Acorn International Reports Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Acorn International Reports Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results

SHANGHAI, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Acorn International, Inc. (NYSE: ATV) ("Acorn" or the "Company"), a media and branding company in China engaged in developing, promoting and selling products through extensive direct and distribution networks, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.



Summary Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2012:




-- Net revenues were $69.2 million, down 35.8% from $107.8 million for the
third quarter of 2011.
-- Gross profit was $31.1 million, down 31.3% from $45.3 million for the
third quarter of 2011.
-- Gross margin increased to 44.9% from 42.0% for the third quarter of
2011.
-- Operating loss was $2.2 million, compared to operating income of $1.5
million for the third quarter of 2011.
-- Net loss attributable to Acorn was $1.1 million, compared to net income
of $1.5 million for the third quarter of 2011.
-- Diluted loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") was $0.04, compared
to diluted earnings per ADS of $0.05 for the third quarter of 2011.
"In the third quarter of 2012, our net revenues declined by 35.8% compared to the same period in 2011 as we continued to see softer demand in the fiercely competitive mobile phone market and lower sales in electronic learning products and consumer electronics. On a sequential basis, however, our net revenues were up by 50.1% over the second quarter of 2012, reflecting favorable seasonal trends and positive customer recognition relating to some of our new products. Fitness products, our top-selling product line representing 25.7% of total revenues in the third quarter of 2012, increased by 11.3 times over the lower sales in the same period of 2011. Our gross margin improved by nearly three percent over the same period last year, as we focused our media spending on our most profitable product lines, although lower sales volumes led to a small operating loss for the quarter," said Mr. Don Yang, CEO of Acorn.

"In addition, we introduced some new products in the third quarter of 2012 and will continue to test market some new products mainly on our TV direct sales platform for the remainder of 2012. We keep optimizing our media spending on top performing products to further improve profitability. We recently entered into an agreement with Sino-US United MetLife Insurance Co., Ltd. ("MetLife") to engage in joint promoting and selling of MetLife insurance products to our customers. We are taking steps to bolster the effectiveness of our outbound sales efforts and to strengthen our Internet sales as cost-effective alternatives to TV direct sales, which became more costly with the higher rates of TV airtime introduced in 2012."



Business Results for the Third Quarter of 2012:


-- Sales of mobile phones generated revenues of $17.4 million, representing
25.1% of total revenues, in the third quarter of 2012. Mobile phone
sales declined 60.8% from the third quarter of 2011, primarily due to
decreased demand for existing mobile phone models and
slower-than-expected sales of the new mobile phone models launched in
the third quarter of 2012. The company continues to develop new mobile
phones models in the fourth quarter of 2012.
-- Sales of fitness products (namely the Yierjian product line first
launched in the third quarter of 2011), performed well in the third
quarter of 2012 and generated revenues of $17.8 million, representing
25.7% of total revenues. The Company expects the fitness product line to
remain one of its major revenue drivers in the fourth quarter of 2012.
-- Other direct sales platforms, represented by third-party bank channels,
outbound calls, catalogs and Internet sales declined 37.6% in the third
quarter of 2012 as compared to the third quarter of 2011. The decline
in other direct sales was primarily due to the lower sales from
third-party bank channels as well as the outbound calls and catalogs
sales.
Third Quarter 2012 Results:

Total net revenues were $69.2 million for the third quarter of 2012, a decrease of 35.8% from $107.8 million for the third quarter of last year, but up by 50.1% as compared to the second quarter of 2012. Direct sales contributed to 71.9%, or $49.8 million, of the total net revenues for the third quarter of 2012, a decrease of 38.1% from $80.5 million for the same period last year. The decrease in direct sales levels resulted mainly from a decline in sales generated from mobile phones, cosmetics and consumer electronics.

Distribution sales net revenues decreased 28.8% year-over-year to $19.4 million from $27.3 million for the third quarter of 2011, but up by 534.7% from the second quarter of 2012. Electronic learning devices accounted for 86.9% of total distribution sales and benefited from the launch of new electronic learning devices incorporating mobile internet interactive features.

