Bitauto Announces Unaudited Second Quarter 2013 Results

BEIJING, Aug. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitauto Holdings Limited ("Bitauto" or the "Company") (NYSE: BITA), a leading provider of Internet content and marketing services for China's fast-growing automotive industry, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013[1].

Second Quarter 2013 Highlights

• Revenue in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB338.0 million (US$55.1 million), a 36.5% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.
• Gross profit in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB255.2 million (US$41.6 million), a 44.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.
• Operating profit in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB50.8 million (US$8.3 million), a 64.3% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.
• IFRS profit in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB55.8 million (US$9.1 million), a 113.2% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. Basic and diluted profit per ADS, each representing one ordinary share, in the second quarter of 2013 amounted to RMB1.41(US$0.23) and RMB1.35(US$0.22), respectively.
• Non-GAAP profit in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB59.1 million (US$9.6 million), a 105.8% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. Non-GAAP basic and diluted profit per ADS in the second quarter of 2013 amounted to RMB1.50(US$0.24) and RMB1.43(US$0.23), respectively.

Mr. William Li, chief executive officer of Bitauto commented, "I am pleased to announce a healthy year-over-year revenue growth of 36.5% in the second quarter with both revenue and non-GAAP diluted profit per ADS exceeding our company guidance.

"Our core businesses, the bitauto.com advertising business and the EP platform business, remained our strongest revenue drivers with a year-over-year revenue growth of 45.7% and 45.2%, respectively," Mr. Li added. "We are encouraged by these results, which reflect the continuing ability of our products and services to respond to the changing needs of automakers and auto dealers."

Mr. Li continued, "We continue to execute on our core growth strategies. We remain focused on increasing subscriber utilization of the EP platform's extensive functionalities and further enhancing our service and product offerings, extending and deepening recognition of the Bitauto brands and investing in our used car business."

Andy Zhang, chief financial officer of Bitauto, commented, "We were encouraged by the strong growth in both revenue and profitability in the second quarter. We will continue to invest in product development and brand building activities in order to build on the inherent scalability of the Bitauto businesses and deliver sustainable long-term growth."

Recent Business Updates

• As of June 30, 2013, the Company had a total of 42,140,890 ordinary shares, with 23,405,809 ADSs issued and outstanding. Each ADS represents one ordinary share of the Company. Basic and diluted per ADS figures for the second quarter of 2013 were calculated using a weighted average of 39,489,454 and 41,343,556 ADSs, respectively.

Second quarter 2013 Results

Bitauto reported revenue of RMB338.0 million (US$55.1 million) for the second quarter of 2013, representing a 36.5% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to the growth of the bitauto.com advertising business and the EP platform business.

Cost of revenue for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB82.8 million (US$13.5 million), representing a year-over-year increase of 15.7% from RMB71.6 million (US$11.7 million). Cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue in the second quarter of 2013 was 24.5%, compared to 28.9% in the corresponding period in 2012. The increase in cost of revenue was mainly due to an increase in higher-direct-cost services, an increase in content distribution costs and an increase in personnel expenses of employees directly engaged in revenue-generating activities.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB255.2 million (US$41.6 million), representing a 44.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.

Selling and administrative expenses were RMB182.2 million (US$29.7 million) for the second quarter of 2013, representing an increase of 37.6% from the corresponding period in 2012. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in expenses relating to the Company's search engine and auto show marketing efforts, as well as an increase in selling and administrative headcount, and an increase in employee salaries and benefits.

Product development expenses were RMB22.2 million (US$3.6 million) for the second quarter of 2013, a 74.8% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. The increase was primarily due to an increase in product development headcount and an increase in personnel-related expenses.

Share-based payment expenses, which were allocated to related operating expense line items, were RMB3.2 million (US$0.5 million) in the second quarter of 2013, compared to RMB2.5 million (US$0.4 million) in the corresponding period in 2012. The increase was mainly due to the issuance of new options granted in August 2012.

Operating profit in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB50.8 million (US$8.3 million), representing a 64.3% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. The increase was mainly due to business scalability and an increase in operation efficiency.

Income tax expense in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB2.2 million (US$0.4 million), compared to an income tax expense of RMB1.7 million (US$0.3 million) in the corresponding period in 2012.

IFRS profit in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB55.8 million (US$9.1 million), a 113.2% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. Basic and diluted profit per ADS, each representing one ordinary share, in the second quarter of 2013 amounted to RMB1.41(US$0.23) and RMB1.35(US$0.22), respectively.

