/EIN News/ -- BEIJING, May 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaCache International Holdings Ltd. (“ChinaCache” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:CCIH), the leading total solutions provider of Internet content and application delivery services in China, today announced its unaudited condensed consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Highlights for the First Quarter of 2016

• Net revenues were RMB267.8 million (US$41.5 million), compared with RMB363.7 million in the corresponding period in 2015.
• Gross loss was RMB13.6 million (US$2.1 million), compared with gross profit of RMB107.4 million in the corresponding period in 2015.
• Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was a loss of RMB56.9 million (US$8.8 million), compared with adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of RMB49.7 million in the corresponding period in 2015.
• Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB138.5 million (US$21.5 million), compared with net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RMB5.2 million in the corresponding period in 2015.

“Our revenues in the first quarter were impacted by the continued challenges associated with the optimization of our High Performance Cloud Caching (HPCC) platform,” stated Mr. Song Wang, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ChinaCache, “Since we launched the platform in mid-2015, our optimization progress has been slower than planned and has not yet delivered the desired operational performance. However, we believe this platform is the basis of our long-term competitive differentiation, and we are working intensively with certain Content Delivery Network (CDN) clients with high-volume traffic in order to increase their traffic flow on this platform, while further advancing the platform optimization. We continue to expect our HPCC platform to accommodate increasing traffic with enhanced quality services, and to return to top-line growth in the second half of 2016. In addition, we will maintain disciplined cost control and operating efficiency.

“We officially launched our Atecsys Cloud Data Center and Internet Exchange business during the first quarter, and established a node in Guangzhou in April. In the foreseeable future, we plan to establish additional nodes in more tier 1 and tier 2 cities in China. We are confident in realizing our vision to create a dedicated carrier- and Internet-neutral data center network (DCN) ecosystem that offers Internet companies total solutions.

“With over fifteen years of proven experience in solutions for China’s Internet infrastructure and our extensive CDN and cutting-edge Atecsys Cloud Data Center and Internet Exchange services, we remain confident that our compelling value proposition will bring long-term profitability and growth to the Company in China’s rapidly expanding Internet industry,” concluded Mr. Wang.

First Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Net revenues for the first quarter of 2016 were RMB267.8 million (US$41.5 million), representing a 14.0% decrease from the previous quarter and a 26.4% decrease from the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in net revenues was primarily due to the continued ongoing challenges associated with HPCC platform optimization process in the first quarter.

Cost of revenues for the first quarter of 2016 increased by 5.2% quarter-over-quarter and 9.8% year-over-year to RMB281.4 million (US$43.6 million). Gross margin was negative 5.1%, compared with 14.2% in the previous quarter and 29.5% in the corresponding period in 2015. Non-GAAP gross margin, which excludes share-based compensation, was negative 4.0%, compared with 14.5% in the previous quarter and 29.9% in the corresponding period in 2015. The decline of gross margin was mainly due to reduced bandwidth efficiency.

Sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2016 were RMB23.7 million (US$3.7 million), or 8.9% of net revenues, representing a 21.3% decrease over the previous quarter and a 25.5% decrease from the corresponding period in 2015.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2016 were RMB87.5 million (US$13.6 million), or 32.7% of net revenues, representing a 43.3% increase from the previous quarter and a 76.0% increase from the corresponding period in 2015. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to newly granted restricted shares in the end of 2015.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the first quarter of 2016 were RMB27.9 million (US$4.3 million), or 10.4% of net revenues, representing a 9.5% increase from the previous quarter and a 3.7% increase from the corresponding period in 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), defined as EBITDA excluding share-based compensation expenses, foreign exchange and transaction tax on assets transfer, was a loss of RMB56.9 million (US$8.8 million). Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was RMB3.9 million in the previous quarter and RMB49.7 million in the corresponding period in 2015.

