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ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. - Quarter Report: 2010 September (Form 10-Q)

Unassociated Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended     September 30, 2010

or

o 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:  000-52672

ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 Nevada
 90-0617940
 (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)

+86-10-51600828
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
  
(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 x No o

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 o No o
*The registrant has not yet been phased into the Interactive Data requirements.

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

Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o  Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) o  Smaller reporting company  x

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

As of November 12, 2010 the registrant had 17,078,720 shares of common stock outstanding.

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
PAGE
     
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1. Financial Statements
 
     
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
1-2
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
3-4
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
5-6
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
7-37
     
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
38-61
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
62
   
Item 4(T). Controls and Procedures
62
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
63
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors
63
   
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
63
     
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
63
   
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
63
     
Item 5. Other Information
63
     
Item 6. Exhibits
63
     
Signatures
64

 
 

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 22,241     $ 13,917  
Accounts receivable, net
    4,455       3,173  
Other receivables
    2,856       2,636  
Prepayment and deposit to suppliers
    4,221       4,111  
Due from related parties
    214       492  
Inventories
    2       2  
Other current assets
    174       30  
Total current assets
    34,163       24,361  
                 
Property and equipment, net
    1,518       1,355  
Intangible assets, net
    59       -  
Other long-term assets
    31       48  
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 35,771     $ 25,764  
                 
Liabilities and Equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 374     $ 290  
Advances from customers
    1,009       914  
Other payables
    22       27  
Accrued payroll and other accruals
    298       191  
Due to related parties
    -       24  
Due to Control Group
    416       1,142  
Due to director
    389       -  
Taxes payable
    2,010       1,978  
Dividends payable
    380       373  
Total current liabilities
    4,898       4,939  
                 
Long-term borrowing from director
    131       128  
Warrant liabilities
    -       9,564  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
    -       -  

 
1

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
(In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Equity:
           
Series A convertible preferred stock (US$0.001 par value; authorized-8,000,000 shares;  issued and outstanding-2,918,600  and 4,121,600 shares at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 respectively; aggregate liquidation preference amount: $7,677 and $10,677, accrued but unpaid dividends of $380 and $373, at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
    3       4  
Common stock (US$0.001 par value; authorized-50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding-17,061,320 shares and 15,828,320 shares at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 respectively)
    17         16  
Additional paid-in capital
    18,454       10,574  
Statutory reserves
    372       372  
Retained earnings
    11,320       50  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    559       117  
Total ChinaNet’s Online Holdings, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity
    30,725       11,133  
Noncontrolling interest
    17       -  
Total equity
    30,742       11,133  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
  $ 35,771     $ 25,764  
 
See notes to the consolidated financial statements

 
2

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)

   
For the nine months
ended September 30,
   
For the three months
ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
                         
Sales
                       
To unrelated parties
  $ 30,304     $ 25,320     $ 8,631     $ 7,604  
To related parties
    872       1,985       265       522  
      31,176       27,305       8,896       8,126  
Cost of sales
    15,791       15,918       3,110       4,029  
Gross margin
    15,385       11,387       5,786       4,097  
                                 
Operating expenses
                               
Selling expenses
    2,187       3,253       851       624  
General and administrative expenses
    2,410       1,530       815       614  
Research and development expenses
    605       347       276       133  
      5,202       5,130       1,942       1,371  
                                 
Income from operations
    10,183       6,257       3,844       2,726  
                                 
Other income (expenses):
                               
Changes in fair value of warrants
    1,861       (1,289 )     -       (1,289 )
Interest income
    8       9       4       4  
Other income
    8       8       4       2  
Other expenses
    (1 )     (100 )     0       (99 )
      1,876       (1,372 )     8       (1,382 )
                                 
Income before income tax expense and noncontrolling interest
    12,059       4,885       3,852       1,344  
Income tax expense
    304       1,653       25       696  
Net income
    11,755       3,232       3,827       648  
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    127       -       50       -  
Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
    11,882       3,232       3,877       648  
                                 
Other comprehensive income
                               
Foreign currency translation gain
    442       13       365       8  
Comprehensive income
  $ 12,197     $ 3,245     $ 4,192     $ 656  

 
3

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME CONTINUED
(In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)

   
For the nine months
ended September 30,
   
For the three months
ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
                         
Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
  $ 11,882     $ 3,232     $ 3,877     $ 648  
Beneficial conversion feature of Series A convertible preferred stock
    -       (5,898 )     -       (5,898 )
Dividend of Series A convertible preferred stock
    (612 )     -       (190 )     -  
                                 
Net income attributable to common shareholders of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
  $ 11,270     $ (2,666 )   $ 3,687     $ (5,250 )
                                 
Earnings  per share
                               
Earnings per common share
                               
Basic
  $ 0.68     $  (0.18 )   $ 0.22     $  (0.33 )
Diluted
  $ 0.57     $  (0.18 )   $ 0.19     $  (0.33 )
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    16,676,752       14,495,560       16,939,961       15,774,300  
Diluted
    20,905,796       14,495,560       20,916,463       15,774,300  
                                 
Comprehensive Income
                               
Net income
    11,755       3,232       3,827       648  
Foreign currency translation gain
    442       13       365       8  
      12,197       3,245       4,192       656  
Comprehensive Income
                               
Comprehensive income / (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (127 )     -       (50 )     -  
Comprehensive income attributable to ChinaNet’s Online Holdings, Inc.
    12,324       3,245       4,242       656  
      12,197       3,245       4,192       656  
 
See notes to the consolidated financial statements

 
4

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

   
For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
             
Cash flows from operating activities
           
Net income
  $ 11,755     $ 3,232  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
               
Depreciation and amortization
    275       134  
Share-based compensation expenses
    177       190  
Changes in fair value of warrants
    (1,861 )     1,289  
Disposal of fixed assets
    -       19  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
               
Accounts receivable
    (1,195 )     (1,445 )
Other receivables
    2,095       (166 )
Prepayments and deposit to suppliers
    (24 )     9  
Due from related parties
    283       (154 )
Other current assets
    (141 )     33  
Accounts payable
    77       117  
Advances from customers
    76       361  
Accrued payroll and other accruals
    104       134  
Due to related parties
    (24 )     (327 )
Due to director
    389       -  
Due to Control Group
    (738 )     33  
Other payables
    (5 )     -  
Taxes payable
    (8 )     1,275  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    11,235       4,734  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities
               
Purchases of vehicles and office equipment
    (385 )     (310 )
Purchases of intangible assets
    (59 )     -  
Purchases of other long-term assets
    (4 )     (38 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (448 )     (348 )

 
5

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(In thousands)

   
For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
             
Cash flows from financing activities
           
Cash investment contributed by noncontrolling interest
    144       -  
Dividend paid to convertible preferred stockholders
    (605 )     -  
Increase of short-term loan to third parties
    (2,257 )     (2,024 )
Decrease of short-term loan from directors
    -       (13 )
Cancellation and retirement of common stock
    -       (300 )
Proceeds from issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock and warrants (net of issuance cost of US$ 1,142)
    -       9,162  
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
    (2,718 )     6,825  
                 
Effect of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents
    255       10  
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    8,324       11,221  
                 
  Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    13,917       2,679  
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 22,241     $ 13,900  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
               
                 
  Interest paid
  $ -     $   -  
  Income tax paid
  $ 1,242     $    900  
                 
Non-cash transactions:
               
                 
Warrant  liability reclassify to additional paid in capital
  $   7,703     $   -  
 
See notes to the consolidated financial statements

 
6

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.
Organization and principal activities

ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Emazing Interactive, Inc.), (the “Company”), was incorporated in the State of Texas in April 2006 and re-domiciled to become a Nevada corporation in October 2006. From the date of the Company’s incorporation until June 26, 2009, when the Company consummated the Share Exchange, the Company’s activities were primarily concentrated in web server access and company branding in hosting web based e-games.

On June 26, 2009, the Company entered into a Share Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”), with (i) China Net Online Media Group Limited, a company organized under the laws of British Virgin Islands (“China Net BVI”), (ii) China Net BVI’s shareholders, Allglad Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Allglad”), Growgain Limited, a British Virgin Islands company ("Growgain"), Rise King Investments Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Rise King BVI”), Star (China) Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Star”), Surplus Elegant Investment Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Surplus”), Clear Jolly Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Clear” and together with Allglad, Growgain, Rise King BVI, Star and Surplus, the “China Net BVI Shareholders”), who together owned shares constituting 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of China Net BVI (the “China Net BVI Shares”) and (iii) G. Edward Hancock, the principal stockholder of the Company at that time. Pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement, the China Net BVI Shareholders transferred to the Company all of the China Net BVI Shares in exchange for the issuance of 13,790,800  shares (the “Exchange Shares”) of the Company’s common stock (the “Share Exchange”). 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”), which engages in providing advertising, marketing and communication services to small and medium companies in China through www.28.com (the portal website of the Company’s PRC Variable Interest Entity), TV media and bank kiosks.

The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, China Net BVI was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on August 13, 2007. On April 11, 2008, China Net BVI became the parent holding company of a group of companies comprised of CNET Online Technology Limited, a Hong Kong company (“China Net HK”), which established and is the parent company of Rise King Century Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (“WFOE”) established in the PRC (“Rise King WFOE”). The Company refers to the transactions that resulted in China Net BVI becoming an indirect parent company of Rise King WFOE as the “Offshore Restructuring.” Through a series of contractual agreements, the Company operates its business in China primarily through Business Opportunity Online (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Business Opportunity Online”), Beijing CNET Online Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Beijing CNET Online”). Beijing CNET Online owns 51% of Shanghai Borongdingsi Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Borongdingsi”). Business Opportunity Online, Beijing CNET Online and Shanghai Borongdingsi, were incorporated on December 8, 2004, January 27, 2003 and August 3, 2005, respectively. From time to time, we refer to them collectively as the “PRC Operating Entities.”

 
7

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Shanghai Borongdingsi is 51% owned by Beijing CNET Online. Beijing CNET Online and Shanghai Borongdingsi entered into a cooperation agreement in June 2008, followed up with a supplementary agreement in December 2008, to conduct bank kiosk advertisement business. The business is based on a bank kiosk cooperation agreement between Shanghai Borongdingsi and Henan provincial branch of China Construction Bank which allows Shanghai Borongdingsi or its designated party to conduct in-door advertisement business within the business outlets throughout Henan Province. The bank kiosk cooperation agreement has a term of eight years starting August 2008. However, Shanghai Borongdingsi was not able to conduct the advertisement as a stand-alone business due to the lack of an advertisement business license and supporting financial resources. Pursuant to the aforementioned cooperation agreements, Beijing CNET Online committed to purchase equipment, and to provide working capital, technical and other related support to Shanghai Borongdingsi. Beijing CNET Online owns the equipment used in the kiosk business, is entitled to sign contracts in its name on behalf of the business, and holds the right to collect the advertisement revenue generated from the bank kiosk business exclusively until the recovery of the cost of purchase of the equipment. Thereafter, Beijing CNET Online has agreed to distribute 49% of the succeeding net profit generated from the bank kiosk advertising business, if any, to the minority shareholders of Shanghai Borongdingsi.

On June 24, 2010, one of the Company’s subsidiaries, Business Opportunity Online (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Business Opportunity Online”), together with three other individuals, who were not affiliated with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”), established a new company, Shenzhen City Mingshan Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shenzhen Mingshan”). Shenzhen Mingshan is 51% owned by Business Opportunity Online and 49% owned by the other three individuals.  Shenzhen Mingshan is located in Shenzhen City, Guangdong province of PRC and is primarily engaged in designing, developing and selling internet based software, developing online games, designing and developing the related websites and providing the related internet and information technology services necessary to operate such games and websites. As of September 30, 2010, Business Opportunity Online has invested approximately RMB 4,000,000 (approximately US$587,000) in Shenzhen Mingshan.  Shenzhen Mingshan is currently in the start-up stage.
 
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies
 
a)       Change of reporting entity and basis of presentation

As a result of the Share Exchange on June 26, 2009, the former China Net BVI shareholders became owners of a majority of the common stock of the Company.  The transaction was regarded as a reverse acquisition whereby China Net BVI was considered to be the accounting acquirer as its shareholders retained control of the Company after the Share Exchange, although the Company is the legal parent company.  The share exchange was treated as a recapitalization of the Company.  As such, China Net BVI (and its historical financial statements) is the continuing entity for financial reporting purposes. Pursuant to the terms of the Share Exchange, Emazing Interactive, Inc. was delivered with zero assets and zero liabilities at time of closing. Following the Share Exchange, the company changed its name from Emazing Interactive, Inc. to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. The financial statements have been prepared as if China Net BVI had always been the reporting company and then on the share exchange date, had changed its name and reorganized its capital stock.
 
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, and its subsidiaries and VIEs, China Net BVI, China Net HK, Rise King WFOE, Beijing CNET Online and Business Opportunity Online and Shenzhen Mingshan.  According to the agreements between Beijing CNET Online and Shanghai Borongdingsi, although Beijing CNET Online legally owns 51% of Shanghai Borongdingsi’s interests, Beijing CNET Online only controls the assets and liabilities related to the bank kiosk business, which has been included in the financial statements of Beijing CNET Online, but does not control the other assets of Shanghai Borongdingsi, thus, Shanghai Borongdingsi’s financial statements were not consolidated by the Company.

 
8

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for annual financial statements. However, management believes that the disclosures are adequate to ensure the information presented is not misleading.
 
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring entries, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2010. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not indicative of the operating results to be expected for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.
 
b)       Principles of Consolidation
 
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of all the subsidiaries and VIEs of the Company. All transactions 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases these estimates on historical experiences and the best information available at the time the estimates are made; however, actual results could differ from those estimates. US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, contingencies and results of operations. While management has based their assumptions and estimates on the facts and circumstances existing as of September 30, 2010, final amounts may differ from these estimates.
 
d)       Foreign currency translation and transactions
 
The functional currency of the Company is United States dollars (“US$”), and the functional currency of China Net HK is Hong Kong dollars (“HK$”).  The functional currency of the Company’s PRC operating entities is Renminbi (“RMB”), and PRC is the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.

 
9

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
For financial reporting purposes, the financial statements of the Company’s PRC operating entities, which are prepared using the RMB, are translated into the Company’s reporting currency, the US$. Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date.  Revenue and expenses are translated using average rates prevailing during each reporting period, and stockholders’ equity is translated at historical exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from the translation are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.
 
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.  The resulting exchange differences are included in the determination of net income of the consolidated financial statements for the respective periods.
 
The exchange rates used to translate amounts in RMB into US$ for the purposes of preparing the consolidated financial statements are as follows:

   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
             
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts
    6.6981       6.8372  
 
   
Nine months ended
September 30,
   
Three months ended
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Items in the statements of income and comprehensive income, and the statements of cash flows
    6.8164       6.8425       6.7803       6.8411  
 
No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be converted into US$ at the above rates.
 
e)       Cash and cash equivalents
 
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and bank deposits, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use.  The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

 
10

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
f)       Accounts receivable, net
 
Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value consisting of the carrying amount less an allowance for uncollectible accounts as needed. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on aging data, historical collection experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.  The Company did not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure relating to its customers, suppliers or others.
 
g)       Inventories
 
Inventories, consisting mainly of low value consumable articles are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Inventories are charged to expense when being withdrawn.
 
h)       Property and equipment, net
 
Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method after taking into account their respective estimated residual values over the following estimated useful lives:

Vehicles
 
5 years
Office equipment
 
3-10 years
Electronic devices
 
5 years
 
Depreciation expenses are included in selling expenses, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses.
 
