51JOB INC ADS
SymbolJOBS

This item is part of Stockwatch's value added news feed and is only available to Stockwatch subscribers.

Here is a sample of this item:

51job, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

2009-11-23 04:05 ET - News Release

SHANGHAI, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- 51job, Inc. , a leading provider of integrated human resource services in China, announced today unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2009 ended September 30, 2009.

    Third Quarter 2009 Financial Highlights:
    -- Total revenues increased 5.1% over Q3 2008 to RMB219.6 million (US$32.2
       million), exceeding the Company's guidance range of RMB198 million to
       RMB208 million
    -- Gross margin expanded to 62.4% compared with 52.7% in Q3 2008 primarily
       due to cost control and efficiency measures
    -- Operating income increased 81.6% over Q3 2008 to RMB40.1 million
       (US$5.9 million)
    -- Fully diluted earnings per common share were RMB0.65 (US$0.19 per ADS)
    -- Excluding share-based compensation expense and the impact of foreign
       currency translation loss, non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per
       common share were RMB0.77 (US$0.22 per ADS), exceeding the Company's
       guidance range of RMB0.48 to RMB0.58
    -- Cash and short-term investments increased to RMB1,173.9 million
       (US$172.0 million) as of September 30, 2009

Commenting on the results, Rick Yan, President and Chief Executive Officer of 51job, Inc., said, "We saw an improvement in market conditions in the third quarter as recruitment activity and job openings increased compared to the early part of 2009. The uptick in market demand, coupled with our successful efforts this year to realign our cost structure and drive operating efficiency, resulted in significant margin expansion and allowed us to achieve our most profitable quarter ever. With our strong brand, focus on innovation and proven execution capability, we are confident in our leadership position as the premier HR services provider in China."

Third Quarter 2009 Unaudited Financial Results

Total revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009 were RMB219.6 million (US$32.2 million), an increase of 5.1% from RMB209.0 million for the same quarter in 2008.

Print advertising revenues for the third quarter of 2009 decreased 7.2% to RMB77.1 million (US$11.3 million) compared with RMB83.2 million for the same quarter in 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a lower volume of print advertising pages in 51job Weekly resulting from a decline in market demand, which was largely offset by higher average revenue per page. The estimated number of print advertising pages generated in the third quarter of 2009 decreased 23.6% to 3,213 compared with 4,204 pages in the same quarter in 2008. Although print advertising prices charged in each city have remained relatively stable, overall average revenue per page increased 21.4% over the third quarter of 2008 due to an increase in page volume contribution from cities where print advertising prices are generally higher as compared to the same quarter of the prior year.

Online recruitment services revenues for the third quarter of 2009 were RMB90.1 million (US$13.2 million), representing a 16.0% increase from RMB77.7 million for the same quarter of the prior year. The increase primarily resulted from a greater number of unique employers using the Company's online recruitment services, which was partially offset by lower average revenue per unique employer. Unique employers increased 47.0% to 91,167 in the third quarter of 2009 compared with 62,023 in the same quarter of the prior year driven by greater customer acceptance and usage of online recruitment services. Average revenue per unique employer decreased 21.1% in the third quarter of 2009 due to employers purchasing lower priced products and/or reducing their overall spending on online recruitment services as compared to the same quarter in 2008.

Other human resource related revenues for the third quarter of 2009 increased 8.6% to RMB52.4 million (US$7.7 million) from RMB48.2 million in the same quarter of 2008 principally due to greater customer demand for human resource outsourcing services, which was partially offset by lower revenues from executive search and training services.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2009 increased 24.3% to RMB129.7 million (US$19.0 million) from RMB104.3 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Gross margin, which is equal to gross profit divided by net revenues, expanded to 62.4% in the third quarter of 2009 compared with 52.7% in the same quarter in 2008 primarily due to lower printing related and other direct expenses resulting from the implementation of cost control and efficiency measures earlier this year.

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2009 were RMB89.6 million (US$13.1 million) compared with RMB82.3 million for the same quarter of 2008. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 43.1% for the third quarter of 2009 compared with 41.6% for the third quarter of 2008. Excluding share-based compensation expense, operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 40.5% in the third quarter of 2009 compared with 38.9% in the third quarter of 2008.

Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of 2009 increased 7.5% to RMB53.2 million (US$7.8 million) from RMB49.4 million for the same quarter of the prior year primarily due to increased commissions resulting from higher sales and greater advertising expenses, which were partially offset by lower travel and entertainment expenses compared to the same quarter in 2008.

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2009 increased 11.1% to RMB36.5 million (US$5.3 million) from RMB32.8 million in the third quarter of 2008, which was largely attributable to higher employee compensation, rental and depreciation expenses incurred in the third quarter of 2009.

Income from operations for the third quarter of 2009 increased 81.6% to RMB40.1 million (US$5.9 million) from RMB22.1 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Other income in the third quarter of 2009 included tax subsidies of RMB7.4 million (US$1.1 million) compared with RMB2.9 million in the same quarter of the prior year. The Company's effective tax rate was 30.1% in the third quarter of 2009 compared with 7.4% in the third quarter of 2008, which was lower due to an adjustment for the cumulative impact of certain tax changes in 2008.

Net income for the third quarter of 2009 increased 27.0% to RMB35.9 million (US$5.3 million) from RMB28.3 million for the same quarter in 2008. Fully diluted earnings per common share for the third quarter of 2009 were RMB0.65 (US$0.10) compared with RMB0.50 for the same quarter in 2008. Fully diluted earnings per ADS for the third quarter of 2009 were RMB1.29 (US$0.19) compared with RMB1.00 in the third quarter of 2008.

In the third quarter of 2009, the Company recognized total share-based compensation expense of RMB6.5 million (US$0.9 million), unchanged from the third quarter of 2008. The Company also recognized a foreign currency translation loss of RMB86,000 (US$13,000) in the third quarter of 2009 compared with a translation loss of RMB1.5 million in the third quarter of 2008.

Excluding share-based compensation expense and the impact of foreign currency translation loss, non-GAAP adjusted income for the third quarter of 2009 increased 17.0% to RMB42.5 million (US$6.2 million) compared with RMB36.3 million for the third quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per common share were RMB0.77 (US$0.11) in the third quarter of 2009 compared with RMB0.64 in the third quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per ADS in the third quarter of 2009 were RMB1.53 (US$0.22) compared with RMB1.28 in the third quarter of 2008.

Nine Months 2009 Unaudited Financial Results

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were RMB591.2 million (US$86.6 million), a decrease of 11.0% from RMB664.2 million in the comparable period in 2008. Income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 decreased to RMB78.6 million (US$11.5 million) from RMB90.9 million for the same period last year.

Net income for the first nine months of 2009 decreased to RMB66.1 million (US$9.7 million) from RMB69.8 million for the same period in 2008. Fully diluted earnings per common share for the first nine months of 2009 decreased to RMB1.18 (US$0.17) from RMB1.23 in the comparable period in 2008. Fully diluted earnings per ADS for the first nine months of 2009 were RMB2.37 (US$0.35) compared with RMB2.46 in the same period in 2008.

Excluding share-based compensation and foreign currency translation loss, non-GAAP adjusted net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 decreased to RMB87.1 million (US$12.8 million) from RMB108.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per common share were RMB1.56 (US$0.23) in first nine months of 2009 compared with RMB1.91 in the same period in 2008. Non-GAAP adjusted fully diluted earnings per ADS in the first nine months of 2009 were RMB3.12 (US$0.46) compared with RMB3.81 in the same period in 2008.

In September 2008, the Company announced that its shareholders had approved a share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to US$25 million worth of outstanding ADSs. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company repurchased 273,563 ADSs, representing 547,126 common shares, in the open market for an aggregate consideration of US$3.3 million, including transaction fees. Since the inception of this share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased a total of 794,605 ADSs, representing 1,589,210 common shares, for an aggregate consideration of US$7.0 million.

As of September 30, 2009, the Company had cash and short-term investments totaling RMB1,173.9 million (US$172.0 million) compared with RMB1,074.4 million at December 31, 2008. Short-term investments consist of certificates of deposit held by the Company in banking institutions in China.

Business Outlook

Based on current market and operating conditions, and taking into consideration that the fourth quarter is historically a seasonally weak period for recruitment, the Company's revenue target for the fourth quarter of 2009 is in the estimated range of RMB215 million to RMB225 million (US$31.5 million to US$33.0 million). Excluding share-based compensation expense and any foreign currency translation loss or gain, the Company's non-GAAP fully diluted earnings target for the fourth quarter of 2009 is in the estimated range of RMB0.58 to RMB0.68 per common share (US$0.17 to US$0.20 per ADS). The Company expects aggregate share-based compensation expense in the fourth quarter of 2009 to be in the estimated range of RMB6 million to RMB7 million (US$0.9 million to US$1.0 million).

