousands, except number
of shares and per share data)
Revenues:
Print advertising 359,234 279,467 40,942
Online recruitment services 312,121 332,987 48,783
Other human resource related
revenues 189,062 204,666 29,984
Total revenues 860,417 817,120 119,709
Less: Business and related tax (44,939) (43,173) (6,325)
Net revenues 815,478 773,947 113,384
Cost of services (Note 2) (377,487) (305,722) (44,789)
Gross profit 437,991 468,225 68,595
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing (Note 3) (215,228) (214,400) (31,410)
General and administrative
(Note 4) (125,981) (133,511) (19,560)
Total operating expenses (341,209) (347,911) (50,970)
Income from operations 96,782 120,314 17,625
Loss from foreign
currency translation (17,732) (234) (34)
Interest and investment
income 26,400 15,083 2,210
Other income 2,327 9,554 1,400
Income before income
tax expense 107,777 144,717 21,201
Income tax expense (31,176) (32,205) (4,718)
Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding:
Basic 56,581,719 55,559,252 55,559,252
Diluted 56,709,513 55,768,866 55,768,866
Notes:
1. The conversion of RMB amounts into USD amounts is based on the noon
buying rate of USD1.00=RMB6.8259 on December 31, 2009 in New York for
cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical
release of the Federal Reserve Board.
2. Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB4,564 and RMB4,360
(US$639) for 2008 and 2009, respectively.
3. Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB3,923 and RMB3,748
(US$549) for 2008 and 2009, respectively.
4. Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB18,947 and RMB18,912
(US$2,771) 2008 and 2009, respectively.
5. Each ADS represents two common shares.
51job, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results
For the Three Months Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31,
2008 2009 2009
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
RMB RMB USD (Note 1)
(In thousands, except number
of shares and per share data)
GAAP income before
income tax expense 12,219 46,847 6,863
Add back: Share-based
compensation expense 7,470 6,214 910
Add back: (Gain) Loss
from foreign currency
translation (637) 37 5
Non-GAAP income before
income tax expense 19,052 53,098 7,778
Non-GAAP income tax
expense (5,459) (468) (68)
Non-GAAP adjusted net
income 13,593 52,630 7,710
Weighted average number
of common shares
outstanding:
Basic 56,584,296 55,055,425 55,055,425
Diluted 56,659,627 55,538,208 55,538,208
For the Year Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31,
2008 2009 2009
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
RMB RMB USD (Note 1)
(In thousands, except number
of shares and per share data)
GAAP income before
income tax expense 107,777 144,717 21,201
Add back: Share-based
compensation expense 27,434 27,020 3,959
Add back: Loss from
foreign currency
translation 17,732 234 34
Non-GAAP income before
income tax expense 152,943 171,971 25,194
Non-GAAP income tax
expense (31,185) (32,208) (4,719)
Non-GAAP adjusted net
income 121,758 139,763 20,475
Weighted average number
of common shares
outstanding:
Basic 56,581,719 55,559,252 55,559,252
Diluted 56,709,513 55,768,866 55,768,866
Notes:
1. The conversion of RMB amounts into USD amounts is based on the noon
buying rate of USD1.00=RMB6.8259 on December 31, 2009 in New York for
cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical
release of the Federal Reserve Board.
2. Each ADS represents two common shares.
51job, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of
December 31, December 31, December 31,
2008 2009 2009
(audited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
RMB RMB USD (Note 1)
(In thousands, except number
of shares and per share data)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash 1,058,310 957,407 140,261
Short-term investments 16,100 257,310 37,696
Accounts receivable (net
of allowance of RMB2,783
and RMB2,620 as of
December 31, 2008 and
2009, respectively) 19,524 17,946 2,629
Prepayments and other
current assets 44,996 39,899 5,845
Deferred tax assets,
current 2,322 4,982 730
Shareholders' equity:
Common shares (US$0.0001
par value; 500,000,000
shares authorized,
56,378,139 and 55,126,859
shares issued and
outstanding as of
December 31, 2008 and
2009, respectively) 47 46 7
Additional paid-in
capital 917,352 902,124 132,162
Statutory reserves 6,947 7,368 1,079
Other comprehensive
income 1,054 1,067 156
Retained earnings 301,443 413,534 60,583
Total shareholders'
equity 1,226,843 1,324,139 193,987
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity 1,374,369 1,512,516 221,585
Note 1: The conversion of RMB amounts into USD amounts is based on the
noon buying rate of USD1.00=RMB6.8259 on December 31, 2009 in New
York for cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly
statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.
For more information, please contact:
Linda Chien
Investor Relations
51job, Inc.
Phone: +86-21-6879-6250
Email: investor.relations@51job.com
Source: 51job, Inc.