When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, resulting gain or loss is included in net income or loss in the year of disposition for the difference between the net book value and proceeds received thereon.  Maintenance and repairs which do not improve or extend the expected useful lives of the assets are charged to expenses as incurred.
 
i)        Intangible assets, net
 
Purchased software is initially recorded at costs and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful economic life of 3 years.
 
j)        Impairment of long-lived assets
 
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset.  If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value. There were no impairment losses incurred for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

 
11

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
k)       Fair Value

Accounting Standard Codification™ (“ASC”) Topic 820 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This topic also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires classification based on observable and unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 
Level 1 -
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 -
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 -
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Determining which category an asset or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment. The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each quarter.

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, prepayments, payables and other liabilities approximate fair values due to their short maturities.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are summarized as follows:

   
Fair value measurement using inputs
       
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Carrying amount as of
December 31, 2009
 
Financial instruments
 
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
                         
Warrant liabilities
    -       9,564       -       9,564  

Due to lack of the liquidity of the Company’s underlying stock and other factors, the Company estimated the fair value of the warrant liabilities based upon observable inputs such as quoted prices for similar securities, quoted price in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable to determine the fair value of the warrant liabilities.

Warrant liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2009 was related to the investor and placement agent warrants that were issued as a result of the Company’s August 2009 Financing contained a “Down-round protection provision” whereby for a period of twelve (12) months following December 31, 2009 (the effective date of the Registration Statement) in the event the Company issued any additional shares of Common Stock or securities exercisable, convertible or exchangeable for Common Stock at a price per share less than the exercise price then in effect or without consideration.  As described in Note 17 and according to ASC Topic 815, subtopic 40, the “Down-round protection” provision is not considered to be an input to the fair value of a fixed-for-fixed option on equity shares which lead to the Warrants to fail to be qualified as indexed to the Company’s own stock and then fail to meet the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815. Therefore, the Company accounted for the Warrants as derivative liabilities under ASC Topic 815.  Pursuant to ASC Topic 815, derivative should be measured at fair value and re-measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings at each reporting period.

 
12

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

On March 29, 2010, the Company and the holders of the Warrants entered into agreements to amend certain provisions of the Warrants. The amendment to the investor and placement agent warrants removes the “Down-round protection” rights that were applicable if the Company were to issue new shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the Warrants.  In addition, the amendment to the warrants added a provision to grant the holders of a majority of the warrants an approval right until December 31, 2010, over any new issuance of shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the warrants.

As a result of this amendment, the Warrants issued in the August 2009 financing were qualified as indexed to the Company’s own stock and then met the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815, and were eligible to be reclassified as equity.  In accordance to ASC Topic 815, the classification of a contract should be reassessed at each balance sheet date. If the classification required under this ASC changes as a result of events during the period, the contract should be reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification.  If a contract is reclassified from an asset or a liability to equity, gains or losses recorded to account for the contract at fair value during the period that the contract was classified as an asset or a liability should not be reversed.  Therefore, the Company re-measured the fair value of the Warrants as of March 29, 2010, the date of the event that caused the classification, which was approximately US$ 7,703,000 and reclassified the amount to equity as additional paid-in capital.  The gain of the changes in fair value during the period that the Warrants were classified as a derivative liability, which was approximately US$ 1,861,000 was recorded in earnings for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010.

There was no asset or liability measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of September 30, 2010.
 
l)        Revenue recognition
 
The Company's revenue recognition policies are in compliance with ASC Topic 605 “Revenue Recognition”. In accordance with ASC Topic 605, revenues are recognized when the four of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the service has been rendered, (iii) the fees are fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
 
Sales
 
Sales include revenues from reselling of advertising time purchased from TV stations and internet advertising, reselling of internet advertising spaces and other advertisement related resources. No revenue from advertising-for-advertising barter transactions was recognized because the transactions did not meet the criteria for recognition in ASC Topic 605, subtopic 20.  Advertising contracts establish the fixed price and advertising services to be provided.  Pursuant to advertising contracts, the Company provides advertisement placements in different formats, including but not limited to banners, links, logos, buttons, rich media and content integration. Revenue is recognized ratably over the period the advertising is provided and, as such, the Company considers the services to have been delivered. The Company treats all elements of advertising contracts as a single unit of accounting for revenue recognition purposes.  Based upon the Company’s credit assessments of its customers prior to entering into contracts, the Company determines if collectability is reasonably assured.  In situations where collectability is not deemed to be reasonably assured, the Company recognizes revenue upon receipt of cash from customers, only after services have been provided and all other criteria for revenue recognition have been met.

 
13

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
m)      Cost of sales
 
Cost of sales primarily includes the cost of media advertising time, internet advertisement related resources and other technical services purchased from third parties, labor cost and benefits and PRC business tax.
 
n)       Advertising costs
 
Advertising costs for the Company’s own brand building are not includable in cost of sales, they are expensed when incurred and are included in “selling expenses” in the statement of income and comprehensive income. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, advertising expenses for the Company’s own brand building were approximately US$1,534,000 and US$2,330,000, respectively. For the three month period ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, advertising expenses for the Company’s own brand building were approximately US$585,000 and US$353,000, respectively.
 
o)       Research and development expenses
 
Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred. Expenses for research and development for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were approximately US$605,000 and US$347,000 respectively. For the three month period ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, expenses for research and development were approximately US$275,000 and 133,000, respectively.
 
p)       Income taxes
 
The Company adopts ASC Topic 740 “Income Taxes” and uses liability method to accounts for income taxes.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between of the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will be in effect in the period in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company records a valuation allowance to offset deferred tax assets if based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income statement in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company had no deferred tax assets and liabilities recognized for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
q)       Uncertain tax positions
 
The Company adopts ASC Topic 740-10-25-5 through 740-10-25-7 and 740-10-25-13, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”), which prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This Interpretation also provides guidance on recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures.  For the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company did not have any interest and penalties associated with tax positions and did not have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions.

 
14

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
r)        Share-based Compensation
 
The Company accounted for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, which requires that share-based payment transactions be measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instrument issued and recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period, or vesting period.
 
s)       Comprehensive income

The Company accounts for comprehensive income in accordance with ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income, which establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income and its components in the consolidated financial statements. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a company during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding transactions resulting from investments from owners and distributions to owners. Accumulated other comprehensive income, as presented on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments.
 
t)        Noncontrolling interest
 
The Company accounts for noncontrolling interest in accordance with ASC Topic 810-10-65, which requires the Company to present noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interests) as a separate component of total shareholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated income and comprehensive income statement.
 
Noncontrolling interest on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010 represents the noncontrolling interest shareholders’ proportionate share of the equity of the Company’s consolidated majority-owned subsidiary Shenzhen Mingshan.  Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest on the consolidated income and comprehensive income statement represents the noncontrolling interest shareholders’ proportionate share of the net loss incurred for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 of Shenzhen Minshan.
 
u)       Earnings per share
 
Earnings per share are calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Common shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible preferred shares are included in the computation of diluted earnings per share on an “if-converted” basis when the impact is dilutive. The dilutive effect of outstanding common stock warrants is reflected in the diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method when the impact is dilutive.

 
15

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
v)       Commitments and contingencies
 
The Company has adopted ASC 450 subtopic 20, “Loss Contingencies” in determining its accruals and disclosures with respect to loss contingencies. Accordingly, estimated losses from loss contingencies are accrued by a charge to income when information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability have been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal expenses associated with the contingency are expensed as incurred. If a loss contingency is not probable or reasonably estimable, disclosure of the loss contingency is made in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably possible that a material loss could be incurred.
 
w)      Recent accounting pronouncements
 
In July 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2010-20, “Receivables (Topic 310): Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses”.  This ASU amends Topic 310 to improve the disclosures that an entity provides about the credit quality of its financing receivables and the related allowance for credit losses. As a result of these amendments, an entity is required to disaggregate by portfolio segment or class certain existing disclosures and provide certain new disclosures about its financing receivables and related allowance for credit losses. For public entities, the disclosures as of the end of a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Except for the expanded disclosure requirements, the adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements upon adoption.
 
3.  Cash and cash equivalents

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Cash
    36       616  
Deposits with short-term maturities
    22,205       13,301  
      22,241       13,917  
 
4.  Accounts receivable

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Accounts receivable
    4,527       3,244  
Less: Allowance for doubtful debts
    72       71  
Accounts receivable, net
    4,455       3,173  

 
16

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

All of the accounts receivable are non-interest bearing.  As of November 15, 2010, approximately US$1,070,000 of Accounts receivable had been subsequently collected. Management believes that there will not be any collectability issue about these accounts receivable, therefore additional allowance for doubtful accounts is not required for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010.
 
5. Other receivables

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Advance deposits for TV advertisement bidding
    -       2,261  
Short-term loan to third parties
    2,298       -  
Staff advances for normal business purpose
    558       375  
      2,856       2,636  

Advance deposits for TV advertisement bidding were deposits made by the Company to participate in the biddings for TV advertisement time of 2010 in several TV stations, and had been all subsequently collected in the first quarter of fiscal year 2010. Short-term loan to third parties were temporary loans, unsecured, no interest bearing and approximately US$1,493,000 had been collected in October 2010. Management believes no allowance for doubtful accounts is required for these other receivables for the nine and three month period ended September 30, 2010.
 
6. Prepayment and deposit to suppliers

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Contract execution guarantee to TV advertisement and internet resources providers
    3,259       3,086  
Prepayments to TV advertisement and internet resources providers
    390       991  
Prepayment for purchase of bank kiosk equipment
    540       -  
Other deposits and prepayments
    32       34  
      4,221       4,111  

 
17

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
Contract execution guarantee to TV advertisement and internet resources providers are paid as a contractual deposit to the Company’s service providers.  These amounts will be used to offset the service fee needs to be paid to the service providers in the last month of each contract period.
 
According to the contracts signed between the Company and its suppliers, the Company is normally required to pay the contract amount in advance.  These prepayments will be transferred to cost of sales when the related services are provided.
 
Therefore, management believes that there will not be any collectability issue about these deposits and prepayments, and no allowance for doubtful accounts is required for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010.
 
7.  Due from related parties

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Beijing Hongfujiali Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    -       439  
Beijing Saimeiwei Food Equipment Technology Co., Ltd.
    -       53  
Beijing Fengshangyinli Technology Co., Ltd.
    45          
Beijing Telijie Century Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.
    26       -  
Soyilianmei Advertising Co., Ltd.
    143       -  
      214       492  
 
These related parties are directly or indirectly owned by the Control Group (see note 12) or the management of the Company.  Amount due from Beijing Hongfujiali Information Technology Co., Ltd. as of December 31, 2009, which amounted to approximately US$439,000 was an advance deposit for participating in year 2010 advertising resources bidding and had been collected in January 2010.  Amount due from Soyilianmei Advertising Co., Ltd. as of September 30, 2010, which amounted to approximately US$143,000 was related to the internet advertising resources purchased by the Company on behalf this related party.  The rest of the related party balances as of September 30, 2010 were outstanding payments for advertising services the Company provided to these related parties.
 
8.  Property and equipment
 
Property and equipment consist of the following:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Vehicles
    577       423  
Office equipment
    1,080       816  
Electronic devices
    447       438  
Total property and equipment
    2,104       1,677  
Less: accumulated depreciation
    586       322  
Total property and equipment, net
    1,518       1,355  
 
 
18

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Depreciation expenses in aggregate for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were approximately US$253,000 and $134,000, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, depreciation expenses in aggregate were approximately US$90,000 and US$49,000, respectively.
 
9.  Intangible assets, net

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Computer software
    60       -  
Less: accumulated amortization
    (1 )     -  
Total intangible assets, net
    59       -  

Amortization expenses in aggregate for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were approximately US$1,000 and nil, respectively.
 
10. Accrued payroll and other accrues

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Accrued payroll and staff welfare
    252       131  
Accrued operating expenses
    46       60  
      298       191  
 
11. Due to related parties

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Beijing Saimeiwei Food Equipments Technology Co., Ltd
    -       14  
Beijing Telijie Century Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.
    -       10  
      -       24  

 
The related parties listed above are directly or indirectly owned by the Control Group (see note 12) and the Company provided advertising services to them. The advance payments listed above were received from these parties for advertising services that will be provided in the future.

 
19

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 
12. Due to Control Group

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Due to Control Group
    416       1,142  

Mr. Handong Cheng, Mr. Xuanfu Liu and Ms. Li Sun, the owners of the Company’s PRC VIEs, Business Opportunities Online, and Beijing CNET Online before the Offshore Restructuring, are collectively referred to as the “Control Group”.

Due to Control Group were amounts paid by Control Group individuals on behalf of the Company which mainly included staff salary, performance bonus and cost of resources purchased.

During the three months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repaid the Control Group approximately US$738,000.
 
13. Due to director
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Due to director
    389       -  

Due to director represents the operating expenses paid by director on behalf of the Company.
 
14. Taxation
 
1)Income tax
 
i). The Company is incorporated in the state of Nevada.  Under the current law of Nevada, the Company is not subject to state corporation income tax.  The Company became a holding company and does not conduct any substantial operations of its own after the Share Exchange. No provision for federal corporate income tax has been made in the financial statements as the Company has no taxable income for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010.

 
20

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
ii). China Net BVI was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”).  Under the current law of the BVI, the Company is not subject to tax on income or capital gains.  Additionally, upon payments of dividends by China Net 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 income tax has been made in the financial statements as China Net HK has no taxable income for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010. Additionally, upon payment of dividends by China Net HK to its shareholders, no Hong Kong withholding tax will be imposed.
 
iv).  The Company’s PRC operating entities, being incorporated in the PRC, are governed by the income tax laws of the PRC and are subject to PRC enterprise income tax (“EIT”).  Effective from January 1, 2008, the EIT rate of PRC was changed from 33% to 25%, and applies to both domestic and foreign invested enterprises.
 
 
l
Rise King WFOE is a software company qualified by the related PRC governmental authorities and was entitled to a two-year EIT exemption from its first profitable year and a 50% reduction of its applicable EIT rate, which is 25% of its taxable income for the following three years.  Rise King WFOE had a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 and its first profitable year is fiscal year 2009 which has been verified by the local tax bureau by accepting the application filed by the Company.  Therefore, it was entitled to a two-year EIT exemption for fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2010 and a 50% reduction of its applicable EIT rate which is 25% to 12.5% for fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2013.
 
 
l
Business Opportunity Online was qualified as a High and New Technology Enterprise in Beijing High-Tech Zone in 2005 and was entitled to a three-year EIT exemption for fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2007 and a 50% reduction of its applicable EIT rate for the following three years for fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2010.  However, in March 2007, a new enterprise income tax law (the “New EIT”) in the PRC was enacted which was effective on January 1, 2008. Subsequently, on April 14, 2008, relevant governmental regulatory authorities released new qualification criteria, application procedures and assessment processes for “High and New Technology Enterprise” status under the New EIT which would entitle the re-qualified and approved entities to a favorable statutory tax rate of 15%.  With an effective date of September 4, 2009, Business Opportunity Online obtained the approval of its reassessment of the qualification as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the New EIT law and was entitled to a favorable statutory tax rate of 15%.  Under the previous EIT laws and regulations, High and New Technology Enterprises enjoyed a favorable tax rate of 15% and were exempted from income tax for three years beginning with their first year of operations, and were entitled to a 50% tax reduction to 7.5% for the subsequent three years and 15% thereafter. The current EIT Law provides grandfathering treatment for enterprises that were (1) qualified as High and New Technology Enterprises under the previous EIT laws, and (2) established before March 16, 2007, if they continue to meet the criteria for High and New Technology Enterprises under the current EIT Law. The grandfathering provision allows Business Opportunity Online to continue enjoying their unexpired tax holidays provided by the previous EIT laws and regulations. Therefore, its income tax was computed using a tax rate of 7.5% for the nine and three month period ended September 30, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009 due to its unexpired tax holidays for the year 2009 through year 2010.  For the nine and three month period ended September 30, 2009, since Business Opportunity Online had not obtained the approval of its qualification as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the New EIT law, it estimated and calculated its income tax based on the income tax rate of 25%, the difference of the income tax expenses between the estimated and the actual income tax expenses for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2009 was approximately US$1,136,000 and US$487,000 respectively.