Currency Convenience Translation

For the convenience of readers, certain Renminbi amounts have been translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of RMB6.8262 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate on September 30, 2009 in New York for cable transfers of Renminbi per U.S. dollar as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.

Conference Call Information

Management will hold a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 p.m. Shanghai / Hong Kong time zone) on November 23, 2009 to discuss its third quarter 2009 financial results, operating performance and business outlook. To dial in to the call, please use conference ID 4183748 and the following telephone numbers:

    US: +1-877-941-2332
    Hong Kong: +852-3009-5027
    International: +1-480-629-9722

The call will also be available live and on replay through 51job's investor relations website, http://ir.51job.com . Please go to the website at least fifteen minutes early to register or install any necessary audio software.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), 51job uses non-GAAP measures of adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per common share and adjusted earnings per ADS, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the impact of share-based compensation expense and foreign currency translation gain or loss. The Company believes excluding share-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful for its management and investors to assess and analyze the Company's core operating results as such expense is not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the Company's business operations and do not impact its cash earnings. The Company believes excluding foreign currency translation gain or loss from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful for its management and investors as such translation gain or loss is unrelated to the Company's core business operations and will not result in cash settlement nor impact the Company's cash earnings. 51job also believes these non-GAAP measures excluding share-based compensation expense and foreign currency translation gain or loss are important in helping investors to understand the Company's current financial performance and future prospects and to compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis. The presentation of these additional measures should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies. The non-GAAP measures have been reconciled to GAAP measures in the attached financial statements.

About 51job

51job, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated human resource services in China with a strong focus on recruitment related services. Through print advertisements in 51job Weekly and online recruitment services at http://www.51job.com , 51job enables enterprises to attract, identify and recruit employees and connects millions of job seekers with employment opportunities. 51job also provides a number of other value-added human resource services, including business process outsourcing, training, executive search services and salary surveys. 51job's nationwide office network spans 26 cities in China.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this release regarding targets for the fourth quarter of 2009, future business and operating results constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management's current expectations, and actual results could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ are the number of recruitment advertisements placed, sales orders received and customer contracts executed during the remaining weeks of the fourth quarter of 2009; any accounting adjustments that may occur during the quarterly close; fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies; behavioral and operational changes of customers in meeting their human resource needs as they respond to evolving social, economic and political changes in China as well as stock market volatilities; introduction by its competitors of new or enhanced products or services; price competition in the market for the various human resource services that the Company provides in China; acceptance of new products and services developed or introduced by the Company outside of the human resources industry and fluctuations in general economic conditions. For additional information on these and other factors that may affect the Company's financial results, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 51job undertakes no obligation to update these targets prior to announcing final results for the fourth quarter of 2009 or as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                      - Financial tables to follow -



                                51job, Inc.
                    Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                               For the Three Months Ended
                                            September  September   September
                                             30, 2008   30, 2009    30, 2009

    (In thousands, except number of        (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
     shares and per share data)                 RMB        RMB     USD (Note 1)
    Revenues:
        Print advertising                      83,163     77,140      11,301
        Online recruitment services            77,663     90,102      13,199
        Other human resource related
         revenues                              48,197     52,355       7,670
    Total revenues                            209,023    219,597      32,170

    Less: Business and related tax            (11,257)   (11,586)     (1,697)
    Net revenues                              197,766    208,011      30,473

    Cost of services (Note 2)                 (93,445)   (78,309)    (11,472)

    Gross profit                              104,321    129,702      19,001

    Operating expenses:
        Sales and marketing (Note 3)          (49,437)   (53,168)     (7,789)
        General and administrative (Note 4)   (32,817)   (36,469)     (5,343)
    Total operating expenses                  (82,254)   (89,637)    (13,132)

    Income from operations                     22,067     40,065       5,869
    Loss from foreign currency translation     (1,533)       (86)        (13)
    Interest and investment income              7,151      3,974         582
    Other income                                2,863      7,436       1,090

