UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018

 

or

 

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ____ to _____

 

Commission File Number:  001-34647

 

ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada 20-4672080
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

No. 3 Min Zhuang Road, Building 6,

Yu Quan Hui Gu Tuspark, Haidian District, Beijing, PRC 100195

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

+86-10-6084-6616

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐  Accelerated filer ☐  Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) ☐ Smaller reporting company ☒ Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

 

As of August 17, 2018, the registrant had 16,132,543 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION PAGE
     
Item 1. Interim Financial Statements  
     
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2017 1-2
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Six and Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (Unaudited) 3-4
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (Unaudited) 5-6
     
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) 7-33
     
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 34-46
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 46
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 46
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 47
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors 47
   
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 47
     
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 47
   
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 47
     
Item 5. Other Information 47
     
Item 6. Exhibits 48
     
Signatures 49
       

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Interim Financial Statements

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

   June 30,
2018
 

December 31,

2017

   (US $)  (US $)
   (Unaudited)   
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $5,086   $2,952 
Accounts receivable, net   6,600    7,215 
Other receivables, net   165    2,646 
Prepayment and deposit to suppliers   2,579    4,073 
Due from related parties, net   -    14 
Total current assets   14,430    16,900 
           
Long-term investments   453    918 
Property and equipment, net   213    299 
Intangible assets, net   1,628    3,808 
Prepayment for blockchain and other software applications development   3,738    - 
Goodwill   -    5,277 
Deferred tax assets, net   677    1,358 
Total Assets  $21,139   $28,560 
           
Liabilities and Equity          
Current liabilities:          
Short-term bank loan *  $756   $765 
Accounts payable *   1,465    2,851 
Advances from customers *   1,399    3,559 
Accrued payroll and other accruals *   401    559 
Payable for acquisition of noncontrolling interest *   756    - 
Due to investors related to terminated security purchase agreements   -    938 
Payable for purchasing of software technology *   -    436 
Taxes payable *   3,054    3,168 
Other payables *   145    687 
Total current liabilities    7,976    12,963 

 

1

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)

(In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   (US $)  (US $)
   (Unaudited)   
Long-term liabilities:          
Long-term borrowing from a director   132    134 
Warrant liabilities   1,327    - 
Total Liabilities   9,435    13,097 
           
Commitments and contingencies          
           
Equity:          
ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity          
Common stock (US$0.001 par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 16,132,543 shares and 13,982,542 shares at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)   16    14 
Additional paid-in capital   37,853    31,554 
Statutory reserves   2,607    2,607 
Accumulated deficit   (30,556)   (20,487)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   1,786    1,598 
Total ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity   11,706    15,286 
           
Noncontrolling interests   (2)   177 
Total equity   11,704    15,463 
           
           
Total Liabilities and Equity  $21,139   $28,560 

 

*All of the VIEs' assets can be used to settle obligations of their primary beneficiary. Liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on the Company’s general assets (Note 2).

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

2

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands)

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   (US $)  (US $)  (US $)  (US $)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
Revenues            
From unrelated parties  $30,780   $17,662   $22,520   $10,417 
From related parties   -    102    -    83 
Total revenues   30,780    17,764    22,520    10,500 
Cost of revenues   29,211    14,792    21,552    8,800 
Gross profit   1,569    2,972    968    1,700 
                     
Operating expenses                    
Sales and marketing expenses   844    1,659    280    825 
General and administrative expenses   2,867    2,084    1,478    992 
Research and development expenses   433    700    240    305 
Impairment on intangible assets   1,878    -    1,878    - 
Impairment on goodwill   5,412    -    5,412    - 
Total operating expenses   11,434    4,443    9,288    2,122 
                     
Loss from operations   (9,865)   (1,471)   (8,320)   (422)
                     
Other income (expenses)                    

Impairment on long-term investments

   

(471

)   

-

    

-

    

-

 
Interest expense, net   (19)   (36)   (9)   (19)
Other expenses   (28)   (206)   (6)   (203)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   948    -    (526)   - 
Total other income/(expenses)   430    (242)   (541)   (222)
                     
Loss before income tax expense and noncontrolling interests   (9,435)   (1,713)   (8,861)   (644)
Income tax expense   (689)   (113)   (693)   (113)
Net loss   (10,124)   (1,826)   (9,554)   (757)
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests   55    (50)   50    (32)
Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.  $(10,069)  $(1,876)  $(9,504)  $(789)

 

3

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (CONTINUED)

(In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   (US $)  (US $)  (US $)  (US $)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
             
Net loss  $(10,124)  $(1,826)  $(9,554)  $(757)
Foreign currency translation gain/(loss)   194    432    (280)   326 
Comprehensive loss  $(9,930)  $(1,394)  $(9,834)  $(431)
Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests   49    (15)   52    (34)
Comprehensive loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.  $(9,881)  $(1,409)  $(9,782)  $(465)
                     
Loss per share                    
Loss per common share                    
Basic and diluted  $(0.64)  $(0.16)  $(0.60)  $(0.07)
                     
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                    
Basic and diluted   15,676,249    11,990,950    15,866,305    11,999,304 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

4

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   (US $)  (US $)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities          
Net loss  $(10,124)  $(1,826)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities          
Depreciation and amortization   427    707 
Share-based compensation expenses   151    348 
Provision for allowances for doubtful accounts   794    (29)
Impairment on long-term investments   471    - 
Impairment on intangible assets   1,878    - 
Impairment on goodwill   5,412    - 
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   (948)   - 
Deferred taxes   689    113 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities          
Accounts receivable   (257)   (1,666)
Other receivables   (16)   (19)
Prepayment and deposit to suppliers   1,504    136 
Due from related parties   23    (10)
Accounts payable   (1,402)   24 
Advances from customers   (2,197)   1,050 
Accrued payroll and other accruals   (154)   (225)
Other payables   (495)   86 
Taxes payable   (77)   38 
Net cash used in operating activities   (4,321)   (1,273)
           
Cash flows from investing activities          
Purchase of office equipment   (6)   (2)
Short-term loan to unrelated parties   (2,111)   - 
Repayment of short-term loan from unrelated parties   4,668    - 
Payment for acquisition of noncontrolling interest   (1,177)   - 
Prepayment for blockchain and other software applications development   (3,752)   - 
Purchase of software technology   (447)   - 
Net cash used in investing activities   (2,825)   (2)

 

5

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)

(In thousands)

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   (US $)  (US $)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
Cash flows from financing activities          
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrant (net of cash issuance cost of US$809)   10,263    - 
Repayment to investors related to terminated security purchase agreements   (957)   - 
Net cash provided by financing activities   9,306    - 
           
           
Effect of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents   (26)   56 
           
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   2,134    (1,219)
           
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period   2,952    3,035 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period  $5,086   $1,816 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information          
           
Income tax paid  $-   $- 
Interest expense paid  $130   $19 
           
Non-cash transaction disclosure          
           
Payable for acquisition of noncontrolling interest  $756   $- 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

6

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.Organization and nature of operations

 

ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Texas in April 2006 and re-domiciled to become a Nevada corporation in October 2006. On June 26, 2009, the Company consummated a share exchange transaction with China Net Online Media Group Limited (the “Share Exchange”), a company organized under the laws of British Virgin Islands (“China Net BVI”). As a result of the Share Exchange, China Net BVI became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the Company is now a holding company, which, through certain contractual arrangements with operating companies in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), is engaged in providing advertising, precision marketing, online to offline (O2O) sales channel expansion and the related data services to small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) and entrepreneurial management and networking services for entrepreneurs in the PRC. In January 2018, the Company announced its expansion into the blockchain industry and the related technology. The Company aims to develop credible, traceable and highly secured blockchain applications for the large demand from the SMEs and gradually shift from an information services provider to a transaction services provider for business opportunities in the near future.

 

As of June 30, 2018, the Company operated its business primarily in China through its PRC subsidiaries and operating entities, or Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) as discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “2017 Form 10-K”) on April 16, 2018.

 

On January 17, 2018, the Company consummated a registered direct offering of 2,150,001 shares of the Company’s common stock to certain institutional investors at a purchase price of $5.15 per share (“the Financing”). As part of the transaction, the Company also issued to the investors warrants for the purchase of up to 645,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $6.60 per share. The warrants have a term of 30 months from the date of issuance. The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $11.1 million (See Note 20).

 

In May 2018, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary in the PRC, incorporated a new majority-owned subsidiary, Business Opportunity Chain (Beijing) Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Business Opportunity Chain”) with three unrelated parties. The registered capital of Business Opportunity Chain is RMB10 million (approximately US$1.5 million) and the Company beneficially owns 51% equity interest in this entity. Business Opportunity Chain was established to provide research and develop and other technical support for the Company’s blockchain business units. As of the date hereof, Business Opportunity Chain is still in its start-up stage.

 

2.Variable interest entities

 

Summarized below is the information related to the VIEs’ assets and liabilities reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively:

 

   June 30,
2018
 

December 31,

2017

   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $1,130   $2,904 
Accounts receivable, net   6,600    7,215 
Other receivables, net   47    2,629 
Prepayment and deposit to suppliers   2,392    4,009 
Due from related parties, net   -    14 
Total current assets   10,169    16,771 
           
Property and equipment, net   123    177 
Intangible assets, net   52    2,112 
Goodwill   -    5,277 
Deferred tax assets, net   609    975 
Total Assets  $10,953   $25,312 
           
Liabilities          
Current liabilities:          
Short-term bank loan  $756   $765 
Accounts payable   1,464    2,848 
Advances from customers   1,398    3,559 
Accrued payroll and other accruals   178    159 
Due to Control Group   11    11 
Payable for acquisition of noncontrolling interest   756    - 
Payable for purchasing of software technology   -    436 
Taxes payable   2,603    2,711 
Other payables   84    155 
Total current liabilities   7,250    10,644 
           
Total Liabilities  $7,250   $10,644 

 

7

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

All of the VIEs' assets can be used to settle obligations of their primary beneficiary. Liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on the Company’s general assets. See additional discussion related to restrictions on foreign currency exchange in the PRC in Note 21 and Note 23.

 

Summarized below is the information related to the financial performance of the VIEs reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively:

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
       
Revenues   30,773    17,733 
Cost of revenues   (29,211)   (14,792)
Total operating expenses   (10,025)   (3,159)
Net loss before allocation to noncontrolling interests   (8,861)   (516)

 

 

   Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
       
Revenues   22,520    10,469 
Cost of revenues   (21,552)   (8,800)
Total operating expenses   (8,763)   (1,526)
Net loss before allocation to noncontrolling interests   (8,183)   (163)

 

3.Summary of significant accounting policies

 

a)Basis of presentation

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial information as of June 30, 2018 and for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures, which are normally included in complete consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, have been omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto, included in the 2017 Form 10-K.

 

8

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present a fair statement of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2018, its condensed consolidated results of operations for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, and its condensed consolidated cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, as applicable, have been made. The interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

 

b)Principles of consolidation

 

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the financial statements of all the subsidiaries and VIEs of the Company. All accounts and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries and VIEs have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

c)Use of estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of these condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company continually evaluates these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, historical experience and various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

d)Foreign currency translation

 

The exchange rates used to translate amounts in RMB into US$ for the purposes of preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements are as follows:

 

   June 30, 2018  December 31, 2017
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts   6.6166    6.5342 

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
Items in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss, and statements of cash flows   6.3711    6.8697 

 

   Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
Items in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss, and statements of cash flows   6.3789    6.8536 

 

No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be converted into US$ at the above rates.

 

e)Advertising costs

 

Advertising costs for the Company’s own brand building are not includable in cost of revenues, they are expensed when incurred and are included in “sales and marketing expenses” in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, advertising expenses for the Company’s own brand building were approximately US$411,000 and US$1,103,000, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, advertising expenses for the Company’s own brand building were approximately US$22,000 and US$593,000, respectively.

