Bona Reports Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results

Bona Reports Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results

BEIJING, Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bona Film Group Limited (NASDAQ: BONA) ("Bona" or the "Company"), a leading film distributor and vertically integrated film company in China, today announced unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015.

"We are pleased with our third quarter results with non-GAAP net income meeting our prior guidance," said Bona's founder, Chairman and CEO Mr. Yu Dong. "Our movie theater business continued its growth momentum in the third quarter, achieving a year-over-year increase of 55%, which was mainly driven by the Company's strategic expansion efforts with additional theaters and screens. The rapid growth of China's film industry also benefitted our overall business in the third quarter."

"In November, we were delighted to announce our investment in TSG, one of the pre-eminent film financing companies in the United States to build our film presence in the international market as well as to participate in more Hollywood mainstream film projects, while also sharing in their worldwide box office receipts. Our international expansion initiative is pivotal to our long-term growth strategy, as it expands our market reach, with the goal of becoming one of the leading film companies in China and around the world," Mr. Yu added.

Third Quarter 2015 Financial Summary


-- Third quarter 2015 net revenues were US$78.9 million, a decrease of
21.1% from US$100.0 million in the third quarter of 2014.
-- Third quarter 2015 gross profit was US$40.5 million, a decrease of 1.1%
from US$40.9 million in the third quarter of 2014.
-- Third quarter 2015 gross margin was 51.3%, compared with 40.9% in the
third quarter of 2014.
-- Third quarter 2015 net income attributable to Bona Film Group Limited
was US$0.8 million, or US$0.01 per basic and diluted ADS[1], compared
with net income attributable to Bona Film Group Limited of US$5.9
million, or US$0.10 and US$0.09, per basic and diluted ADS, in the third
quarter of 2014, respectively.
-- Third quarter 2015 non-GAAP net income[2] was US$5.1 million, compared
with non-GAAP net income of US$9.3 million in the third quarter of 2014.
-- Third quarter 2015 adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP[2] was US$9.9 million,
compared with adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP of US$16.5 million in the third
quarter of 2014.
-- Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled US$150.9 million
as of September 30, 2015.
-- Cash used in operating activities totaled US$164.9 million in the third
quarter of 2015, compared with cash provided from operating activities
of US$1.3 million in the third quarter of 2014.


[1] "ADS" is American depositary share.
Each two ADSs represent one
ordinary share.

[2] As used in this press release, non-
GAAP net income and non-GAAP net
income attributable to Bona Film
Group Limited per ADS exclude
share-based compensation
expenses. Adjusted EBITDA, non-
GAAP excludes share-based
compensation expenses, interest,
taxes and non-cash depreciation
and amortization charges. See
"Non- GAAP Financial Measures"
and "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP
Measures" at the end of this press
release.
Third Quarter 2015 Business Updates and Recent Highlights


-- Distributed and/or invested in a total of 5 films in the third quarter
of 2015 - Bride Wars and The Dead End were Bona's top performers in the
third quarter. The five films generated total box office receipts of
RMB587.3 million to date.
-- Distributed Bride Wars on August 20, 2015. The film has generated
RMB173.3 million in domestic box office receipts.
-- Distributed The Dead End on August 27, 2015. The film has generated
RMB304.5 million in domestic box office receipts.
-- Major films undergoing production in the third quarter of 2015 include
The Cinema That Never Dies, Sword Master and The Treasure.
-- The movie theater business achieved record quarterly revenues of US$33.8
million, a 55.0% increase compared with the same period last year.
-- As of September 30, 2015, Bona owned and operated 30 theaters with 250
screens, including seven DMAX screens and two IMAX screens.
-- On November 5, 2015, the Company announced an investment (the
"Investment") of $235 million in TSG Entertainment Finance LLC ("TSG").
TSG is a film finance entity working with Twentieth Century Fox to
finance primarily live action films. The Investment is structured
primarily with the Bona Film Fund and a credit facility arranged by East
West Bank, and entitles Bona to participate in the on-going slate
financing arrangement that TSG has with Twentieth Century Fox, which
will continue to distribute films worldwide. Films previously included
in the TSG slate were Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men Days of
Future Past, and the recently released Ridley Scott film, starring Matt
Damon, The Martian.
Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results