The table below summarizes the gross revenues of the Company for the third quarter of 2011 and 2012, broken down by product categories:


2012 Q3 Sales 2011 Q3 Sales
$'000 % $'000 %
===== === ===== ===
Fitness products 17,819 25.7% 1,446 1.3%
---------------- ------ ---- ----- ---
Mobile phones 17,423 25.1% 44,483 41.2%
------------- ------ ---- ------ ----
Electronic learning products 17,238 24.8% 25,454 23.6%
---------------------------- ------ ---- ------ ----
Collectible products 5,112 7.4% 8,344 7.7%
-------------------- ----- --- ----- ---
Health products 4,082 5.9% 4,427 4.1%
--------------- ----- --- ----- ---
Cosmetics 1,513 2.2% 8,028 7.4%
--------- ----- --- ----- ---
Consumer electronics 1,186 1.7% 8,028 7.4%
-------------------- ----- --- ----- ---
Other products 5,017 7.2% 7,849 7.3%
-------------- ----- --- ----- ---
Total gross revenues 69,390 100% 108,059 100%
-------------------- ------ --- ------- ---
Cost of sales for the third quarter of 2012 was $38.1 million, representing a 39.0% decrease from $62.5 million for the third quarter of 2011, primarily due to the decrease in sales.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2012 was $31.1 million, a decrease of 31.3% as compared to $45.3 million for the third quarter of 2011. Gross margin was 44.9% in the third quarter of 2012, as compared to 42.0% in the same period in 2011. The increase in gross margin was largely due to a shift in product mix toward fitness products, which generally have higher margins.

Advertising expenses were $14.3 million for the third quarter of 2012, down 25.3% from $19.1 million for the third quarter of 2011. Gross profit over advertising expenses, a benchmark Acorn uses to measure return on its multiple sales platforms, was 2.17 in the third quarter of 2012, down from 2.37 in the third quarter of 2011. The decline was primarily as a result of higher media prices, as well as the decline in our sales.

Other selling and marketing expenses decreased 22.2% to $13.4 million from $17.2 million for the third quarter of 2011. The decrease in other selling and marketing expenses was smaller than the decline in our sales, mainly due to larger contribution of fitness products to total revenues, which have higher delivery costs, as well as the increase in labor costs of sales and marketing personnel.

General and administrative expenses were $6.8 million for the third quarter of 2012, representing a 19.2% decrease from $8.4 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Other operating income, net, was $1.2 million for the third quarter of 2012, as compared to $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2011.

As a result, operating loss was $2.2 million, as compared to operating income of $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Other income, primarily from interest income, was $0.8 million, as compared to $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Share-based compensation was $123,246 for the third quarter of 2012, as compared to $32,066 in the third quarter of 2011.

The Company recorded an income tax credit of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2012 as compared to income tax expense of $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Net loss attributable to Acorn was $1.1 million, as compared to net income of $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Diluted loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") was $0.04, as compared to diluted earnings per ADS of $0.05 for the third quarter of 2011.

As of September 30, 2012, Acorn's cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash and short-term investments, totaled $116.7 million, as compared to $122.7 million as of December 31, 2011.





Fiscal Year 2012 Business Outlook:

Based upon current trends, the Company is maintaining its prior guidance for the full year 2012 of revenues between $260 million and $280 million and a net loss between $14 million and $16 million.

Acorn plans to continue to optimize its media spending so as to concentrate on the most profitable product categories and the most productive TV channel partners, in support of some planned product launches in the fourth quarter. Based on the positive customer recognition to the Company's new electronic learning device, Acorn plans to further promote and broaden market awareness of this product. While sales of cosmetic products have been below expectations, the Company is developing more cost-effective Internet sales channels to improve sales volumes of its cosmetics product line. Acorn's management will continue to enhance cost efficiencies across the organization with the goal of returning to profitable operations.

These estimates are subject to change. Also, Acorn reminds investors that its operating results in each period vary significantly as a result of the mix of products sold in the period and the platforms through which they are sold. Therefore, the operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. Consequently, in evaluating the overall performance of Acorn's multiple sales platforms in any period, management also considers metrics such as operating margin and gross profit return on advertising expenses.



Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on November 29, 2012 (9:00 p.m. Beijing Time) to review the Company's financial results and answer questions. You may access the live interactive call via:


-- 1-800-860-2442 (U.S. Toll Free)
-- 1-412-858-4600 (International)
-- 1-866-605-3852 (Canada Toll Free)
-- 800-962475 (Hong Kong Toll Free)
-- 10-800-120-2304 (China South Toll Free)
-- 10-800-712-2304 (China North Toll Free)
Please dial-in approximately 5 minutes in advance to facilitate a timely start.