 
21

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
 
l
The applicable income tax rate for Beijing CNET Online was 25% for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
 
l
The New EIT also imposed a 10% withholding income tax for dividends distributed by a foreign invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside China, which were exempted under the previous enterprise income tax law and rules.  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.  Rise King WFOE is invested by immediate holding company in Hong Kong and will be entitled to the 5% preferential withholding tax rate upon distribution of the dividends to its immediate holding company.
 
2)  Business tax and relevant surcharges
 
Revenue of advertisement services is subject to a 5.5% business tax and 3% cultural industry development surcharge of the net service income after deducting amount paid to ending media promulgators. Revenue of internet technical support services is subjected to a 5% to 5.5% business tax.  Business tax charged was included in cost of sales.
 
3)  Value added tax
 
As a small-scale value added taxpayer, revenue from sales of self-developed software of Rise King WFOE is subject to a 3% value added tax.
 
As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, taxes payable consist of:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Business tax payable
    1,082       1,003  
Culture industry development surcharge payable
    2       27  
Value added tax payable
    (26 )     8  
Enterprise income tax payable
    897       886  
Individual income tax payable
    55       54  
      2,010       1,978  

 
22

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
15. Dividend payable

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Dividend payable to Series A convertible preferred stockholders
    380       373  
 
Dividend to Series A convertible stockholders was accrued at the per annum rate of 10% and calculated based on US$2.5 per share liquidation preference and the actual number of days of each share of the Series A convertible stock outstanding for each of the respectively reporting period.
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company paid approximately US$605,000 dividends to its Series A convertible stockholders.
 
16. Long-term borrowing from director

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
Long-term borrowing from director
    131       128  
 
Long-term borrowing from director was a non-interest bearing loan from a director of the Company relating to the long-term investment in the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Rise King WFOE.
 
17. Warrant liabilities
 
On August 21, 2009 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), with several investors, including institutional, accredited and non-US persons and entities (the “Investors”), pursuant to which the Company sold units, comprised of 10% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value US$0.001 per share (the “Series A preferred stock”), and two series of warrants, for a purchase price of US$2.50 per unit (the “August 2009 Financing”).  The Company sold 4,121,600 units in the aggregate, which included (i) 4,121,600 shares of Series A preferred stock, (ii) Series A-1 Warrant to purchase 2,060,800 shares of common stock at an exercise price of US$3.00 per share with a three-year term, and (iii) Series A-2 Warrants to purchase 2,060,800 shares of common stock at an exercise price of US$3.75 with a five-year term.  Net proceeds were approximately US$9,162,000, net of issuance costs of approximately US$1,142,000.  TriPoint Global Equities, LLC acted as placement agent and received (i) a placement fee in the amount equal to 8% of the gross proceeds and (ii) warrants to purchase up to 329,728 shares of common stock at an exercise price of US$2.50, 164,864 shares at an exercise price of US$3.00 and 164,864 shares at an exercise price of US$3.75 respectively, with a five-year term (“Placement agent warrants” and together with the Series A-1 Warrant and Series A-2 Warrant, the “Warrants”).

 
23

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
The Warrants have an initial exercise price which is subject to adjustments in certain circumstances for stock splits, combinations, dividends and distributions, reclassification, exchange or substitution, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sales of assets, issuance of additional shares of common stock or equivalents.  The Warrants may not be exercised if it would result in the holder beneficially owning more than 9.99% of the Company’s outstanding common shares. That limitation may be waived to the warrant holders by sending a written notice to the Company not less than 61 days prior to the date that they would like to have the limitation waived.
 
Accounting for warrants

As described in Note 2 k), the Company analyzed the Warrants in accordance to ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” to determine whether the Warrants meet the definition of a derivative under ASC Topic 815 and if so, whether the Warrants meet the scope exception of ASC Topic 815, which is that contracts issued or held by the reporting entity that are both (1) indexed to its own stock and (2) classified in stockholders’ equity shall not be considered to be derivative instruments for purposes of ASC Topic 815.  The Company adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 815 subtopic 40, which applies to any freestanding financial instruments or embedded features that have the characteristics of a derivative, as defined by ASC Topic 815 and to any freestanding financial instruments that are potentially settled in an entity’s own common stock.  As a result of adopting ASC Topic 815 subtopic 40, the Company concluded that the Warrants issued in the August 2009 financing should be treated as a derivative liability, because the Warrants are entitled to a price adjustment provision to allow the exercise price to be reduced, in the event the Company issues or sells any additional shares of common stock at a price per share less than the then-applicable exercise price or without consideration, which is typically referred to as a “Down-round protection” or “anti-dilution” provision.  According to ASC Topic 815 subtopic 40, the “Down-round protection” provision is not considered to be an input to the fair value of a fixed-for-fixed option on equity shares which leads the Warrants fail to be qualified as indexed to the Company’s own stock and then to fail to meet the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815. Therefore, the Company accounted for the Warrants as derivative liabilities under ASC Topic 815.  Pursuant to ASC Topic 815, derivatives should be measured at fair value and re-measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings at each reporting period.

On March 29, 2010, the Company and the holders of the Warrants entered into agreements to amend certain provisions of the Warrants. The amendment to the investor and placement agent warrants removes the “Down-round protection” rights that were applicable if the Company were to issue new shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the Warrants.  In addition, the amendment to the warrants added a provision to grant the holders of a majority of the warrants an approval right until December 31, 2010, over any new issuance of shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the warrants.

 
24

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

As a result of this amendment, the Warrants issued in the August 2009 financing were qualified as indexed to the Company’s own stock and then met the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815, and were eligible to be reclassified as equity.  In accordance to ASC Topic 815, the classification of a contract should be reassessed at each balance sheet date. If the classification required under this ASC changes as a result of events during the period, the contract should be reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification.  If a contract is reclassified from an asset or a liability to equity, gains or losses recorded to account for the contract at fair value during the period that the contract was classified as an asset or a liability should not be reversed.  Therefore, the Company re-measured the fair value of the Warrants as of March 29, 2010, the date of the event that caused the classification, which was approximately US$ 7,703,000 and reclassified the amount to equity as additional paid-in capital.  The gain of the changes in fair value during the period that the Warrants were classified as a derivative liability, which was approximately US$ 1,861,000 was recorded in earnings for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010.
 
The following table summarized the above transactions:

   
As of
March 29,
2010
   
As of
December 31,
2009
   
Changes in
Fair Value
(Gain)/Loss
 
   
US$’000
   
US$’000
   
US$’000
 
Fair value of the Warrants:
                 
Series A-1 warrant
    3,606       4,513       (907 )
Series A-2 warrant
    3,256       4,019       (763 )
Placement agent warrants
    841       1,032       (191 )
      7,703       9,564       (1,861 )
 
Placement agent warrants
 
In accordance with ASC Topic 340 subtopic 10 section S99-1, “specific incremental costs directly attributable to a proposed or actual offering of securities may properly be deferred and charged against the gross proceeds of the offering.”  In accordance with the SEC accounting and reporting manual “cost of issuing equity securities are charged directly to equity as deduction of the fair value assigned to share issued.”  Accordingly, the Company concluded that the warrants issued to the placement agents are directly attributable to the August 2009 financing.  If the Company had not issued the warrants to the placement agent, the Company would have had to pay the same amount of cash as the fair value.  Therefore, the Company deducted the total fair value of the Placement agent warrants as of the Commitment Date which was approximately US$733,000 as a deduction of the fair value assigned to the Series A preferred stock.
 
The Placement Agent Warrants were also entitled to the benefits of the “Down-round protection” provision upon issuance and subsequently removed on March 29, 2010 as described above.  Therefore, it was reclassified to equity on March 29, 2010.  The changes in fair value of the placement agent warrants before the reclassification had been recorded in earnings for each respective reporting period.
 
18. Series A convertible preferred shares

Key terms of the Series A preferred stock sold by the Company in the August 2009 financing are summarized as follows:
 
Dividends
 
Dividends on the Series A preferred stock shall accrue and be cumulative from and after the issuance date.  For each outstanding share of Series A preferred stock, dividends are payable at the per annum rate of 10% of the Liquidation Preference Amount of the Series A preferred stock.  Dividends are payable quarterly within thirty (30) days following the last Business Day of each August, November, February and May of each year (each, a “Dividend Payment Date”), and continuing until such stock is fully converted. The Company shall have the right, at its sole and exclusive option, to pay all or any portion of each and every quarterly dividend that is payable on each Dividend Payment Date, either (i) in cash, or (ii) by issuing to the holder of Series A preferred stock such number of additional Conversion Shares which, when multiplied by US$2.5 would equal the amount of such quarterly dividend not paid in cash.

 
25

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
Voting Rights
 
The Series A preferred stock holders are entitled to vote separately as a class on matters affecting the Series A Preferred Stock and with regard to certain corporate matters set forth in the Series A Certificate of Designation, so long as any shares of the Series A preferred stock remain outstanding. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are not, however, entitled to vote on general matters along with holders of common stock.
 
Liquidation Preference
 
In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary (each, a “Liquidation”), the holders of the Series A preferred stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, an amount equal to US$2.5 per share of the Series A preferred stock, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not declared, together with any other dividends declared but unpaid thereon, as of the date of Liquidation (collectively, the “Series A Liquidation Preference Amount”) before any payment shall be made or any assets distributed to the holders of the common stock or any other junior stock. If upon the occurrence of Liquidation, the assets thus distributed among the holders of the Series A shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series A Preference Amount, then the entire assets of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed ratably among the holders of the Series A preferred stock.
 
Conversion Rights
 
Voluntary Conversion:
 
At any time on or after the date of the initial issuance of the Series A preferred stock, the holder of any such shares of Series A preferred stock may, at such holder’s option, subject to the limitations described below in “Conversion Restriction”, elect to convert all or portion of the shares of Series A preferred stock held by such person in a number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock equal to the quotient of Liquidation preference amount of the Series A preferred stock divided by the initial conversion price of US$2.5. The initial conversion price may be adjusted for stock splits and combinations, dividend and distributions, reclassification, exchange or substitution, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sales of assets, issuance of additional shares of common stock or equivalents with lower price or without considerations etc, as stimulated in the Certification of Designation.
 
Mandatory Conversion:
 
All outstanding shares of the Series A preferred stock shall automatically convert into shares of Common Stock, subject to the limitations described below in “Conversion Restriction”, at the earlier to occur of (i) twenty-four month anniversary of the Closing Date, and (ii) at such time that the Volume Weighted Average Price of the Company’s common stock is no less than US$5.00 for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days with the daily volume of the Common Stock of at least 50,000 shares per day.

 
26

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
Conversion Restriction
 
Holders of the Series A preferred stock may not convert the preferred stock to common shares if the conversion would result in the holder beneficially owning more than 9.99% of the Company’s outstanding common shares. That limitation may be waived by a holder of the Series A preferred stock by sending a written notice to the Company on not less than 61 days prior to the date that they would like to waive the limitation.
 
Registration Rights Agreement
 
In connection with the Financing, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “RRA”) with the Investors in which the Company agreed to file a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register the shares of Common Stock underlying the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Conversion Shares”) and the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”), thirty (30) days after the closing of the Financing.  The Company has agreed to use its best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective within 150 calendar days after filing, or 180 calendar days after filing in the event the Registration Statement is subject to a “full review” by the SEC.
 
The Company is required to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the earlier of the date when all of the securities covered by that registration statement have been sold or the date on which such securities may be sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (the “Financing Effectiveness Period”).  The Company will pay liquidated damages of 2% of each holder’s initial investment in the Units sold in the Financing per month, payable in cash, up to a maximum of 10%, if the Registration Statement is not filed or declared effective within the foregoing time periods or ceases to be effective prior to the expiration of the Financing Effectiveness Period.  However, no liquidated damages shall be paid with respect to any securities being registered that the Company are not permitted to include in the Financing Registration Statement due to the SEC’s application of Rule 415.
 
The Company evaluated the contingent obligation related to the RRA liquidated damages in accordance to ASC Topic 825 “Financial Instruments” subtopic 20, which required the contingent obligation to make future payments or otherwise transfer consideration under a registration payment arrangement, whether issued as a separate agreement or included as a provision of a financial instrument or other agreement be separately recognized and measured in accordance with ASC Topic 450 “Contingencies”.  The shares of common stock underlying the Series A preferred stock (the “Conversion Shares”) and the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) have been successfully registered by the Company.  Therefore, the Company concluded that such obligation was not probable to incur and no contingent obligation related to the RRA liquidated damages needs to be recognized.
 
Security Escrow Agreement
 
The Company entered into a securities escrow agreement with the Investors (the “Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which Rise King Investment Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Principal Stockholder”), initially placed 2,558,160 shares of Common Stock (the “Escrow Shares”) into an escrow account.  Of the Escrow Shares, 1,279,080 shares (equivalent to 50% of the Escrow Shares) were held as security for the achievement of audited net income equal to or greater than $7.7 million for the fiscal year 2009 (the “2009 Performance Threshold”) and the remaining 1,279,080 of the Escrow Shares are being held as security for the achievement of audited net income equal to or greater than $14 million for the fiscal year 2010 (the “2010 Performance Threshold”).

 
27

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
If the Company achieves at least 95% of the applicable Performance Threshold, all of the Escrow Shares for the corresponding fiscal year shall be returned to the Principal Stockholder. If the Company achieves less than 95% of the applicable Performance Threshold, the Investors shall receive in the aggregate, on a pro rata basis (based upon the number of shares of Series A preferred stock or conversion shares owned by each such Investor as of the date of distribution of the Escrow Shares), 63,954 shares of the Escrow Shares for each percentage by which the applicable Performance Threshold was not achieved up to the total number of Escrow Shares for the applicable fiscal year.  Any Escrow Shares not delivered to any investor because such investor no longer holds shares of Series A preferred stock or conversion shares shall be returned to the Principal Stockholder.
 
For the purposes of the Escrow Agreement, net income is defined in accordance with US GAAP and reported by the Company in its audited financial statements for each of the fiscal years ended 2009 and 2010; provided, however, that net income for each of fiscal years ended 2009 and 2010 shall be increased by any non-cash charges incurred (i) as a result of the Financing , including without limitation, as a result of the issuance and/or conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, and the issuance and/or exercise of the Warrants, (ii) as a result of the release of the Escrow Shares to the Principal Stockholder and/or the investors, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, (iii) as a result of the issuance of ordinary shares of the Principal Stockholder to Messrs. Handong Cheng and Xuanfu Liu and Ms. Li Sun (the “PRC Shareholders”), upon the exercise of options granted to the PRC Shareholders by the Principal Stockholder, (iv) as a result of the issuance of warrants to any placement agent and its designees in connection with the Financing, (v) the exercise of any warrants to purchase common stock outstanding  and (vi) the issuance under any performance based equity incentive plan that the Company adopts.
 
Because the 2009 performance threshold has been met, 1,279,080 Shares (50% of the Escrow Shares) were released to the Principal Stockholder.
 
In accordance to ASC Topic 718 and ASU No. 2010-05—Compensation—Stock Compensation: Escrowed Share Arrangements and the Presumption of Compensation.  The Company evaluated the substance of this arrangement and whether the presumption of compensation has been overcome. According to the Security Escrow Agreement signed between the Company and its investors, the release of these escrow shares to the Principal Stockholder or distributed to the investors without regard to the continued employment of any of the Company’s directors or officers, and this arrangement is in substance an inducement made to facilitate the financing transaction on behalf of the Company, rather than as compensatory.  Therefore, the Company concluded that this arrangement should be recognized and measured according to its nature and reflects as a deduction of the proceeds allocated to the newly issued securities with no compensation expenses recorded in earnings.
 