 

9

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

f)Research and development expenses

 

The Company accounts for the cost of developing and upgrading technologies and platforms and intellectual property that are used in its daily operations in research and development cost. Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred. Expenses for research and development for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately US$433,000 and US$700,000, respectively. Expenses for research and development for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately US$240,000 and US$305,000, respectively.

 

g)Revenue recognition

 

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, applying the modified retrospective method. The adoption didn’t result in a material adjustment to the accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2018.

 

In accordance with ASC Topic 606, revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In determining when and how much revenue is recognized from contracts with customers, the Company performs the following five-step analysis: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

 

The Company’s contracts with customers do not include multiple performance obligations, significant financing component, variable consideration, nor any clause concerning with returns, refunds or other similar obligations.

 

The Company does not believe that significant management judgements are involved in revenue recognition, but the amount and timing of the Company’s revenues could be different for any period if management made different judgments or utilized different estimates. Generally, the Company recognizes revenue under ASC Topic 606 for each type of its performance obligation either over time (generally, the transfer of a service) or at a point in time (generally, the transfer of a good (information)) as follows:

 

Online advertising placement service/TV advertising service

 

For online advertising placement service contracts and TV advertising service contracts that are established based on a fixed price scheme with the related advertisement placements obligation, the Company provides advertisement placements in specified locations on the Company’s advertising portals for agreed periods and/or place the advertisements onto the Company’s purchased advertisement time during specific TV programs for agreed periods. Revenue is recognized ratably over the period the advertising is provided and, as such, the Company considers the services to have been delivered (“over time”).

 

Sales of effective sales lead information

 

For advertising contracts related to purchase of effective sales lead information, revenue is recognized based on a fixed price per sales lead and the quantity of effective sales lead, when information is delivered and accepted by customers (“point in time”).

 

Search engine marketing and data service

 

Revenue from search engine marketing and data services is recognized on a monthly basis based on the direct cost consumed through search engines for providing such services with a premium (“over time”). The Company recognizes the revenue on a gross basis, because the Company determines that it is a principle in the transaction who control the goods or services before they are transferred to the customers.

 

All of the Company’s revenues are generated from the PRC. The following tables present the Company’s revenues disaggregated by products and services and timing of revenue recognition:

 

10

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

   Six Months Ended June 30  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
             
Internet advertising and data service                    
--online advertising placement   4,551    3,933    2,954    2,031 
--sales of effective sales lead information   283    813    161    423 
Search engine marketing and data service   25,848    12,987    19,405    8,015 
TV advertising service   91    -    -    - 
Others   7    31    -    31 
Total revenues   30,780    17,764    22,520    10,500 

 

   Six Months Ended June 30  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
             
Revenue recognized over time   30,497    16,951    22,359    10,077 
Revenue recognized at a point in time   283    813    161    423 
Total revenues   30,780    17,764    22,520    10,500 

 

Contract costs

 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company did not have any significant incremental costs of obtaining contracts with customers incurred and/or costs incurred in fulfilling contracts with customers within the scope of ASC Topic 606, that shall be recognized as an asset and amortized to expenses in a pattern that matches the timing of the revenue recognition of the related contract.

 

Contract balances

 

The Company evaluates overall economic conditions, its working capital status and customer specific credit and negotiates the payment terms of a contract with individual customer on a case by case basis in its normal course of business.

 

Advances received from customers related to unsatisfied performance obligations are recoded as contract liabilities (advance from customers), which will be realized as revenues upon the satisfaction of performance obligations through the transfer of related promised goods and services to customers.

 

For contracts without a full or any advance payments required, the Company bills the customers any unpaid contract price immediately upon satisfaction of the related performance obligations when revenue is recognized, and the Company normally receives payment from customers within 90 days after a bill is issued.

 

The Company does not have any contract assets (unbilled receivables) since revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred and the payment from customers is not contingent on a future event.

 

The Company’s contract liabilities consist of advance from customers related to unsatisfied performance obligations in relation to internet adverting service, search engine marketing service, as well as TV advertising service. The Company’s contract liabilities are reported in a net position on a customer-by-customer basis at the end of each reporting period. All contract liabilities are expected to be recognized as revenue within one year. The table below summarized the movement of the Company’s contract liabilities for the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

11

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

   Advance from customers
   US$(’000)
    
Balance as of January 1, 2018   3,559 
Revenue recognized from beginning contract liability balance   (3,248)
Advances received from customers related to unsatisfied performance obligations   1,132 
Exchange translation adjustment   (44)
Balance as of June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)   1,399 

 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, there is no revenue recognized from performance obligations that were satisfied in prior periods.

 

Transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligation

 

The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient in paragraph ASC Topic 606-10-50-14 and did not disclose the information related to transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied as of June 30, 2018, because all performance obligations of the Company’s contracts with customers have an original expected duration of one year or less.

 

h)Fair value measurement

 

Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of June 30, 2018 is as follows:

 

      Fair value measurement at reporting date using
   As of
June 30, 2018
  Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical Assets/Liabilities
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)
                     
Warrant liabilities (Note 20)   1,327    -    -    1,327 

 

The fair value of goodwill was determined using income approach (Note 12). The following table summarizes the quantitative information about the Company’s Level 3 significant unobservable internally-developed inputs used in determining the fair value of goodwill as of June 30, 2018:

 

   Valuation technique(s)  Unobservable inputs  Value of inputs
Goodwill  Discounted Cash Flow  Base projection period (years)  5
      Discount rate  20%
      Terminal growth rate  3.5%

 

12

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

i)Impact of recently issued accounting pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. The amendments in this ASU requires that a lessee recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from operating leases. A lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of the amendments in this ASU is permitted for all entities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial position and results of operations upon adopting these amendments. Based on its preliminary evaluation, the Company expects to start recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities for its operating leases on the Company’s statements of financial position as of the end of the first fiscal quarter of 2019 and the comparative period presented. The Company expects no material impact on its results of operations or cash flows in the periods after adoption. The Company expects to complete its assessment of the effect of adopting ASU No. 2016-02 by the end of 2018.

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02: “Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)-Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income”. The amendments in this ASU allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”). Consequently, the amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the Act and will improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because the amendments only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effect of a change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The amendments in this ASU also require certain disclosures about stranded tax effects. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial position and results of operations upon adopting these amendments.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07: “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718)- Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. The Board is issuing this Update as part of its Simplification Initiative. The amendments in this Update expand the scope of Topic 718 to include share based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. An entity should apply the requirements of Topic 718 to nonemployee awards except for specific guidance on inputs to an option pricing model and the attribution of cost (that is, the period of time over which share-based payment awards vest and the pattern of cost recognition over that period). The amendments specify that Topic 718 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The amendments also clarify that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (1) financing to the issuer or (2) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments in this Update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than an entity’s adoption date of Topic 606. An entity should only remeasure liability-classified awards that have not been settled by the date of adoption and equity-classified awards for which a measurement date has not been established through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Upon transition, the entity is required to measure these nonemployee awards at fair value as of the adoption date. The entity must not remeasure assets that are completed. Disclosures required at transition include the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle and, if applicable, quantitative information about the cumulative effect of the change on retained earnings or other components of equity. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial position and results of operations upon adopting these amendments.

 

4.Accounts receivable, net

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
       
Accounts receivable   10,131    10,008 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   (3,531)   (2,793)
Accounts receivable, net   6,600    7,215 

 

13

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

All of the accounts receivable are non-interest bearing. Based on the assessment of the collectability of the accounts receivable as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company provided approximately US$3,531,000 and US$2,793,000 allowance for doubtful accounts, respectively, which were primarily related to the accounts receivable of the Company’s internet advertising and TV advertising business segment with an aging over six months. The Company evaluates its accounts receivable with an aging over six months and determines the allowance based on aging data, historical collection experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, approximately US$0.80 million and US$0.33 million allowance for doubtful accounts was provided, respectively. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, no allowance for doubtful accounts related to the Company’s accounts receivable was provided or reversed.

 

5.Other receivables, net

 

Other receivables as of June 30, 2018 primarily represented an aggregate of RMB0.70 million (approximately US$0.11 million) short-term loans to an unrelated entity, of which RMB0.50 million (approximately US$0.08 million) was lent on June 1, 2018 and will mature on August 31, 2018, the remaining RMB0.20 million (approximately US$0.03 million) was lent on June 25, 2018 and will mature on August 24, 2018. The loans were unsecured, and the borrower agreed to pay the Company an annualized interest rate of 12% per annum.

 

Other receivables as of December 31, 2017 primarily represented the remaining balance of a short-term working capital loan to another unrelated entity, which was fully repaid during the first fiscal quarter of 2018.

 

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, other receivables also included approximately RMB5.8 million (US$0.9 million) overdue contractual deposits, which were related to advertising resources purchase contracts that had been completed with no further cooperation. Based on the assessment of the collectability of these overdue deposits as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had provided full allowance against these doubtful accounts.

 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, no allowance for doubtful accounts was provided or reversed against the Company’s other receivables. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, approximately US$0.03 million allowance for doubtful accounts related to the Company’s other receivables was reversed due to subsequent collection. For the three months ended June 30, 2017, no allowance for doubtful accounts related to the Company’s other receivables was provided or reversed.

 

6.Prepayments and deposit to suppliers

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
           
Deposits to internet and TV resources providers   1,579    1,870 
Prepayments to internet and TV resources providers   769    1,331 
Deposits to other services providers   -    765 
Other deposits and prepayments   231    107 
    2,579    4,073 

 

14

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

7.Due from related parties, net

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
       
Chuangshi Meiwei (Beijing) International Investment Management Co., Ltd.   151    156 
Guohua Shiji (Beijing) Communication Co., Ltd.   209    184 
Beijing Saimeiwei Food Equipment Technology Co., Ltd.   -    33 
ChinaNet Chuang Tou (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.   -    14 
    360    387 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   (360)   (373)
Due from related parties, net   -    14 

 

The above related parties of the Company represented the Company’s direct or indirect unconsolidated investee companies. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, due from related parties primarily included a total amount of short-term working capital loans of RMB2.38 million (approximately US$0.36 million) and RMB2.2 million (approximately US$0.34 million) to Chuangshi Meiwei and Guohua Shiji, respectively. The working capital loans are advanced to supplement the short-term operational needs of these related parties to assist certain of their business developing projects. The working capital loans are non-interest bearing and needs to be repaid to the Company within one year.

 

As of December 31, 2017, based on the assessment of the collectability of these related party balances, the Company provided full allowance for doubtful accounts against its service fee receivables due from Saimeiwei, Chuangshi Meiwei and Guohua Shiji and its short-term working capital loans advanced to Guohua Shiji and Chuangshi Meiwei, as a result of the unfavorable facts related to the business status of these related parties, as discussed in Note 9 to the audited financial statements in the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K.

 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company reversed approximately US$0.01 million and US$0.02 million allowance for doubtful accounts against the Company’s balances due from related parties, respectively, because of subsequent collection of service fee receivables. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, no allowance for doubtful accounts related to the Company’s balances due from related parties was provided or reversed.

 

8.Long-term investments

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
Equity method investments:          
Investment in equity method investees   744    753 
Advance to equity method investees   79    80 
Impairment on equity method investments   (823)   (833)
Total equity method investments   -    - 
           
Cost method investments:          
Investment in cost method investees   1,111    1,125 
Impairment on cost method investments   (658)   (207)
Total cost method investments   453    918 
           
Total long-term investments   453    918 

 

Equity method investments

 

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company beneficially owned 23.18% and 25.5% equity interest in Shenzhen Mingshan and Zhao Shang Ke Hubei, respectively. The Company accounts for its investments in these companies under equity method of accounting. Based on the facts of the significant decline in level of business activities from 2015, insufficient amount of working capital and the lack of commitment from majority shareholders, these two investment affiliates had become dormant and the possibility of the business recovery is remote. As a result, the Company reduced the carrying value of these investments to zero as of December 31, 2015.

