Xinhua Finance Limited (TSE: 9399) Reports Strong Year-On-Year Growth in 2007
February 17 2008 - 9:11PM
PR Newswire (US)
SHANGHAI, China, Feb. 17 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Xinhua
Finance Limited ("XFL", TSE Mothers: 9399 and OTC: XHFNY), China's
premier financial information and media service provider, today
announced consolidated business results for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007. Under International Financial Reporting
Standards ("IFRS"), XFL's consolidated revenue increased to
US$257.7 million, up 47% from US$175.0 million a year ago; EBITDA
was US$39.0 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 67% from
US$23.3 million; and net income grew 201% to US$56.5 million from
US$18.7 million in 2006. Fully diluted earnings-per-share (EPS)
reached US$51.68, up from US$20.14 in 2006. Proforma EBITDA,
adjusted to exclude non-cash ESOP expenses and one-time items, was
US$54.3 million, representing an operating margin of 21% and an
increase of 68% over US$32.4 million in the previous year. XFL
provides proforma results to help investors better understand the
Company's underlying operating and financial trends. During the
year, XFL divested or discontinued certain businesses in order to
align its growth strategy with the opportunities in China and the
areas where the company has a significant competitive edge. Revenue
from continuing operations was US$247.5 million, exceeding the 2007
full year forecast of continuing operations of US$242.2 million by
2%. Pro Forma EBITDA from continuing operations was US$57.2 million
vs. full year forecast from continuing operations of US$58.4
million. XFL CEO Fredy Bush said that the company was pleased to
report another year of strong growth propelled by the achievements
across all service lines and the dynamic market environment in
China. "Our solid financial performance in 2007 demonstrates the
continued success of our China-focused strategy. For fiscal year
2007, over 55% of revenue and 70% of our employees came from our
China businesses. We have successfully developed significant market
leadership in each of our service lines over the last 8 years since
we started this company. We believe we are well poised for seizing
further opportunities for growth as China continues to evolve. In
2008, we will invest in the business strategically to strengthen
our unrivaled position," said Ms. Bush. In 2007, XFL continued to
successfully leverage its content and distribution businesses to
benefit from the vigorous development of China's markets. In XFL's
content business, the company's China indices were benchmarked by
more funds worldwide, with total assets under management rising to
around US$122 billion at the end of 2007 from US$108 billion at the
third quarter of 2007 and US$54 billion a year ago. The financial
news service signed a contract with the Singapore Stock Exchange to
offer customized Chinese news products. For the IR service line,
the corporate announcement distribution services, Xinhua PR
Newswire, increased its distribution volume by 48% from 2006 and
the number of journalists in China on its network grew from 6,500
to 9,000 at the end of 2007. In March 2007, the Company completed
the initial public offering of Xinhua Finance Media ("XFMedia",
Nasdaq: XFML), a subsidiary under the Distribution service line,
raising net proceeds of about $200 million, to help accelerate the
expansion of this business line. During the year, XFMedia grew
robustly given the booming advertising market in China. XFMedia
built its leading position as a media group in China and
strengthened its unique platform which provides clients with
nationwide access to the large and growing upwardly mobile
demographic. CFO David Wang said, "XFL turned in a strong
performance in 2007 with substantial growth in both top and bottom
lines. As the Company further expands, we will continue our
integration efforts between the content and distribution businesses
in order to improve the profitability, cost controls and
operational efficiency of the entire group." 2007 vs. 2006 and vs.
2007 Forecast (IFRS) -- unit: USD million 2007 2006 Variance 2007F
Variance Revenue 257.7 175.0 47 % 260.0 -1% Proforma EBITDA (1)
54.3 32.4 68 % 60.5 -10% EBITDA (2) 39.0 23.3 67 % 46.6 -16% Net
Income 56.5 18.7 201 % 57.3 -1% Continuing Operations (3) 2007 vs.
2006 (IFRS) -- unit: USD million 2007 2006 Variance Revenue 247.5
161.2 54% Proforma EBITDA (1) 57.2 26.2 119% EBITDA (2) 42.2 17.1
147% 2008 Forecasts (IFRS) -- unit: USD million 2008 Forecasts
Revenue 327.2 Proforma EBITDA (1) 63.0 EBITDA (2) 45.9 Proforma Net
Income (4) 7.3 Net Income -9.2 (1) Proforma EBITDA is EBITDA
excluding non-cash ESOP expense and excluding one time items. (2)
EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2007 includes non-cash one
time charge of US$5.7m from the revaluation of a convertible loan,
one time legal expenses of US$0.6m and non-cash ESOP expenses of
US$9.1m. (3) Due to changes in the composition of our business as a
result of the divestiture or discontinuation of certain
subsidiaries, we also present results from continuing operations.
(4) Proforma Net Income is calculated by taking net income and
excluding non cash depreciation and amortization charges, share
based compensation expenses and one time non recurrent items.
(Notes) A. We define EBITDA in relation to our IFRS financial
statements as profit or loss before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortization. B. Forecasts for fiscal 2008 are management estimates
only; figures have not been audited or reviewed. C. Performance
estimates are determined based on information currently available.
Due to unforeseen factors, actual performance may differ from
estimates. About Xinhua Finance Limited Xinhua Finance Limited
("XFL") is China's premier financial information and media service
provider and is listed on the Mothers Board of the Tokyo Stock
Exchange (symbol: 9399) (OTC ADRs: XHFNY). Bridging China's
financial markets and the world, Xinhua Finance's proprietary
content platform, comprising Indices, Ratings, Financial News, and
Investor Relations, serves financial institutions, corporations and
re-distributors worldwide. Through its subsidiary Xinhua Finance
Media Limited (NASDAQ:XFML), XFL leverages its content across
multiple distribution channels in China including television,
radio, newspaper, magazine and outdoor media. Founded in November
1999, XFL is headquartered in Shanghai, with offices and news
bureaus spanning 11 countries worldwide. For more information,
please visit http://www.xinhuafinance.com/ . This is a press
release to the public and should not be relied on as information to
make an investment decision by any investor. Investors should read
the Company's Securities Report filed to the Tokyo Stock Exchange
and consider the risk factors together with other information
contained therein when making an investment decision. This press
release contains some forward- looking statements that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause
actual results, performance, achievements of the Company or
industries in which it operates to differ materially from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements. More Information: Media Contact
Xinhua Finance Ms. Joy Tsang Tel: +852-9486 4364, +86-21-6113-5999
Email: IR Contact Xinhua Finance Shanghai Ms. Jennifer Chan Lyman
Tel: +86-21-6113-5960 Email: Taylor Rafferty Japan Mr. James
Hawrylak Tel: +81-3-3221-9513 Email: United States Mr. John Dooley
Tel: +1-212-889-4350 Email: DATASOURCE: Xinhua Finance Limited
CONTACT: media, Ms. Joy Tsang, +852 9486 4364, +86 21 6113 5999, ;
investors, Shanghai, Ms. Jennifer Chan Lyman, +86 21 6113 5960, ,
both of Xinhua Finance Limited; Taylor Rafferty: Japan, Mr. James
Hawrylak, +81 3 3221 9513, , United States, Mr. John Dooley,
+1-212-889-4350, , both for Xinhua Finance Web site:
http://www.xinhuafinance.com/
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