Non-GAAP profit in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB59.1 million (US$9.6 million), a 105.8% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. Non-GAAP basic and diluted profit per ADS in the second quarter of 2013 amounted to RMB1.50(US$0.24) and RMB1.43(US$0.23), respectively.

Business Segment Results

Revenue from the bitauto.com advertising business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB176.5 million (US$28.8 million), representing a 45.7% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. The increase was attributable to better brand recognition of the bitauto.com website.

Cost of revenue for the bitauto.com advertising business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB27.2 million (US$4.4 million), representing a year-over-year increase of 45.8% from RMB18.7 million (US$3.0 million). The increase was primarily due to an increase in content distribution costs, an increase in higher-direct-cost services and an increase in personnel expenses of employees directly engaged in revenue-generating activities. Cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue in the second quarter of 2013 was 15.4%, the same as that in the corresponding period in 2012.

Gross profit from the bitauto.com advertising business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB149.3 million (US$24.3 million), representing a 45.7% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.

Operating profit from the bitauto.com advertising business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB51.2 million (US$8.3 million), representing a 49.4% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. The increase was mainly due to enhanced sales efficiency and scalability of the bitauto.com advertising business.

Revenue from the EP platform business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB105.5 million (US$17.2 million), representing a 45.2% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. The increase was attributable to an increase in both the number of paid subscribers and months of paid subscription from the corresponding period in 2012. The Company recorded 27,866 months of paid subscription for the period.

Cost of revenue for the EP platform business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB20.8 million (US$3.4 million), representing a year-over-year increase of 66.7% from RMB12.5 million (US$2.0 million). This was mainly due to an increase in personnel expenses of employees directly engaged in revenue-generating activities, as well as an increase in fees paid to partner websites to distribute dealer customers' automobile pricing and promotional information. Cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue in the second quarter of 2013 was 19.7%, compared to 17.2% in the corresponding period in 2012.

Gross profit from the EP platform business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB84.6 million (US$13.8 million), representing a 40.8% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.

Operating profit from the EP platform business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB21.0 million (US$3.4 million), representing a 54.6% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. The increase was in line with the revenue growth.

Revenue from the taoche.com business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB5.9 million (US$1.0 million), representing a 15.4% decrease from the corresponding period in 2012. This decrease was the result of a sales policy adjustment.

Cost of revenue for the taoche.com business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB9.3 million (US$1.5 million), representing a year-over-year decrease of 31.2% from RMB13.6 million (US$2.2 million).

Gross loss from the taoche.com business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB3.4 million (US$0.6 million), compared to a gross loss of RMB6.6 million (US$1.1 million) in the corresponding period in 2012.

Operating loss from the taoche.com business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB18.7 million (US$3.0 million), compared to an operating loss of RMB10.7 million (US$1.7 million) in the corresponding period in 2012. This was mainly due to continued investments in marketing the taoche.com business.

Revenue from the digital marketing solutions business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB50.2 million (US$8.2 million), representing a 6.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.

Cost of revenue for the digital marketing solutions business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB25.5 million (US$4.2 million), representing a year-over-year decrease of 5.3% from RMB26.9 million (US$4.4 million) in the corresponding period in 2012. The decrease was due to the majority of revenues for the digital marketing solutions business being subject to value-added tax, which is an output tax and not recognized as cost of revenues (previously, such revenues were subject to business tax, which was recorded directly as cost of revenues) and to a decrease in headcount compared with the corresponding period in 2012.

Gross profit from the digital marketing solutions business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB24.7 million (US$4.0 million), representing a 23.1% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.

Operating loss from the digital marketing solutions business for the second quarter of 2013 was RMB2.7 million (US$0.4 million), compared to an operating loss of RMB6.2 million (US$1.0 million) in the corresponding period in 2012.

As of June 30, 2013, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB523.8 million (US$85.4 million). Cash used in operating activities, cash used in investing activities such as capital expenditures, and cash from financing activities in the second quarter of 2013 were RMB5.8 million (US$0.9 million), RMB10.5 million (US$1.7 million) and RMB2.0 million (US$0.3 million), respectively.

Gross billings[2]in the second quarter of 2013 was RMB493.0 million (US$80.3 million), compared to RMB399.0 million (US$65.0 million) in the corresponding period in 2012.