Fair Value of the Series A preferred stock:

Fair value is generally based on independent sources such as quoted market prices or dealer price quotations. To the extent certain financial instruments trade infrequently or are non-marketable securities, they may not have readily determinable fair values. The Company estimated the fair value of the Warrants and Series A preferred stock using various pricing models and available information that management deems most relevant. Among the factors considered in determining the fair value of financial instruments are discounted anticipated cash flows, the cost, terms and liquidity of the instrument, the financial condition, operating results and credit ratings of the issuer or underlying company, the quoted market price of similar traded securities, and other factors generally pertinent to the valuation of financial instruments.

 
28

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
Accounting for the Series A preferred stock

The Series A preferred stock has been classified as permanent equity as there was no redemption provision at the option of the holders that not within the control the Company on or after an agreed upon date. The Company evaluated the embedded conversion feature in its Series A preferred stock to determine if there was an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation.  The Company concluded that the embedded conversion feature of the Series A preferred stock does not required to be bifurcated because the conversion feature is clearly and closely related to the host instrument.
 
Allocation of the proceeds at commitment date and calculation of beneficial conversion feature

The following table summarized the allocation of proceeds to the Series A preferred stock and the Warrants:

   
Gross
proceeds
Allocated
   
Number of
Instruments
   
Allocated value
per instrument
 
   
US$ (’000)
         
US$
 
                   
Series A-1 Warrant
    2,236       2,060,800       1.08  
Series A-2 Warrant
    2,170       2,060,800       1.05  
Series A preferred stock
    5,898       4,121,600       1.43  
Total
    10,304                  

The Company then evaluated whether a beneficial conversion feature exists by comparing the operable conversion price of Series A preferred stock with the fair value of the common stock at the commitment date.  The Company concluded that the fair value of common stock was greater than the operable conversion price of Series A preferred stock at the commitment date and the intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature is greater than the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock.  In accordance to ASC Topic 470 subtopic 20, if the intrinsic value of beneficial conversion feature is greater than the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock, the amount of the discount assigned to the beneficial conversion feature is limited to the amount of the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock.  Accordingly, the total proceeds allocated to Series A preferred stock were allocated to the beneficial conversion feature with a credit to Additional paid-in capital upon the issuance of the Series A preferred stock.  Since the Series A preferred stock may convert to the Company’s common stock at any time on or after the initial issuing date, all discount was immediately recognized as a deemed dividend and a reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders.

 
29

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

According to Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5.A: “Miscellaneous Accounting-Expenses of offering” (“ASC Topic 340 subtopic 10 section S99-1”), “specific incremental costs directly attributable to a proposed or actual offering of securities may properly be deferred and charged against the gross proceeds of the offering”.  And in accordance with the SEC accounting and reporting manual “cost of issuing equity securities are charged directly to equity as deduction of the fair value assigned to share issued”.  Accordingly, the Company deducted the direct issuing cost paid in cash which were approximately US$1,142,000 from the assigned fair value to the Series A preferred stock.
 
19. Related party transactions

   
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
             
Advertising revenue from related parties:
           
-Beijing Saimeiwei Food Equipment Technology Co., Ltd.
    276       1,232  
-Beijing Xiyue Technology Co., Ltd.
    10       -  
-Beijing Fengshangyinli Technology Co., Ltd.
    315       72  
-Soyilianmei Advertising Co., Ltd.
    -       539  
-Beijing Telijie Cleaning Technology Co., Ltd.
    -       15  
-Beijing Telijie Century Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.
    271       127  
      872       1,985  

   
Three months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
             
Advertising revenue from related parties:
           
 -Beijing Saimeiwei Food Equipment Technology Co., Ltd.
    11       345  
-Beijing Xiyue Technology Co., Ltd.
    -       -  
-Beijing Fengshangyinli Technology Co., Ltd.
    138       11  
-Soyilianmei Advertising Co., Ltd.
    -       111  
- Beijing Telijie Century Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.
    116       55  
      265       522  
 
20. 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 Company has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made. The total amounts for such employee benefits, which were expensed as incurred, were approximately US$155,000 and US$118,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, total expenses for employee benefits were approximately US$59,000 and US$44,000, respectively.

 
30

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
21. 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 prepayments and other current assets. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents which amounting approximately US$22,241,000 and US$13,917,000, respectively (equal to approximately 62% and 54% of the Company’s total assets, respectively) were held by major financial institutions located in the PRC and Hong Kong, which management believes are of high credit quality.
 
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 RMB, 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 subsidiary and VIEs to transfer its net assets, which to the Company through loans, advances or cash dividends.
 
22. Commitments
 
The following table sets forth the Company’s contractual obligations as of September 30, 2010:

   
Rental
Payments
   
Server hosting
and board-
band lease
payments
   
Internet resources
and TV
advertisement 
purchase payments
   
Total
 
   
US$(000)
   
US$(000)
   
US$(000)
   
US$(000)
 
                         
Three months ended December 31, 2010
    66       -       8,811       8,877  
Year ended December 31,
                               
-2011
    267       15       112       394  
-Thereafter
    -       -       -       -  
Total
    333       15       8,923       9,271  

 
31

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
The contractual obligations of TV advertisement and internet resources purchase payments represent the contracts signed by the Company with TV stations for purchasing the TV advertisement time and with the internet resources providers for purchasing internet advertisement resources.  The Company will update these contracts with the related counterparties based on its actual needs if necessary.
 
23. Segment reporting
 
Based on the criteria established by ASC Topic 280 “Segment report”, as of September 30, 2010, the Company mainly operated in five principal segments: internet advertising, TV advertising, bank kiosk advertising, internet advertising resources resell and internet information management. Internet information management is a new product and business segment of the Company, which was officially launched in August 2009. It is an intelligence software that is based on our proprietary search engine optimization technology which helps our clients gain an early warning in order to identify and respond to potential negative exposure on the internet.  The following tables present summarized information by segments.

   
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)
 
   
Internet
Ad.
   
TV
Ad.
   
Bank
kiosk
   
Internet
Ad.
resources
resell
   
IIM
   
Others
   
Inter-
segment
and
reconciling
item
   
Total
 
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
 
                                                 
Revenue
    19,478       11,044       396       93       165       593       (593 )     31,176  
Cost of sales
    4,907       10,709       34       84       9       48       -       15,791  
Total operating expenses
    3,777       379       63       -       -       1,576 *     (593 )     5,202  
Including: Depreciation and amortization expense
    92       58       63       -       -       62               275  
Operating income(loss)
    10,794       (44 )     299       9       156       (1,031 )     -       10,183  
                                                                 
Changes in fair value of warrants
    -       -       -       -       -       1,861       -       1,861  
Expenditure for long-term assets
    264       -       -       -       -       184       -       448  
Net income (loss)
    10,496       (42 )     299       9       156       837       -       11,755  
Total assets
    24,080       6,642       276       -       -       13,211       (8,438 )     35,771  
 
*Including approximately US$177,000 share-based compensation expenses.
 
 
32

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 
   
Three months ended September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)
 
   
Internet
Ad.
   
TV
Ad.
   
Bank
kiosk
   
Internet
Ad.
resources
resell
   
IIM
   
Others
   
Inter-
segment
and
reconciling
item
   
Total
 
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
 
                                                 
Revenue
    7,108       1,603       133       -       52       358       (358 )     8,896  
Cost of sales
    1,643       1,453       11       -       3       -       -       3,110  
Total operating expenses
    1,673       94       31       -       -       502 *     (358 )     1,942  
Including: Depreciation and  amortization expense
    42       8       31       -       -       29       -       110  
Operating income(loss)
    3,792       56       91       -       49       (144 )     -       3,844  
                                                                 
Changes in fair value of warrants
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                                 
Expenditure for long-term assets
    193       -       -       -       -       142       -       335  
Net income (loss)
    3,772       57       90       -       49       (141 )     -       3,827  
Total assets
    24,080       6,642       276       -       -       13,211       (8,438 )     35,771  

*Including approximately US$56,000 share-based compensation expenses.

   
Nine months ended September 30, 2009 (Unaudited)
 
   
Internet
Ad.
   
TV
Ad.
   
Bank
kiosk
   
Internet
Ad.
resources
resell
   
IIM
   
Others
   
Inter-
segment
and
reconciling
item
   
Total
 
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
 
                                                 
Revenue
    12,601       14,299       21       1,088       38       713       (1,455 )     27,305  
Cost of sales
    3,396       12,218       2       1,008       2       34       (742 )     15,918  
Total operating expenses
    4,175       485       99       -       -       *992       (621 )     5,130  
Including: Depreciation and amortization expense
    31       36       62       -       -       5       -       134  
Operating income(loss)
    5,030       1,596       (80 )     80       36       (313 )     (92 )     6,257  
                                                                 
Changes in fair value of warrants
    -       -       -       -       -       (1,289 )     -       (1,289 )
                                                                 
Expenditure for long-term assets
    169       135       -       -       -       136       (92 )     348  
Net income (loss)
    3,333       1,557       (80 )     80       36       (1,602 )     (92 )     3,232  
Total assets
    10,359       5,985       355       -       -       9,868       (4,096 )     22,471  
 
*Including US$190,000 share-based compensation expenses.
 
 
33

 
 
CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 
   
Three months ended September 30, 2009 (Unaudited)
 
   
Internet
Ad.
   
TV
Ad.
   
Bank
kiosk
   
Internet
Ad.
resources
resell
   
IIM
   
Others
   
Inter-
segment
and
reconciling
item
   
Total
 
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
   
US$
(‘000)
 
                                                 
Revenue
    4,730       3,114       1       243       38       421       (421 )     8,126  
Cost of sales
    1,241       2,534       2       232       2       18       -       4,029  
Total operating expenses
    1,063       177       21       -       -       *439       (329 )     1,371  
Including: Depreciation and amortization expense
    12       12       21       -       -       4       -       49  
Operating income(loss)
    2,426       403       (22 )     11       36       (36 )     (92 )     2,726  
                                                                 
Changes in fair value of warrants
    -       -       -       -       -       (1,289 )     -       (1,289 )
                                                                 
Expenditure for long-term assets
    133       118       -       -       -       88       (92 )     247  
Net income (loss)
    1,654       386       (22 )     11       36       (1,325 )     (92 )     648  
Total assets
    10,359       5,985       355       -       -       9,868       (4,096 )     22,471  

*Including US$40,000 share-based compensation expenses.

Due to the exchange rates used to convert RMB to US dollar for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are the respective average exchange rates prevailing during each reporting period which are differ from each other, the converted US dollar amount in the above tables contains exchange rate effects for each reporting period.
 
24. Earnings per share
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share for each of the periods presented are calculated as follows:

   
Nine months ended
September 30,
   
Three months ended
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
   
US$(’000)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount in thousands
except for the number of
shares and per share data)
   
(Amount in thousands
except for the number of
shares and per share data)
 
             
Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
  $ 11,882     $ 3,232     $ 3,877     $ 648  
Beneficial conversion feature of Series A convertible preferred stock
    -       (5,898 )     -       (5,898 )
Dividend for Series A convertible preferred stock
    (612 )     -       (190 )     -  
Net income attributable to common shareholders of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (numerator for basic earnings per share)
  $ 11,270     $ (2,666 )   $ 3,687     $ (5,250 )
                                 
Dividend for Series A convertible preferred stock
    612       -       190       -  
                                 
Net income attributable to common shareholders of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (numerator for diluted earnings per share)
  $ 11,882     $ (2,666 )   $ 3,877     $ (5,250 )
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - Basic
    16,676,752       14,495,560       16,939,961       15,774,300  
Effect of diluted securities:
                               
Series A Convertible preferred stock
    3,274,981       -       3,015,339       -  
Warrants
    954,063       -       961,163       -  
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding -Diluted
    20,905,796       14,495,560       20,916,463       15,774,300  
                                 
Earnings per share-Basic
  $ 0.68     $ (0.18 )   $ 0.22     $ (0.33 )
Earnings per share-Diluted
  $ 0.57     $  (0.18 )   $ 0.19     $ (0.33 )

 
34

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
All share and per share data have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse acquisition on June 26, 2009 whereby the 13,790,800 shares of common stock issued by the Company (nominal acquirer) to the shareholders of China Net BVI (nominal acquiree) are deemed to be the number of shares outstanding for the period prior to the reverse acquisition.  For the period after the reverse acquisition, the number of shares considered to be outstanding is the actual number of shares outstanding during that period.
 
25. Share-based compensation expenses

On June 17, 2009, the Company engaged J and M Group, LLC (“J&M”) to provide investor relations services. The initial term of the agreement is for one year.  As additional compensation, the Company agreed to issue J&M 120,000 shares of the Company’s common stock that vest 10,000 shares every 30 days. The shares were issued in accordance with the exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Section 4(2) of such Act for issuances not involving any public offering.  The 120,000 shares issued on June 17, 2009 were valued at $0.15 per share, the closing bid of the Company’s common stock on the date of issue. Therefore, total aggregate number of shares granted to J&M vested for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was 60,000 shares.  Total aggregate value of the transaction that the Company recognized for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was US$9,000, which was recorded in general and administrative expenses as share-based compensation expenses.

 
35

 

CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

On July 1, 2009, the Company engaged Hayden Communications International, Inc. (“HC”) to provide investor relations services. The initial term of the agreement is for one year.  As additional compensation, the Company agreed to issue HC 80,000 shares of the Company’s common stock that vest on a straight line basis over the contract period. The shares were issued in accordance with the exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Section 4(2) of such Act for issuances not involving any public offering.  The 80,000 shares issued on July 1, 2009 were valued at $1.75 per share, the closing bid of the Company’s common stock on the date of issue. Therefore, total aggregated number of shares granted to HC vested for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was 40,000 shares.  Total aggregate value of the transaction that the Company recognized for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was US$70,000, which was recorded in general and administrative expenses as share-based compensation expenses.

On July 1, 2010, the Company engaged Chesapeake Group Inc. (“Chesapeake”) to provide investor relations services. The initial term of the agreement is for six months.  As compensation, the Company agreed to issue Chesapeake 30,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock that vest 5,000 shares every 30 days. The shares were issued in accordance with the exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Section 4(2) of such Act for issuances not involving any public offering.  The 30,000 shares granted on July 1, 2010 were valued at $2.56 per share which represents the fair value of the restricted common shares on the date of grant. Therefore, total aggregated number of shares granted to Chesapeake vested for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was 15,000 shares.  Total aggregate value of the transaction that the Company recognized for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was US$38,445, which was recorded in general and administrative expenses as share-based compensation expenses.

On November 30, 2009, the Company granted one 5-year option to each of its three independent directors, Mr. Douglas MacLellan, Mr. Mototaka Watanabe and Mr. Zhiqing Chen, to purchase in the aggregate 54,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of US$5.00 per share, in consideration of their services to the Company. These options vest quarterly at the end of each 3-month period, in equal installments over the 24-month period from the date of grant.  However, upon a change of control, the option shall automatically become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of such changes of control.  These options were valued at US$2.64 per share which represents the grant date fair value of these options.  The related compensation expenses will be recognized over its vesting period.  Total aggregate value of the transaction that the Company recognized for these options for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was US$59,400, which was recorded in general and administrative expenses as share-based compensation expenses.

The Company estimates the fair value of these options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the following assumptions:

Underlying stock price
  $ 3.43  
Expected term
    3  
Risk-free interest rate
    1.10 %
Dividend yield
    -  
Expected Volatility
    150 %
Exercise price of the option
  $ 5  

36


CHINANET ONLINE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Underlying stock price is a discounted stock price based upon the regression on actual discount obtained from an appropriate index due to lack of liquidity of the Company’s underlying stock and other factors.  As the three individuals receiving options are non-employee executive directors, the Company believes that forfeitures and termination are highly unlikely. As such, the Company developed a weighted-average expected term at 3 years based on analysis of the vesting schedule and exercise assumptions.  The risk-free interest rate is based on the 3 year U.S. treasury rate. The dividend yield is calculated based on management’s estimate of dividends to be paid on the underlying stock. The expected volatility is calculated using historical data obtained from an appropriate index due to lack of liquidity of the Company’s underlying stock.  Exercise price of the option is the contractual exercise price of the option.