Operating loss was RMB147.2 million (US$22.8 million) in the first quarter of 2016, compared with an operating loss of RMB64.1 million in the previous quarter and an operating loss of RMB1.1 million in the corresponding period in 2015. Non-GAAP operating loss, which excludes share-based compensation expenses and transaction tax on assets transfer, was RMB97.0 million (US$15.0 million), compared with a non-GAAP operating loss of RMB40.5 million in the previous quarter and a non-GAAP operating income of RMB14.1 million in the corresponding period in 2015.

Income tax benefit was RMB12.4 million (US$1.9 million) in the first quarter of 2016, compared with income tax benefit of RMB22.9 million in the previous quarter and income tax expense of RMB0.5 million in the corresponding period in 2015.

Net loss was RMB138.5 million (US$21.5 million) in the first quarter of 2016, compared with net loss of RMB36.8 million in the previous quarter, and a net loss of RMB5.2 million in the corresponding period in 2015. Net loss per basic and diluted American depositary share (“ADS”) for the first quarter of 2016 was RMB5.60 (US$0.87) each. Each ADS represents 16 ordinary shares of the Company.

Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP), defined as net income before share-based compensation expenses, foreign exchange loss, penalties on uncertain tax positions and transaction tax on assets transfer, was RMB87.5 million (US$13.6 million) in the first quarter of 2016, compared with adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) of RMB15.8 million in the previous quarter and adjusted net profit (non-GAAP) of RMB10.4 million in the corresponding period in 2015. Non-GAAP net loss per basic and diluted ADS for the first quarter of 2016 was RMB3.54 (US$0.55) each.            

Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB412.9 million (US$64.0 million), compared with RMB606.8 million as of December 31, 2015.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2016 were RMB31.7 million (US$4.9 million).

2016 Revenue Guidance

ChinaCache currently expects to generate total net revenues in the range of RMB1.45 billion to RMB1.55 billion for the full year of 2016, representing year-over-growth of 7.1% to 14.5%. The Company expects most of the revenue growth to occur in the second half of the year.

This outlook reflects ChinaCache's current view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

The Company has scheduled a conference call to discuss these results at 8:00 PM Eastern time on May 23, 2016, which corresponds to 8:00 AM Beijing time on May 24, 2016.

The dial-in details for the live conference call are as follows:

• U.S. dial-in number: +1 (845) 675-0438
• Hong Kong dial-in number: +852 3018-6776
• International dial-in number: +65 6713-5440
• China dial-in number: 400-1200-654
• Conference ID: 15416126

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of ChinaCache’s website at www.chinacache.com.

A replay of the conference call will also be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live call until May 30, 2016 by dialing:

• U.S. dial-in number: +1 (855) 452-5696 
• International dial-in number: +61 (2) 9003-4211   
• China dial-in number: 400-632-2162
• Conference ID: 15416126

About ChinaCache International Holdings Ltd.

ChinaCache International Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:CCIH) is the leading total solutions provider of Internet content and application delivery services in China. As a carrier-neutral service provider, ChinaCache's network in China is interconnected with networks operated by all telecom carriers, major non-carriers and local Internet service providers. With more than a decade of experience in developing solutions tailored to China's complex Internet infrastructure, ChinaCache is a partner of choice for businesses, government agencies and other enterprises to enhance the reliability and scalability of online services and applications and improve end-user experience. For more information on ChinaCache, please visit ir.chinacache.com.

*Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In evaluating its business, ChinaCache considers and uses the following non-GAAP measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental measures to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP research and development expenses, non-GAAP operating income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP), EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP). The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures" set forth at the end of this press release.

To present non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses and non-GAAP research and development expenses, the Company excludes share-based compensation expense.

To present non-GAAP gross profit (loss), the Company excludes share-based compensation expense.

To present non-GAAP operating income (loss), the Company excludes share-based compensation expense and transaction tax on assets transfer.

The Company defines adjusted net income (loss) as net income (loss) before share-based compensation expense, foreign exchange gain (loss), penalties on uncertain tax positions and transaction tax on assets transfer.

