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Global Sources reports third quarter results
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Global Sources reports third quarter results

Increased total revenue 11% and online revenue 19% compared to third quarter 2007

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Sources Ltd. (Nasdaq: GSOL) ( http://www.globalsources.com ) reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2008.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b )

Global Sources' chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, said: "For 37 years, Global Sources' management has successfully led the company through many economic disruptions and our business model enables us to effectively adapt to challenging business environments like we have today. Revenue for the quarter increased 11%, compared to the third quarter of 2007, driven by the continued success of our online business, which grew 19%. Global Sources' resilient financial condition, successful product offerings and focused strategy have the company well positioned for continued prosperity as we look to the future.

"Now, we expect revenue growth for the fourth quarter to range between 4% and 5% over last year's fourth quarter and GAAP EPS to range between $0.12 and $0.13. In assessing our results and future opportunities, it is important to acknowledge Global Sources is addressing a very attractive market opportunity. Mainland China is and is expected to remain the fastest growing major economy in the world, as well as the world's largest manufacturing region and the leading exporter of consumer products to the world."

    Financial highlights -- Third quarter: 2008 compared to 2007
    -- Revenue was $37.6 million, up 11% from $33.8 million.
       -- Online revenue was $23.5 million, up 19% from $19.7 million.
       -- Exhibitions revenue was $511,000, up 13% from $454,000.
       -- Print revenue was $11.9 million, down 6% from $12.6 million.
       -- Revenue from mainland China was $24.3 million, up 22% from $19.9
          million.
    -- GAAP net income was $2.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, which
       included a credit of $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share of non-cash,
       stock-based compensation expense (SBC) based on a stock price of $10.07
       on Sept. 30, 2008. For the third quarter of 2007, GAAP net income was
       $5.1 million, or $0.11 per diluted share.
    -- Non-GAAP net income was $1.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share,
       compared to $6.0 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the third
       quarter of 2007.
    -- Total deferred income and customer prepayments were $99.2 million as
       at Sept. 30, 2008, compared to $88.1 million as at Sept. 30, 2007.
    -- Cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities were $183.2
       million as at Sept. 30, 2008, down 1% from $184.9 million as at Sept.
       30, 2007, reflecting the recent purchase of real estate for a sum of
       $47.9 million.
    -- No short-term or long-term debt.

    Financial highlights -- Nine months ended Sept. 30: 2008 compared to 2007
    -- Revenue was $141.9 million, up 17% from $121.3 million.
       -- Online revenue was $69.5 million, up 25% from $55.4 million.
       -- Exhibitions revenue was $31.7 million, up 21% from $26.2 million.
       -- Print revenue was $36.3 million, essentially flat from $36.4 million.
       -- Revenue from mainland China was $90.4 million, up 27% from $70.9
          million.
    -- GAAP net income was $18.9 million, or $0.40 per diluted share,
       compared to $15.9 million, or $0.34 per diluted share.
    -- Non-GAAP net income was $18.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share,
       compared $21.9 million, or $0.47 per diluted share.

Global Sources' non-GAAP metrics

Management believes non-GAAP metrics are useful measures of operations and provides GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation tables at the end of this press release. Global Sources defines non-GAAP net income as net income excluding non-cash, stock-based compensation (SBC) expense or credit, gains or losses on acquisitions and investments, and/or impairment charges, for all historical and future references to non-GAAP metrics. Non-GAAP EPS is defined as non-GAAP net income divided by the weighted average of diluted common shares outstanding.

Global Sources' CFO, Eddie Heng, said: "Although revenue was less than expected, we have been adjusting our spending and investment plans. As a result, our GAAP EPS of $0.05 exceeded our guidance of $0.02 to $0.03. For the fourth quarter, we expect growth to range between 4% and 5%. Regarding earnings, we plan to continue to carefully manage expenditures, and we anticipate achieving GAAP EPS between $0.12 and $0.13.