A replay will be available until 9:00 a.m. ET on December 12, 2012 and may be accessed via:


-- 1-877-344-7529 (U.S. Toll Free)
-- 1-412-317-0088 (International)
-- Conference number: 10021025
A live and archived webcast of the call will be available on the Company's website at http://ir.chinadrtv.com.

About Acorn International, Inc.

Acorn is a media and branding company in China, operating one of China's largest TV direct sales businesses in terms of revenues and TV airtime, and other direct sales platforms and a nationwide distribution network. Acorn's TV direct sales platform consists of airtime purchased from both national and local channels. Acorn's other direct sales platforms include catalogs, third-party bank channels, outbound telemarketing center and e-commerce websites. Acorn has built a proven track record of developing, promoting and selling proprietary-branded products, as well as products from established third parties. For more information, please visit http://ir.chinadrtv.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including, among other things, Acorn's anticipated operating results for 2012; Acorn's marketing strategy; Acorn's ability to maximize the effectiveness of its media spending and enhance media return; Acorn's ability to realize its planned new product launches; the Company's ability to successfully enhance its outbound call and Internet sales operations as main sources of revenues in addition to TV direct sales; the ability for the fitness product line to remain a major revenue driver in the fourth quarter of 2012; the Company's ability to further diversify its product offerings; and the Company's ability to further enhance its cost-efficiency. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. The Company's 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. Acorn's business may not improve in the remainder of 2012 and the Company may fail to meet the operating results expectations. In particular, the operating results of the Company for any period are impacted significantly by the mix of products and services sold by the Company in the period and the platforms through which they are sold, causing the operating results to fluctuate and making them difficult to predict. The Company may not be able to maintain the sales and margin of such products at current level in the event that there is a change in the customers' preference, which may results in a material adverse impact on the Company's results of operations and financial conditions.



Other factors that could cause forward-looking statements to differ materially from actual future events or results include risks and uncertainties related to: the Company's ability to effectively consolidate the distribution channels, the Company's ability to successfully improve or introduce new products and services, including to offset declines in sales of existing products and services; the Company's ability to stay abreast of consumer market trends and maintain the Company's reputation and consumer confidence; the Company's ability to execute and maintain a successful market strategy, continued access to and effective usage of TV advertising time and pricing related risks; relevant government policies and regulations relating to TV media time and TV direct sales programs, including the new SARFT regulations and actions that may make TV media time unavailable to the Company or require the Company to suspend or terminate a particular TV direct sales program; potential unauthorized use of the Company's intellectual property; potential disruption of the Company's manufacturing processes; increasing competition in China's consumer market; the Company's U.S. tax status as a passive foreign investment company; and general economic and business conditions in China. The financial information contained in this release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's 2011 annual report on Form 20-F filed with Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2012. For a discussion of other important factors that could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 6 of the Company's Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The Company's actual results of operations for the third quarter of 2012 are not necessarily indicative of its operating results for any future periods. Any projections in this release are based on limited information currently available to the Company, which is subject to change. Although such projections and the factors influencing them will likely change, the Company will not necessarily update the information. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.



Statement Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The condensed, consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited. These statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) that we considered necessary to present a fair statement of our results of operations, and financial position. The results reported in these condensed, consolidated financial statements should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. It is suggested that these condensed, consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2011 consolidated financial statements.

Contact:


Acorn International, Inc. CCG Investor Relations
Ms. Natalie Li Mr. Crocker Coulson, President
Phone: +86-21-5151-8888 Ext. 2540 Phone: +1-646-213-1915 (New York)
Email: natalie@chinadrtv.com Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
www.chinadrtv.com www.ccgirasia.com



ACORN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In US dollars)