 

15

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Cost method investments

 

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company beneficially owned a 19% equity interest in both ChinaNet Chuang Tou and Guohua Shiji, a 10% equity interest in both Chuangshi Meiwei and Beijing Saturday, and a 15% equity interest in ChinaNet Korea. The Company accounts for its investments in these companies under cost method of accounting. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 and chose to measure its cost method investments which do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the Company.

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had reduced the carrying value of its investments in ChinaNet Korea, Chuangshi Meiwei, Guohua Shiji and Beijing Saturday to zero, due to the business activities of these companies had become dormant. The following table summarizes the movement of the Company’s investment in ChinaNet Chuang Tou for the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

   ChinaNet Chuang Tou
   US$(’000)
    
Balance as of January 1, 2018   918 
Impairment on cost method investments   (453)
Exchange translation adjustment   (12)
Balance as of June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)   453 

 

The shareholders of ChinaNet Chuang Tou have decided to terminate the operation of this investee company within 2018. As a result, the Company recognized approximately US$0.47 million of other-than temporary impairment loss for the six months ended June 30, 2018, representing the amount expected not recoverable. In early August 2018, the Company received RMB3.0 million (approximately US$0.45 million) cash returned from ChinaNet Chuang Tou. ChinaNet Chuang Tou then became dormant.

 

9.Property and equipment, net

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
       
Leasehold improvement   333    337 
Vehicles   800    810 
Office equipment   1,398    1,410 
Electronic devices   1,149    1,164 
Property and equipment, cost   3,680    3,721 
Less: accumulated depreciation   (3,305)   (3,258)
Less: impairment loss on idle fixed assets   (162)   (164)
Property and equipment, net   213    299 

 

Depreciation expenses in the aggregate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately US$91,000 and US$100,000, respectively. Depreciation expenses in the aggregate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately US$43,000 and US$49,000, respectively.

 

16

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

10.Intangible assets, net

 

   As of June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Items  Gross
Carrying
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Impairment  Net
Carrying
Value
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)
             
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:                    
Domain name   1,460    -    (1,460)   - 
Intangible assets subject to amortization:                    
Customer relationship   2,013    (2,013)   -    - 
Non-compete agreements   1,108    (602)   (506)   - 
Software technologies   310    (310)   -    - 
Cloud compute software technology   1,403    (921)   (430)   52 
Intelligent marketing data service platform   4,880    (1,977)   (2,903)   - 
Internet safety, information exchange security and data encryption software   1,965    (393)   -    1,572 
Cloud video management system   1,436    (356)   (1,080)   - 
Other computer software   118    (114)   -    4 
Total  $14,693   $(6,686)  $(6,379)  $1,628 

 

   As of December 31, 2017
Items  Gross
Carrying
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Impairment  Net
Carrying
Value
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)
             
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:                    
Domain name   1,478    -    (1,478)   - 
Intangible assets subject to amortization:                    
Customer relationship   2,038    (2,038)   -    - 
Non-compete agreements   1,122    (610)   (512)   - 
Software technologies   314    (314)   -    - 
Cloud compute software technology   1,420    (923)   (435)   62 
Intelligent marketing data service platform   4,942    (1,853)   (1,600)   1,489 
Internet safety, information exchange security and data encryption software   1,990    (299)   -    1,691 
Cloud video management system   1,454    (291)   (602)   561 
Other computer software   120    (115)   -    5 
Total  $14,878   $(6,443)  $(4,627)  $3,808 

 

17

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Amortization expenses in aggregate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately US$336,000 and US$607,000, respectively. Amortization expenses in aggregate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately US$168,000 and US$304,000, respectively.

 

Due to shifting business development strategy focus to blockchain related technology and applications, for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company provided full impairment loss of approximately US$1.88 million against the remaining carrying value of its intangible assets of intelligent marketing data service platform and cloud video management system related to providing management tools services for data collection and analysis, as these assets are not expected to be able to generate economic benefit for the Company in future periods.

 

Based on the adjusted carrying value of the finite-lived intangible assets after the deduction of the impairment losses, which has a weighted average remaining useful life of 7.83 years as of June 30, 2018, and assuming no further subsequent impairment of the underlying intangible assets, the estimated future amortization expenses is approximately US$108,000 for the six months ending December 31, 2018, approximately US$215,000 each year for the year ending December 31, 2019 and 2020, approximately US$206,000 for the year ending December 31, 2021 and approximately US$196,000 for the year ending December 31, 2022.

 

11.Prepayment for blockchain and other software applications development

 

In February 2018, the Company entered into a contract with an unrelated entity to develop certain blockchain technology based applications. Total amount of the contract was US$4.5 million. As of June 30, 2018, the Company had paid US$3.38 million in accordance with the payment schedule set forth in the contract. The preliminary version of the applications will be ready for trial test by the end of December 2018, and the development project is expected to be completed before June 2019.

 

In March 2018, the Company entered into a contract with another unrelated entity to develop a social network (WeChat) based marketing campaign application. Total amount of the contract was RMB3.0 million (approximately US$0.45 million). As of June 30, 2018, the Company had paid RMB2.4 million (approximately US$0.36 million) in accordance with the payment schedule set forth in the contract. The preliminary version of the application will be ready for trial test by the end of October 2018, and the development project is expected to be completed before December 2018.

 

12.Goodwill

 

   Amount
   US$(’000)
    
Balance as of January 1, 2018   5,277 
Impairment on goodwill   (5,211)
Exchange translation adjustment   (66)
Balance as of June 30, 2018 (unaudited)   - 

 

The Company’s goodwill was attributable to its internet advertising and data service reporting unit. The Company performed goodwill impairment test as of June 30, 2018 and determined the fair value of the reporting unit using income approach by a discounted cash flow analysis (See Note 3 (h) for significant unobservable internally-developed inputs used in the fair value measurement). In accordance with ASU 2017-04, which the Company has adopted on January 1, 2018, by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, the Company recorded approximately US$5.41 million impairment loss on its goodwill for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018.

 

13.Short-term bank loan

 

Short-term bank loan as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 represented short-term bank loans of RMB5.0 million (approximately US$0.8 million), in the aggregate, borrowed by one of the Company’s VIEs from a major financial institution in China to supplement its short-term working capital needs, of which RMB3.0 million (approximately US$0.5 million) was borrowed on August 16, 2017 and will mature on August 15, 2018, the remaining RMB2.0 million (approximately US$0.3 million) was borrowed on October 23, 2017 and will mature on October 22, 2018.

 

18

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

On July 13, 2018, the Company repaid the RMB3.0 million (approximately US$0.5 million) short-term loan and re-borrowed it on the same date, which will mature on January 12, 2019.

 

The interest rate of these short-term bank loans was 5.655% per annum as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, which is 30% over the benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”).

 

14.Accrued payroll and other accruals

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
       
Accrued payroll and staff welfare   239    203 
Accrued operating expenses   162    356 
    401    559 

 

15.Payable for acquisition of noncontrolling interest

 

In March 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with the noncontrolling interest holder of Chuang Fu Tian Xia to purchase the remaining 49% equity interest of Chuang Fu Tian Xia for a total consideration of RMB15 million (approximately US$2.3 million), of which 50% of the total consideration need to be paid in cash and the remaining 50% of the total consideration would be paid in form of the Company’s common stock. As of June 30, 2018, the Company had paid the cash part of the consideration, RMB7.5 million (approximately US$1.1 million), as a prepayment to the noncontrolling interest holder of Chuang Fu Tian Xia. The counterparty is required to complete the registration of the transfer of equity interest with the local branch of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce before the Company shall pay the remaining consideration in form of the Company’s common stock.

 

In May 2018, the purchase of the 49% equity interest in Chuang Fu Tian Xia was registered with the local branch of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, which represented the official transfer of the 49% equity interest from the noncontrolling interest to the Company.

 

In early July 2018, the Company and the noncontrolling interest holder of Chuang Fu Tian Xia entered into an amendment agreement related to this transaction, pursuant to which, the two parties agreed to change the total consideration from RMB15 million to RMB12.5 million, and agreed to amend the form of settlement of the unpaid consideration of RMB5.0 million (approximately US$0.76 million) from the Company’s Common Stock to cash. In accordance with the amendment agreement, the Company has paid RMB3.5 million (approximately US$0.53 million) on July 31, 2018 and the remaining RMB1.5 million (approximately US$0.23 million) will be paid before August 31, 2018.

 

The Company accounted for this transaction as an equity transaction with no gain or loss to be recognized in its consolidated statement of operations. The carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest was adjusted to reflect the change in its ownership interest in the subsidiary, the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and the amount by which the noncontrolling interest is adjusted was recognized in equity attributable to the parent and the subsidiary’s accumulated comprehensive income was reallocated among the parent and the noncontrolling interest through an adjustment to the parent’s equity.

 

16.Due to new investors related to terminated security purchase agreements

 

In May 2015, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with Beijing Jinrun Fangzhou Science & Technology Co, Ltd. (“Jinrun Fangzhou”) and Dongsys Innovation (Beijing) Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Dongsys Innovation”), public companies listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations of the PRC (the “NEEQ”), respectively, pursuant to which these companies agreed to purchase a certain number of shares of common stock of the Company. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had received the 10% guarantee payment and 15% prepayment in an aggregate amount equal to US$819,000 from Jinrun Fangzhou, and the 10% guarantee payment in an amount equal to US$119,000 from Dongsys Innovation, respectively.

 

19

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Due to certain restriction stipulated in the “Measures for Overseas Investment Management” issued by the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC (the “MOFCOM”), the Company and its investors experienced difficulties in obtaining approval for the transactions from the MOFCOM. As a result, on May 12, 2016, the Company terminated the security purchase agreements with these two investors, respectively. The Company did not make any repayment to these investors afterwards during 2016 and 2017. As agreed by the parties, beginning on January 1, 2017, the outstanding balances bear a 12% annualized interest rate and shall be refunded to the investors no later than December 31, 2017.

 

As of June 30, 2018, the Company had fully repaid Jinrun Fangzhou and Dongsys Innovation their principal and the related interest through December 31, 2017. Both Dongsys Innovation and Jinrun Fangzhou agreed not to charge additional interest in fiscal 2018.

 

17.Payable for purchasing of software technology

 

As of December 31, 2017, payable for purchasing of software technology presented the remaining outstanding payment balance of approximately RMB2.85 million (approximately US$0.4 million) for purchasing of software technology, which transaction consummated in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2016. The Company paid the outstanding amount to the counterparty in March 2018.

 

18.Taxation

 

1)Income tax

 

The entities within the Company file separate tax returns in the respective tax jurisdictions in which they operate.

 

i). a. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA” or the “Act”) (which is commonly referred to as “U.S. tax reform”). The Act significantly changes U.S. corporate income tax laws including but not limited to reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018, imposing a one-time transition tax on previously deferred foreign earnings and imposing a new tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) effective for tax years of non-U.S. corporations beginning after December 31, 2017.

 

i). b. The Company is incorporated in the state of Nevada. Under the current law of Nevada, the Company is not subject to state corporate income tax. Following the Share Exchange, the Company became a holding company and does not conduct any substantial operations of its own. No provision for federal corporate income tax has been made in the financial statements as the Company has no assessable profits for the six and three ended June 30, 2018, or any prior periods. Before enactment of the Act, the Company did not provide for U.S. taxes or foreign withholding taxes on undistributed earnings from its non-U.S. subsidiaries because such earnings are intended to be reinvested indefinitely. If undistributed earnings were distributed, foreign tax credits could become available under current law to reduce the resulting U.S. income tax liability. Please see additional discussion regarding the assessment of the income tax effect of the Act in item i). d. below.

 

i). c. On December 22, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the Act enactment date for companies to complete the accounting under ASC 740 “Income Taxes”. In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements.