    Income before provision for income tax     30,548     51,389       7,528
    Income tax expense                         (2,262)   (15,475)     (2,267)

    Net income                                 28,286     35,914       5,261

    Earnings per share:
        Basic                                    0.50       0.65        0.10
        Diluted                                  0.50       0.65        0.10

    Earnings per ADS (Note 5):
        Basic                                    1.00       1.30        0.19
        Diluted                                  1.00       1.29        0.19

    Weighted average number of common
     shares outstanding:
        Basic                              56,643,124 55,262,260  55,262,260
        Diluted                            56,728,877 55,482,240  55,482,240

    Notes:
    1.  The conversion of RMB amounts into USD amounts is based on the noon
        buying rate of USD1.00=RMB6.8262 on September 30, 2009 in New York for
        cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical
        release of the Federal Reserve Board.
    2.  Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB1,192 and RMB1,036
        (US$152) for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2009,
        respectively.
    3.  Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB1,023 and RMB891
        (US$131) for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2009,
        respectively.
    4.  Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB4,252 and RMB4,542
        (US$665) for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2009,
        respectively.
    5.  Each ADS represents two common shares.



                                    51job, Inc.
                        Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                               For the Nine Months Ended
                                            September  September   September
                                             30, 2008   30, 2009    30, 2009
    (In thousands, except number of        (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
     shares and per share data)                RMB        RMB      USD (Note 1)
    Revenues:
        Print advertising                     299,535    214,873      31,478
        Online recruitment services           239,380    235,735      34,534
        Other human resource related
         revenues                             125,291    140,556      20,590
    Total revenues                            664,206    591,164      86,602

    Less: Business and related tax            (34,073)   (31,154)     (4,564)
    Net revenues                              630,133    560,010      82,038

    Cost of services (Note 2)                (286,608)  (226,045)    (33,114)

    Gross profit                              343,525    333,965      48,924

    Operating expenses:
        Sales and marketing (Note 3)         (157,036)  (151,297)    (22,164)
        General and administrative (Note 4)   (95,583)  (104,098)    (15,250)
    Total operating expenses                 (252,619)  (255,395)    (37,414)

    Income from operations                     90,906     78,570      11,510
    Loss from foreign currency translation    (18,369)      (197)        (29)
    Interest and investment income             20,207     11,188       1,639
    Other income                                2,814      8,309       1,217

    Income before provision for income tax     95,558     97,870      14,337
    Income tax expense                        (25,713)   (31,739)     (4,650)

    Net income                                 69,845     66,131       9,687

    Earnings per share:
        Basic                                    1.23       1.19        0.17
        Diluted                                  1.23       1.18        0.17

    Earnings per ADS (Note 5):
        Basic                                    2.47       2.37        0.35
        Diluted                                  2.46       2.37        0.35

    Weighted average number of common
     shares outstanding:
        Basic                              56,580,854 55,729,039  55,729,039
        Diluted                            56,726,136 55,847,597  55,847,597

    Notes:
    1.  The conversion of RMB amounts into USD amounts is based on the noon
        buying rate of USD1.00=RMB6.8262 on September 30, 2009 in New York for
        cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical
        release of the Federal Reserve Board.
    2.  Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB3,354 and RMB3,333
        (US$488) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2009,
        respectively.
    3.  Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB2,883 and RMB2,866
        (US$420) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2009,
        respectively.
    4.  Includes share-based compensation expense of RMB13,727 and RMB14,607
        (US$2,140) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2009,
        respectively.
    5.  Each ADS represents two common shares.



                                     51job, Inc.
                    Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results

                                               For the Three Months Ended
                                            September  September   September
                                             30, 2008   30, 2009    30, 2009
    (In thousands, except number of        (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
     shares and per share data)                RMB        RMB      USD (Note 1)

    GAAP income before provision
     for income tax                            30,548     51,389       7,528
    Add back: Share-based compensation
     expense                                    6,467      6,469         948
    Add back: Loss from foreign currency
     translation                                1,533         86          13
    Non-GAAP income before provision for
     income tax                                38,548     57,944       8,489
    Non-GAAP income tax expense                (2,262)   (15,473)     (2,267)
    Non-GAAP adjusted net income               36,286     42,471       6,222

    Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share:
        Basic                                    0.64       0.77        0.11
        Diluted                                  0.64       0.77        0.11

    Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per ADS
     (Note 2):
        Basic                                    1.28       1.54        0.23
        Diluted                                  1.28       1.53        0.22

    Weighted average number of common
     shares outstanding:
        Basic                              56,643,124 55,262,260  55,262,260
        Diluted                            56,728,877 55,482,240  55,482,240


                                               For the Nine Months Ended
                                            September  September   September
                                             30, 2008   30, 2009    30, 2009
    (In thousands, except number of        (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
     shares and per share data)                RMB        RMB      USD (Note 1)
    GAAP income before provision
     for income tax                            95,558     97,870      14,337
    Add back: Share-based compensation
     expense                                   19,964     20,806       3,048
    Add back: Loss from foreign currency
     translation                               18,369        197          29
    Non-GAAP income before provision for
     income tax                               133,891    118,873      17,414
    Non-GAAP income tax expense               (25,726)   (31,740)     (4,650)
    Non-GAAP adjusted net income              108,165     87,133      12,764

    Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share:
        Basic                                    1.91       1.56        0.23
        Diluted                                  1.91       1.56        0.23

    Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per ADS
     (Note 2):
        Basic                                    3.82       3.13        0.46
        Diluted                                  3.81       3.12        0.46

    Weighted average number of common
     shares outstanding:
        Basic                              56,580,854 55,729,039  55,729,039
        Diluted                            56,726,136 55,847,597  55,847,597

    Notes:
    1.  The conversion of RMB amounts into USD amounts is based on the noon
        buying rate of USD1.00=RMB6.8262 on September 30, 2009 in New York for
        cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical
        release of the Federal Reserve Board.
    2.  Each ADS represents two common shares.



                                     51job, Inc.
                             Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                         As of
                                             December   September   September
                                             31, 2008    30, 2009    30, 2009
    (In thousands, except number of         (audited)  (unaudited) (unaudited)
     shares and per share data)                RMB         RMB     USD (Note 1)

    ASSETS

    Current assets:
        Cash                                1,058,310     976,653    143,074
        Short-term investments                 16,100     197,232     28,893
        Accounts receivable (net of
         allowance of RMB2,783 and
         RMB3,754 as of December 31,
         2008 and September 30,
         2009, respectively)                   19,524      18,694      2,739
        Prepayments and other current
         assets                                44,996      36,257      5,312
        Deferred tax assets, current            2,322       5,005        733

    Total current assets                    1,141,252   1,233,841    180,751

    Long-term investments                      15,927      15,914      2,331
    Property and equipment                    205,805     187,717     27,500
    Intangible assets                           4,669       5,844        856
    Other long-term assets                      6,311      20,807      3,048
    Deferred tax assets, non-current              405         286         42

    Total assets                            1,374,369   1,464,409    214,528

    LIABILITIES

    Current liabilities:
        Accounts payable                       10,511       9,947      1,457
        Salary and employee related accrual    22,370      22,512      3,298
        Taxes payable                          13,337      30,493      4,467
        Advance from customers                 87,639     115,825     16,968
        Other payables and accruals            12,939      12,392      1,815

    Total current liabilities                 146,796     191,169     28,005

    Deferred tax liabilities, non-current         730       1,106        162

    Total liabilities                         147,526     192,275     28,167

    Shareholders' equity:
        Common shares (US$0.0001 par value;
         500,000,000 shares authorized,
         56,378,139 and 55,108,969 shares
         issued and outstanding as of
         December 31, 2008 and September
         30, 2009, respectively)                   47          46          7
        Additional paid-in capital            917,352     896,506    131,333
        Statutory reserves                      6,947       6,947      1,018
        Other comprehensive income              1,054       1,061        155
        Retained earnings                     301,443     367,574     53,848

    Total shareholders' equity              1,226,843   1,272,134    186,361

    Total liabilities and shareholders'
     equity                                 1,374,369   1,464,409    214,528

    Note 1: The conversion of RMB amounts into USD amounts is based on the
    noon buying rate of USD1.00=RMB6.8262 on September 30, 2009 in New York
    for cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical
    release of the Federal Reserve Board.


    For more information, please contact:

     Linda Chien
     Investor Relations
     51job, Inc.
     Tel:   +86-21-6879-6250
     Email: investor.relations@51job.com

51job, Inc.

The remainder is available to Stockwatch subscribers.
If you would like to give the Stockwatch system a try, click here for a free 30 day trial subscription.