Bills receivables, representing short-term notes receivable issued by financial institutions that entitle the Company to receive the full face amount from the financial institutions at maturity, which generally range from three to six months from the date of issuance, was RMB32.1 million (US$5.2 million) as of June 30, 2013, compared to RMB68.8 million (US$11.2 million) as of December 31, 2012.

Trade receivables was RMB713.8 million (US$116.3 million) as of June 30, 2013, compared to RMB472.1 million (US$76.9 million) as of December 31, 2012. This increase was due to an increase in gross billings.

The number of employees totaled 2,080 as of June 30, 2013, representing a 9.4% increase from the same period in 2012. The increase in headcount was primarily due to the year-over-year expansion of the Company's sales network from 117 to 140 locations.

Third Quarter 2013 Outlook

Bitauto currently expects to generate revenue in the range of RMB355.0 million(US$57.8 million) to RMB365.0 million (US$59.5 million) in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, representing a 28.4% to 32.0% year-over-year increase. Bitauto currently expects non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS, each representing one ordinary share, to be approximately RMB1.51(US$0.25) to RMB1.56(US$0.25) in the third quarter of 2013.

This forecast takes into consideration seasonality factors in Bitauto's business, and excludes any impact of foreign currency fluctuation. It reflects management's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

Bitauto's management will hold an earnings conference call on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until August 15, 2013:

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at http://ir.bitauto.com.

About Bitauto Holdings Limited

Bitauto Holdings Limited (NYSE: BITA) is a leading provider of Internet content and marketing services for China's fast-growing automotive industry. Bitauto manages its businesses in four segments: the bitauto.com advertising business, the EP platform business, the taoche.com business, and the digital marketing solutions business.

The Company's bitauto.com advertising business offers automakers and dealers a variety of advertising services through its bitauto.com website, which provides consumers with up-to-date new automobile pricing and promotional information, specifications, reviews and consumer feedback. The Company's EP platform business provides web-based integrated digital marketing and customer relationship management (CRM) applications to new automobile dealers in China. The platform enables dealer subscribers to create their own online showrooms, list pricing and promotional information, provide dealer contact information, place advertisements and manage customer relationships to help them effectively market their automobiles to consumers. The Company's taoche.com business provides listing services to used automobile dealers that enable them to display used automobile inventory information on the taoche.com website and partner websites. The Company provides advertising services to used automobile dealers and automakers with certified pre-owned automobile programs on its taoche.com website. The Company's digital marketing solutions business provides automakers with one-stop digital marketing solutions, including website creation and maintenance, online public relations, online marketing campaigns and advertising agent services.

For more information, please visit ir.bitauto.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. 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", "confident" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for third quarter of 2013 and the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Bitauto's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Bitauto may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Bitauto's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the automobile industry and the Internet marketing industry in China; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its services and service delivery model; its expectations regarding enhancing the brand recognition; its expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with major customers, partner websites and media vendors; relevant government policies and regulations relating to its businesses, automobile purchases and ownership in China; its ability to attract and retain quality employees; its ability to stay abreast of market trends and technological advances; competition in its industry in China and internationally; general economic and business conditions in China; and its ability to effectively protect its intellectual property rights and not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Bitauto's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Bitauto does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Bitauto undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Bitauto's management supplements the data it receives regarding IFRS profit with non-GAAP profit, which excludes from IFRS profit the charges relating to share-based payments. This non-GAAP financial measure provides Bitauto's management with the ability to assess its operating results without considering the impact of non-cash charges resulting from share-based payments. Furthermore, this non-GAAP financial measure eliminates the impact of item(s) that Bitauto does not consider indicative of the performance of its business.

The use of non-GAAP profit has certain limitations. Share-based payments have been and will continue to be incurred and are not reflected in the presentation of the non-GAAP profit. This non-GAAP financial measure should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with IFRS, and should not be considered a substitute for or superior to IFRS results. In addition, non-GAAP profit may not be comparable to similarly titled measures utilized by other companies since such other companies may not calculate such measures in the same manner as Bitauto does.

Reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measure is set forth at the end of this release.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

China

IR Department
Bitauto Holdings Limited
Tel: +86-10-6849-2145
ir@bitauto.com

Rachael Layfield
Brunswick Group LLP
Tel: +86-10-5960-8600
bitauto@brunswickgroup.com

New York

Cindy Zheng
Brunswick Group LLP
Tel: +1 (212) 333-3810
bitauto@brunswickgroup.com

SOURCE Bitauto Holdings Limited