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8-K - FORM 8-K - Takung Art Co., Ltdtv494307_8k.htm

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

TAKUNG REPORTS FIRST Quarter 2018 EPS $.04 VS. $.08 IN Q1 2017;

$3.97 MILLION Q1 REVENUE EXCEEDS EACH OF LAST THREE QUARTERS

 

HONG KONG, CHINA, May 16, 2018 -- Takung Art Co., Ltd. (NYSE American: TKAT), the operator of three online fine art and collectibles platforms, today announced that for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, the company had net income of $423,290, or $.04 per diluted share, on revenue of $3,974,284, compared with net income of $873,539, or $.08 per diluted share, on revenue of $4,271,593 in the first quarter of 2017.

 

The company's decrease in first quarter revenue compared to the same period last year was due primarily to a year-over-year decrease of $329,279 in listing fee revenue arising from a reduction in total listing values and corresponding listing fees charged. However, first quarter 2018 revenue demonstrated significant improvement on revenue reported in each of the previous three quarters.

 

Although trading commission revenue remained relatively flat compared to last year’s first quarter, this year’s Q1 trading commission revenue demonstrated a significant shift from VIP traders towards retail traders. This shift was a direct result of Takung’s previously announced business model modifications made in the second half of 2017 to increase participation by the company’s retail traders. Specifically, in Q1 2018, retail trader commission revenue increased by approximately $945,000 over Q1 2017, while VIP trader commission revenue decreased by about $980,000 compared to the prior year’s first quarter.

 

Additionally, as per a change in accounting policy intended to reduce future accounts receivable write offs, since the fourth quarter of 2017 VIP trader commission revenue is only recognized from those VIP traders qualifying as “active,” meaning those who trade at least once per month and are therefore less likely to become delinquent in paying their monthly trading commissions. As a result of this accounting policy change, the company believes that the cause of the accounts receivable problem with VIP traders has been remedied and will likely not recur.

 

Takung's first quarter operating income -- a loss of $211,785 versus a profit of $1,098,016 in Q1 ‘17 -- was impacted negatively by a year-over-year increase of $435,494 in general and administrative expenses, which resulted primarily from an increase in salary and welfare of $353,193 produced by an increase in employee headcount and a bonus distributed in Q1 2018.

 

The company’s Q1 2018 net income of $423,290 benefitted from a currency exchange gain of $992,895, compared with a currency exchange gain of $120,937 in the like year-ago period.

 

Takung’s balance sheet at March 31, 2018 improved, with cash and cash equivalents at approximately $12.8 million versus about $11.9 million at December 31, 2017 -- the first such increase since the first quarter of last year.

 

"We are very pleased by the progress made during our first quarter,” said Takung CEO Mr. Di Xiao, “and feel confident in asserting that our business model changes have been fully and successfully implemented.” Among the company’s more notable achievements in Q1 2018, he said, were the expansion of its trading base by more than 15% over year-end 2017, the continued implementation of blockchain technology to facilitate Unit platform ownership registration, the increased popularity of Takung’s ‘A’ tier portfolio designed to help retail traders easily identify high-quality artworks, and the material contributions to revenue made by the company’s two January Sports Memorabilia offerings.

 

Looking forward, Mr. Xiao said he expects increasing participation from Takung’s retail traders, which has the potential to significantly enhance trading volumes, commission fee revenue and new offering subscriptions. Sports memorabilia offerings, he added, are also expected to contribute to Takung’s revenue and earnings growth for the balance of this year.

 

Accordingly, said the CEO, the company projects its Q2 2018 period to show continued strong growth, with revenue exceeding $4.0 million and positive operating results.

 

For additional information on Takung's Q1 2018 performance, please see the Company's 10-Q filing at www.sec.gov.

 

 

About Takung Art Co., Ltd.

Takung Art Co., Ltd. enables China's growing middle class to invest in fine art and collectibles through three proprietary online platforms: Takung Unit, which facilitates trading and shared ownership of Asian and international fine art; Unit+, which facilitates trading and shared ownership of Asian and international collectibles; and Takung Online, an e-commerce platform enabling artists to promote and sell entire pieces of artwork directly to buyers. Takung is headquartered in Hong Kong and operates primarily in Hong Kong through its direct wholly-owned subsidiary Hong Kong Takung Art Company Limited and its two wholly-owned subsidiaries in Shanghai and Tianjin that facilitate service and support to its PRC-based traders on the Company's platform. For more information, please visit the Company's website: http://ir.takungart.com/. The Company routinely posts important information on its website.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or our future financial performance. All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this release, including any statements regarding our future results of operations and financial positions, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). These statements are only predictions which reflect our current beliefs and expectations with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risk and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment where new risks may emerge from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements.