Net Revenues



3Q15 3Q14 Y-o-Y%
---- ---- -----

Net Revenues (US$mm) 78.9 100.0 (21.1)%
------------------- ---- ----- ------
Net revenues for the third quarter of 2015 decreased 21.1% year-over-year to US$78.9 million. The decrease in net revenues was primarily attributable to the stronger performance of the films distributed in the third quarter of 2014, especially the films The White-Haired Witch and The Continent.

Net Revenues by Segment Operations



Film Film Investment & Production Movie Theater Talent Intersegment Consolidated

Distribution Agency Elimination
------------ ------ -----------

Net Revenues from
External
Customers
(US$mm) 46.2 0.1 32.5 0.1 - 78.9
----------------- ---- --- ---- --- --- ----

Intersegment
Revenues (US$mm) 1.6 12.5 1.3 - (15.4) -
----------------- --- ---- --- --- ----- ---

Total Net
Revenues (US$mm) 47.8 12.6 33.8 0.1 (15.4) 78.9
----------------- ---- ---- ---- --- ----- ----
Net revenues from the film distribution segment totaled US47.8 million in the third quarter of 2015, a decrease of 39.6% from US$79.1 million in the third quarter of 2014. The decrease was mainly due to the stronger performance of the films distributed in the third quarter of 2014, especially the film The Continent. During the third quarter of 2015, Bona distributed and/or invested in a total of 5 films, with Bride Wars and The Dead End being well received by movie audiences.

Net revenues from the film investment and production segment were US$12.6 million in the third quarter of 2015, a decrease of 32.3% from US$18.6 million in the third quarter of 2014. The decrease was mainly due to the stronger performance of the films distributed in the third quarter of 2014, especially the film The White-Haired Witch.

Net revenues from the movie theater segment were US$33.8 million in the third quarter of 2015, a 55.0% increase from US$21.8 million in the third quarter of 2014. The increase was mainly due to the increase in the number of theaters and screens from the Company's strategic expansion efforts, and the maturation of new theaters over time.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin



3Q15 3Q14 Y-o-Y%
---- ---- -----

Gross Profit (US$mm) 40.5 40.9 (1.1)%
------------------- ---- ---- -----

Gross Margin 51.3% 40.9% -
------------ ---- ---- ---
For the third quarter of 2015, gross profit slightly decreased to US$40.5 million, compared with US$40.9 million in the third quarter of 2014.

Segment Profit[3] and Segment Margin



Film Distribution Film Investment & Production Movie Theater Talent Agency Consolidated
----------------- ----------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------

Segment
Profit
(US$mm) 20.6 1.2 19.9 0.1 40.6
-------- ---- --- ---- --- ----

As % of
Total
Segment
Profit 50.7% 3.0% 49.0% 0.2% 100.0%
-------- ---- --- ---- --- -----

Segment
Margin 43.1% 9.5% 58.9% 100.0% 51.5%
------- ---- --- ---- ----- ----
Margin for the Company's film distribution segment was 43.1% in the third quarter of 2015, compared with 37.3% in the third quarter of 2014. The increase was mainly due to better economic returns on films distributed in the third quarter of 2015.

Margin for the Company's film investment and production segment was 9.5% in the third quarter of 2015, compared with a segment margin of negative 24.2% in the third quarter of 2014. The increase was the result of the acceleration of amortization, impairment and one-time write-off of production costs in the third quarter of 2014.

Margin for the Company's movie theater segment was 58.9% in the third quarter of 2015, in line with 58.3% in the third quarter of 2014.