The Company uses EBITDA to assist in reconciliation to adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, income tax expense and penalties on uncertain tax positions and depreciation and amortization. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before share-based compensation expense, foreign exchange gain (loss) and transaction tax on assets transfer that the Company does not consider reflective of its ongoing operations. The Company believes that the use of adjusted EBITDA facilitates investors' use of operating performance comparisons from period to period and company to company by backing out potential differences caused by variations in items such as capital structure (affecting relative interest expense and share-based compensation expense), the book amortization of intangibles (affecting relative amortization expense), the age and book value of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense) and other non-cash expenses. The Company also presents adjusted EBITDA because it believes it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a measure of the financial performance of companies in its industry.

Those non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not measures presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Those non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and when assessing the Company's operating performance, investors should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for net income or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations include, but are not limited to:

• Adjusted net income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the Company's cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
• They do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, the Company's working capital needs;
• They do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on the Company's debt;
• They do not reflect income taxes or the cash requirements for any tax payments;
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized often will have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted net income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
• While share-based compensation is a component of cost of revenues and operating expenses, the impact on the Company's financial statements compared to other companies can vary significantly due to such factors as assumed life of the options and assumed volatility of the Company's ordinary shares; and
• Other companies may calculate adjusted net income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA differently than the Company does, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.4480 as of March 31, 2016.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the full year 2016 and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as ChinaCache’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. ChinaCache may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s goals and strategies, expansion plans, the expected growth of the content and application delivery services market, the Company’s expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with its customers, and the general economic and business conditions in the regions where the Company provides its solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and ChinaCache undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(amounts in thousands)
				As of Dec 31		As of Mar 31		As of Mar 31
				2015		2016		2016
				RMB		RMB		US$
				(Audited)		(Unaudited)		(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents			606,796		412,942		64,042
	Accounts receivable, net			243,431		224,187		34,768
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			31,560		46,672		7,239
	Short term investments			26,169		176,603		27,389
	Deferred tax assets			17,923		19,030		2,951
	Amount due from a subsidiary held for sale			435		416		65
	Assets held for sale			1,060,543		1,080,457		167,565
		Total current assets		1,986,857		1,960,307		304,019
Non-current assets
	Property and equipment, net			499,946		474,250		73,550
	Intangible assets, net			10,898		10,094		1,565
	Long term investments			50,157		50,633		7,853
	Deferred tax assets			11,368		20,397		3,163
	Long term deposits and other non-current assets			59,390		63,141		9,792
		Total non-current assets		631,759		618,515		95,923
Total Assets				2,618,616		2,578,822		399,942
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
	Accounts payable			205,593		285,950		44,347
	Accrued employee benefits			44,690		58,028		8,999
	Accrued expenses and other payables			76,409		62,871		9,750
	Income tax payable			13,513		14,029		2,176
	Liabilities for uncertain tax positions			11,337		11,337		1,758
	Amounts due to related parties			18		18		3
	Current portion of long term loan			7,180		7,180		1,114
	Current portion of capital lease obligations			70,615		76,969		11,937
	Deferred government grant			16,360		13,000		2,016
	Amount due to a subsidiary held for sale			319,536		293,729		45,554
	Liabilities held for sale			1,014,449		1,041,382		161,505
		Total current liabilities		1,779,700		1,864,493		289,159
Non-current liabilities
		Long-term loan		4,340		3,590		557
		Non-current portion of capital lease obligations		104,450		97,010		15,045
		Deferred government grant		8,439		15,419		2,391
		Total non-current liabilities		117,229		116,019		17,993
Total Liabilities				1,896,929		1,980,512		307,152
Total Shareholders' equity				721,687		598,310		92,790
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY				2,618,616		2,578,822		399,942

 