 

Contacts:

Takung Art Co., Ltd.

Mr. Leslie Chow

Phone: +852 31580977

Email: irmail@takungae.com

 

 

TAKUNG ART CO., LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Stated in U.S. Dollars except Number of Shares) 

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2018   2017 
   (Unaudited)     
ASSETS          
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents  $12,809,609   $11,866,965 
Restricted cash   28,104,820    25,273,617 
Account receivables, net   893,940    2,291,698 
Prepayment and other current assets   2,099,718    2,300,207 
Loan receivables   7,880,516    7,834,115 
Total current assets   51,788,603    49,566,602 
           
Non-current assets          
Property and equipment, net   2,519,496    2,191,321 
Intangible assets   22,234    22,334 
Deferred tax assets   215,858    291,430 
Other non-current assets   536,176    757,235 
Total non-current assets   3,293,764    3,262,320 
Total assets  $55,082,367   $52,828,922 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
LIABILITIES          
Current liabilities          
Accrued expenses and other payables  $1,007,156   $1,461,858 
Customer deposits   28,104,820    25,273,617 
Advance from customers   138,791    170,078 
Short-term borrowings from third parties   7,080,903    7,208,761 
Amount due to related party   -    483,822 
Tax payables   352,614    312,575 
Total current liabilities   36,684,284    34,910,711 
           
Total liabilities  $36,684,284   $34,910,711 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES          
           
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Common stock (1,000,000,000 shares authorized; $0.001 par value; 11,208,882 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2018;
11,188,882 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017)
  $11,209   $11,189 
Additional paid-in capital   6,189,945    6,116,216 
Retained earnings   12,534,386    12,111,096 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (337,457)   (320,290)
Total stockholders’ equity   18,398,083    17,918,211 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $55,082,367   $52,828,922 

 

TAKUNG ART CO., LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Stated in U.S. Dollars except Number of Shares)

(UNAUDITED)

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31,   For the Three Months Ended March 31, 
   2018   2017 
Revenue          
Listing fee  $1,978,667   $2,307,946 
Commission   1,635,517    1,670,613 
Authorized agent subscription revenue   191,623    - 
Management fee   168,315    292,551 
Annual fee   162    483 
Total revenue   3,974,284    4,271,593 
           
Cost of  revenue   (933,593)   (262,659)
Gross profit   3,040,691    4,008,934 
           
Operating expenses          
General and administrative expenses   (3,008,885)   (2,573,391)
Selling expenses   (243,591)   (337,527)
Total operating expenses   (3,252,476)   (2,910,918)
           
(Loss) income from operations   (211,785)   1,098,016 
           
Other income and expenses:          
Other income   239,403    112,358 
Loan interest expense   (154,783)   (149,891)
Exchange gain   992,895    120,937 
Total other income   1,077,515    83,404 
           
Income before income tax expense     865,730    1,181,420 
           
Provision for income taxes   (442,440)   (307,881)
           
Net income   423,290    873,539 
           
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (17,167)   134,527 
           
Comprehensive income  $406,123   $1,008,066 
           
Earnings per common share – basic  $0.04   $0.08 
Earnings per common share – diluted  $0.04   $0.08 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding –basic   11,204,215    10,733,506 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding –diluted   11,223,408    11,509,938 

 

 

TAKUNG ART CO., LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Stated in U.S. Dollars)

(UNAUDITED)

 

   For the Three Months Ended   For the Three Months Ended 
   March 31,   March 31, 
   2018   2017 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   3,039,614    (616,716)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchase of property and equipment   (231,478)   (59,900)
Purchase of available-for-sales investment   (28,173,448)   (13,656,439)
Maturity and redemption of available-for-sales investment   28,173,448    13,656,439 
Loan to third parties   -    (3,553,799)
Repayment from loan to third parties   239,356    3,403,940 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   7,878    (209,759)
           
Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   726,355    139,134 
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   3,773,847    (687,341)
           
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning balance   37,140,582    35,138,697 
           
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, ending balance  $40,914,429   $34,451,356 
           
Supplemental cash flows information:          
           
Cash paid for interest  $74,601   $69,229 
Cash paid for income tax  $108,393   $-