"Our balance sheet is very strong and also reflects the substantial investments that we have made over the past 2 years to grow sales representation and enhance our IT infrastructure. At Sept. 30, 2008, we had no debt and $183.2 million in cash and securities, of which 79% was in U.S. short-term treasury bonds. In addition, we have more than $74.5 million in real estate assets based on their cost at the time of purchase."

Global Sources' chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, further added: "We are delighted that Eddie Heng has accepted the Global Sources board of directors' proposal that he continues to serve on the board, as a non- executive director, after he retires from his CFO role next June. As we have recently announced, we have hired David Gillan as Deputy CFO, with a view to Gillan assuming CFO responsibilities upon Eddie's retirement."

    Financial expectations for the fourth quarter and second half 2008
    -- Fourth quarter 2008 ending Dec. 31, 2008:
       -- Revenue is expected to be between $63.0 million and $64.0 million,
          representing growth of 4% to 5% over the fourth quarter of 2007.
          Based on the stock price of $7.90 on Oct. 31, 2008, SBC is estimated
          to have no impact.
       -- GAAP EPS is expected to be between $0.12 and $0.13, as compared to
          $0.17 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2007. This
          guidance includes an estimated impairment marking to market the
          2003 Citi Umbrella Fund as of the end of October 2008.  Notably,
          the company had recorded gains in previous years.  If the value of
          the fund increases by the year end, the impairment will be adjusted.
       -- Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be between $0.14 and $0.15, as compared
          to $0.26 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2007.
    -- Second half 2008 ending Dec. 31, 2008:
       -- Revenue is expected to be in the range of $101 million to $101.5
          million. Compared to $94.6 million for the second half of 2007, this
          represents an increase of 7%. Using the stock price of $7.90 on Oct.
          31, 2008, combined with the third quarter credit of $0.01 per
          diluted share, SBC is estimated to be a credit of $0.01 per diluted
          share.
       -- GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.17 to $0.18, as
          compared to $0.28 per diluted share in the second half of 2007. This
          includes the aforementioned estimated impairment.
       -- Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.18 to $0.19, as
          compared to $0.39 per diluted share for the same period in 2007.

    Recent Corporate Highlights
    -- Held the following China Sourcing Fairs in Hong Kong with a total of
       7,240 booths in October and early November:
       -- Electronics & Components: 2,900 booths
       -- Gifts & Home Products: 3,200 booths
       -- Baby & Children's Products: 180 booths
       -- Fashion Accessories: 740 booths
       -- Underwear & Swimwear: 220 booths
    -- Announced the scheduled launch of China Sourcing Fair: Security
       Products to be held at the AsiaWorld-Expo from Oct. 12-15, 2009.
    -- Held International IC-Taiwan Conference & Exhibition, featuring 130
       booths.
    -- Private Sourcing Events were held since July 1, 2008 for more than 50
       of the world's largest and most well known buying organizations
       including Cole's Group, Lowe's, Woolworths UK, Samsung, NEC, Staples,
       Sears, Li & Fung, RadioShack, Metro, QVC, Office Depot, Carrefour,
       Tesco, Flextronics, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Markant.
    -- Completed the purchase of office space for the use of our companies
       and/or sales representative companies. This is comprised of 2,100
       square meters in Hong Kong for $12.3 million and 6,400 square meters of
       Grade-A office space in the Shenzhen International Chamber of Commerce
       Tower for $35.6 million. The latter complements the company's 2004
       purchase of 9,000 square meters in the same building for $19.4 million
       and its 2007 purchase of 1,940 square meters in the Shenzhen Excellence
       Times Square building for $7.2 million.
    -- Achieved record lead generation, which is measured as requests for
       information (RFIs) from buyers to suppliers through Global Sources
       Online. There were more than 43 million RFIs during the 12 months ended
       Sept. 30, 2008, up more than 86% compared to the same period last year.
    -- Increased Global Sources' independently certified community of active
       buyers to more than 753,000 at the end of the third quarter, 16% higher
       than the same time last year.
    -- Appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as the independent accounting firm for
       the financial year ending Dec. 31, 2008, effective Aug. 22, 2008.