Options issued and outstanding at September 30, 2010 and their movements during the period 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, 2010
    54,000       4.92             -              
Granted/Vested
    -             $ 5.00       20,250       4.17     $ 5.00  
Forfeited
    -                       -                  
Exercised
    -                       -                  
Balance, September 30, 2010
    54,000       4.17     $ 5.00       20,250       4.17     $ 5.00  
 
26. Subsequent events

Management has considered all events occurring through the date that the financial statements have been issued, and has determined that there are no such events that are material to the financial statements.

 
37

 

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. In addition, our consolidated financial statements and the financial data included in this interim report reflect our reorganization and have been prepared as if our current corporate structure had been in place throughout the relevant periods. 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, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2010, which may be updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Overview

ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc., (formerly known as Emazing Interactive, Inc.) (“Our Company”) was incorporated in the State of Texas in April 2006 and re-domiciled to become a Nevada corporation in October 2006. From the date of our incorporation until June 26, 2009, when we consummated the Share Exchange (as defined below), our activities were primarily concentrated in web server access and company branding in hosting web based e-games.

On June 26, 2009, we entered into a Share Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”), with (i) China Net Online Media Group Limited, a company organized under the laws of British Virgin Islands (“China Net BVI”), (ii) China Net BVI’s shareholders, Allglad Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Allglad”), Growgain Limited, a British Virgin Islands company ("Growgain"), Rise King Investments Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Rise King BVI”), Star (China) Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Star”), Surplus Elegant Investment Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Surplus”), Clear Jolly Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Clear” and together with Allglad, Growgain, Rise King BVI, Star and Surplus, the “China Net BVI Shareholders”), who together owned shares constituting 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of China Net BVI (the “China Net BVI Shares”) and (iii) G. Edward Hancock, our principal stockholder at such time. Pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement, the China Net BVI Shareholders transferred to us  all of the China Net BVI Shares in exchange for the issuance of 13,790,800 shares (the “Exchange Shares”) in the aggregate of our common stock (the “Share Exchange”). As a result of the Share Exchange, China Net BVI became our wholly owned subsidiary and we are 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, marketing and communication services to small and medium companies in China.

Our wholly owned subsidiary, China Net BVI, was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on August 13, 2007. On April 11, 2008, China Net BVI became the parent holding company of a group of companies comprised of CNET Online Technology Limited, a Hong Kong company (“China Net HK”), which established and is the parent company of Rise King Century Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (“WFOE”) established in the PRC (“Rise King WFOE”). We refer to the transactions that resulted in China Net BVI becoming an indirect parent company of Rise King WFOE as the “Offshore Restructuring.” Through a series of contractual agreements, we operate our business in China primarily through Business Opportunity Online (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Business Opportunity Online”), Beijing CNET Online Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Beijing CNET Online”). Beijing CNET Online owns 51% of Shanghai Borongdingsi Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Borongdingsi”). Business Opportunity Online, Beijing CNET Online and Shanghai Borongdingsi, were incorporated on December 8, 2004, January 27, 2003 and August 3, 2005, respectively. From time to time, we refer to them collectively as the “PRC Operating Entities.”

 
38

 

Through our PRC Operating Entities, we are now one of China’s leading B2B full-service media development and internet technology platforms for the small and medium enterprise (the “SME”) market.  We are a service oriented business that leverages proprietary advertising and internet management technology to prepare and publish rich media enabled advertising campaigns for clients on the internet and on television, as well as other value-added services to promote their sales networks, improve their brand quality and enhance their franchise and merchant business operations. Our goal is to strengthen our position as the leading diversified B2B media and service provider in China.  Our multi-channel communication platform consists of www.28.com, our internet advertising and service portal; our TV production and advertising unit, and our bank kiosk advertising unit, which is primarily designed to be used as an advertising platform for clients in the financial service industry.  With the advanced proprietary technology, we provide communication services as a value-added lead generator.  In addition, we are a re-seller of internet space and television advertising time that we purchase in large volumes from other well-known internet portals and local satellite television stations, and all of which are primarily sold to our small and medium enterprise clients. We launched a new service in August 2009, which is known as our “Internet Information Management” service. This product is an intelligence software that is based on our proprietary technology for search engine optimization which helps our clients gain an early warning in order to identify and respond to potential negative exposure on the internet.

On June 24, 2010, one of our subsidiaries, Business Opportunity Online (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Business Opportunity Online”), together with three other individuals, who were not affiliated with our company formed a new company, Shenzhen City Mingshan Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shenzhen Mingshan”). Shenzhen Mingshan is 51% owned by Business Opportunity Online and 49% owned collectively by the other three individuals.  Shenzhen Mingshan is located in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province of the PRC and is primarily engaged in designing, developing and selling internet based software, developing and designing online games and related websites, and providing related services. As of September 30, 2010, Business Opportunity Online invested approximately RMB 4,000,000 (approximately US$587,000) in Shenzhen Mingshan, which is currently in the start-up stage. Management established this company as an attempt to participate in the online gaming industry as an advertiser of interactive advertising website for online games in China based on the consideration of the prior experiences we had in the website operation in relation to business promotion.

Basis of presentation, critical accounting policies and management estimates
 
 
l
Change of reporting entity and basis of presentation

As a result of the Share Exchange on June 26, 2009, the former China Net BVI shareholders own a majority of our common stock.  The transaction was regarded as a reverse merger whereby China Net BVI was considered to be the accounting acquirer as its shareholders retained control of our company after the Share Exchange, although we are the legal parent company.  The share exchange was treated as a recapitalization of our company.  As such, China Net BVI (and its historical financial statements) is the continuing entity for financial reporting purposes. Pursuant to the terms of the Share Exchange, Emazing Interactive, Inc. was delivered with zero assets and zero liabilities at the time of closing. Following the Share Exchange, we changed our name from Emazing Interactive, Inc. to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. Our financial statements have been prepared as if China Net BVI had always been the reporting company and then on the share exchange date, had changed its name and reorganized its capital stock.
 
 
l
Critical accounting policies and management estimates

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include our accounts, and those of our subsidiaries and VIEs.  We prepare our 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 on 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. We consider the policies discussed below to be critical to an understanding of our financial statements.

 
39

 

Foreign currency translation

Our functional currency is United States dollars (“US$”), and the functional currency of China Net HK is Hong Kong dollars (“HK$”).  The functional currency of our PRC operating entities is Renminbi (“RMB’), and PRC is the primary economic environment in which we operate.

For financial reporting purposes, the financial statements of our PRC operating entities, which are prepared using the RMB, are translated into our reporting currency, the United States Dollar (“U.S. dollar”). Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date.  Revenue and expenses are translated using average rates prevailing during each reporting period, and shareholders' equity is translated at historical exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from the translation are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity.

Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.  The resulting exchange differences are included in the determination of net income of the consolidated financial statements for the respective periods.

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

Revenue recognition

Our revenue recognition policies are in compliance with ASC Topic 605 “Revenue Recognition”. In accordance with ASC Topic 605, revenues are recognized when the four of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the service has been rendered, (iii) the fees are fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

 Sales

Sales include revenues from reselling of advertising time purchased from TV stations and internet advertising, reselling of internet advertising spaces and other advertisement related resources. No revenue from advertising-for-advertising barter transactions was recognized because the transactions did not meet the criteria for recognition in ASC Topic 605, subtopic 20.  Advertising contracts establish the fixed price and advertising services to be provided.  Pursuant to advertising contracts, we provide advertisement placements in different formats, including but not limited to banners, links, logos, buttons, rich media and content integration. Revenue is recognized ratably over the period the advertising is provided and, as such, we consider the services to have been delivered.  We treat all elements of advertising contracts as a single unit of accounting for revenue recognition purposes.  Based upon our credit assessments of the customers prior to entering into contracts, we determine if collectability is reasonably assured.  In situations where collectability is not deemed to be reasonably assured, we recognize revenue upon receipt of cash from customers, only after services have been provided and all other criteria for revenue recognition have been met.

Taxation
 
Income tax
 
We follow the liability method of accounting for income taxes.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will be in effect in the period in which the differences are expected to reverse. We record a valuation allowance to offset deferred tax assets if based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income statement in the period that includes the enactment date. We had no deferred tax assets and liabilities recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 
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We adopted ASC Topic 740 “Income Taxes”. ASC Topic 740 prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This Interpretation also provides guidance on recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and for the year ended December 31, 2009, we did not have any interest or penalties associated with tax positions and did not have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions.
 
i). We are incorporated in the State of Nevada.  Under the current law of Nevada we are not subject to state corporation income tax.  We became a holding company and do not conduct any substantial operations of our own after the Share Exchange. No provision for federal income tax has been made in our financial statements as no taxable income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
ii). China Net BVI was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”).  Under the current law of the BVI, we are not subject to tax on income or capital gains.  Additionally, upon payments of dividends by China Net BVI to us, 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 income tax has been made in our financial statements as no taxable income was generated for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Additionally, upon payments of dividends by China Net HK to its sole shareholder, China Net BVI, no Hong Kong withholding tax will be imposed.
 
iv).  Our PRC operating entities, being incorporated in the PRC, are governed by the income tax laws of the PRC and are subject to PRC enterprise income tax (“EIT”).  Effective from January 1, 2008, the EIT rate of PRC was changed from 33% to 25%, and applies to both domestic and foreign invested enterprises.
 
 
l
Rise King WFOE is a software company qualified by the related PRC governmental authorities and was entitled to a two-year EIT exemption from its first profitable year and a 50% reduction of its applicable EIT rate, which is 25% of its taxable income for the following three years.  Rise King WFOE had a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 and its first profitable year was fiscal year 2009 which has been verified by the local tax bureau by accepting the application filed by us.  Therefore, it was entitled to a two-year EIT exemption for fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2010 and a 50% reduction of its applicable EIT rate which is 25% to 12.5% for fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2013.
 
 
l
Business Opportunity Online was qualified as a High and New Technology Enterprise in Beijing High-Tech Zone in 2005 and was entitled to a three-year EIT exemption for fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2007 and a 50% reduction of its applicable EIT rate for the subsequent three years for fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2010.  However, in March 2007, a new enterprise income tax law (the “New EIT”) in the PRC was enacted which was effective on January 1, 2008. Subsequently, on April 14, 2008, relevant governmental regulatory authorities released new qualification criteria, application procedures and assessment processes for “High and New Technology Enterprise” status under the New EIT which would entitle the re-qualified and approved entities to a favorable statutory tax rate of 15%.  With an effective date of September 4, 2009, Business Opportunity Online obtained the approval of its reassessment of the qualification as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the New EIT law and was entitled to a favorable statutory tax rate of 15%.  Under the previous EIT laws and regulations, High and New Technology Enterprises enjoyed a favorable tax rate of 15% and were exempted from income tax for three years beginning with their first year of operations, and were entitled to a 50% tax reduction to 7.5% for the subsequent three years and 15% thereafter. The current EIT Law provides grandfathering treatment for enterprises that were (1) qualified as High and New Technology Enterprises under the previous EIT laws, and (2) established before March 16, 2007, if they continue to meet the criteria for High and New Technology Enterprises under the current EIT Law. The grandfathering provision allows Business Opportunity Online to continue enjoying their unexpired tax holidays provided by the previous EIT laws and regulations. Therefore, its income tax was computed using a tax rate of 7.5% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009 due to its unexpired tax holidays for year 2009 through year 2010.  For the nine month period ended September 30, 2009, since Business Opportunity Online had not obtained the approval of its qualification as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the New EIT law, it estimated and calculated its income tax based on the income tax rate of 25%.  The difference between the estimated and the actual income tax expense for the nine and three month period ended September 30, 2009 was approximately US$1,136,000 and US$487,000, respectively.

 
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l
The applicable income tax rate for Beijing CNET Online was 25% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
 
l
The New EIT also imposed a 10% withholding income tax for dividends distributed by a foreign invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside China, which were exempted under the previous enterprise income tax law and rules.  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.  Rise King WFOE is invested by immediate holding company in Hong Kong and will be entitled to the 5% preferential withholding tax rate upon distribution of the dividends to its immediate holding company.
 
 Business tax and relevant surcharges
 
Revenue of advertisement services is subject to a 5.5% business tax and 3% cultural industry development surcharge of the net service income after deducting amount paid to ending media promulgators. Revenue of internet technical support services is subjected to a 5% to 5.5% business tax.  Business tax charged was included in cost of sales.
 
Value added tax
 
As a small-scale value added taxpayer, revenue from sales of self-developed software of Rise King WFOE is subject to a 3% value added tax.

Warrant liabilities and reclassification
 
On August 21, 2009 (the “Closing Date”), we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), with several investors, including institutional, accredited and non-US persons and entities (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we sold units, comprised of 10% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value US$0.001 per share (the “Series A preferred stock”), and two series of warrants, for a purchase price of US$2.50 per unit (the “August 2009 Financing”).  We sold 4,121,600 units in the aggregate, which included (i) 4,121,600 shares of Series A preferred stock, (ii) Series A-1 Warrant to purchase 2,060,800 shares of common stock at an exercise price of US$3.00 per share with a three-year term, and (iii) Series A-2 Warrants to purchase 2,060,800 shares of common stock at an exercise price of US$3.75 with a five-year term.  Net proceeds were approximately US$9,162,000, net of issuance costs of approximately US$1,142,000.  TriPoint Global Equities, LLC acted as placement agent and received (i) a placement fee in the amount equal to 8% of the gross proceeds and (ii) warrants to purchase up to 329,728 shares of common stock at an exercise price of US$2.50, 164,864 shares at an exercise price of US$3.00 and 164,864 shares at an exercise price of US$3.75 respectively, with a five-year term (“Placement agent warrants” and together with the Series A-1 Warrant and Series A-2 Warrant, the “Warrants”).
 
The Warrants have an initial exercise price which is subject to adjustments in certain circumstances for stock splits, combinations, dividends and distributions, reclassification, exchange or substitution, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sales of assets, issuance of additional shares of common stock or equivalents.  The Warrants may not be exercised if it would result in the holder beneficially owning more than 9.99% of the Company’s outstanding common shares. That limitation may be waived to the warrant holders by sending a written notice to the Company not less than 61 days prior to the date that they would like to have the limitation waived.

 
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Accounting for warrants
 
We analyzed the Warrants in accordance to ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” to determine whether the Warrants meet the definition of a derivative under ASC Topic 815 and if so, whether the Warrants meet the scope exception of ASC Topic 815, which is that contracts issued or held by the reporting entity that are both (1) indexed to its own stock and (2) classified in stockholders’ equity shall not be considered to be derivative instruments for purposes of ASC Topic 815.  We adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 815 subtopic 40, which applies to any freestanding financial instruments or embedded features that have the characteristics of a derivative, as defined by ASC Topic 815 and to any freestanding financial instruments that are potentially settled in an entity’s own common stock.  As a result of adopting ASC Topic 815 subtopic 40, we concluded that the Warrants issued in the August 2009 financing should be treated as a derivative liability, because the Warrants are entitled to a price adjustment provision to allow the exercise price to be reduced, in the event we issues or sells any additional shares of common stock at a price per share less than the then-applicable exercise price or without consideration, which is typically referred to as a “Down-round protection” or “anti-dilution” provision.  According to ASC Topic 815 subtopic 40, the “Down-round protection” provision is not considered to be an input to the fair value of a fixed-for-fixed option on equity shares which leads the Warrants fail to be qualified as indexed to our own stock and then to fail to meet the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815. Therefore, we accounted for the Warrants as derivative liabilities under ASC Topic 815.  Pursuant to ASC Topic 815, derivatives should be measured at fair value and re-measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings at each reporting period.
 
