BEIJING, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Ku6 Media Co., Ltd., ("Ku6 Media" or the "Company", Nasdaq: KUTV) a leading internet video company in China, today announced unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter of and full fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
Background
In 2010, Ku6 Media (formerly known as Hurray!) completed a series of transactions including acquisition of Ku6 Holding Limited in January 2010 and disposal of its wireless value-added services ("WVAS") and music businesses to Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited ("Shanda") as well as acquisition of online audio business from Shanda in August 2010, and became a company focusing on online advertising business on its online video platform of www.Ku6.com. As a result, the operating results of WVAS and recorded music were presented as "Operating Results of Discontinued Operations" in the income statements.
Highlights
-Total revenues were $4.42 million; performance advertising revenue increased continuously and accounted for 79.2% of total revenues in the quarter
-The Company recorded its first gross profit of $0.19 million; net loss was $3.94 million, the lowest since Ku6 Media became public in 2010
-The Company has solidified its leading position in User Generated Content (UGC); contracted Value Creating User (VCU) reached 5,000, number of videos uploaded daily reached 200,000, and monthly Unique Visitors (UV) reached 220 million in February 2012, according to Ku6 Media's internal data
-Partnership with YouTube announced in January 2012, to allow Ku6 Media's international users to view original videos from China
Business results
Total revenues, representing advertising revenue from online video portal operation, were $4.42 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, representing an increase of 4.5% from $4.23 million in the third quarter of 2011 and a decrease of 34.7% from $6.77 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
In the second quarter of 2011, the Company started to generate revenues from performance advertising using a system called Application Advertisement ("AA"). The performance advertising revenue was realized through an affiliated advertising agent. 79.2% of total revenues in the fourth quarter was from this source, as compared to 72.3% of total revenues in the third quarter of 2011.
Cost of revenues was $4.23 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, representing a decrease of 22.8% from $5.48 million in the third quarter of 2011 and a decrease of 66.1% from $12.46 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. The change of content strategy since the second quarter of 2011 fromlong-form professional content to UGC is the main reason for the decrease in cost of revenues. As a result, gross profit was $0.19 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, as compared to a gross loss of $1.25 million in the third quarter of 2011 and a gross loss of $5.70 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Operating expenses were $4.38 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, representing a decrease of 61.2% from $11.28 million in the third quarter of 2011 and a decrease of 55.2% from $9.77 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Fourth quarter operating expenses include a $0.98 million favorable adjustment due to increased forfeitures of equity compensation awards caused by greater than anticipated headcount reductions in the Company's strategic transition.
Operating loss was $4.19 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, representing a decrease of 66.6% from $12.53 million in the third quarter of 2011 and a decrease of 72.9% from $15.46 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Net loss was $3.94 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, representing a decrease of 69.6% from the loss of $12.98 million in the third quarter of 2011 and a decrease of 74.5% from the loss of $15.45 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Net loss attributable to Ku6 Media was $3.94 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, as compared to $12.98 million in the third quarter of 2011 and $15.42 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Net loss attributable to Ku6 Media per basic and diluted ADS was $0.08 in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $0.26 in the third quarter of 2011 and $0.44 in the fourth quarter of 2010. Weighted average ADSs used to calculate diluted net loss per ADS were 50.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, 50.2 million in the third quarter of 2011 and 34.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Loss before interest expense and interest income, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA", a non-GAAP measure) was $2.84 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $11.20 million in the third quarter of 2011 and $13.84 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Reconciliation between net loss attributable to Ku6 Media under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and EBITDA is presented at the end of this news release.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company had $26.75 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $41.63 million as of September 30, 2011. Accounts receivable decreased by $1.40 million, Accounts payable decreased by $8.64 million, and short term loans decreased by $1.97 million.
On January 17, 2012, the Company announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with YouTube, a renowned international video-sharing website owned by Google, which would allow Ku6 Media's international users to view original videos from China through a new channel operated by YouTube. In March 2012, the Company established a partnership with Channel V, a music video entertainment TV channel, to bring its content to Ku6 Media's users.
Business results for fiscal year 2011
Total revenues from continuing operations for fiscal year 2011, representing advertising revenue from online video portal and online audio operations, were $19.22 million, compared to $16.56 million for the fiscal year 2010.
Gross loss from continuing operations was $11.66 million for the fiscal year 2011, compared to $23.90 million for the fiscal year 2010.
Operating expenses from continuing operations were $37.91 million for the fiscal year 2011, compared to $29.70 million for the fiscal year 2010.
Net loss from continuing operations was $49.39 million for the fiscal year 2011, compared to $53.54 million for the fiscal year 2010.
Net loss attributable to Ku6 Media was $49.34 million for the fiscal year 2011, compared to $51.51 million for the fiscal year 2010.
Net loss attributable to Ku6 Media per basic and diluted ADS was $1.16 for the fiscal year 2011, compared to $1.67 for the fiscal year 2010. Weighted average ADSs used to calculate diluted net loss per ADS were 42.7 million for the fiscal year 2011 and 31.0 million for the fiscal year 2010.
EBITDA was a loss of $43.28 million for the fiscal year 2011, compared to a loss of $46.32 million for the fiscal year 2010.
Mr. Jeff Shi, Chief Executive Officer of Ku6 Media, commented, "Through the successful strategic transition starting in the second quarter of 2011, Ku6 Media has firmly established itself as the leader in UGC in China, with nearly 200, 000 video clips being uploaded on daily basis in February of 2012. Our Value Creating User (VCU) program, started in August 2011, has now recruited more than 5, 000 contracted VCUs, who enjoy financial rewards according to video views their uploads attract. According to Ku6 Media's internal tracking data, monthly unique visitors (UV) have reached 220 million in February 2012. With continuous efforts in cost and expense reduction, in the fourth quarter of 2011 we have achieved our first quarterly gross profit and cut our quarterly net loss to its lowest level since Ku6 Media became public in 2010. We are confident that these improvements will build a solid foundation for steady and sustainable growth."
Note to the financial information
The unaudited financial information disclosed above is preliminary. The audit of the financial statements and related notes to be included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011 is still in progress. In addition, because management's evaluation of the Company's internal control over financial reporting in connection with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has not yet been completed, the Company makes no representation as to the effectiveness of those internal controls as of December 31, 2011.
Conference call
Ku6 Media's management team will host a conference call on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 7:30 a.m. EST, which is Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 8:30 p.m. in Beijing and Hong Kong, to present an overview of the company's financial performance and business operations.