December 31, 2011 September 30, 2012
----------------- ------------------
(audited) (unaudited)
Assets
Current
assets:
Cash
and
cash
equivalents 111,180,139 106,070,822
Restricted
cash 1,556,852 633,969
Short-
term
investments 9,993,720 10,029,863
Accounts
receivable,
net 16,693,959 17,562,347
Notes
receivable - 70,967
Inventory 32,888,645 22,098,185
Prepaid
advertising
expenses 11,654,922 7,833,420
Other
prepaid
expenses
and
current
assets,
net 9,928,245 7,309,441
Deferred
tax
assets,
net 3,465,795 1,201,203
Total
current
assets 197,362,277 172,810,217
Prepaid
land
use
right 8,105,061 7,925,302
Property
and
equipment,
net 29,803,901 28,525,041
Acquired
intangible
assets,
net 2,126,596 1,878,762
Investments
in
affiliates 6,794,955 6,751,984
Other
long-
term
assets 1,482,881 2,142,050
--------- ---------
Total
assets 245,675,671 220,033,356
=========== ===========
Liabilities
and
equity
Current
liabilities:
Accounts
payable 21,023,807 14,870,271
Accrued
expenses
and
other
current
liabilities 18,910,178 13,390,390
Notes
payable 4,411,840 2,286,705
Income
taxes
payable 3,603,813 -
Dividend
payable 467 122
Deferred
revenue - 1,234,198
Total
current
liabilities 47,950,105 31,781,686
Deferred
tax
liability 831,006 825,750
Total
liabilities 48,781,111 32,607,436
---------- ----------
Equity
Acorn
International,
Inc.
shareholders'
equity:
Ordinary
shares 945,666 946,059
Additional
paid-
in
capital 160,632,659 160,935,066
Retained
earnings 15,960,272 7,418,034
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income 30,320,856 29,220,649
Treasury
stock,
at
cost (11,463,946) (11,463,946)
Total
Acorn
International,
Inc.
shareholders'
equity 196,395,507 187,055,862
Non-
controlling
interests 499,053 370,058
------- -------
Total
equity 196,894,560 187,425,920
----------- -----------
Total
liabilities
and
equity 245,675,671 220,033,356
=========== ===========



ACORN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In US dollars, except share data)

3 Months Ended September 30 9 Months Ended September 30
--------------------------- ---------------------------
2011 2012 2011 2012
---- ---- ---- ----
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Net revenues
Direct sales 80,470,179 49,784,085 218,934,677 144,731,986
Distribution sales 27,314,205 19,447,548 55,653,652 38,741,343
Total 107,784,384 69,231,633 274,588,329 183,473,329
----------- ---------- ----------- -----------

Cost of revenues
Direct sales (45,575,683) (23,870,923) (121,265,821) (70,718,908)
Distribution sales (16,950,095) (14,268,991) (35,920,743) (27,785,856)
Total (62,525,778) (38,139,914) (157,186,564) (98,504,764)
----------- ----------- ------------ -----------

Gross profit
Direct sales 34,894,496 25,913,162 97,668,856 74,013,078
Distribution sales 10,364,110 5,178,557 19,732,909 10,955,487
Total 45,258,606 31,091,719 117,401,765 84,968,565
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------

Operating (expenses) income
Advertising expenses (19,129,596) (14,295,576) (51,167,484) (43,031,395)
Other selling and
marketing expenses (17,203,063) (13,385,983) (43,400,703) (38,252,213)
General and
administrative
expenses (8,358,801) (6,752,726) (21,873,256) (19,888,039)
Other operating income,
net 901,908 1,163,965 1,955,564 2,525,347
Total operating
(expenses) income (43,789,552) (33,270,320) (114,485,879) (98,646,300)
----------- ----------- ------------ -----------
Income (loss) from
operations 1,469,054 (2,178,601) 2,915,886 (13,677,735)

Other income 1,032,696 780,945 6,799,626 4,827,823
Income (loss) before
income taxes, and
equity in losses of
affiliates 2,501,750 (1,397,656) 9,715,512 (8,849,912)

Income tax (expenses) benefits
Current (993,903) 237,826 (3,000,086) 2,433,978
Deferred - - - (2,252,622)
Total income tax
(expenses) benefits (993,903) 237,826 (3,000,086) 181,356

Equity in losses of
affiliates (59,267) - (748,786) -

Net income (loss) 1,448,580 (1,159,830) 5,966,640 (8,668,556)

Net income attributable
to noncontrolling
interests 2,869.00 41,336 163,095 126,318
Net income (loss)
attributable to Acorn
International, Inc. 1,451,449 (1,118,494) 6,129,735 (8,542,238)
========= ========== ========= ==========

Income (loss) per ADS
Basic 0.05 (0.04) 0.21 (0.28)
Diluted 0.05 (0.04) 0.20 (0.28)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating income per ADS (each ADS
represents three ordinary shares)
Basic 89,904,620 89,972,637 89,529,061 89,959,795
Diluted 89,950,470 90,040,377 89,726,561 89,991,821


SOURCE Acorn International, Inc.

Acorn International, Inc.

Web Site: http://ir.chinadrtv.com


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