On March 29, 2010, we and the holders of the Warrants entered into agreements to amend certain provisions of the Warrants. The amendment, which is retroactive from and including, August 21, 2009, to the investor and placement agent warrants removes the “Down-round protection” rights that were applicable if we were to issue new shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the Warrants.  In addition, the amendment to the warrants added a provision to grant the holders of a majority of the warrants an approval right until December 31, 2010, over any new issuance of shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the warrants.
 
As a result of this amendment, the Warrants issued in August 2009 financing were qualified as indexed to our own stock and then meet the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815, and were eligible to be reclassified as equity.  In accordance to ASC Topic 815, the classification of a contract should be reassessed at each balance sheet date. If the classification required under this ASC changes as a result of events during the period, the contract should be reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification.  If a contract is reclassified from an asset or a liability to equity, gains or losses recorded to account for the contract at fair value during the period that the contract was classified as an asset or a liability should not be reversed.  Therefore, we re-measured the fair value of the Warrants as of March 29, 2010, the date of the event that caused the classification, which was approximately US$ 7,703,000 and reclassified the amount to equity as additional paid-in capital.  The gain of the changes in fair value during the period that the Warrants were classified as a derivative liability, which was approximately US$ 1,861,000 was recorded in earnings for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010.
 
Placement agent warrants
 
In accordance with ASC Topic 340 subtopic 10 section S99-1, “specific incremental costs directly attributable to a proposed or actual offering of securities may properly be deferred and charged against the gross proceeds of the offering.”  In accordance with the SEC accounting and reporting manual “cost of issuing equity securities are charged directly to equity as deduction of the fair value assigned to share issued.”  Accordingly, we concluded that the warrants issued to the placement agents are directly attributable to the August 2009 financing.  If we had not issued the warrants to the placement agent, we would have had to pay the same amount of cash as the fair value.  Therefore, we deducted the total fair value of the Placement agent warrants as of the Commitment Date, which was approximately US$733,000, as a deduction of the fair value assigned to the Series A preferred stock.

 
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The Placement Agent Warrants were also entitled to the benefits of the “Down-round protection” provision upon issuance and subsequently removed on March 29, 2010 as described above.  Therefore, it was reclassified to equity on March 29, 2010.  The changes of fair value of the placement agent warrants before the reclassification had been recorded in earnings for each respective reporting period.

Series A preferred stock

Key terms of the Series A preferred stock sold by us in the August 2009 financing are summarized as follows:

Dividends

Dividends on the Series A preferred stock shall accrue and be cumulative from and after the issuance date.  For each outstanding share of Series A preferred stock, dividends are payable at the per annum rate of 10% of the Liquidation Preference Amount of the Series A preferred stock.  Dividends are payable quarterly within thirty (30) days following the last Business Day of each August, November, February and May of each year (each, a “Dividend Payment Date”), and continuing until such stock is fully converted. We shall have the right, at its sole and exclusive option, to pay all or any portion of each and every quarterly dividend that is payable on each Dividend Payment Date, either (i) in cash, or (ii) by issuing to the holder of Series A preferred stock such number of additional Conversion Shares which, when multiplied by US$2.5 would equal the amount of such quarterly dividend not paid in cash.

Voting Rights

The Series A preferred stock holders are entitled to vote separately as a class on matters affecting the Series A Preferred Stock and with regard to certain corporate matters set forth in the Series A Certificate of Designation, so long as any shares of the Series A preferred stock remain outstanding. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are not, however, entitled to vote on general matters along with holders of common stock.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of us, whether voluntary or involuntary (each, a “Liquidation”), the holders of the Series A preferred stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of us available for distribution to its stockholders, an amount equal to US$2.5 per share of the Series A preferred stock, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not declared, together with any other dividends declared but unpaid thereon, as of the date of Liquidation (collectively, the “Series A Liquidation Preference Amount”) before any payment shall be made or any assets distributed to the holders of the common stock or any other junior stock. If upon the occurrence of Liquidation, the assets thus distributed among the holders of the Series A shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series A Preference Amount, then the entire assets of us legally available for distribution shall be distributed ratably among the holders of the Series A preferred stock.

Conversion Rights

Voluntary Conversion:

At any time on or after the date of the initial issuance of the Series A preferred stock, the holder of any such shares of Series A preferred stock may, at such holder’s option, subject to the limitations described below in Conversion Restriction” , elect to convert all or portion of the shares of Series A preferred stock held by such person into a number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock equal to the quotient of Liquidation preference amount of the Series A preferred stock divided by the initial conversion price of US$2.5. The initial conversion price may be adjusted for stock splits and combinations, dividend and distributions, reclassification, exchange or substitution, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sales of assets, issuance of additional shares of common stock or equivalents with lower price or without considerations etc, as stimulated in the Certification of Designation.

 
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Mandatory Conversion:

All outstanding shares of the Series A preferred stock shall automatically convert into shares of Common Stock, subject to the limitations described below in Conversion Restriction” , at the earlier to occur of (i) twenty-four month anniversary of the Closing Date, and (ii) at such time that the Volume Weighted Average Price of our common stock is no less than US$5.00 for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days with the daily volume of the common stock of at least 50,000 shares per day.

Conversion Restriction

Holders of the Series A preferred stock may not convert the preferred stock to shares of common stock if the conversion would result in the holder beneficially owning more than 9.99% of our outstanding shares of common stock. That limitation may be waived by a holder of the Series A preferred stock by sending a written notice to us on not less than 61 days prior to the date that they would like to waive the limitation.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the Financing, we entered into a registration rights agreement (the “RRA”) with the Investors in which we agreed to file a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to register the shares of common stock underlying the Series A preferred stock (the “Conversion Shares”) and the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”), thirty (30) days after the closing of the Financing.  We have agreed to use its best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective within 150 calendar days after filing, or 180 calendar days after filing in the event the Registration Statement is subject to a “full review” by the SEC.

We are required to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the earlier of the date when all of the securities covered by that registration statement have been sold or the date on which such securities may be sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (the “Financing Effectiveness Period”).  We will pay liquidated damages of 2% of each holder’s initial investment in the Units sold in the Financing per month, payable in cash, up to a maximum of 10%, if the Registration Statement is not filed or declared effective within the foregoing time periods or ceases to be effective prior to the expiration of the Financing Effectiveness Period.  However, no liquidated damages shall be paid with respect to any securities being registered that we are not permitted to include in the Financing Registration Statement due to the SEC’s application of Rule 415.

We evaluated the contingent obligation related to the RRA liquidated damages in accordance to “ASC Topic 825 “Financial Instruments” subtopic 20”, which required the contingent obligation to make future payments or otherwise transfer consideration under a registration payment arrangement, whether issued as a separate agreement or included as a provision of a financial instrument or other agreement be separately recognized and measured in accordance with “ASC Topic 450” “Contingencies”. The shares of common stock underlying the Series A preferred stock (the “Conversion Shares”) and the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) have been successfully registered.  Therefore, we concluded that such obligation was not probable to incur and no contingent obligation related to the RRA liquidated damages needs to be recognized.

Security Escrow Agreement

We entered into a securities escrow agreement with the Investors (the “Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which Rise King Investment Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Principal Stockholder”), initially placed 2,558,160 shares of our common stock (the “Escrow Shares”) into an escrow account.  Of the Escrow Shares, 1,279,080 shares (equivalent to 50% of the Escrow Shares) were held as security for the achievement of audited net income equal to or greater than $7.7 million for the fiscal year 2009 (the “2009 Performance Threshold”) and the remaining 1,279,080 of the Escrow Shares are being held as security for the achievement of audited net income equal to or greater than $14 million for the fiscal year 2010 (the “2010 Performance Threshold”).

 
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If we achieve at least 95% of the applicable Performance Threshold, all of the Escrow Shares for the corresponding fiscal year shall be returned to the Principal Stockholder. If we achieve less than 95% of the applicable Performance Threshold, the Investors shall receive in the aggregate, on a pro rata basis (based upon the number of shares of Series A preferred stock or conversion shares owned by each such Investor as of the date of distribution of the Escrow Shares), 63,954 shares of the Escrow Shares for each percentage by which the applicable Performance Threshold was not achieved up to the total number of Escrow Shares for the applicable fiscal year.  Any Escrow Shares not delivered to any investor because such investor no longer holds shares of Series A preferred stock or conversion shares shall be returned to the Principal Stockholder.

For purposes of the Escrow Agreement, net income is defined in accordance with US GAAP and reported by us in its audited financial statements for each of the fiscal years ended 2009 and 2010; provided, however, that net income for each of fiscal years ended 2009 and 2010 shall be increased by any non-cash charges incurred (i) as a result of the Financing , including without limitation, as a result of the issuance and/or conversion of the Series A preferred stock, and the issuance and/or exercise of the Warrants, (ii) as a result of the release of the Escrow Shares to the Principal Stockholder and/or the investors, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, (iii) as a result of the issuance of ordinary shares of the Principal Stockholder to Messrs. Handong Cheng and Xuanfu Liu and Ms. Li Sun (the “PRC Shareholders”), upon the exercise of options granted to the PRC Shareholders by the Principal Stockholder, (iv) as a result of the issuance of warrants to any placement agent and its designees in connection with the Financing, (v) the exercise of any warrants to purchase common stock outstanding  and (vi) the issuance under any performance based equity incentive plan that we adopts.

Because the 2009 performance threshold has been met, 1,279,080 Shares (50% of the Escrow Shares) were released to the Principal Stockholder.

In accordance to ASC Topic 718 and ASU No. 2010-05—Compensation—Stock Compensation: Escrowed Share Arrangements and the Presumption of Compensation.  We evaluated the substance of this arrangement and whether the presumption of compensation has been overcome. According to the Security Escrow Agreement signed with our investors, the release of these escrow shares to our Principal Stockholder or distributed to the investors without regard to the continued employment of any of the Company’s directors or officers, and this arrangement is in substance an inducement made to facilitate the financing transaction, rather than as compensatory.  Therefore, we concluded that this arrangement should be recognized and measured according to its nature and reflects as a deduction of the proceeds allocated to the newly issued securities with no compensation expenses recorded in earnings.

Fair Value of the Series A preferred stock:

Fair value is generally based on independent sources such as quoted market prices or dealer price quotations. To the extent certain financial instruments trade infrequently or are non-marketable securities, they may not have readily determinable fair values. We estimated the fair value of the Warrants and Series A preferred stock using various pricing models and available information that management deems most relevant. Among the factors considered in determining the fair value of financial instruments are discounted anticipated cash flows, the cost, terms and liquidity of the instrument, the financial condition, operating results and credit ratings of the issuer or underlying company, the quoted market price of similar traded securities, and other factors generally pertinent to the valuation of financial instruments.

Accounting for the Series A preferred stock

The Series A preferred stock has been classified as permanent equity as there was no redemption provision at the option of the holders that is not within the control of us on or after an agreed upon date. We evaluated the embedded conversion feature in its Series A preferred stock to determine if there was an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation.  We concluded that the embedded conversion feature of the Series A preferred stock does not required to be bifurcated because the conversion feature is clearly and closely related to the host instrument.

Allocation of the proceeds at commitment date and calculation of beneficial conversion feature

The following table summarized the allocation of proceeds to the Series A preferred stock and the Warrants:

   
Gross
proceeds
Allocated
   
Number of
instruments
   
Allocated
value per
instrument
 
   
US$(’000)
         
US$
 
Series A-1 Warrant
    2,236       2,060,800       1.08  
Series A-2 Warrant
    2,170       2,060,800       1.05  
Series A preferred stock
    5,898       4,121,600       1.43  
Total
    10,304                  
 
 
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We then evaluated whether a beneficial conversion feature exists by comparing the operable conversion price of Series A preferred stock with the fair value of the common stock at the commitment date.  We concluded that the fair value of common stock was greater than the operable conversion price of Series A preferred stock at the commitment date and the intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature is greater than the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock.  In accordance to ASC Topic 470 subtopic 20, if the intrinsic value of beneficial conversion feature is greater than the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock, the amount of the discount assigned to the beneficial conversion feature is limited to the amount of the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock.  Accordingly, the total proceeds allocated to Series A preferred stock were allocated to the beneficial conversion feature with a credit to Additional paid-in capital upon the issuance of the Series A preferred stock.  Since the Series A preferred stock may convert to our  common stock at any time on or after the initial issue date, all discount was immediately recognized as a deemed dividend and a reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders in the period the preferred stock was issued.

According to ASC Topic 340 subtopic 10 section S99-1, “specific incremental costs directly attributable to a proposed or actual offering of securities may properly be deferred and charged against the gross proceeds of the offering”.  And in accordance with the SEC accounting and reporting manual “cost of issuing equity securities are charged directly to equity as deduction of the fair value assigned to share issued”.  Accordingly, we deducted the direct issuing cost paid in cash which were approximately US$1,142,000 from the assigned fair value to the Series A preferred stock.

Share-based Compensation

We accounted for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, which requires that share-based payment transactions be measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instrument issued and recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period, or vesting period.

Earnings per share

Earnings / (loss) per share are calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Common shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible preferred shares are included in the computation of diluted earnings per share on an “if-converted” basis when the impact is dilutive. The dilutive effect of outstanding common stock warrants is reflected in the diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method when the impact is dilutive.

All share and per share data have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse acquisition on June 26, 2009 whereby the 13,790,800 shares of common stock issued by us (nominal acquirer) to the shareholders of China Net BVI (nominal acquiree) are deemed to be the number of shares outstanding for the period prior to the reverse acquisition.  For the period after the reverse acquisition, the number of shares considered to be outstanding is the actual number of shares outstanding during that period.

 
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Recent accounting pronouncements

In July 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Updates (“ASU”) 2010-20, “Receivables (Topic 310): Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses”.  This ASU amends Topic 310 to improve the disclosures that an entity provides about the credit quality of its financing receivables and the related allowance for credit losses. As a result of these amendments, an entity is required to disaggregate by portfolio segment or class certain existing disclosures and provide certain new disclosures about its financing receivables and related allowance for credit losses. For public entities, the disclosures as of the end of a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Except for the expanded disclosure requirements, the adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements upon adoption.

 
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A.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE AND THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009

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, in thousands of US dollars.
  
