Bay Street News

iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited Reports Third Quarter 2018 Unaudited Financial Results

–Third-Quarter Net Revenues Rise 43% Year on Year–

–Gross Billing from Mobile Audience Solutions More Than Doubled from Last Year’s Third Quarter– 

–Company Announces US$10.0 Million Share Repurchase Program–

HONG KONG, Nov. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited (“iClick”) (NASDAQ: ICLK), a leading independent online marketing and data technology platform in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, in addition to approval from its board of directors of a share repurchase program with an aggregate value of up to US$10.0 million.

    Three Months Ended September 30,
    2017   2018   Percentage change
    (US$ in thousands)   (US$ in thousands)    
    (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)    
Financial Metrics:            
Net revenues            
Net revenues from mobile audience solutions   24,991   37,781   51%
Net revenues from other solutions   4,765   4,806   1%
Total net revenues   29,756   42,587   43%
Adjusted EBITDA1   (410)   1,189   N/M
Adjusted net loss1   (1,821)   (822)   N/M
Diluted adjusted net loss per ADS1   (0.09)   (0.02)   N/M
Operating Metrics:            
Gross billing            
Gross billing from mobile audience solutions   41,407   87,090   110%
  Gross billing from other solutions   17,027   17,321   2%
Total gross billing   58,434   104,411   79%

“We have seen another quarter with significant operational achievements, delivering robust and encouraging financial metrics, record high adjusted EBITDA and historical low adjusted net loss, while making progress executing our long-term business strategy,” said Sammy Hsieh, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of iClick. “Gross billing from our mobile audience solutions more than doubled from last year’s third quarter, and net revenues from this business line grew more than 50% from the same period last year.

“iClick successfully raised growth capital from its convertible bond issuance during the quarter, which provided funds to support future acquisitions, continued expansion into China and international markets and enhancement of our broad product offerings,” Hsieh said. “As we continue to leverage the strength of our market leading Chinese consumer dataset and diversified customer base, we look forward to driving continued growth and value for all of our stakeholders.

“We also announced a share repurchase program, which is a testament to our confidence in iClick’s growth prospects and provides an excellent opportunity to invest in the company’s future,” Hsieh said.

Third Quarter 2018 Financial and Operational Updates:

Net revenues for the third quarter of 2018 grew by 43% to US$42.6 million, from US$29.8 million for the third quarter of 2017, primarily as the result of an increase in net revenues from mobile audience solutions.

Net revenues from mobile audience solutions increased by 51% to US$37.8 million for the third quarter of 2018, from US$25.0 million for the same quarter last year, primarily as the result of strong market demand in mobile audience solutions.

Net revenues from other solutions was US$4.8 million for the third quarter of 2018, flat with the third quarter of 2017.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2018 increased by 44% to US$9.3 million, from US$6.5 million for the third quarter of 2017, mainly as the result of an increase in gross profit from mobile audience solutions.

Total operating expenses were US$23.4 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared with US$9.2 million for the third quarter of last year. The increase was primarily due to share-based compensation of US$11.6 million related to incentives awarded to certain employees and business consultants, as well as transaction cost of US$2.2 million directly attributable to the issuance of US$30 million of convertible notes in September 2018.

Operating loss for the third quarter of 2018 was US$14.0 million, compared with an operating loss of US$2.7 million for the third quarter of 2017, as a result of the above.

Net loss totalled US$21.8 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared with net profit of US$6.4 million for the third quarter of 2017, mainly attributed to operating loss of US$14.0 million in the third quarter of 2018 as described above. In addition, we recorded a fair value gain on derivative liabilities of US$7.7 million in the third quarter of 2017 in connection with our series A and B preferred shares, while we recorded fair value loss on convertible notes of US$5.4 million in the third quarter of 2018. Furthermore, we recorded an exchange gain of US$1.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, while we recorded an exchange loss of US$1.9 million for the third quarter of 2018 due to the depreciation of the Renminbi against the US dollar.

Net loss attributable to the Company’s shareholders per diluted ADS was US$0.41, compared with a net profit per diluted ADS of US$0.12 for the third quarter of 2017.