 

i). d. As disclosed in Note 17 to the audited financial statements in the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K, based on a preliminary assessment, the Company concluded that no incremental income tax expense of the one-time transition tax on its previously deferred foreign earnings would be charged for the year ended December 31, 2017. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company is subject to the new GILTI tax rules. The GILTI provisions impose a tax on foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of specified foreign corporations (“SFCs”), subject to the possible use of foreign tax credits and a deduction equal to 50 percent to offset the income tax liability, subject to some limitations. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company is allowed to make an accounting policy choice of either treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) or factoring such amounts into the Company’s measurement of its deferred taxes (the “deferred method”). According to the Company’s preliminary assessment based on its SFCs’ quarterly financial results, there was no taxable income related to GILTI for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018. However, due to complexity of the new tax rules under the Act, the Company did not have sufficient information currently to perform a comprehensive analysis on the historical operating results of each of its PRC subsidiaries to complete its assessment of the U.S. deferred tax assets that would have been utilized and or are expected to be utilizable under the Act and has not elected an accounting policy for the treatment of the taxes related to GILTI. In summary, the Company has not completed its accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Act and is still analyzing certain aspects of the Act and is refining its calculations, which could potentially affect the measurement of the balances or potentially give rise to new deferred tax amounts. In addition, further regulatory guidance related to the Act is expected to be issued in 2018 which may result in changes to the Company’s estimates. Additional analysis of the law and the impact to the Company will be performed and any impact will be finalized no later than the fourth quarter of 2018.

 

20

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

ii). China Net BVI was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”). Under the current law of the BVI, China Net BVI is not subject to tax on income or capital gains. Additionally, upon payments of dividends by China Net BVI to its shareholders, no BVI withholding tax will be imposed.

 

iii). China Net HK was incorporated in Hong Kong and does not conduct any substantial operations of its own. No provision for Hong Kong profits tax has been made in the financial statements as China Net HK has no assessable profits for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 or any prior periods. Additionally, upon payments of dividends by China Net HK to its shareholders, no Hong Kong withholding tax will be imposed.

 

iv). The Company’s PRC operating subsidiaries and VIEs, being incorporated in the PRC, are governed by the income tax law of the PRC and is subject to PRC enterprise income tax (“EIT”). The EIT rate of PRC is 25%, which applies to both domestic and foreign invested enterprises.

 

lIn November 2015, Business Opportunity Online was re-approved by the related PRC governmental authorities as a High and New Technology Enterprise, which enabled the entity, as approved by the local tax authorities of Beijing, the PRC, to continue enjoying the preferential income tax rate of 15% until November 2018. Therefore, for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the applicable income tax rate of Business Opportunity Online was 15%.

 

lThe applicable income tax rate for other PRC operating entities of the Company was 25% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

 

lThe current EIT law also imposed a 10% withholding income tax for dividends distributed by a foreign invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside China. A lower withholding tax rate will be applied if there is a tax treaty arrangement between mainland China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. Holding companies in Hong Kong, for example, will be subject to a 5% withholding tax rate.

 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the preferential income tax treatment enjoyed by the Company’s PRC VIE, Business Opportunity Online was based on the current applicable laws and regulations of the PRC and approved by the related government regulatory authorities and local tax authorities where Business Opportunity Online operates in. The preferential income tax treatment is subject to change in accordance with the PRC government economic development policies and regulations. The preferential income tax treatment is primarily determined by the regulation and policies of the PRC government in the context of the overall economic policy and strategy. As a result, the uncertainty of the preferential income tax treatment is subject to, but not limited to, the PRC government policy on supporting any specific industry’s development under the outlook and strategy of overall macroeconomic development.

 

2)Turnover taxes and the relevant surcharges

 

Service revenues provided by the Company’s PRC operating subsidiaries and VIEs were subject to Value Added Tax (“VAT”). VAT rate for provision of modern services (other than lease of corporeal movables) is 6% and for small scale taxpayer, 3%. Therefore, for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s service revenues are subject to VAT at a rate of 6%, after deducting the VAT paid for the services purchased from suppliers, or at a rate of 3% without any deduction of VAT paid for the services purchased from suppliers. The surcharges of the VAT is 12% to 14% of the VAT, depending on which tax jurisdiction the Company’s PRC operating subsidiaries and VIE operate in.

 

21

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, taxes payable consists of:

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
       
Turnover tax and surcharge payable   1,205    1,295 
Enterprise income tax payable   1,849    1,873 
Total taxes payable   3,054    3,168 

 

Reconciliations of the income tax benefit determined at the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax expense for each of the period presented are as follows:

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
             
Pre-tax loss   (9,435)   (1,713)   (8,861)   (644)
U.S. federal rate   21%   35%   21%   35%
Income tax benefit computed at U.S. federal rate   1,981    600    1,861    225 
Reconciling items:                    
Rate differential for PRC earnings   398    (135)   324    (42)
Preferential tax treatment effect   (107)   26    (55)   42 
Tax effect on non-taxable change in fair value of warrant liabilities   199    -    (111)   - 
Tax effect on non-deductible impairment on goodwill   (1,353)   -    (1,353)   - 
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets   (1,167)   (622)   (1,311)   (350)
Expired tax attribute carryforwards   (556)   -    -    - 
Others   (84)   18    (48)   12 
Effective income tax expense   (689)   (113)   (693)   (113)

 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s income tax expense consisted of:

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
             
Current-PRC   -    -    -    - 
Deferred-PRC   (689)   (113)   (693)   (113)
Income tax expense   (689)   (113)   (693)   (113)

 

22

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The Company’s deferred tax assets at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:

 

   June 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)   
       
Tax effect of net operating losses carried forward   7,882    7,657 
Bad debts provision   1,045    879 
Valuation allowance   (8,250)   (7,178)
Total deferred tax assets, net   677    1,358 

 

The U.S. holding company has incurred aggregate net operating losses (“NOLs”) of approximately US$13,716,660 and US$13,275,660 at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The NOLs carryforwards as of December 31, 2017 gradually expire over time, the last of which expires in 2037. NOLs incurred after December 31, 2017 will no longer be available to carry back, but will carry forward indefinitely. Furthermore, the Act imposes an annual limit of 80% on the amount of taxable income that can be offset by NOLs arising in tax years ending after December 31, 2017. The Company maintains a full valuation allowance against its net U.S. deferred tax assets, since due to uncertainties surrounding future utilization, the Company estimates there will not be sufficient future earnings to utilize its U.S. deferred tax assets.

 

The NOLs carried forward incurred by the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs were approximately US$23,263,000 and US$23,959,000 at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The losses carryforwards gradually expire over time, the last of which expires in 2023. The related deferred tax assets were calculated based on the respective net operating losses incurred by each of the PRC subsidiaries and VIEs and the respective corresponding enacted tax rate that will be in effect in the period in which the losses are expected to be utilized.

 

The Company recorded approximately US$8,250,000 and US$7,178,000 valuation allowance as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, because it is considered more likely than not that this portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized through sufficient future earnings of the entities to which the operating losses related.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded approximately US$1,167,000 and US$622,000 deferred tax valuation allowance, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded approximately US$1,311,000 and US$350,000 deferred tax valuation allowance, respectively.

 

19.Long-term borrowing from a director

 

Long-term borrowing from a director is a non-interest bearing loan from a director of the Company relating to the original paid-in capital contribution in the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Rise King WFOE, which is not expected to be repaid within one year.

 

20.The Financing and warrant liabilities

 

On January 17, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), the Company consummated a registered direct offering of 2,150,001 shares of the Company’s common stock to certain institutional investors at a purchase price of $5.15 per share (“the Financing”). As part of the transaction, the Company also issued to the investors warrants (the “Investor warrants”) for the purchase of up to 645,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $6.60 per share. The Investors warrants have a term of 30 months from the date of issuance. The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $11.1 million.

 

The placement agent of the Financing received (i) a placement fee in the amount equal to 6% of the gross proceeds and (ii) warrants to purchase up to 129,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of US$6.60 per share, with a three-year term (“Placement agent warrants” and together with the Investor warrants, the “Warrants”). The Placement agent warrants is not exercisable for a period of six months and one day after the Closing Date.

 

The Warrants have an initial exercise price of USS6.60 per share, which is subject to anti-dilution provisions that require adjustment of the number of shares of common stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the warrant, or to the exercise price of such shares, or both, to reflect stock dividends and splits, subsequent rights offerings, pro-rata distributions, and certain fundamental transactions. The Warrants also contain “full ratchet” price protection in the event of subsequent issuances below the applicable exercise price (the “Down round feature”).

 

23

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The Warrants may not be exercised if it would result in the holder beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the Company’s outstanding common shares (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”). The holder of the Warrants, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the Company’s outstanding common shares. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company.

 

Accounting for securities issued in the Financing

 

The Company determined that common stock issued in the Financing should be classified as permanent equity as there was no redemption provision at the option of the holders that is not within the control the Company on or after an agreed upon date.

 

The Company analyzed the Warrants issued in the Financing in accordance with ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging”. In accordance with ASC Topic 815, the Company determined that the Warrants should not be considered index to its own stock, as the strike price of the Warrants is dominated in a currency (U.S. dollar) other than the functional currency of the Company (Renminbi or Yuan). As a result, the Warrants does not meet the scope exception of ASC Topic 815, therefore, should be accounted for as derivative liabilities and measure at fair value with changes in fair value be recorded in earnings in each reporting period.

 

Fair value of the warrants

 

The Company used Binomial model to determine the fair value of the Warrants based on the assumptions summarized as below:

 

   Investors warrants  Placement agent warrants
   January 17,
2018
  March 31,
2018
  June 30,
2018
  January 17,
2018
  March 31,
2018
  June 30,
2018
                   
Stock price  $3.98   $1.67   $2.52   $3.98   $1.67   $2.52 
Years to maturity   2.5    2.3    2.1    3.0    2.8    2.55 
Risk-free interest rate   2.22%   2.35%   2.53%   2.39%   2.50%   2.56%
Dividend yield   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Expected volatility   158%   164%   174%   147%   152%   159%
Exercise Price  $6.60   $6.60   $6.60   $6.60   $6.60   $6.60 
                               
Fair value of the warrant  $2.93   $1.03   $1.71   $2.99   $1.06   $1.74 

 

Stock price is the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock at the respective valuation date. Years to maturity is the respective remaining contract life of the warrants. Yield-to-maturities in continuous compounding of the United States Government Bonds with the time-to-maturities same as the respective warrant are adopted as the risk-free rate. Annualized historical stock price volatility of the Company at the respective valuation date is deemed to be appropriate to serve as the expected volatility of the stock price of the Company. The dividend yield is calculated based on management’s estimate of dividends to be paid on the underlying stock. Exercise price of the Warrants is the contractual exercise price of the Warrants.

 

Allocation of gross proceeds from the Financing

 

The Company allocated the total proceeds from the Financing as summarized below:

 

   Initial measurement
   (USD’000)
    
Investor warrants   1,890 
Common Stock (par value and additional paid in capital)   9,183 
Total proceeds from the Financing   11,073 

 

24

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Investor warrants issued in the Financing was initially measurement at fair value. The residual amount, representing difference between the total proceeds and the fair value of the Investor warrants as of the Closing Date was assigned as the carrying value of the common stock issued in the Financing.

 

Offering costs

 

Offering costs in the amount of approximately US$1.2 million consisting of cash payment of approximately US$0.66 million placement fee, approximately US$0.15 million legal expense and fair value of placement agent warrants of approximately US$0.39 million, which were charged to additional paid-in-capital.

 

Warrant Liabilities

 

The Company accounted for the Warrants issuing in the Financing as derivative liabilities which were measured at fair value with changes in fair value be recorded in earnings in each reporting period.