Conference call for Global Sources third quarter 2008 earnings

Chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, and Eddie Heng, CFO, are scheduled to conduct a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on Nov. 13, 2008 (9:00 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2008 in Hong Kong) to review these results in more detail. Investors in the United States may participate in the call by dialing (888) 212-8315, and international participants may dial (1-706) 643-0144. Investors in Hong Kong may call (852) 3011-4515. A live webcast of the conference call is scheduled to be available on Global Sources' corporate site at http://www.investor.globalsources.com .

For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a webcast replay of the call is scheduled to be available on the company's corporate site for at least 30 days. A telephone replay of the call is also scheduled to be available through Nov. 17, 2008. To listen to the telephone replay, dial (800) 642-1687, or dial (1-706) 645-9291 outside the United States, and enter pass code 67291896#. For those in the Hong Kong area, the replay dial-in number is (852) 3011-4541, and the pass code is 67291896#.

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world. The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies to sell to, and within Greater China.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 753,000 active buyers source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 230 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on 4.3 million products and more than 196,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly magazines, over 100 sourcing research reports and 9 specialized trade shows which run 27 times a year across eight cities.

Suppliers receive more than 43 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com ) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 37 years. Global Sources' network covers more than 69 cities worldwide. In mainland China, Global Sources has over 2,800 team members in more than 44 locations, and a community of over 1 million registered online users and magazine readers for Chinese-language media.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21-E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The company's actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of the risks associated with the company's business, changes in general economic conditions, and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements.

                            -- Tables to Follow --



                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
   (In U.S. Dollars Thousands, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)


                                                        At           At
                                                   September 30  December 30
                                                       2008         2007
                                                    (Unaudited)
    ASSETS
    Current Assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                        $177,263    $197,825
     Available-for-sale securities                       5,912          --
     Accounts receivable, net                            6,682       6,665
     Receivables from sales representatives              8,235      12,303
     Inventory                                           1,192       1,108
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets          22,045      15,333
     Deferred tax assets                                    46          46
       Total Current Assets                            221,375     233,280

    Property and equipment, net                         82,215      35,352
    Long term investments                                  100         100
    Bonds held to maturity, at amortized cost               --          99
    Deferred tax assets -- long term                       202         196
    Other assets                                         2,476       2,781
       Total Assets                                   $306,368    $271,808

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
     Accounts payable                                   $7,141      $5,577
     Deferred income and customers' prepayments         92,003      78,141
     Accrued liabilities                                10,887      12,546
     Income taxes payable                                  871         694
       Total Current Liabilities                       110,902      96,958
    Deferred income and customers' prepayments
     -- long term                                        7,170       4,934
    Deferred tax liability                                 239         283
       Total Liabilities                               118,311     102,175

    Non-controlling interest                             3,974       4,940

    Shareholders' equity:
     Common shares, US$0.01 par value; 75,000,000
      shares authorized; 46,703,058 (2007: 46,572,092)
      shares issued and outstanding                        467         466
     Additional paid in capital                        134,390     133,987
     Retained earnings                                  47,729      28,829
     Accumulated other comprehensive income              1,497       1,411
       Total Shareholders' Equity                      184,083     164,693
       Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
        Equity                                        $306,368    $271,808



                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
   (In U.S. Dollars Thousands, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)


                                   Three months ended   Nine months ended
                                      September 30,        September 30,
                                  2008        2007         2008       2007
                              (Unaudited) (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)(Unaudited)

    Revenue:
      Online and other media
       services (Note 1)         $35,350     $32,270    $105,766     $91,849
      Exhibitions                    511         454      31,731      26,153
      Miscellaneous                1,716       1,059       4,354       3,273
                                 $37,577     $33,783    $141,851    $121,275