Gross billing2 reached US$104.4 million for the third quarter of 2018, an increase of 79% from the third quarter of 2017, primarily as the result of significant growth in mobile audience solutions. Gross billing from mobile audience solutions totalled US$87.1 million for the third quarter of 2018, representing an increase of 110% from last year’s third quarter, as the result of larger mobile marketing spend by the Company’s clients. Gross billing from other solutions was US$17.3 million for the third quarter of 2018, an increase of 2% from the third quarter of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2018 was US$1.2 million, compared with a loss of US$0.4 million for the third quarter of 2017, primarily resulting from a substantial increase in gross profit. For a reconciliation of the Company’s adjusted EBITDA to net profit/(loss), its most comparable GAAP measure, please refer to “Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results.”

Adjusted net loss attributable to the Company’s shareholders, which excludes share-based compensation, fair value (gain)/loss on derivative liabilities, fair value loss on convertible notes, other (gains)/losses, net, and convertible notes issuance costs, for the third quarter of 2018 was US$0.8 million, compared with US$1.8 million for the third quarter of 2017. For a reconciliation of the Company’s adjusted net loss to net profit/(loss), its most comparable GAAP measure, please refer to “Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results.”

As of September 30, 2018, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents grew to US$49.8 million, from US$19.4 million at December 31, 2017. Time deposits amounted to US$7.0 million, compared with US$25.0 million at December 31, 2017.

Outlook

Based on the information available as of the date of this press release, iClick provided the following revised outlook:

The above outlook is based on current market conditions and reflects the Company’s preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions, expected foreign exchange rates, and customer demand, which are all subject to change.

Share Repurchase Program

iClick’s board of directors today approved a share repurchase program in which the Company may purchase its own ADSs with an aggregate value of up to US$10.0 million over the next 12-month period, ending on November 27, 2019.

iClick expects to fund the repurchase out of its existing cash balance, including cash generated from its operations.

The Company expects to effect the proposed share repurchase on the open market at prevailing market prices, in negotiated transactions off the market, and/or in other legally permissible means from time to time as market conditions warrant in compliance with applicable requirements of Rule 10b5-1 and/or Rule 10b-18 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at times and in such amounts as the Company deems appropriate.

The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular number of ADSs and may be suspended, terminated or extended at any time at the Company’s discretion without prior notice.

Conference Call

The Company will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on November 28, 2018 (9:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time on November 28, 2018).

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

United States:             +1-845-675-0437
International:               +65-6713-5090
Hong Kong:                 +852-3018-6771
China:                          400-620-8038
Conference ID:           8894409

Participants should dial-in at least five minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for “iClick Interactive.”

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.i-click.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible by phone two hours after the conclusion of the live call at the following numbers until December 5, 2018:

United States:             +1-855-452-5696
International:               +61-2-8199-0299
Hong Kong:                 800-963-117
China:                          400-632-2162
Replay Access Code: 8894409

About iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited

iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited (NASDAQ:ICLK) is an independent online marketing and data technology platform that connects worldwide marketers with audiences in China. Built on cutting-edge technologies, our proprietary platform possesses omni-channel marketing capabilities and fulfills  various marketing objectives in a data-driven and automated manner, helping both international and domestic marketers reach their target audiences in China. Headquartered in Hong Kong, iClick was established in 2009, currently operating in nine locations worldwide including Asia and London. For more information, please visit http://ir.i-click.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net loss, and diluted adjusted net loss per ADS, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating the Company’s operating results and for financial and operational decision making purposes.

The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net loss, and diluted adjusted net loss per ADS help identify underlying trends in the Company’s business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of the expenses and gains that the Company includes in net loss. The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss provide useful information about the Company’s operating results, enhance the overall understanding of the Company’s past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the Company’s management in its financial and operational decision-making.

Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net loss, and diluted adjusted net loss per ADS should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net loss or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review the historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net loss, and diluted adjusted net loss per ADS presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company’s data. The Company encourages investors and others to review the Company’s financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned “Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP results” set forth at the end of this press release.