CONTACT: Linda Chien, Investor Relations, 51job, Inc., +86-21-6879-6250,
or investor.relations@51job.com
Consumers Turn to Drip Irrigation in Tough Economic Times
Irrigation Direct expands warehouse & product line to meet the need
LIVERMORE, Calif., March 4 -- In this economy, everyone is looking for ways to stretch their budget without changing their lifestyle. Our gardens provide a break from the pressures of job-hunting, bill paying, and everyday stress. According to the National Gardening Association, an estimated 43 million households gardened in 2009. People all over the world are turning to drip irrigation as a means to keep their landscapes and gardens green while conserving water and reducing their monthly water bills. To meet this growing demand for drip irrigation products, Irrigation Direct has doubled the size of its warehouse and expanded its drip irrigation product lines.
A UC Davis Study estimated that water consumption can be reduced by up to 50% with drip irrigation. "Our focus has always been to provide affordable drip irrigation products to consumers and contractors by manufacturing them and selling factory-direct online," explains Bill Hayes, founder and president of Irrigation Direct. "This expansion allows us to provide the variety of drip irrigation products that our customers are looking for and in the quantities they need." New products offered by Irrigation Direct include Direct-Loc fittings for drip tubing, Brown Professional Dripperline, and Self-Piercing Drip Emitters.
About Irrigation Direct
Irrigation Direct was founded in 2006 to provide a wide choice of sprinkler and drip irrigation supplies at factory-direct prices. Their website offers a wide range of irrigation tutorials, owners manuals, and troubleshooting guides that will help homeowners, landscape contractors, and irrigation specialists complete projects with confidence.
comScore to Speak at the Credit Suisse Global Media and Communications Convergence Conference
RESTON, Va., March 4 -- comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced that Gregory Dale, Chief Operating Officer, will present at the Credit Suisse Global Media and Communications Convergence Conference in Palm Beach, Florida. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 8:45 am ET on Monday, March 8, 2010.
The presentation will also be available via live audio webcast at http://ir.comscore.com/events.cfm and via replay from the same link beginning approximately one hour after the conclusion of the presentation.
About comScore
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world and preferred source of digital marketing intelligence. For more information, please visit http://www.comscore.com/companyinfo.
Majesco Entertainment Schedules Fiscal First Quarter 2010 Earnings Release and Conference Call
EDISON, N.J., March 4 -- Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ:COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, will announce financial results for its fiscal first quarter 2010 ended January 31, 2010 on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 after U.S. market hours.
Senior management will host a conference call to discuss fiscal first quarter 2010 financial results on March 16, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. ET. To access the conference call, please dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call.
U.S. Dial In: 1-800-860-2442
International Dial In: 1-412-858-4600
Access Code: 'Majesco Call'
A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's corporate Web site at http://www.majescoentertainment.com/.
A replay of the conference call will be available via telephone for seven days beginning approximately two hours after the call through March 23, 2010. U.S. participants can access the replay by dialing 1-877-344-7529 and international participants can dial 1-412-317-0088. The access code for the replay is 438599. A webcast of the conference call will be archived on the Company's Web site for 90 days.
About Majesco Entertainment Company
Majesco Entertainment Company is a provider of video games for the mass market. Building on more than 20 years of operating history, the company is focused on developing and publishing a wide range of casual and family oriented video games on Wii(TM), Nintendo DS(TM) and other leading systems. Product highlights include Cooking Mama(TM), TETRISĀ® Party Deluxe, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum. The company's shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol: COOL. Majesco is headquartered in Edison, NJ and has an international office in Bristol, UK. More information about Majesco can be found online at http://www.majescoentertainment.com. @Majesco is on twitter or at http://www.twitter.com/majesco.
Source: Majesco Entertainment Company
CONTACT: John Gross, Chief Financial Officer, Majesco Entertainment
Company, +1-732-225-8910; or Denise Roche, or Christian Nery, Brainerd
Communicators, Inc., +1-212-986-6667
ST. LOUIS, March 4 -- The Board of Directors of Brown Shoe Company, Inc. (NYSE:BWS) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.07 cents per share, payable April 1, 2010 to shareholders of record on March 19, 2010.
This dividend will be the 349th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the company.
Brown Shoe is a $2.2 billion footwear company with global operations. Brown Shoe's Retail division operates Famous Footwear, the more than 1,100-store chain that sells brand name shoes for the family, approximately 300 specialty retail stores in the U.S., Canada, and China primarily under the Naturalizer brand name, and footwear e-tailer shoes.com. Through its wholesale divisions, Brown Shoe markets leading footwear brands including Naturalizer, Dr. Scholl's, Franco Sarto, LifeStride, Etienne Aigner, Via Spiga, Sam Edelman and Buster Brown. Brown Shoe press releases are available on the Company's website at http://www.brownshoe.com.
Source: Brown Shoe Company, Inc.
CONTACT: Ken Golden, Investor Relations of Brown Shoe Company, Inc.,
+1-314-854-4134, kgolden@brownshoe.com