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
	(amounts in thousands, except for number of shares, per share and per ADS data)
									For the Three Months Ended
									Mar 31, 2015				Dec 31, 2015				Mar 31, 2016				Mar 31, 2016
									RMB				RMB				RMB				US$
									(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
	Net revenues									363,745				311,447				267,777				41,529
	Cost of revenues									(256,299	)			(267,339	)			(281,374	)			(43,637	)
	Gross profit (loss)									107,446				44,108				(13,597	)			(2,108	)
		Other operating income								-				13,911				5,581				866
		Sales & marketing expenses								(31,833	)			(30,145	)			(23,725	)			(3,679	)
		General & administrative expenses								(49,712	)			(61,062	)			(87,515	)			(13,572	)
		Transaction tax on assets transfer								-				(5,394	)			-				-
		Research & development expenses								(26,962	)			(25,530	)			(27,948	)			(4,334	)
	Operating loss									(1,061	)			(64,112	)			(147,204	)			(22,827	)
		Interest income								992				1,940				420				65
		Interest expense								(4,129	)			(2,473	)			(3,406	)			(528	)
		Other income (expense)								18				141				(4	)			(1	)
		Foreign exchange (loss) gain, net								(475	)			4,845				(752	)			(117	)
	Loss before income taxes									(4,655	)			(59,659	)			(150,946	)			(23,408	)
		Income tax (expense) benefit								(548	)			22,861				12,416				1,926
	Net loss									(5,203	)			(36,798	)			(138,530	)			(21,482	)
	Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest									-				(44	)			(70	)			(11	)
	Net loss attributable to the Company's shareholders									(5,203	)			(36,754	)			(138,460	)			(21,471	)
	Foreign currency translation									266				249				(44	)			(7	)
	Unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale investments									286				1,106				429				67
	Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									552				1,355				385				60
	Comprehensive loss									(4,651	)			(35,443	)			(138,145	)			(21,422	)
	Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest									-				(44	)			(70	)			(11	)
	Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company's shareholders									(4,651	)			(35,399	)			(138,075	)			(21,411	)
	Loss per ordinary share:
		Basic								(0.01	)			(0.09	)			(0.35	)			(0.05	)
		Diluted								(0.01	)			(0.09	)			(0.35	)			(0.05	)
	Loss per ADS*:
		Basic								(0.20	)			(1.45	)			(5.60	)			(0.87	)
		Diluted								(0.20	)			(1.45	)			(5.60	)			(0.87	)
	Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in earnings per share computation:
		Basic								413,501,903				404,344,939				395,349,144				395,349,144
		Diluted								413,501,903				404,344,939				395,349,144				395,349,144
	*	Note1:1 ADS = 16 shares

 

	Supplementary Metrics
	(Unaudited)
									Mar 31, 2015				Jun 30, 2015				Sep 30, 2015				Dec 31, 2015				Mar 31, 2016
	Revenues breakdown by industry verticals
	Internet and software									22	%			21	%			21	%			21	%			19	%
	Mobile internet									16	%			16	%			18	%			18	%			21	%
	Media and entertainment									29	%			30	%			28	%			28	%			23	%
	E-commerce									19	%			19	%			19	%			19	%			20	%
	Enterprises									14	%			14	%			14	%			14	%			16	%
	Government agencies									0	%			0	%			0	%			0	%			0	%
	Total									100	%			100	%			100	%			100	%			100	%
	Capital expenditures									56,144				25,150				7,735				38,144				31,694
	As a percentage of net revenues									15.4	%			7.1	%			2.4	%			12.2	%			11.8	%

 