 

            Change in Fair Value (gain)/loss
   As of
June 30, 2018
  As of
March 31, 2018
  As of
January 17, 2018
  Six Months Ended
June 30, 2018
  Three Months Ended
June 30, 2018
Fair value of the Warrants:               
Investor warrants   1,103    664    1,890    (787)   439 
Placement agent warrants   224    137    385    (161)   87 
Warrant liabilities   1,327    801    2,275    (948)   526 

 

Warrants issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and their movements during the six months then ended are as follows:

 

   Warrants Outstanding  Warrants Exercisable
   Number of
underlying
shares
  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
  Number of
underlying
shares
  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
                   
Balance, January 1, 2018   -              -           
Granted/Vested   774,000   $6.60    2.58    645,000   $6.60    2.50 
Forfeited   -              -           
Exercised   -              -           
Balance, June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)   774,000   $6.60    2.13    645,000   $6.60    2.05 

 

21.Restricted net assets

 

As most of the Company’s operations are conducted through its PRC subsidiaries and VIEs, the Company’s ability to pay dividends is primarily dependent on receiving distributions of funds from its PRC subsidiaries and VIEs. Relevant PRC statutory laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by its PRC subsidiaries and VIEs only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations and after it has met the PRC requirements for appropriation to statutory reserves. Paid in capital of the PRC subsidiaries and VIEs included in the Company’s consolidated net assets are also non-distributable for dividend purposes.

 

In accordance with the PRC regulations on Enterprises with Foreign Investment, a WFOE established in the PRC is required to provide certain statutory reserves, namely general reserve fund, the enterprise expansion fund and staff welfare and bonus fund which are appropriated from net profit as reported in the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A WFOE is required to allocate at least 10% of its annual after-tax profit to the general reserve until such reserve has reached 50% of its registered capital based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff welfare and bonus fund are at the discretion of the board of directors. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends. Rise King WFOE is subject to the above mandated restrictions on distributable profits. Additionally, in accordance with the Company Law of the PRC, a domestic enterprise is required to provide a statutory common reserve of at least 10% of its annual after-tax profit until such reserve has reached 50% of its registered capital based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A domestic enterprise is also required to provide for a discretionary surplus reserve, at the discretion of the board of directors. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends. All of the Company’s PRC VIEs are subject to the above mandated restrictions on distributable profits.

 

25

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

As a result of these PRC laws and regulations, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, net assets restricted in the aggregate, which include paid-in capital and statutory reserve funds of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs that are included in the Company’s consolidated net assets, was approximately US$12.0 million and US$8.3 million, respectively.

 

The current PRC Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) Law also imposed a 10% withholding income tax for dividends distributed by a foreign invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside China. A lower withholding tax rate will be applied if there is a tax treaty arrangement between mainland China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. Holding companies in Hong Kong, for example, will be subject to a 5% withholding tax rate.

 

The ability of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs to make dividends and other payments to the Company may also be restricted by changes in applicable foreign exchange and other laws and regulations.

 

Foreign currency exchange regulation in China is primarily governed by the following rules:

 

lForeign Exchange Administration Rules (1996), as amended in August 2008, or the Exchange Rules;
lAdministration Rules of the Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange (1996), or the Administration Rules.

 

Currently, under the Administration Rules, Renminbi is freely convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest payments, trade and service related foreign exchange transactions, but not for capital account items, such as direct investments, loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside of China, unless the prior approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (the “SAFE”) is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made. Foreign-invested enterprises like Rise King WFOE that need foreign exchange for the distribution of profits to its shareholders may effect payment from their foreign exchange accounts or purchase and pay foreign exchange rates at the designated foreign exchange banks to their foreign shareholders by producing board resolutions for such profit distribution. Based on their needs, foreign-invested enterprises are permitted to open foreign exchange settlement accounts for current account receipts and payments of foreign exchange along with specialized accounts for capital account receipts and payments of foreign exchange at certain designated foreign exchange banks.

 

Although the current Exchange Rules allow the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currency for current account items, conversion of Renminbi into foreign exchange for capital items, such as foreign direct investment, loans or securities, requires the approval of SAFE, which is under the authority of the People’s Bank of China. These approvals, however, do not guarantee the availability of foreign currency conversion. The Company cannot be sure that it will be able to obtain all required conversion approvals for its operations or the Chinese regulatory authorities will not impose greater restrictions on the convertibility of Renminbi in the future. Currently, most of the Company’s retained earnings are generated in Renminbi. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit the Company’s ability to use its retained earnings generated in Renminbi to make dividends or other payments in U.S. dollars or fund possible business activities outside China.

 

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there was approximately US$nil and US$9.2 million retained earnings in the aggregate, respectively, which was generated by the Company’s PRC subsidiary and VIEs in Renminbi included in the Company’s consolidated net assets, aside from US$2.6 million of statutory reserve funds as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, that may be affected by increased restrictions on currency exchanges in the future, and accordingly, may further limit the Company’s PRC subsidiary’s and VIEs’ ability to make dividends or other payments in U.S. dollars to the Company, in addition to the approximately US$12.0 million and US$8.3 million of restricted net assets as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as discussed above.

 

26

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

22.Employee defined contribution plan

 

Full time employees of the Company in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the PRC subsidiaries of the Company make contributions to the government for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries. The employee benefits were expensed as incurred. The Company has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made. The total amounts for such employee benefits were approximately US$183,000 and US$226,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The total amounts for such employee benefits were approximately US$95,000 and US$97,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

23.Concentration of risk

 

Credit risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and other receivables. As of June 30, 2018, 43% of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were held by major financial institutions located in Mainland China, the remaining 57% was held by a financial institution located in the United States of America. The Company believes that these financial institutions located in Mainland China and the United States of America are of high credit quality. For accounts receivable and other receivables, the Company extends credit based on an evaluation of the customer’s or other third parties’ financial condition, generally without requiring collateral or other security. In order to minimize the credit risk, the Company delegated a team responsible for credit approvals and other monitoring procedures to ensure that follow-up action is taken to recover overdue debts. Further, the Company reviews the recoverable amount of each individual receivable at each balance sheet date to ensure that adequate allowances are made for doubtful accounts. In this regard, the Company considers that the Company’s credit risk for accounts receivable and other receivables is significantly reduced.

 

Risk arising from operations in foreign countries

 

All of the Company’s operations are conducted within the PRC. The Company’s operations in the PRC are subject to various political, economic, and other risks and uncertainties inherent in the PRC. Among other risks, the Company’s operations in the PRC are subject to the risks of restrictions on transfer of funds, changing taxation policies, foreign exchange restrictions; and political conditions and governmental regulations.

 

Currency convertibility risk

 

Significant part of the Company’s businesses is transacted in Renminbi, which is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions take place either through the People’s Bank of China or other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China. Approval of foreign currency payments by the People’s Bank of China or other regulatory institutions requires submitting a payment application form together with suppliers’ invoices and signed contracts. These exchange control measures imposed by the PRC government authorities may restrict the ability of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs to transfer its net assets, which to the Company through loans, advances or cash dividends.

 

Concentration of customers

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, two customers individually accounted for 14% and 14% of the Company’s revenues. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, one of the two customers individually accounted for 19% of the Company’s revenues, another customer individually accounted for 11% of the Company’s revenue.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, one customer individually accounted for 21% of the Company’s revenues. For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the same one customer individually accounted for 21% of the Company’s revenues.

 

As of June 30, 2018, three customers individually accounted for 54%, 16% and 11% of the Company’s accounts receivable, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, two of the three customers individually accounted for 30% and 16% of the Company’s accounts receivable, respectively, and another customer individually accounted for 20% of the Company’s accounts receivable.

 

27

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Concentration of suppliers

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, two suppliers individually accounted for 83% and 13% of the Company’s cost of revenues. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, the same two suppliers individually accounted for 87% and 10% of the Company’s cost of revenues.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, two suppliers individually accounted for 75% and 16% of the Company’s cost of revenues, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the same two suppliers individually accounted for 81% and 11% of the Company’s cost of revenues, respectively.

 

24.Commitments and contingencies

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s operating lease commitment as of June 30, 2018:

 

   Office Rental
   US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)
Six months ending December 31,   
-2018   177 
Year ending December 31,     
-2019   87 
Total  $264 

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, rental expenses under operating leases were approximately US$206,000 and US$191,000, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, rental expenses under operating leases were approximately US$98,000 and US$93,000, respectively.

 

The Company is currently not a party to any legal or administrative proceedings and are not aware of any pending or threatened legal or administrative proceedings against us in all material aspects. The Company may from time to time become a party to various legal or administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business.

 

25.Segment reporting

 

The Company follows ASC Topic 280 “Segment Reporting”, which requires that companies disclose segment data based on how management makes decisions about allocating resources to segments and evaluating their performance. Reportable operating segments include components of an entity about which separate financial information is available and which operating results are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess each operating segment’s performance.

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

   Internet Ad.
and data service
  TV Ad.  Blockchain technology  Corporate  Inter-
segment and reconciling item
  Total
   US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
                   
Revenues   30,689    91    -    371    (371)   30,780 
Cost of revenues   29,173    38    -    -    -    29,211 
Total operating expenses   10,388    47    4    1,366(1)   (371)   11,434 
Depreciation and amortization expense included in total operating expenses   389    -    -    38    -    427 
Impairment on goodwill included in total operating expenses   5,412    -    -    -    -    5,412 
Impairment on intangible assets included in total operating expenses   1,878    -    -    -    -    1,878 
Impairment on long-term investments included in total operating expenses   -    -    -    471    -    471 
Operating (loss)/income   (8,872)   6    (4)   (995)   -    (9,865)
                               
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   -    -    -    948    -    948 
                               
Net (loss)/income   (9,271)   6    (4)   (855)   -    (10,124)
                               
Expenditure for long-term assets   448    -    3,378    379    -    4,205 
                               
Total assets – June 30, 2018   12,518    335    3,447    19,524    (14,685)   21,139 
Total assets – December 31, 2017   28,524    402    -    11,013    (11,379)   28,560 

 

(1)Including approximately US$151,000 share-based compensation expenses.

 

28

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

   Internet Ad.
and data service
  TV Ad.  Blockchain technology  Corporate  Inter- segment and reconciling item  Total
   US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
                   
Revenues   22,520    -    -    -    -    22,520 
Cost of revenues   21,552    -    -    -    -    21,552 
Total operating expenses   8,766    25    4    493(1)   -    9,288 
Depreciation and amortization expense included in total operating expenses   192    -    -    19    -    211 
Impairment on goodwill included in total operating expenses   5,412    -    -    -    -    5,412 
Impairment on intangible assets included in total operating expenses   1,878    -    -    -    -    1,878 
Operating loss   (7,798)   (25)   (4)   (493)   -    (8,320)
                               
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   -    -    -    (526)   -    (526)
                               
Net loss   (8,198)   (14)   (4)   (1,338)   -    (9,554)
                               
Expenditure for long-term assets   -    -    2,178    378    -    2,556 

 

(1)Including approximately US$76,000 share-based compensation expenses.

 

29

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

   Internet Ad.
and data service
  TV Ad.  Corporate  Inter- segment and reconciling item  Total
   US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
                
Revenues   17,764    -    -    -    17,764 
Cost of revenues   14,792    -    -    -    14,792 
Total operating expenses   3,182    56    1,205(1)   -    4,443 
Depreciation and amortization expense included in total operating expenses   658    1    48    -    707 
Operating loss   (210)   (56)   (1,205)   -    (1,471)
                          
Expenditure for long-term assets   -    -    2    -    2 
                          
Net loss   (563)   (56)   (1,207)   -    (1,826)

 

(1)Including approximately US$348,000 share-based compensation expenses.

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

   Internet Ad.
and data service
  TV Ad.  Corporate  Inter- segment and reconciling item  Total
   US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
  US$
(‘000)
                
Revenues   10,500    -    -    -    10,500 
Cost of revenues   8,800    -    -    -    8,800 
Total operating expenses   1,621    28    473(1)   -    2,122 
Depreciation and amortization expense included in total operating expenses   329    1    23    -    353 
Operating loss   79    (28)   (473)   -    (422)
                          
Expenditure for long-term assets   -    -    2    -    2 
                          
Net loss   (254)   (28)   (475)   -    (757)

 

(1)Including approximately US$137,000 share-based compensation expenses.