Statement Regarding Preliminary Unaudited Financial Information

The unaudited financial information set out in this press release is preliminary and subject to potential adjustments. Adjustments to the consolidated financial statements may be identified when audit work has been performed for the Company’s year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited financial information.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s fluctuations in growth; its success in implementing its mobile strategies; relative percentage of its gross billing recognized as net revenues under the gross and net models; its ability to retain existing clients or attract new ones; its ability to retain content distribution channels and negotiate favourable contractual terms; market competition, including from independent online marketing technology platforms as well as large and well-established internet companies; market acceptance of online marketing technology solutions; effectiveness of its algorithms and data engines; its ability to collect and use data from various sources; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; and general economic conditions in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:
iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited
Lisa Li
Phone: +852-3700-9065
E-mail: ir@i-click.com
In the United States:
PondelWilkinson Inc.
Evan Pondel/Laurie Berman
Tel: +1-310-279-5980
E-mail: iclk@pondel.com

(financial tables follow)

ICLICK INTERACTIVE ASIA GROUP LIMITED
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(US$’000, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted, unaudited)

                             
  Three Months Ended 
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended 
September 30,
 
    2017   2018   2017     2018
                             
Net revenues3   29,756       42,587     85,497       120,513  
Cost of revenues3   (23,257     (33,255   (65,688     (93,146
Gross profit   6,499       9,332     19,809       27,367  
                             
Operating expenses                            
Research and development expenses   (1,344     (5,409   (4,578     (8,286
Sales and marketing expenses   (5,443     (7,166   (17,648     (19,333
General and administrative expenses   (2,418     (10,781   (6,927     (16,656
Total operating expenses   (9,205     (23,356   (29,153     (44,275
Operating loss   (2,706     (14,024   (9,344     (16,908
Interest expense   (135     (119   (421     (273
Other gains/(losses), net   1,429       (1,574   1,436       (238
Fair value gain/(loss) on derivative liabilities   7,671           (7,056      
Fair value loss on convertible notes         (5,383         (5,383 )
Profit/(loss) before income tax expense   6,259       (21,100   (15,385     (22,802
Income tax benefit/(expenses)   102       (654 )   (499     (1,670 )
Net profit/(loss)   6,361       (21,754   (15,884     (24,472
Accretion to convertible redeemable preferred shares redemption value   (204         (605      
Accretion to redeemable ordinary shares redemption value   (437         (1,279      
                             
Net profit/(loss) attributable to iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited’s ordinary shareholders   5,720       (21,754   (17,768     (24,472
                             
Net profit/(loss)   6,361       (21,754   (15,884     (24,472
Other comprehensive income/(loss):                            
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of US$nil tax   102       (1,014   (69     (2,548
                             
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited   6,463       (22,768   (15,953     (27,020
                             
Net profit/(loss) per ADS attributable to iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited                            
— Basic   0.21       (0.41   (0.65     (0.47
— Diluted   0.12       (0.41   (0.65     (0.47
Weighted average number of ADS used in per share calculation:                            
— Basic   27,265,630       52,722,561     27,244,344       52,348,326  
— Diluted   49,521,078       52,722,561     27,244,344       52,348,326  

ICLICK INTERACTIVE ASIA GROUP LIMITED
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(US$’000, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted, unaudited)

      As of
December 31,
  As of
September 30,
 
      2017   2018  
Assets            
Current assets            
Cash and cash equivalents     19,401   49,825  
Time deposit     25,000   7,000  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful receivables of US$1,478 and US$1,430 as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively     40,798   63,082  
Rebates receivable     1,334   2,653  
Prepaid media costs     37,784   26,189  
Other current assets     3,107   3,013  
Income tax receivable     3    
Total current assets     127,427   151,762  
             
Non-current assets            
Deferred tax assets     850   878  
Property and equipment, net     1,165   441  
Intangible assets, net     10,600   7,470  
Goodwill     48,496   48,496  
Other assets     284   966  
Total non-current assets     61,395   58,251  
             
Total assets     188,822   210,013  
             
Liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ equity            
Current liabilities            
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated variable interest entity (“VIE”) and its subsidiary without recourse to the Company of US$29 and US$28 as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively)     3,904   4,670  
Deferred revenue (including deferred revenue of the consolidated VIE and its subsidiary without recourse to the Company of US$5,986 and US$2,327 as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively)     33,037   29,619  
Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities (including accrued liabilities and other current liabilities of the consolidated VIE and its subsidiary without recourse to the Company of US$804 and US$373 as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively)     16,129   14,333  
Bank borrowings     10,486   12,239  
Convertible notes at fair value       35,383  
Income tax payable     2,123   4,559  
Total current liabilities     65,679   100,803  
             
Non-current liability            
Deferred tax liabilities     3,159   2,353  
Total non-current liability     3,159   2,353  
             