   
Nine months
ended September 30,
   
Three months
ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
                         
Sales
                       
To unrelated parties
  $ 30,304     $ 25,320     $ 8,631     $ 7,604  
To related parties
    872       1,985       265       522  
      31,176       27,305       8,896       8,126  
Cost of sales
    15,791       15,918       3,110       4,029  
Gross margin
    15,385       11,387       5,786       4,097  
                                 
Operating expenses
                               
Selling expenses
    2,187       3,253       851       624  
General and administrative expenses
    2,410       1,530       815       614  
Research and development expenses
    605       347       276       133  
      5,202       5,130       1,942       1,371  
                                 
Income from operations
    10,183       6,257       3,844       2,726  
                                 
Other income (expenses):
                               
Changes in fair value of warrants
    1,861       (1,289 )     -       (1,289 )
Interest income
    8       9       4       4  
Other income
    8       8       4       2  
Other expenses
    (1 )     (100 )     0       (99 )
      1,876       (1,372 )     8       (1,382 )
                                 
Income before income tax expense
    12,059       4,885       3,852       1,344  
Income tax expense
    304       1,653       25       696  
Net income
    11,755       3,232       3,827       648  
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    127       -       50       -  
Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
    11,882       3,232       3,877       648  
                                 
Other comprehensive income
                               
Foreign currency translation gain
    442       13       365       8  
Comprehensive income
  $ 12,197     $ 3,245     $ 4,192     $ 656  
                         
Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
  $ 11,882     $   3,232     $ 3,877     $ 648  
                                 
Beneficial conversion feature of Series A convertible preferred stock
    -       (5,898 )     -       (5,898 )
                                 
Dividend of Series A convertible preferred stock
    (612 )     -       (190 )     -  
                                 
Net income attributable to common shareholders of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
  $ 11,270     $   (2,666 )   $ 3,687     $ (5,250 )
                                 
Earnings  per share
                               
Earnings per common share
                               
Basic
  $ 0.68     $ (0.18 )   $ 0.22     $ (0.33 )
Diluted
  $ 0.57     $ (0.18 )   $ 0.19     $ (0.33 )
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    16,676,752       14,495,560       16,939,961       15,774,300  
Diluted
    20,905,796       14,495,560       20,916,463       15,774,300  
 
 
49

 

Non-GAAP Measures
 
To supplement the unaudited consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income presented in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), we also provided non-GAAP measures of income from operations, income before income tax expenses, net income for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the non-cash charges recorded, which related to the issuing of Series A preferred stock and warrants in August 2009 financing.  The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the investors' overall understanding of our current performance in on-going core operations as well as prospects for the future. These measures should be considered in addition to results prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results.  We use both GAAP and non-GAAP information in evaluating and operating business internally and therefore deem it important to provide all of this information to investors.

The following table presents reconciliations of our non-GAAP financial measures to the unaudited consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010: (All amounts in thousands of US dollars)

 
   
Nine months
ended September 30,
   
Three months
ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
   
(US $)
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
NON GAAP
   
NON GAAP
   
NON GAAP
   
NON GAAP
 
                         
Income from operations
  $ 10,183     $ 6,257     $ 3,844     $ 2,726  
Other income (expenses):
                               
Changes in fair value of warrants (note1)
    -       -       -       -  
Interest income
    8       9       4       4  
Other income
    8       8       4       2  
Other expenses
    (1 )     (100 )     0       (99 )
      15       (83 )     8       (93 )
Income before income tax expense
    10,198       6,174       3,852       2,633  
Income tax expense
    304       1,653       25       696  
Net income
    9,894       4,521       3,827       1,937  
                                 
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    127       -       50       -  
Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
    10,021       4,521       3,877       1,937  
                                 
Other comprehensive income
                               
Foreign currency translation gain
    442       13       365       8  
Comprehensive income
  $ 10,336     $ 4,534     $ 4,192     $ 1,945  
                                 
Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
    10,021       4,521       3,877       1,937  
                                 
Beneficial conversion feature of Series A convertible preferred stock (note2)
    -       -       -       -  
                                 
Dividend of Series A convertible preferred stock
    (612 )     -       (190 )     -  
                                 
Net income attributable to common shareholders of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
  $ 9,409     $ 4,521     $ 3,687     $ 1,937  
                                 
Earnings  per share
                               
Earnings per common share
                               
Basic
  $ 0.56     $ 0.31     $ 0.22     $ 0.12  
Diluted
  $ 0.48     $ 0.30     $ 0.19     $ 0.11  
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    16,676,752       14,495,560       16,939,961       15,774,300  
Diluted
    20,905,796       15,126,526       20,916,463       17,646,624  
 
 
Note1: Approximately US$1,861,000 non-cash gain was excluded from the non-GAAP net income and earnings per share calculation for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, and approximately US$1,289,000 non-cash loss was excluded from the non-GAAP net income and earnings per share calculation for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2009. These non-cash gain or loss were recorded in the earnings under US GAAP as changes in fair value of warrants which related to the warrants we issued in our August 2009 Financing .

Note2: Approximately US$5,898,000 beneficial conversion feature of series A convertible preferred stock was excluded from the non-GAAP net income and earnings per share calculation for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2009. The beneficial conversion feature of Series A convertible preferred stock was recorded in the earnings under US GAAP as a deemed dividend, (a deduction of retained earnings and a deduction of net income attributable to common shareholders) which related to the Series A convertible preferred stock we issued in our August 2009 Financing.
 
 
50

 
 
REVENUE

The following tables set forth a breakdown of our total revenue, divided into five segments for the periods indicated, with inter-segment transactions eliminated:
  
Revenue type
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
 
                         
Internet advertisement
  $ 19,478       62.48 %   $ 12,601       46.15 %
TV advertisement
    11,044       35.42 %     13,600       49.81 %
Internet Ad. Resources resell
    93       0.30 %     1,045       3.83 %
Bank kiosks
    396       1.27 %     21       0.07 %
Internet information management
    165       0.53 %     38       0.14 %
Total
  $ 31,176       100 %   $ 27,305       100 %

 
Revenue type
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
 
                         
Internet advertisement
  $ 7,108       79.90 %   $ 4,730       58.21 %
TV advertisement
    1,603       18.02 %     3,114       38.32 %
Internet Ad. resources resell
    -       -       243       2.99 %
Bank kiosks
    133       1.50 %     1       0.01 %
Internet information management
    52       0.58 %     38       0.47 %
Total
  $ 8,896       100 %   $ 8,126       100 %

 
Revenue type
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
 
                         
Internet advertisement
  $ 19,478       100 %   $ 12,601       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    18,607       95.53 %     11,420       90.63 %
—From related parties
    871       4.47 %     1,181       9.37 %
TV advertisement
    11,044       100 %     13,600       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    11,043       99.99 %     12,796       94.09 %
—From related parties
    1       0.01 %     804       5.91 %
Internet Ad. resources resell
    93       100 %     1,045       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    93       100 %     1,045       100 %
—From related parties
    -       -       -       -  
Bank kiosks
    396       100 %     21       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    396       100 %     21       100 %
—From related parties
    -       -       -       -  
Internet information management
    165       100 %     38       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    165       100 %     38       100 %
—From related parties
    -       -       -       -  
Total
  $ 31,176       100 %   $ 27,305       100 %
—From unrelated parties
  $ 30,304       97.20 %   $ 25,320       92.73 %
—From related parties
  $ 872       2.80 %   $ 1,985       7.27 %
 
 
51

 

 
Revenue type
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
(Unaudited)
   
2009
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
 
                         
Internet advertisement
  $ 7,108       100 %   $ 4,730       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    6,844       96.29 %     4,389       92.79 %
—From related parties
    264       3.71 %     341       7.21 %
TV advertisement
    1,603       100 %     3,114       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    1,602       99.94 %     2,933       94.19 %
—From related parties
    1       0.06 %     181       5.81 %
Internet Ad. Resources resell
    -       -       243       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    -       -       243       100 %
—From related parties
    -       -       -       -  
Bank kiosks
    133       100 %     1       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    133       100 %     1       100 %
—From related parties
    -       -       -       -  
Internet information management
    52       100 %     38       100 %
—From unrelated parties
    52       100 %     38       100 %
—From related parties
    -       -       -       -  
Total
  $ 8,896       100 %   $ 8,126       100 %
—From unrelated parties
  $ 8,631       97 %   $ 7,604       93.58 %
—From related parties
  $ 265       3 %   $ 522       6.42 %

Total Revenues: Our total revenues increased to US$31.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$27.3 million for the same period in 2009, representing a 14% increase.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, our total revenue increased to US$8.9 million from US$8.1 million for the same period of 2009, representing a 9.5% increase.
 
We derive the majority of our advertising service revenues from the sale of advertising space and provision of the related technical support on our portal website www.28.com; and from the sale of advertising time purchased from different TV programs to unrelated third parties and to some of our related parties. We report our advertising revenue between related and unrelated parties because historically about 5%-10% of our advertising service revenues came from clients related to some of the shareholders of our PRC operating entities. Our advertising services to related parties were provided in the ordinary course of business on the same terms as those provided to our unrelated advertising clients on an arm’s-length basis. In fiscal year of 2010, we are continuing to execute our strategy of focusing on the internet advertising sales business, which has achieved gross margins of 75% for the first nine months of 2010, and other related value-added services, including search engine marketing, brand management, internet information management and others. We will concentrate resources and capital on our key portal website www.28.com and its related services as previously mentioned in order to yield more predictable and recurring revenue. Our advertising service revenues are recorded net of any sales discounts. These discounts include volume discounts and other customary incentives offered to our small and medium franchise and merchant clients, including additional advertising time for their advertisements if we have unused places available on our website and represent the difference between our official list price and the amount we charge our clients.
 
We typically sign service contracts with our small and medium franchise and merchant clients that require us to place the advertisements on our portal website for specified places and specified periods; and/or place the advertisements onto our purchased advisement time during specific TV programs for specified periods. We recognize revenues as the advertisement airs over the contractual term based on the schedule agreed upon with our clients.

 
52

 

 
l
We achieved a 55% increase in internet advertising revenues to US$19.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$12.6 million for the same period in 2009. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, our internet advertising revenue increased to US$7.1 million from US$4.1 million for the same period in 2009. This is primarily a result of (1) the successful brand building effort for www.28.com made in prior years both on TV and at other well-known portal websites in China, as well as participating in government programs with respect to stimulating employment rates through entrepreneurship and launching of services to branded clients in China in the fiscal year of 2010; (2) more mature client service technologies; (3) launching of more value-added services; and (4) a more experienced sales team. During the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010, we engaged approximately 100 branded clients and achieved about 30 branded clients who use our portal and website to promote their chain stores (or franchise outlets) and other business opportunities. We also enhanced our search engine optimization function, which allows us to provide a more technologically advanced chargeable advertisement for generating sales leads, which was also one of the main reasons for the increases in internet advertisement revenue.

l
We had a 19% decrease in TV advertising revenue to US$11.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$13.6 million for the same period in 2009.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, our TV advertising revenue decreased to US$1.6 million as compared to US$3.1 million for the same period in 2009.  We generated this US$11.0 million of TV advertising revenue by selling approximately 13,650 minutes of advertising time that we purchased from approximately seven provincial TV stations as compared with approximately 17,400 minutes of advertising time that we sold in the same period in 2009.  The decrease in revenue we generated from the TV advertisement segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the same period of last year and was mainly due to the following reasons: (1) a decrease of approximately 3,750 minutes of advertising time sold; (2) increases in demand for TV advertising are relatively limited due to higher demand for internet advertising, which can be more cost effective; (3) in response to TV stations increasing their sales prices, we in turn increased the prices we charged to our customers which resulted in lower demand from our customers for this service; (4) Spring Festival was in the middle of the first quarter of fiscal 2010,  which had a negative impact on the demand for our advertising services and as a result, we  had to decrease our selling price which in turn led to a negative gross profit ratio in the first quarter of 2010. For the three months ended June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2010, we increased our selling prices as compared to that in the first quarter of 2010, and our gross profit ratio of this business segment improved to 7% and 9% for the second and third quarter of 2010, respectively, as compared with (2%) for the first quarter of 2010. We do not anticipate that this business segment will expand in the future.  Rather, we expect that this business segment will be operated as part of multi-channel communication platform for www.28.com and its related services. Meanwhile, management will closely monitor this business segment for the rest of fiscal year 2010 in an effort to improve its performance.

l
Our resale of internet advertising resources is our resale of a portion of the internet resources that we purchase from Baidu in bulk to our existing internet advertising clients, in order to promote their businesses through sponsored searches, search engine traffic generation techniques etc.  We achieved approximately US$0.1 million revenue in this business segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to approximately US$1.0 million for the same period in 2009. We do not consider this segment to be a core business or revenue source, because it does not promote the www.28.com brand and the revenue generated by this segment is subjected to price fluctuation caused by the bidding system adopted by different search engines. In fiscal year 2010, as we intend to promote our direct service website of www.28.com, which has a much higher gross profit, we believe the revenue from this segment will decrease accordingly as compared to last year. We will continue monitor our clients’ demands from this segment, and continue to negotiate the agency terms (i.e. discount rate, credit terms, etc) with major recourses providers, including Baidu, and adjust our strategy accordingly to maximize our earnings from this segment in the future.

 
53

 

 
l
As of September 30, 2010, we deployed 200 kiosks in China Construction Bank Henan Branch, and achieved approximately US$0.4 million of revenue from this segment as compared to approximately US$0.02 million for the same period in 2009. Since the bank kiosk advertising business is still in the initial development stage, it was not a significant contribution to revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  We expanded the number of kiosks in fiscal year 2010 starting from Henan, Shanghai and plan to cover Beijing, Guangdong and Si Chuan based on the possible client sources we are targeting.  As of September 30, 2010, we have placed orders to purchase and install an additional 408 kiosks and, as of September 30, 2010, we have finished the installation of 250 kiosks, including 150 kiosks in China Construction Bank Henan province and 100 kiosks in Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank.  We will continue our efforts to develop this segment in fiscal year of 2010. Management believes that the increase in the number of the kiosks that have been and will be installed will enhance the related advertising coverage though bank kiosks and will help us to yield more clients in the future.

l
Internet information management is a business segment that we launched in August 2009, which offers our clients an intelligent software product based on our proprietary search engine optimization technology.  The main objective of the product is to help our clients gain an early warning of potential negative exposure on the internet so that when necessary they can formulate an appropriate response.  We charge a monthly fee to clients who utilize this service.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we generated US$0.17 million of revenue from this business segment. We plan to expand our efforts to offer this service to more of our existing clients as well as a part of sales package to our branded clients in the future.

Cost of revenues

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

   
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
 
   
Revenue
   
Cost
   
GP
ratio
   
Revenue
   
Cost
   
GP
ratio
 
                                     
Internet advertisement
  $ 19,478       4,907       75 %   $ 12,601       3,352       73 %
TV advertisement
    11,044       10,709       3 %     13,600       11,520       15 %
Internet Ad. resources resell
    93       84       10 %     1,045       1,008       4 %
Bank kiosk
    396       34       91 %     21       2       90 %
Internet information management
    165       9       95 %     38       2       95 %
Others
    -       48       N/A       -       34       N/A  
Total
  $ 31,176       15,791       49 %   $ 27,305       15,918       42 %

   
Three months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
 
   
Revenue
   
Cost
   
GP
ratio
   
Revenue
   
Cost
   
GP
Ratio
 
                                     
Internet advertisement
  $ 7,108       1,643       77 %   $ 4,730       1,241       74 %
TV advertisement
    1,603       1,453       9 %     3,114       2,534       19 %
Internet Ad. resources resell
    -       -       N/A       243       232       5 %
Bank kiosk
    133       11       92 %     1       2       (100 )%
Internet information management
    52       3       94 %     38       2       95 %
Others
    -       -       N/A       -       18       N/A  
Total
  $ 8,896       3,110       65 %   $ 8,126       4,029       50 %

 
54

 

Cost of revenues: Our total cost of revenues decreased slightly to US$15.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$15.9 million for the same period in 2009.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, our total cost of revenue decreased to US$ 3.1 million from US$4.0 million for the same period in 2009.  This was mainly due to the decrease in the cost of the relatively lower margin business segments, such as TV advertisement business and Internet Advertisement resources resell business, which was in line with the decrease of the revenue of these segments for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010.  Our cost of revenues related to the offering of our advertising services mainly consists of internet resources purchased from other portal websites and technical services providers related to lead generation, sponsored search, TV advertisement time costs purchased from TV stations, and business taxes and surcharges.

l
Internet resources cost is the largest component of our cost of revenue for internet advertisement revenue. We purchased these resources from other well-known portal websites in China, such as: Baidu, and Google to help our internet advertisement clients to get better exposure and to generate more visits for their advertisements placed on our portal website.  We accomplish these objectives though sponsored search, advanced tracking, advanced traffic generation technologies, and search engine optimization technologies in connection with the well-known portal websites as indicated above. Our internet resources cost for internet advertising revenue was US$4.9 million and US$3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Our average gross profit ratio for internet advertising services is about 70%-80%.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the gross profit ratio for this segment was 75% and 73% respectively, which was considered stable and reasonable for this business segment.

l
TV advertisement time cost is the largest component of our cost of revenue for TV advertisement revenue. We purchase TV advertisement time from about seven different provincial TV stations and resell it to our TV advertisement clients through infomercials produced by us. Our TV advertisement time cost was US$10.7 million and US$11.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Our gross profit ratio for this segment decreased to 3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to 15% for the same period of 2009. This decrease was mainly due to the following reasons: (1) the increase of our selling price is relatively lower than the increase of the purchase cost per minute charged by the TV stations for fiscal year 2010 as compared to that in 2009 due to the limitation of TV advertisement demands in consideration of the better price performance ratio generated from internet advertisement; (2) because the Spring Festival was in the middle of the first quarter of 2010, we decreased our selling price accordingly to attract customers, which led a 2% negative gross profit ratio for this segment. However, this situation improved in the second and third quarter of 2010, in which we achieved approximately 7% and 9% gross profit ratio, respectively. Management believes that in the last quarter of year of 2010, the TV advertisement segment will continue to generate positive gross profit.

l
Our resale of internet advertising resources that we purchase from Baidu in large volumes, allows us to enjoy a more favorable discount on rates. We normally purchase these internet resources for providing value-added services to our internet advertising clients on our own portal website www.28.com. However, besides placing advertisements on www.28.com, some of our advertising clients also want to use other direct channels for their promotions, so they purchase internet resources from us because, through us, they have access to lower rates as compared to the current market price for such internet resources. The gross profit ratio for this business is not considered to be stable, because it is subject to price fluctuation caused by the bidding system adopted by different search engines. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we limited the supply of this segment, because we intend to promote direct advertisement services to our customers through our own portal website, www.28.com.
 