    Operating Expenses:
      Sales (Note 2)              16,036      12,330      48,909      41,132
      Event production               280         163      11,359      10,240
      Community (Note 2)           5,976       5,051      21,425      17,759
      General and
       administrative (Note 2)    11,742      10,484      35,809      31,929
      Online services
       development (Note 2)        1,549       1,614       4,530       4,200
      Amortization of software
       costs                          50          38         147         118
    Total Operating Expenses      35,633      29,680     122,179     105,378
    Income from Operations         1,944       4,103      19,672      15,897
      Interest and dividend
       income                        670       1,758       2,616       4,874
      Loss on investment, net         --          --          --      (1,846)
      Foreign exchange gains
       (losses), net                 (24)       (294)     (1,319)       (758)
    Income before Income Taxes     2,590       5,567      20,969      18,167
    Income Tax Expense              (140)        (89)       (561)       (646)
    Net Income before
     Non-Controlling Interest      2,450       5,478      20,408      17,521
    Non-Controlling interest        (175)       (345)     (1,508)     (1,670)
    Net Income                    $2,275      $5,133     $18,900     $15,851
    Diluted net income per
     share                         $0.05       $0.11       $0.40       $0.34
    Total shares used in
     diluted net income per
     share calculations       47,506,782  47,090,456  47,448,286  46,910,979



      Note: 1. Online and other media services consists of:

                                 Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                    September 30,           September 30,
                                  2008        2007        2008       2007
                              (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)(Unaudited)

      Online services            $23,480     $19,656     $69,514    $55,418
      Print services              11,870      12,614      36,252     36,431
                                 $35,350     $32,270    $105,766    $91,849



      Note: 2. Non-cash compensation expenses associated with the several
               employee equity compensation plans and Directors Purchase Plan
               included under various categories of expenses are as follows:

                                 Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                    September 30,           September 30,
                                  2008        2007        2008       2007
                              (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)(Unaudited)

      Sales                        $(582)       $483     $(1,390)    $1,869
      Community                       14          55         194        157
      General administrative         136         311         536      1,956
      Online services development     53          65         178        225
                                   $(379)       $914       $(482)    $4,207



                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    ACTUAL GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
   (In U.S. Dollars Thousands, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)


                                 Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                    September 30,           September 30,
                                   2008        2007        2008        2007

    GAAP EPS                      $0.05       $0.11       $0.40       $0.34

    GAAP Net Income              $2,275      $5,133     $18,900     $15,851

    Non-cash stock based
     compensation expense /
     (credit) (Note 1)             (379)        914        (482)      4,207

    Loss on investment, net
     (Note 2)                        --          --          --       1,846

    Non-GAAP Net Income          $1,896      $6,047     $18,418     $21,904

    Non-GAAP diluted net
     income per share             $0.04       $0.13       $0.39       $0.47


    Total shares used in
     non-GAAP diluted net
     income per share
     calculations            47,506,782  47,090,456  47,448,286  46,910,979

    Notes:
    (1) Non-cash stock based compensation expense / (credit).
    (2) An impairment charge of approximately $2.3 million on the company's
        HC International investment, net of $0.5 million received pursuant to
        indemnification obligations of the vendor under the purchase agreement
        for HC International investment.



                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   GUIDANCE GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
    (In U.S. Dollars Million, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)

                                     Actual                  GUIDANCE
                                Three months ended      Three months ended
                                   September 30,          December 31,
                                      2008                    2008

    Revenue                          $37.58       to     $63.00  to  $64.00

    GAAP EPS                          $0.05       to      $0.12  to   $0.13

    Non-cash stock based
     compensation expense /
     (credit)  (Note 1)              ($0.01)                 --          --

    Forecast impairment on
     available-for-sale
     securities (Note 2)                 --               $0.02       $0.02

    Non-GAAP diluted net income
     per share                        $0.04       to      $0.14  to   $0.15

    Total shares used in
     non-GAAP diluted net
     income per share
     calculations                47,506,782          47,526,076  47,526,076



                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              CONTINUED GUIDANCE GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
    (In U.S. Dollars Million, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)