Total liabilities     68,838   103,156  
             

      As of
December 31,
     As of
September 30,
   
      2017     2018    
Shareholders’ equity                
Ordinary shares – Class A (US$0.001 par value; 80,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively; 21,238,825 and 22,075,159 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively)     21     22    
Ordinary shares – Class B (US$0.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively; 4,820,608 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively)     5     5    
Treasury shares (2,123,382 shares and 1,802,039 shares as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively)     (2,093   (714 )  
Additional paid-in capital     274,294     286,807    
Statutory reserves     81     81    
Accumulated other comprehensive losses     (3,320   (5,868 )  
Accumulated deficit     (149,004   (173,476  
               
Total shareholders’ equity     119,984     106,857    
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity     188,822     210,013    

ICLICK INTERACTIVE ASIA GROUP LIMITED
Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EBITDA represents net profit/(loss) before (i) depreciation and amortization, (ii) interest expense, (iii) income tax (benefit)/ expenses, (iv) share-based compensation, (v) fair value (gain)/loss on derivative liabilities, (vi) fair value loss on convertible notes, (vii) other (gains)/ losses, net, and (viii) convertible notes issuance cost.

The table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company’s adjusted EBITDA to net profit/(loss) for the periods indicated:

  Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
  2017     2018     2017     2018  
                               
(Unaudited)                              
Net profit/(loss)   6,361       (21,754     (15,884     (24,472
Add / (less):                              
Depreciation and amortization   1,378       1,238       4,212       3,884  
Interest expense   135       119       421       273  
Income tax (benefit)/expenses   (102     654       499       1,670  
EBITDA   7,772       (19,743     (10,752     (18,645
Add / (less):                              
Share-based compensation   918       11,785       2,841       13,283  
Fair value (gain)/loss on derivative liabilities   (7,671 )           7,056        
Fair value loss on convertible notes         5,383             5,383  
Other (gains)/losses, net   (1,429     1,574       (1,436     238  
Convertible notes issuance cost4         2,190             2,190  
Adjusted EBITDA   (410     1,189       (2,291     2,449  

Adjusted net loss represents net profit/(loss) before (i) share-based compensation, (ii) fair value (gain)/loss on derivative liabilities, (iii) fair value loss on convertible notes, (iv) other (gains)/losses, net, and (v) convertible notes issuance cost. There is no material tax effects on these non-GAAP adjustments.

The table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company’s adjusted net loss to net profit/(loss) for the periods indicated:

  Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,    
  2017     2018     2017     2018    
                                 
(Unaudited)                                
Net profit/(loss)   6,361       (21,754     (15,884     (24,472  
Add / (less):                                
Share-based compensation   918       11,785       2,841       13,283    
Fair value (gain)/loss on derivative liabilities   (7,671 )           7,056       —     
Fair value loss on convertible notes         5,383             5,383    
Other (gains)/losses, net   (1,429     1,574       (1,436     238    
Convertible notes issuance cost         2,190             2,190    
Adjusted net loss   (1,821     (822     (7,423     (3,378  

The basic and diluted adjusted net loss per ADS for the periods indicated are calculated as follows:

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2017     2018   2017     2018  
                             
(Unaudited)                            
Numerator:                            
Adjusted net loss   (1,821     (822   (7,423     (3,378
                             
Accretion to convertible redeemable preferred shares redemption value   (204         (605      
Accretion to redeemable ordinary shares redemption value   (437         (1,279      
    (2,462     (822   (9,307     (3,378
                             
Denominator:                            
Denominator for basic and diluted net loss per ADS                            
– weighted average ADS outstanding   27,265,630       52,722,561     27,244,344       52,348,326  
                             
Basic adjusted net loss per ADS   (0.09 )     (0.02 )   (0.34 )     (0.06 )
                             
                             
Diluted adjusted net loss per ADS   (0.09 )     (0.02 )   (0.34 )     (0.06 )

  1. For more details on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned “Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this press release.
  1. Gross billing is defined as the aggregate dollar amount that clients pay the Company after deducting rebates paid and discounts given to clients.
  1. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” using the modified retrospective method. The adoption did not have any impact to the accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2018.  As a result of the adoption, certain rebates to marketers are presented net of revenues, as opposed to being included in cost of revenues in prior periods.
  1. Convertible notes issuance cost represents one-off transaction cost for the issue of convertible notes, including success fee, legal and professional fee, and consulting fee.