 
55

 

Gross Profit

As a result of the foregoing, our gross profit was US$15.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to US$11.4 million for the same period in 2009.  For the three months ended September, our gross revenue increased to US$5.8 million from US$4.1 million for the same period in 2009.  Along with the increase of the proportion of the high margin internet advertisement revenue over the total revenue for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009, our overall gross margin increased to 49% and 65% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared with 42% and 50% for the same period in 2009.

Operating Expenses and Net Income

     Our operating expenses consist of selling expenses, general and administrative expenses, and research and development expenses.  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.

   
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
 
   
Amount
   
% of total
revenue
   
Amount
   
% of total
revenue
 
                         
Total Revenue
  $ 31,176       100 %   $ 27,305       100 %
Gross Profit
    15,385       49 %     11,387       42 %
Selling expenses
    2,187       7 %     3,253       12 %
General and administrative expenses
    2,410       8 %     1,530       6 %
Research and development expenses
    605       2 %     347       1 %
Total operating expenses
  $ 5,202       17 %   $ 5,130       19 %

   
Three months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
(Unaudited)
 
2009
(Unaudited)
 
   
(Amount expressed in thousands of US dollars, except percentages)
 
   
Amount
   
% of total
revenue
   
Amount
   
% of total
revenue
 
                         
Total Revenue
  $ 8,896       100 %   $ 8,126       100 %
Gross Profit
    5,786       65 %     4,097       50 %
Selling expenses
    851       10 %     624       8 %
General and administrative expenses
    815       9 %     614       8 %
Research and development expenses
    276       3 %     133       2 %
Total operating expenses
  $ 1,942       22 %   $ 1,371       17 %

Operating Expenses:  Our operating expenses increased slightly to US$5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$5.1 million for the same period in 2009. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, our operating expenses increased to US$1.9 million as compared to US$1.4 million for the same period in 2009.

 
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l
Selling expenses: Selling expenses decreased to US$2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$3.3 million for the same period in 2009.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, selling expenses increased to US$0.9 million as compared to US$0.6 million for the same period of 2009.  Our selling expenses primarily consist of brand development advertising expenses that we pay to TV stations and other media outlets for the promotion of www.28.com, other advertising and promotional expenses, staff salaries, benefits and performance bonuses, website server hosting and broadband leasing expenses, and travel and communication expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the decrease in our selling expenses was mainly due to the decrease of our brand development advertising expenses on TV for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 to approximately US$1.2 million as compared to approximately US$2.3 million for the same period in 2009. We do not expect that the decrease in brand building expenses on TV will have a significant adverse impact on our future revenue growth, because, through the investment we have made in brand building of www.28.com in the last two years, our website has been gradually recognized as one of the most popular portal providing advertising services and other internet services for SMEs, particularly for small and medium sized franchises, in China.  With the increase of the cost for brand development through TV advertisement, we have changed our strategy to focus brand building activities more on our participation in related government support programs of raising employment rates to prolong our brand building effects to the next level. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded approximately US$0.34 million brand building expenses in relation to the co-funding of "Entrepreneurship Fund for Chinese College Students” in China, which is recognized by the six major central ministries, including, China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Education, Central Committee of the Communist Young League, United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and Ministry of Civil Affairs. Management believes that these activities will help to yield additional branded clients who will utilize the portal to promote their chain stores (so called franchises), related products and services, or business opportunities over the internet and other communication channels of the company.  The increase of the selling expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was mainly due to the increase of the website server hosting service charges of approximately US$0.1 million and  an approximately US$0.2 million increase of advertisement charges for www.28.com in this quarter.

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General and administrative expenses: General and administrative expenses increased to US$2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to US$1.5 million for the same period in 2009.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, general and administrative expenses increased to US$0.8 million as compared to US$0.6 million for the same period in 2009.  Our general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits for management, accounting and administrative personnel, office rentals, depreciation of office equipment, professional service fees, maintenance, utilities and other office expenses.  The increase in our general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the following reasons: (1) the increase in professional services charges related to US public company, including but not limited to legal, accounting, and internal control enhancement, for about US$0.5 million; (2) the increase of the start-up expenditures of our newly established subsidiary, Shenzhen Mingshan, for about US$0.2 million; and (3) the increase of staff salary, travelling expenses and other general office supplies in relation to the expansion of our business, for about US$0.2 million.

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Research and development expenses: Research and development expenses increased to US$0.60 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$0.35 million for the same period in 2009. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, research and development increased to US$0.28 million as compared to US$0.13 million for the same period in 2009.  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 increase of the research and development expenses for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010 was mainly due to the expansion of our R&D function which resulted in an increase of the salary expenses and other general administrative expense and suppliers.  We expect that our research and development expenses will increase in future periods as we will continue expanding, optimizing and enhancing the stability of our portal website and upgrading our advertising and internet management software. In general, we expect research and development expenses to remain relatively stable as a percentage (3%-5%) of our total revenues in the future.

 
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Operating Profit: As a result of the foregoing, our operating profit increased to US$10.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$6.3 million for the same period in 2009. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, our operating profit increased to US$3.8 million as compared to 2.7 million for the same period in 2009.

Changes in Fair Value of Warrants: We originally accounted for our warrants issued to investors and placement agent in our August 2009 financing as derivative liabilities under ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging”, because it contained a “Down-round” protection that was applicable if we were to issue new shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the Warrants.  the “Down-round protection” provision is not considered to be an input to the fair value of a fixed-for-fixed option on equity shares which lead to the Warrants to fail to be qualified as indexed to the Companys own stock and then fail to meet the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815. Therefore, we accounted for the Warrants as derivative liabilities under ASC Topic 815.  Pursuant to ASC Topic 815, derivatives should be measured at fair value and re-measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings at each reporting period.

On March 29, 2010, we and the holders of the Warrants entered into agreements to amend certain provisions of the Warrants. The amendment to the investor and placement agent warrants removes the “Down-round protection” rights.  In addition, the amendment to the warrants added a provision to grant the holders of a majority of the warrants an approval right until December 31, 2010, over any new issuance of shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the warrants.

As a result of this amendment, the Warrants issued in the August 2009 financing were qualified as indexed to our own stock and then met the scope exceptions of ASC Topic 815, and were eligible to be reclassified as equity.  In accordance to ASC Topic 815, the classification of a contract should be reassessed at each balance sheet date. If the classification required under this ASC changes as a result of events during the period, the contract should be reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification.  If a contract is reclassified from an asset or a liability to equity, gains or losses recorded to account for the contract at fair value during the period that the contract was classified as an asset or a liability should not be reversed.  Therefore, we re-measured the fair value of the Warrants as of March 29, 2010, the date of the event that caused the classification, which was approximately US$ 7,703,000 and reclassified the amount to equity as additional paid-in capital.  The gain of the changes in fair value during the period that the Warrants were classified as a derivative liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, which was approximately US$ 1,861,000 was recorded in earnings.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2009, as discussed above, we accounted for the warrants issued to our investors and placement agent in the “August 2009 Financing” as derivative liabilities as it contained the “Down-round protection” provision at that time, and approximately US$1,289,000 loss of the changes in fair value of these warrants was recorded in earnings.

Income Tax: We recognized an income tax expense of US$0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2009, we used an estimated income tax rate of 25% to calculate the income tax expense for Business Opportunity Online, one of our PRC operating entities who operates our internet advertising business through www.28.com, because at that time, Business Opportunity Online had not obtained the approval of its qualification as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the New EIT law. In January 2010, with an effective date of September 4, 2009, Business Opportunity Online obtained its qualification as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the New EIT law and was approved by the local tax authority to continue enjoy the 50% reduction of the applicable income tax rates which are 15% to 7.5% for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010. Therefore, the actual income tax rate for Business Opportunity Online for the year ended December 31, 2009 was 7.5%. The differences between the estimated income tax expenses and the actual income tax expenses for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2009 was approximately US$1.14 million and US$0.49 million respectively.

 
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Net Income: As a result of the foregoing, our net income amounted to US$11.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to US$3.2 million for the same period in 2009.  Excluding the approximately US$1.9 million non-cash gain of changes in fair value of warrants recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and the approximately US$1.3 million non-cash loss of changes in fair value of warrants recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, we achieved net income amounted to US$9.9 million and US$4.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we achieved approximately US$3.8 million GAAP net income as compared to approximately US$0.6 million GAAP net income for the same period in 2009. Excluding the approximately US$1.3 million non-cash loss of changes in fair value of warrants recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2009, we achieved net income amounted to approximately US$3.8 million and US$1.9 million for the same period in 2009.
 
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest: Our newly established consolidated majority-owned subsidiary Shenzhen Mingshan was still in the start-up period as of September 30, 2010, the net loss incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of Shenzhen Mingshan was allocated between the shareholders of Shenzhen Mingshan based on the percentage of the ownership in the entity. Based on the percentage ownership of Shenzhen Mingshan, we allocated approximately US$0.13 million and US$0.05 million of losses to the noncontrolling interest shareholders of Shenzhen Mingshan for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010.

Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.: Total net income we achieved for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010 minus the net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders as discussed above was the net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.

Beneficial conversion feature of Series A convertible preferred stock: Upon consummation of our August 2009 Financing, we evaluated whether a beneficial conversion feature exists by comparing the operable conversion price of Series A preferred stock with the fair value of the common stock at the commitment date.  We concluded that the fair value of common stock was greater than the operable conversion price of Series A preferred stock at the commitment date and the intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature is greater than the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock.  In accordance to ASC Topic 470 subtopic 20, if the intrinsic value of beneficial conversion feature is greater than the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock, the amount of the discount assigned to the beneficial conversion feature is limited to the amount of the proceeds allocated to the Series A preferred stock, which was approximately US$5,898,000.  Accordingly, the approximately US$5,898,000 proceeds allocated to Series A preferred stock were all allocated to the beneficial conversion feature with a credit to additional paid-in capital upon the issuance of the Series A preferred stock.  Since the Series A preferred stock may convert to our common stock at any time on or after the initial issuing date, all beneficial conversion feature should be immediately recognized as a deemed dividend, a reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders.  Therefore, we recorded approximately US$5,898,000 beneficial conversion feature of Series A convertible preferred stock for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2009, as deemed dividend, a deduction of net income attributable to common shareholders of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.
 
Dividend for Series A convertible preferred stock: Cash dividend to Series A convertible stock holders was calculated at the per annum rate of 10% of the liquidation preference amount of the Series A preferred stock which was US$2.5 per share and the actual number of days each share outstanding within the reporting period. The cash dividend we accrued for the Series A convertible preferred stock was approximately US$0.61 million and US$0.19 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010.
 
Net income attributable to ChinaNets common shareholders: Net income attributable to ChinaNets common shareholders represents the net income after the allocation to the noncontrolling interest shareholders minus the beneficial conversion feature of Series A convertible preferred stock, as deemed dividend to the holders of the preferred stock and the cash dividend accrued for Series A convertible preferred stock.

 
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B.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand and deposits held 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 September 30, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents of US$22.2 million.

Our liquidity needs include: (i) net cash used in operating activities that consists of (a) cash required to fund the initial build-out and continued expansion of our network and (b) our working capital needs, which include advance payments for advertising time purchased from TV stations and for internet resources providers, payment of our operating expenses and financing of our accounts receivable; and (ii) net cash used in investing activities that consists of investments in computers and other office equipment. To date, we have financed our liquidity needs primarily through proceeds from our operating activities.

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

   
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2010
 
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
   
Amount in thousands of US dollars
 
             
Net cash provided by operating activities
    11,235       4,734  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (448 )     (348 )
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing actives
    (2,718 )     6,825  
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash
    255       10  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    8,324       11,221  

Net cash provided by operating activates:

Our net cash provided by operating activities increased to US$11.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from US$4.7 million for the same period of 2009. This increase is primarily attributable to the increase of our net income to US$9.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 (excluding the US$1.8 million non-cash gain related to changes in fair value of warrants) from US$4.5 million for the same period in 2009 (excluding the US$1.3 million non-cash loss related to changes in fair value of warrants) and our effective management of the collection of our outstanding receivables during the period. We achieved approximately US$31.2 million net revenue with our outstanding receivable only increased by approximately US$1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. We also collected approximately US$2 million advance deposits incurred for TV advertisement bidding during the period.

Net cash used in investing activities:

Our net cash used in investing activities was US$0.45 million and US$0.35 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2010, we replaced and updated our web servers and the related electronic devices as well as the software programs to enhance the security of our portal website.

 
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Net cash used in financing activities:

Our net cash used in financing activities was US$2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, in September 2010, we temporarily loaned unaffiliated parties approximately US$2.3 million, and approximately US$1.5 million had been collected in October 2010.  We also received approximately US$0.14 million cash contributed by the noncotrolling interest shareholders of Shenzhen Mingshan in connection to the establishment of the company.  We also paid approximately US$0.61 million dividend to the holders of Series A convertible preferred stock during the period.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, our net cash provided by financing activities was approximately US$ 6.8 million.  This was mainly because we completed our August 2009 financing and received net proceeds of approximately US$ 9.2 million from this financing. We also used approximately US$ 2 million for the third party loans and US$ 0.3 million to cancel and retire 4,400,000 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the reverse merger transaction.

C.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Our Company did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2010.

 
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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.
 
Item 4(T). 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 financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010, 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 third fiscal quarter of 2010 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.  Removed and Reserved
 
Item 5.  Other Information
 
None.
 
Item 6.  Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
 
Document Description
 
Employment Agreement by and between Rise King Century Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Hangdong Cheng
     
10.2
 
Employment Agreement by and between Rise King Century Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Zhige Zhang
     
10.3
 
Employment Agreement by and between Rise King Century Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and George Kai Chu
     
10.4 
 
Employment Agreement by and between ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. and Min Hu
     
10.5
 
Employment Agreement by and between Rise King Century Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Hongli Xu
     
10.6
 
Employment Agreement by and between Rise King Century Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Li Wu
     
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.
     
 
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).
 
 
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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: November 15, 2010
By:
/s/ Handong Cheng
   
 
Name: Handong Cheng
 
Title: Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
   

 
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