 

30

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

26.Loss per share

 

Basic and diluted loss per share for each of the periods presented are calculated as follows (All amounts, except number of shares and per share data, are presented in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
             
Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (numerator for basic and diluted loss per share)  $(10,069)  $(1,876)  $(9,504)  $(789)
                     
                     
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding -Basic and diluted   15,676,249    11,990,950    15,866,305    11,999,304 
                     
Loss per share-Basic and diluted  $(0.64)  $(0.16)  $(0.60)  $(0.07)

 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, the diluted loss per share calculation did not include warrants to purchase up to 774,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, because they were out of the money, and did not include options to purchase up to 835,216 shares of the Company’s common stock and 266,238 shares of unvested restricted common stock, because their effect was anti-dilutive, as the Company incurred a net loss for both periods.

 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, the diluted loss per share calculation did not include options to purchase up to 835,216 shares of the Company’s common stock and 266,238 shares of unvested restricted common stock, because their effect was anti-dilutive, as the Company incurred a net loss for both periods.

 

27.Share-based compensation expenses

 

In January 2017, the Company granted 75,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock to its investor relations services provider, in exchange for its services to the Company for the year ended December 31, 2017. These shares were valued at US$1.02 per share, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the earlier of the performance commitment date or the date service was completed. Total compensation expense recognized for the service was US$38,250 and US$19,125 for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, respectively.

 

31

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

In February 2017, the Company granted 20,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock to one of its independent directors in exchange for his services provided to the Company. These shares were valued at US$1.12 per share, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Total compensation expense recognized for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately US$22,400 and US$nil, respectively.

 

In July 2017, the Company issued 75,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock to two management consulting service providers in exchange for its services to the Company for a 12-month period commencing on July 1, 2017. These shares were valued at US$1.67 per share, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the earlier of the performance commitment date or the date service was completed. Total compensation expense recognized for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 was approximately US$62,600 and US$31,300, respectively.

 

On April 1, 2016, the Company granted 16,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock in aggregate to two marketing service providers in exchange for their services to the Company for a 12-month period commencing on April 1, 2016. These shares were valued at US$1.73 per share, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the earlier of the performance commitment date or the date service was completed. Total compensation expense recognized for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately US$6,900 and US$nil, respectively.

 

The Company granted 140,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock to a management consulting service provider in exchange for its services to the Company for a 24-month period commencing on May 1, 2015. These shares were valued at US$3.93 per share, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the earlier of the performance commitment date or the date service was completed. Total compensation expense recognized for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately US$91,600 and US$22,900, respectively.

 

On June 14, 2015, under its 2015 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan, the Company granted its employees in the aggregate of 266,238 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock, which will be vested on the third anniversary of the date of the grant. These shares were valued at US$2.10 per share, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Company adopted a 5% forfeiture rate for recognition of the related compensation expenses of these unvested shares. Total compensation expenses recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was approximately US$87,720 for both periods. Total compensation expenses recognized for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was approximately US$44,100 for both periods.

 

On September 14, 2015, under its 2015 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan, the Company also granted 5-year common stock purchase options to its employees, in the aggregate, to purchase up to 477,240 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock at an exercise price of US$2.10 per share, of which 159,080 options vested upon the date of grant, 159,080 options vested on September 14, 2016 and the remaining 159,080 options vested on September 14, 2017. These options were valuated at US$1.03-US$1.39 per option. Total compensation expenses recognized for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately US$101,940 and US$51,250, respectively.

 

Options issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and their movements during the six months then ended are as follows:

 

 

   Option Outstanding  Option Exercisable
   Number of underlying shares  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  Number of underlying shares  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
                   
Balance, January 1, 2018   835,216    3.04   $2.49    835,216    3.04   $2.49 
Granted/Vested   -              -           
Forfeited   -              -           
Exercised   -              -           
Balance, June 30, 2018 (unaudited)   835,216    2.54   $2.49    835,216    2.54   $2.49 

 

32

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The table below summarized share-based compensation expenses recorded for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively:

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)  US$(’000)
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
             
Sales and marketing expenses   27    50    14    22 
General and administrative expenses   102    262    51    97 
Research and development expenses   22    36    11    18 
Total   151    348    76    137 

 

The aggregate unrecognized share-based compensation expenses as of June 30, 2018 and 2017 is approximately US$64,000 and US$294,000 respectively. All unrecognized share-based compensation expenses as of June 30, 2018 will be recognized for the year ending December 31, 2018.

 

28.Subsequent event

 

The Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there are no other events that are material to the financial statements except for those have discussed in below paragraphs.

 

In July 2018, in accordance with the amendment agreement signed between the Company and the noncontrolling interest holder of Chuang Fu Tian Xia (Note 15), the Company paid the noncontrolling interest holder of Chuang Fu Tian Xia RMB3.5 million (approximately US$0.53 million) in relation to the acquisition of the 49% equity interest in Chuang Fu Tian Xia.

 

As discussed in Note 8 above, in early August 2018, the Company received RMB3.0 million (approximately US$0.45 million) investment return from its investee company, ChinaNet Chuangtou, which had become dormant as of the date hereof.

 

 

33

Item 2 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this interim report. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or future strategies that are signified by the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” or similar language. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Our business and financial performance are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

Overview

 

We were incorporated in the State of Texas in April 2006 and re-domiciled to become a Nevada corporation in October 2006. On June 26, 2009, we consummated a share exchange transaction with China Net Online Media Group Limited (the “Share Exchange”), a company organized under the laws of British Virgin Islands (“China Net BVI”). As a result of the Share Exchange, China Net BVI became a wholly owned subsidiary of us and we are now a holding company, which, through certain contractual arrangements with operating entities in the PRC, is engaged in providing advertising, precision marketing, online to offline (O2O) sales channel expansion and the related data services to SMEs and entrepreneurial management and networking services for entrepreneurs in China.

 

Through our PRC operating subsidiaries and VIEs, we primarily operate a one-stop services for our clients on Omni-channel precision advertising and marketing system. Our Omni-channel precision advertising and marketing system, primarily consists of digital advertising and marketing portals, include internet and mobile, and our other non-digital advertising units, such as TV. We provide and monitor varieties of advertising and marketing campaigns through this service system which generates effective sales leads through the combination of the Internet, mobile, content and others, including TV and schemes, we also provide search engine marketing services through this system to maximize market exposure and effectiveness for our clients.

 

Basis of presentation, management estimates and critical accounting policies

 

Our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X, as promulgated by the SEC, and include the accounts of our Company, and all of our subsidiaries and VIEs. We prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities on the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the financial reporting period. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting policies require higher degrees of judgment than others in their application. In order to understand the significant accounting policies that we adopted for the preparation of our condensed consolidated interim financial statements, you should refer to the information set forth in Note 3 “Summary of significant accounting policies” to our audited financial statements in our 2017 Form 10-K. Please refer to Note 3 to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the discussion of the newly adopted revenue recognition accounting policy and the impact of other recently issued accounting pronouncements.

 

A.       RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX AND THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 AND 2017

 

The following table sets forth a summary, for the periods indicated, of our consolidated results of operations. Our historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period. All amounts, except number of shares and per share data, are presented in thousands of U.S. dollars.

 

34

   Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017  2018  2017
   US$  US$  US$  US$
   (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
             
Revenues                    
From unrelated parties  $30,780   $17,662   $22,520   $10,417 
From related parties   -    102    -    83 
Total revenues   30,780    17,764    22,520    10,500 
Cost of revenues   29,211    14,792    21,552    8,800 
Gross profit   1,569    2,972    968    1,700 
                     
Operating expenses                    
Sales and marketing expenses   844    1,659    280    825 
General and administrative expenses   2,867    2,084    1,478    992 
Research and development expenses   433    700    240    305 
Impairment on intangible assets   1,878    -    1,878    - 
Impairment on goodwill   5,412    -    5,412    - 
Total operating expenses   11,434    4,443    9,288    2,122 
                     
Loss from operations   (9,865)   (1,471)   (8,320)   (422)
                     
Other income (expenses)                    

Impairment on long-term investments

   (471)   

-

    

-

    

-

 
Interest expense, net   (19)   (36)   (9)   (19)
Other expenses   (28)   (206)   (6)   (203)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   948    -    (526)   - 
Total other expenses   

430

    (242)   (541)   (222)
                     
Loss before income tax expense and noncontrolling interests   (9,435)   (1,713)   (8,861)   (644)
Income tax expense   (689)   (113)   (693)   (113)
Net loss   (10,124)   (1,826)   (9,554)   (757)
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests   55    (50)   50    (32)
Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.  $(10,069)  $(1,876)  $(9,504)  $(789)

 

Revenues

 

The following tables set forth a breakdown of our total revenues, divided into five categories for the periods indicated, with inter-category transactions eliminated:

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
Revenue type  (Amounts expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
             
-Internet advertising and data service  $4,834    15.7%  $4,746    26.7%
-Search engine marketing and data service   25,848    84.0%   12,987    73.1%
-Technical and other services   7    -    31    0.2%
Internet advertising and related data services   30,689    99.7%   17,764    100%
TV advertising service   91    0.3%   -    - 
Total  $30,780    100%  $17,764    100%

 

35

   Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
Revenue type  (Amounts expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
             
-Internet advertising and data service  $3,115    13.8%  $2,454    23.4%
-Search engine marketing and data service   19,405    86.2%   8,015    76.3%
-Technical and other services   -    -    31    0.3%
Internet advertising and related data services   22,520    100%   10,500    100%
TV advertising service   -    -    -    - 
Total  $22,520    100%  $10,500    100%

 

Total Revenues: Our total revenues increased to US$30.8 million and US$22.5 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, from US$17.8 million and US$10.5 million for the same periods last year, respectively, which was primarily due to the increase in revenues from search engine marketing and data service during the periods.

 

We derive the majority of our advertising and data service revenues from providing search engine marketing (“SEM”) services, sale of advertising space on our internet portals and sales of effective sales lead information. The tables below summarize the revenues, cost of revenues, gross profit and net (loss)/income generated from each of our VIEs and subsidiaries for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, with inter-company transactions eliminated:

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Revenue from unrelated parties  Revenue from related parties  Total
   ($’000)  ($’000)  ($’000)
          
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   30,682    -    30,682 
Beijing CNET Online and subsidiaries   91    -    91 
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   7    -    7 
Total revenues   30,780    -    30,780 

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2018:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Revenue from unrelated parties  Revenue from related parties  Total
   ($’000)  ($’000)  ($’000)
          
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   22,520    -    22,520 
Total revenues   22,520    -    22,520 

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Cost of Revenues  Gross Profit
   ($’000)  ($’000)
       
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   29,173    1,509 
Beijing CNET Online and subsidiaries   38    53 
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   -    7 
Total   29,211    1,569 

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2018:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Cost of Revenues  Gross Profit
   ($’000)  ($’000)
       
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   21,552    968 
Total   21,552    968 

 

36

For the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Net (Loss)/Income
   ($’000)
    
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   (1,770)
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   (8,856)
Beijing CNET Online and subsidiaries   (5)
ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.   507 
Total net loss before allocation to the noncontrolling interest   (10,124)

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2018:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Net Loss
   ($’000)
    
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   (606)
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   (8,157)
Beijing CNET Online and subsidiaries   (26)
ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.   (765)
Total net loss before allocation to the noncontrolling interest   (9,554)

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Revenue from unrelated parties  Revenue from related parties  Total
   ($’000)  ($’000)  ($’000)
          
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   17,631    102    17,733 
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   31    -    31 
Total revenues   17,662    102    17,764 

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2017:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Revenue from unrelated parties  Revenue from related parties  Total
   ($’000)  ($’000)  ($’000)
          
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   10,386    83    10,469 
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   31    -    31 
Total revenues   10,417    83    10,500 

 

37

For the six months ended June 30, 2017:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Cost of Revenues  Gross Profit
   ($’000)  ($’000)
       
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   14,792    2,941 
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   -    31 
Total   14,792    2,972 

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2017:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Cost of Revenues  Gross Profit
   ($’000)  ($’000)
       
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   8,800    1,669 
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   -    31 
Total   8,800    1,700 

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Net Loss
   ($’000)
    
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   (949)
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   (470)
Beijing CNET Online and subsidiaries   (46)
ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.   (361)
Total net loss before allocation to the noncontrolling interest   (1,826)

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2017:

 

Name of subsidiary or VIE  Net Loss
   ($’000)
    
Rise King WFOE and subsidiaries   (448)
Business Opportunity Online and subsidiaries   (144)
Beijing CNET Online and subsidiaries   (18)
ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.   (147)
Total net loss before allocation to the noncontrolling interest   (757)

 

Management considers revenues generated from internet advertising and data service, SEM and data services as one aggregate business operation and relies upon the consolidated results of all the operations in this business unit to make decisions about allocating resources and evaluating performance.