                                                  GUIDANCE
                                              Six months ended
                                                 December 31,
                                                    2008


    Revenue                              $101.00    to   $101.50

    GAAP EPS                               $0.17    to     $0.18

    Non-cash stock based compensation
     expense / (credit)  (Note 1)         ($0.01)         ($0.01)

    Forecast impairment on available-
     for-sale securities (Note 2)          $0.02           $0.02


    Non-GAAP diluted net income per
     share                                 $0.18    to     $0.19

    Total shares used in non-GAAP
     diluted net income
     per share calculations           47,467,793      47,467,793


    Notes:
    (1) Non-cash stock based compensation expense / (credit).
    (2) Forecast impairment on available-for-sale securities.



                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   GUIDANCE GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
    (In U.S. Dollars Million, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)


                                         GUIDANCE                ACTUAL
                                    Three months ended     Three months ended
                                         December 31,         December 31,
                                            2008                 2007

    Revenue                          $63.00   to  $64.00        $60.8

    GAAP EPS                          $0.12   to   $0.13        $0.17

    Non-cash stock based
     compensation expense /
     (credit) (Note 1)                   --           --        $0.07

    Gain on sale of HC shares
     (Note 2)                            --           --       ($0.05)

    Impairment charge for Blue
     Bamboo (Note 3)                     --           --        $0.07

    Forecast impairment on
     available-for-sale
     securities (Note 4)              $0.02        $0.02           --

    Loss on investment, net
     (Note 5)                            --          --            --

    Non-GAAP diluted net income
     per share                        $0.14   to   $0.15        $0.26

    Total shares used in non-GAAP
     diluted net income
     per share calculations      47,526,076   47,526,076   47,169,292



                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              CONTINUED GUIDANCE GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
    (In U.S. Dollars Million, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)


                                         GUIDANCE               ACTUAL
                                        Year ended            Year ended
                                        December 31,          December 31,
                                            2008                 2007

    Revenue                         $205.00   to $206.00       $182.1

    GAAP EPS                          $0.52   to   $0.53        $0.51

    Non-cash stock based
     compensation expense /
     (credit) (Note 1)               ($0.01)      ($0.01)       $0.16

    Gain on sale of HC shares
     (Note 2)                            --           --       ($0.05)

    Impairment charge for Blue
     Bamboo (Note 3)                     --           --        $0.07

    Forecast impairment on
     available-for-sale
     securities (Note 4)              $0.02        $0.02           --

    Loss on investment, net
     (Note 5)                            --           --        $0.04

    Non-GAAP diluted net income
     per share                        $0.53   to   $0.54        $0.73

    Total shares used in non-GAAP
     diluted net income
     per share calculations      47,467,793   47,467,793   46,986,861

    Notes:
    (1) Non-cash stock based compensation expense / (credit).
    (2) A gain of approximately $2.4 million arising from the sale of the
        shares of HC International.
    (3) Impairment charge of approximately $3.1 million recorded by the
        company on intangible assets and goodwill pertaining to the business
        acquisition of Blue Bamboo China Ventures.
    (4) Forecast impairment on available-for-sale securities.
    (5) An impairment charge of approximately $2.3 million on the
        company's HC International investment, net of $0.5 million received
        pursuant to indemnification obligations of the vendor under the
        purchase agreement for HC International investment.



    For financial matrix, please visit:
http://xprnnews.xfn.info/GSOL/20081113/HKTH001.pdf


    Global Sources Press Contact in Asia:
     Camellia So
     Tel:   +852-2555-5021
     Email: cso@globalsources.com

    Global Sources Press Contact in U.S.:
     James W.W. Strachan
     Tel:   +1-480-664-8309
     Email: strachan@globalsources.com

    Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia:
     Investor Relations Department
     Tel:   +852-2555-4777
     Email: investor@globalsources.com

    Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S.:
     Kirsten Chapman & Timothy Dien
     Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
     Tel:   +1-415-433-3777
     Email: tdien@lhai.com

SOURCE Global Sources

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