	Supplementary Metrics - Reconciliations of Non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures
	(amounts in thousands, except for percentages, number of shares, per share and per ADS data)
	(Unaudited)
						For the Three Months Ended
						Mar 31, 2015				Dec 31, 2015				Mar 31, 2016				Mar 31, 2016
						RMB				RMB				RMB				US$
	Adjusted EBITDA — defined as EBITDA before share-based compensation expense, foreign exchange gain, penalties on uncertain tax positions and transaction tax on assets transfer
	Net loss						(5,203	)			(36,798	)			(138,530	)			(21,482	)
	Depreciation						34,185				40,872				39,338				6,101
	Amortization						1,349				1,151				718				111
	Interest expense						4,129				2,473				3,406				528
	Interest income						(992	)			(1,940	)			(420	)			(65	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)						548				(22,861	)			(12,416	)			(1,926	)
	Share-based compensation						15,163				18,259				50,247				7,793
	Foreign exchange loss (gain)						475				(4,845	)			752				117
	Penalties on uncertain tax positions						-				2,206				-				-
	Transaction tax on assets transfer						-				5,394				-				-
	Adjusted EBITDA						49,654				3,911				(56,905	)			(8,823	)
		Margin%					13.7	%			1.3	%			(21.3	%)			(21.3	%)
	Adjusted net income (loss)— defined as net loss before share-based compensation, foreign exchange gain, penalties on uncertain tax positions and transaction tax on assets transfer
	Net loss						(5,203	)			(36,798	)			(138,530	)			(21,482	)
	Share-based compensation						15,163				18,259				50,247				7,793
	Foreign exchange loss (gain)						475				(4,845	)			752				117
	Penalties on uncertain tax positions						-				2,206				-				-
	Transaction tax on assets transfer						-				5,394				-				-
	Adjusted net income (loss)						10,435				(15,784	)			(87,531	)			(13,572	)
		Margin%					2.9	%			(5.1	%)			(32.7	%)			(32.7	%)
	Earnings (loss) per ordinary share:
		Basic					0.03				(0.04	)			(0.22	)			(0.03	)
		Diluted					0.02				(0.04	)			(0.22	)			(0.03	)
	Earnings (loss) per ADS:
		Basic					0.40				(0.62	)			(3.54	)			(0.55	)
		Diluted					0.39				(0.62	)			(3.54	)			(0.55	)
	Non-GAAP gross profit (loss) – defined as gross profit before share-based compensation expense
	Gross profit (loss)						107,446				44,108				(13,597	)			(2,108	)
	Plus: Share-based compensation						1,307				945				2,833				439
	Non-GAAP gross profit (loss)						108,753				45,053				(10,764	)			(1,669	)
		Margin%					29.9	%			14.5	%			(4.0	%)			(4.0	%)
	Non-GAAP operating expense – defined as operating expense before share-based compensation expense
	Sales & marketing expenses						31,833				30,145				23,725				3,679
	Minus: Share-based compensation						(1,103	)			(693	)			(1,543	)			(239	)
	Non-GAAP sales & marketing expenses						30,730				29,452				22,182				3,440
		% of net revenues					8.4	%			9.5	%			8.3	%			8.3	%
	General & administrative expenses						49,712				61,062				87,515				13,572
	Minus: Share-based compensation						(11,089	)			(15,876	)			(43,936	)			(6,814	)
	Non-GAAP general & administrative expenses						38,623				45,186				43,579				6,758
		% of net revenues					10.6	%			14.5	%			16.3	%			16.3	%
	Research & development expenses						26,962				25,530				27,948				4,334
	Minus: Share-based compensation						(1,664	)			(745	)			(1,935	)			(300	)
	Non-GAAP research & development expenses						25,298				24,785				26,013				4,034
		% of net revenues					7.0	%			8.0	%			9.7	%			9.7	%
	Non-GAAP operating profit (loss) — defined as GAAP operating loss before share-based compensation expense and transaction tax on assets transfer
	Operating loss						(1,061	)			(64,112	)			(147,204	)			(22,827	)
	Plus: Share-based compensation						15,163				18,259				50,247				7,793
	Transaction tax on assets transfer						-				5,394				-				-
	Non-GAAP operating profit (loss)						14,102				(40,459	)			(96,957	)			(15,034	)
		Margin%					3.9	%			(13.0	%)			(36.2	%)			(36.2	%)

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Investor Relations Department
ChinaCache International Holdings
Tel: +86 (10) 6408 5307
Email: ir@chinacache.com

Mr. Don Markley
The Piacente Group | Investor Relations
Tel: +1 212-481 2050
Email: chinacache@tpg-ir.com