 

lInternet advertising and data service revenues for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 were approximately US$4.83 million and US$3.12 million, respectively, compared with US$4.75 million and US$2.45 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively. Due to overall economy slowdown in China, which resulted in lower consumption and business spending, our clients continued tightening their advertising and marketing investment budget on omni-channel advertising and marketing, and focused more on singular ad, cheaper advertising channel, e.g. search engine marketing and data service, we experienced decline in revenues in this business category from fiscal 2017. In response, we increased our investment in cost consumption for lead generation and sponsored search to maintain the customers’ satisfaction. As a result, starting from this fiscal quarter, revenues of this business category began to slowly recover, revenues from this business category increased by approximately US$0.09 million and US$0.66 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared with the same period of last year, respectively. We intend to further optimize our cost control system, which aiming to help our clients to achieve more accurate advertising and marketing results with more acceptable and lower costs, and that will lead to increasing sales lead conversion rate, thereby increasing our recurring revenues in future periods.

 

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lRevenue generated from search engine marketing and data services for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 increased to approximately US$25.85 million and US$19.41 million, respectively, compared with US$12.99 million and US$8.02 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively. This enhanced third-party search engine marketing and data service is to help our clients select and prioritize effective key words from analyzed keywords database for different search engines, combinations of key-words or combinations of sentences to achieve higher sales lead conversion rate on both mobile and PC searches. As discussed in the above paragraph, due to the overall economy slowdown in China, our clients also tightened their advertising and marketing investment budget and turn to choose more economic and singular marketing channel with more direct feedback and results, e.g. search engine marketing and data service etc. Therefore, there was an increase in search engine market and data service during the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, compared with the same periods last year.

 

Cost of revenues

 

Our cost of revenues consisted of costs directly related to the offering of our advertising, marketing and data services. The following table sets forth our cost of revenues, divided into five categories, by amount and gross profit ratio for the periods indicated, with inter-category transactions eliminated:

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   (Amounts expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
   Revenue  Cost  GP ratio  Revenue  Cost  GP ratio
                   
-Internet advertising and data service  $4,834   $4,207    13%  $4,746   $2,573    46%
-Search engine marketing and data service   25,848    24,966    3%   12,987    12,219    6%
-Technical and other services   7    -    100%   31    -    100%
Internet advertising and related data services   30,689    29,173    5%   17,764    14,792    17%
TV advertising service   91    38    58%   -    -    - 
Total  $30,780   $29,211    5%  $17,764   $14,792    17%

 

   Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   (Amounts expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
   Revenue  Cost  GP ratio  Revenue  Cost  GP ratio
                   
-Internet advertising and data service  $3,115   $2,732    12%  $2,454   $1,395    43%
-Search engine marketing and data service   19,405    18,820    3%   8,015    7,405    8%
-Technical and other services   -    -    100%   31    -    100%
Internet advertising and related data services   22,520    21,552    4%   10,500    8,800    16%
TV advertising service   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total  $22,520   $21,552    4%  $10,500   $8,800    16%

 

Cost of revenues: Our total cost of revenues increased to US$29.21 million and US$21.55 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, from US$14.79 million and US$8.80 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively. Our cost of revenues primarily consists of internet resources purchased from key search engines and technical services providers related to lead generation, sponsored search, costs of TV advertising time purchased, and other direct costs associated with providing services. The increase in our total cost of revenues for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 was primarily due to the increase in costs associated with providing search engine marketing and data service, which was in line with the increase in the related revenues as discussed above.

 

lFor internet advertising and data service, cost of internet resources consumed for lead generation and sponsored search was the largest component of our cost of revenues, accounting for over 90% of our total internet advertising and data service cost of revenues. We purchased these internet resources from other well-known search engines and portal websites in China, such as: Baidu, Qihu 360 and Sohu (Sogou). For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, our total cost of revenues for internet advertising and data service was US$4.21 million and US$2.73 million, respectively, compared with US$2.57 million and US$1.40 million for the same periods last year, respectively. The gross margin rate of our internet advertising and data service revenues decreased to 13% and 12% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared with 46% and 43% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, respectively. The significant decrease in our gross margin rate of this business category was primarily due to that in order to retain customers under the intense market competition environment and maintain the customers’ satisfaction, we had to invest more aggressively in internet resources consumed for lead generation and sponsored search.

 

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lCosts for search engine marketing and data service was direct internet resource costs consumed for search engine marketing and data service provided to clients as described above. We normally charge our clients a service fee for this service on the certain percentage of the related direct cost consumed, which is normally 2%-10%. Gross margin rate of this service for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018 was approximately 3% for both periods, as compared with 6% and 8% for the same period of 2017, respectively. Decrease in gross profit margin of this business was primarily due to the strengthen of the overall market competition.

 

lCost for providing TV advertising services primarily consist of cost of TV advertising time slots purchased from TV stations.

 

Gross Profit

 

As a result of the foregoing, our gross profit was US$1.57 million and US$0.97 million, respectively, for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, compared with US$2.97 million and US$1.70 million, respectively, for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017. Our overall gross margin rate decreased to 5% and 4% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared with 17% and 16% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, respectively. The decrease in our overall gross margin rate were primarily due to (1) the increase in revenues from the relative lower margin search engine marketing and data service for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, compared with that in the same periods last year, which constituted approximately 84.0% and 86.2% of our total revenues for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared with 73.1% and 76.3% of the total revenues, respectively; (2) the decrease in gross margin rate of search engine marketing and data service in response to market competition, to 3% for both the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, from 6% and 8% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, respectively; and (3) the decrease in gross margin rate of internet advertising and data service in response to market competition, to 13% and 12% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, from 46% and 43% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, respectively.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Our operating expenses consist of sales and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses, impairment on intangible assets and impairment on goodwill. The following tables set forth our operating expenses, divided into their major categories by amount and as a percentage of our total revenues for the periods indicated.

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   (Amounts expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
   Amount  % of total revenue  Amount  % of total revenue
             
Total Revenues  $30,780    100%  $17,764    100%
Gross Profit   1,569    5%   2,972    17%
Sales and marketing expenses   844    3%   1,659    9%
General and administrative expenses   2,867    9%   2,084    12%
Research and development expenses   433    1%   700    4%
Impairment on intangible assets   1,878    6%   -    - 
Impairment on goodwill   5,412    18%   -    - 
Total operating expenses  $11,434    37%  $4,443    25%

 

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   Three Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   (Amounts expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
   Amount  % of total revenue  Amount  % of total revenue
             
Total Revenues  $22,520    100%  $10,500    100%
Gross Profit   968    4%   1,700    16%
Sales and marketing expenses   280    1%   825    8%
General and administrative expenses   1,478    7%   992    9%
Research and development expenses   240    1%   305    3%
Impairment on intangible assets   1,878    8%   -    - 
Impairment on goodwill   5,412    24%   -    - 
Total operating expenses  $9,288    41%  $2,122    20%

 

Operating Expenses: Our total operating expenses increased to US$11.43 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from US$4.44 million for the same period of 2017. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, our total operating expenses increased to US$9.29 million from US$2.12 million for the same period of 2017.

 

lSales and marketing expenses: Sales and marketing expenses decreased to US$0.84 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from US$1.66 million for the same period of 2017. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, sales and marketing expenses decreased to US$0.28 million from US$0.83 million for the same period of 2017. Our sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of advertising expenses for brand development that we pay to different media outlets for the promotion and marketing of our advertising web portals, other advertising and promotional expenses, staff salaries, staff benefits, performance bonuses, travelling expenses, communication expenses and other general office expenses of our sales department. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the change in our sales and marketing expenses was primarily due to the following reasons: the decrease in advertising expenses for brand development of approximately US$0.69 million; and (2) the decrease in general expenses of our sales department of approximately US$0.12 million due to cost reduction plan executed by management. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, the decrease in our sales and marketing expenses was primarily due to the decrease in advertising expenses for brand development of approximately US$0.57 million.

 

lGeneral and administrative expenses: General and administrative expenses increased to US$2.87 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from US$2.08 million for the same period in 2017. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, general and administrative expenses increased to US$1.48 million from US$0.99 million for the same period of 2017. Our general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits for management, accounting and administrative personnel, office rentals, depreciation and amortization, professional service fees, maintenance, utilities and other office expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the change in our general and administrative expenses was primarily due to the following reasons: (1) the decrease in general administrative expenses, such as: professional service expenses, salary and benefit expenses and other general office expenses of approximately US$0.04 million; and (2) the net effect of increase in allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately US$0.82 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, the increase in our general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increase in allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately US$0.31 million.

 

lResearch and development expenses: Research and development expenses were US$0.43 million and US$0.24 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared with US$0.70 million and US$0.31 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, respectively. Our research and development expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits for the research and development staff, equipment depreciation expenses, and office utilities and supplies allocated to our research and development department. The decrease in research and development expenses for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, compared with that in the same periods last year, were primarily due to the decrease in headcount of our research and development department.

 

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lImpairment on intangible assets: For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, we recognized an approximately US$1.88 million impairment loss on intangible assets, as these intangible assets are not expected to be able to generate economic benefit for the Company in future periods.

 

lImpairment on goodwill: Due to decrease in overall gross profit margin and continued operating losses incurred from our internet advertising and data services reporting unit, we performed interim goodwill impairment test as of June 30, 2018. As a result, for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, we recognized an approximately US$5.41 million impairment loss on goodwill, by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value.

Loss from operations: As a result of the foregoing, we incurred a loss from operations of approximately US$9.87 million and US$1.47 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We incurred a loss from operations of approximately US$8.32 million and US$0.42 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

Impairment on long-term investments: we recognized an approximately US$0.47 million other-than temporary impairment on our long-term investment to ChinaNet Chuang Tou for the six months ended June 30, 2018, representing the amount we expected not recoverable upon termination of the company later this year.

Interest expense, net: For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, interest income were immaterial. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, we earned approximately US$0.04 million and US$0.02 million of interest income, respectively, which was primarily contributed from the approximately US$3 million term deposit we placed in one of the major financial institutions in the PRC, which matured in July 2017. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, interest expense of approximately US$0.02 million and US$0.01 million, respectively, were primarily related to the short-term bank loan we borrowed from major financial institutions in the PRC to supplement our short-term working capital needs. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, interest expense of approximately US$0.08 million and US$0.04 million, respectively, were primarily related to the short-term bank loan we borrowed from major financial institutions in the PRC to supplement our short-term working capital needs and amounts due from investors related to terminated security purchase agreements as discussed in Note 16.

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities: we issued warrants in our Financing consummated in January 2018, which we determined that should be accounted for as derivative liabilities, as the warrants are dominated in a currency (U.S. dollar) other than our functional currency (Renminbi or Yuan). As a result, a gain of change in fair value of approximately US$0.95 million and a loss of change in fair value of approximately US$0.53 million was recorded in earnings for the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.

Loss before income tax expense and noncontrolling interests: As a result of the foregoing, our loss before income tax expense and noncontrolling interest was approximately US$9.44 million and US$1.71 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our loss before income tax expense and noncontrolling interest was approximately US$8.86 million and US$0.64 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Income Tax expense: For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, we recognized a deferred income tax expense of approximately US$0.69 million for both periods, which was primarily related to the additional deferred tax assets valuation allowance provided during the periods. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, we recognized a deferred income tax expense of approximately US$0.11 million for both periods, which was primarily related to utilizing deferred tax assets recognized in previous years due to earnings generated during the periods.

 

Net loss: As a result of the foregoing, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we incurred a total net loss of approximately US$10.12 million and US$1.83 million, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we incurred a total net loss of approximately US$9.55 million and US$0.76 million, respectively.

 

Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests: Beijing Chuang Fu Tian Xia was 51% owned by Business Opportunity Online upon incorporation until the Company purchased the remaining 49% equity interest of it in May 2018. In May 2018, the Company incorporated a new majority-owned subsidiary, Business Opportunity Chain and beneficially owned 51% equity interest in it. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2018, net loss allocated to the noncontrolling interest of Beijing Chuang Fu Tian Xia before it became the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary and the noncontrolling interest of Business Opportunity Chain was approximately US$0.06 million and US$0.05 million, in the aggregate, respectively. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2017, net income allocated to the noncontrolling interests of Beijing Chuang Fu Tian Xia was approximately US$0.05 million and US$0.03 million, respectively.

 

Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.: Total net loss as adjusted by net loss/income attributable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders as discussed above yields the net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. was US$10.07 million and US$1.88 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. was US$9.50 million and US$0.79 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

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B.       LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand and deposits held at call with banks. We consider all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of June 30, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately US$5.1 million.

 

Our liquidity needs include (i) net cash used in operating activities that consists of (a) cash required to fund the initial build-out, continued expansion of our network and new services and (b) our working capital needs, which include deposits and advance payments to internet resource and technical services providers, payment of our operating expenses and financing of our accounts receivable; and (ii) net cash used in investing activities that consist of the payment for acquisitions to further expand our business and client base, investment in new blockchain technology based applications, investment in software technologies to enhance the functionality of the management tools for providing our advertising, marketing and data services and to secure the safety of our general network, and investment in other general office equipment. To date, we have financed our liquidity need primarily through proceeds from financing activities we generated. Our existing cash is adequate to fund operations for the next twelve months from the issuance date of this filing.

 

The following table provides detailed information about our net cash flow for the periods indicated:

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,
   2018  2017
   Amounts in thousands of US dollars
       
Net cash used in operating activities   (4,321)   (1,273)
Net cash used in investing activities   (2,825)   (2)
Net cash provided by financing activities   9,306    - 
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash   (26)   56 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  $2,134   $(1,219)

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, our net cash used in operating activities of approximately US$4.32 million were primarily attributable to:

 

(1)net loss excluding approximately US$0.43 million of non-cash expenses of depreciation and amortizations; approximately US$0.15 million share-based compensation; approximately US$0.79 million allowance for doubtful accounts; approximately US$0.47 million impairment on long-term investments; approximately US$1.88 million impairment on intangible assets; approximately US$5.41 million impairment on goodwill; approximately US$0.95 million gain from change in fair value of warrant liabilities and approximately US$0.69 million deferred tax expense, yielded the non-cash items excluded net loss of approximately US$1.25 million.;

 

(2)the receipt of cash from operations from changes in operating assets and liabilities such as:

 

-deposit and prepayment to suppliers decreased by approximately US$1.50 million, primarily due to utilize the prepayments made in previous period and refund of contract deposit due to expiration/termination of supplier contracts.

 

(3)offset by the use from operations from changes in operating assets and liabilities such as:

 

-accounts receivable and due from related parties for advertising services provided increased by approximately US$0.24 million, primarily due to increase in search engine marketing and data service revenues during the period;

 

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-accounts payable decreased by approximately US$1.40 million, due to subsequent settlement with the major suppliers during the period, which payments were temporarily delayed due to working capital deficit we suffered before our financing in January 2018;

 

-advance from customers decreased by approximately US$2.20 million, primarily due to recognizing revenues from beginning contract liabilities during the period;

 

-accruals and other payables decreased by approximately US$0.65 million, due to settlement of these operational liabilities after the financing in January 2018;

 

-other receivables increased by approximately US$0.02 million; and

 

-taxes payable decreased by approximately US$0.08 million.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, our net cash used in operating activities of approximately US$1.27 million were primarily attributable to:

 

(1)net loss excluding approximately US$0.71 million of non-cash expenses of depreciation and amortizations; approximately US$0.35 million share-based compensation; approximately US$0.03 million reversal of allowance for doubtful accounts and approximately US$0.11 million deferred income tax expense, yielded the non-cash items excluded net loss of approximately US$0.69 million;

 

(2)the receipt of cash from operations from changes in operating assets and liabilities such as:

 

-prepayment and deposit to suppliers decreased by approximately US$0.14 million, primarily due to refund of the deposits related to contracts expired during the period;

 

-advance from customers increased by approximately US$1.05 million, primarily due to increase in advanced payments received from customers related to search engine marketing and data service; and

 

-accounts payable, other payables and taxes payable in the aggregate increased by approximately US$0.15 million.

 

(3)offset by the use from operations from changes in operating assets and liabilities such as:

 

-accounts receivable and due from related parties increased by approximately US$1.68 million, primarily due to increase in search engine marketing and data service revenues during the period;

 

-accruals decreased by approximately US$0.23 million, primarily due to settlement of the professional services fees during the period; and;

 

-other receivables increased by US$0.02 million.

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, our cash used in investing activities included the following transactions: (1) we paid approximately US$6 thousand for the purchase of general office equipment; (2) we lent an unrelated party short-term loan of approximately US$2.0 million during the first fiscal quarter of 2018 and another unrelated entity short-term loan of approximately US$0.11 million during the second fiscal quarter of 2018; (3) we collected the approximately US$2.67 million short-term loan lent to an unrelated entity in the third quarter of 2017, and in the second fiscal quarter of 2018, we also collected the approximately US$2.0 million short-term loan lent during the first fiscal quarter of 2018; (4) we paid approximately US$1.18 million for the acquisition of the 49% noncontrolling interest in a majority-owned subsidiary of ours; and (5) we prepaid US$3.38 million and US$0.38 million for the development of certain blockchain technology based applications and a social network (WeChat) based marketing campaign application, respectively, and paid approximately US$0.45 million to settle the remaining balance of an intangible assets purchased in the four fiscal quarter of 2016. In the aggregate, these transactions resulted in a net cash outflow from investing activities of approximately US$2.83 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we spent approximately US$2 thousand for the purchase of general office equipment.

 

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Net cash provided by financing activities

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, (1) we consummated a registered direct offering of 2,150,001 shares of our common stock to certain institutional investors at a purchase price of $5.15 per share. As part of the transaction, we also issued to the investors warrants for the purchase of up to 645,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $6.60 per share. We received net proceeds of approximately $10.26 million, after deduction of approximately US$0.81 million direct financing cost paid in cash; and (2) Due to termination of security purchase agreements in May 2016, we repaid our previous investors of approximately US$0.96 million guarantee payment and prepayment received upon entering the agreements during the period. In the aggregate, these transactions resulted in a net cash inflow from financing activities of approximately US$9.31 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, there was no cash provided by or used in financing activities.

 

Restricted Net Assets

 

As most of our operations are conducted through our PRC subsidiary and VIEs, our ability to pay dividends is primarily dependent on receiving distributions of funds from our PRC subsidiary and VIEs. Relevant PRC statutory laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by our PRC subsidiary and VIEs only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations and after it has met the PRC requirements for appropriation to statutory reserves. Paid in capital of the PRC subsidiary and VIEs included in our consolidated net assets are also not distributable for dividend purposes.

 

In accordance with the PRC regulations on Enterprises with Foreign Investment, a WFOE established in the PRC is required to provide certain statutory reserves, namely general reserve fund, the enterprise expansion fund and staff welfare and bonus fund which are appropriated from net profit as reported in the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A WFOE is required to allocate at least 10% of its annual after-tax profit to the general reserve until such reserve has reached 50% of its registered capital based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff welfare and bonus fund are at the discretion of the board of directors. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends. Rise King WFOE is subject to the above mandated restrictions on distributable profits. Additionally, in accordance with the Company Law of the PRC, a domestic enterprise is required to provide a statutory common reserve of at least 10% of its annual after-tax profit until such reserve has reached 50% of its registered capital based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A domestic enterprise is also required to provide for a discretionary surplus reserve, at the discretion of the board of directors. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends. All of our PRC VIEs are subject to the above mandated restrictions on distributable profits.

 

As a result of these PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiary and VIEs are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to us. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, net assets restricted in the aggregate, which includes paid-in capital and statutory reserve funds of our PRC subsidiary and VIEs that are included in our consolidated net assets, was approximately US$12.0 million and US$8.3 million, respectively.

 

The current PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law also imposed a 10% withholding income tax for dividends distributed by a foreign invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside China. A lower withholding tax rate will be applied if there is a tax treaty arrangement between mainland China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. Holding companies in Hong Kong, for example, will be subject to a 5% rate.

 

The ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make dividends and other payments to us may also be restricted by changes in applicable foreign exchange and other laws and regulations.

 

Foreign currency exchange regulation in China is primarily governed by the following rules:

 

lForeign Exchange Administration Rules (1996), as amended in August 2008, or the Exchange Rules;
lAdministration Rules of the Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange (1996), or the Administration Rules.

 

Currently, under the Administration Rules, Renminbi is freely convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest payments, trade and service related foreign exchange transactions, but not for capital account items, such as direct investments, loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside of China, unless the prior approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (the “SAFE”) is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made. Foreign-invested enterprises like Rise King WFOE that need foreign exchange for the distribution of profits to its shareholders may effect payment from their foreign exchange accounts or purchase and pay foreign exchange rates at the designated foreign exchange banks to their foreign shareholders by producing board resolutions for such profit distribution. Based on their needs, foreign-invested enterprises are permitted to open foreign exchange settlement accounts for current account receipts and payments of foreign exchange along with specialized accounts for capital account receipts and payments of foreign exchange at certain designated foreign exchange banks.

 

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Although the current Exchange Rules allow the convertibility of Chinese Renminbi into foreign currency for current account items, conversion of Chinese Renminbi into foreign exchange for capital items, such as foreign direct investment, loans or securities, requires the approval of SAFE, which is under the authority of the People’s Bank of China. These approvals, however, do not guarantee the availability of foreign currency conversion. We cannot be sure that it will be able to obtain all required conversion approvals for our operations or the Chinese regulatory authorities will not impose greater restrictions on the convertibility of Chinese Renminbi in the future. Currently, most of our retained earnings are generated in Renminbi. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use retained earnings generated in Renminbi to make dividends or other payments in U.S. dollars or fund possible business activities outside China.

 

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were approximately US$nil and US$9.2 million retained earnings in the aggregate, respectively, which were generated by our PRC subsidiary and VIEs in Renminbi included in our consolidated net assets, aside from US$2.6 million of statutory reserve funds as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, that may be affected by increased restrictions on currency exchanges in the future, and accordingly, may further limit our PRC subsidiary’s or VIEs’ ability to make dividends or other payments in U.S. dollars to us, in addition to the approximately US$12.0 million and US$8.3 million of restricted net assets as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as discussed above.

 

C.       OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

None.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal accounting and financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2018, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that during the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of 2018 covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

We are currently not a party to any legal or administrative proceedings and are not aware of any pending or threatened legal or administrative proceedings against us in all material aspects. We may from time to time become a party to various legal or administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

This information has been omitted based on the Company’s status as a smaller reporting company.

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

None.

 

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures

 

None.

 

Item 5.  Other Information

 

None.

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits

 

The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index below are provided as part of this report.

 

Exhibit No.   Document Description
31.1   Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
31.2   Certification of the Principal Accounting and Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.1   Certification of the Principal Executive Officer and of the Principal Accounting and Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
     
101   Interactive Data Files

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

     
  CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
     
Date: August 17, 2018 By:   /s/ Handong Cheng
 

Name: Handong Cheng

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

   

 

By:  

/s/ Zhige Zhang

  Name: Zhige Zhang
 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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