[3] Segment profit = segment gross
profit -film participation
expenses + equity in earnings
of equity method investments.
Operating Income and Operating Margin



3Q15 3Q14 Y-o-Y%
---- ---- -----

Operating Expenses (US$mm) 31.0 32.3 (4.2)%
------------------------- ---- ---- -----

Operating Income (US$mm) 9.1 10.6 (13.9)%
----------------------- --- ---- ------

Operating Margin 11.6% 10.6% -
---------------- ---- ---- ---
Total operating expenses, including participation expenses, general and administrative expenses, and selling and marketing expenses, for the third quarter of 2015 slightly decreased to US$31.0 million, compared with US$32.3 million in the third quarter of 2014.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2015 decreased 13.9% to US$9.1 million from US$10.6 million in the third quarter of 2014. Operating margin in the third quarter of 2015 was 11.6% compared with 10.6% in the third quarter of 2014. The year-over-year increase in operating margin was primarily due to the growth in the Company's movie theater businesses.

Net Income and Net Income Attributable to Bona Film Group Limited per ADS





3Q15 3Q14
---- ----

Net Income Attributable to
Bona Film Group Limited
(US$mm) 0.8 5.9
-------------------------- --- ---

Net Income Attributable to
Bona Film Group Limited per
Basic ADS (US$) 0.01 0.10
---------------------------- ---- ----

Net Income Attributable to
Bona Film Group Limited per
Diluted ADS (US$) 0.01 0.09
---------------------------- ---- ----


3Q15 3Q14
---- ----

Non-GAAP Net Income (US$mm) 5.1 9.3
-------------------------- --- ---

Non-GAAP Net Income
Attributable to Bona Film
Group Limited per Basic ADS
(US$) 0.08 0.16
---------------------------- ---- ----

Non-GAAP Net Income
Attributable to Bona Film
Group Limited per Diluted ADS
(US$) 0.08 0.15
------------------------------ ---- ----
Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$4.5 million and US$3.6 million for the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively, non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2015 was US$5.1 million, compared with non-GAAP net income of US$9.3 million in the third quarter of 2014.



3Q15 3Q14
---- ----

Adjusted EBITDA, non-
GAAP (US$mm) 9.9 16.5
--------------------- --- ----
Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP in the third quarter of 2015 was US$9.9 million, compared with adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP of US$16.5 million in the third quarter of 2014.

Cash and Cash Flow

As of September 30, 2015, Bona had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash totaling US$150.9 million, compared with US$153.6 million as of December 31, 2014. Net cash used in operating activities for the third quarter of 2015 was US$164.9 million, compared with net cash provided from operating activities of US$1.3 million for the third quarter of 2014. The change in cash flow from operations was mainly attributable to the increase in investment in films scheduled for release in future.

"I am very excited about our film slate for the fourth quarter of 2015 and the first half of 2016, which includes highly anticipated productions, such as The Treasure, The Cinema That Never Dies, Absolutely Unexpected, and The Man from Macau 3. In addition, the film we are developing in partnership with Tristar and Studio 8, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, is in the post-production phase and is on schedule for a November 2016 release. As we continue to roll out our international expansion plan, we look forward to adding more high quality films to our pipeline," concluded Mr. Yu.

Third quarter 2015 Conference Call Details

Bona management will hold the earnings conference call at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 (9:00 a.m. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Thursday, November 26, 2015). Management will discuss results and highlights of the quarter and answer questions from investors.

The dial-in numbers for the earnings conference call are as follows:

U.S. Toll Free: +1-855-500-8701

Hong Kong Toll Free: 800-906-606

China, Domestic: 400-120-0654

International: +65-6713-5440

The conference ID # is 85580082.

A live and archived webcast of the earnings conference call will be available on the IR Calendar page of the Bona investor relations website at http://ir.bonafilm.cn/events.cfm.

About Bona Film Group Limited

Bona Film Group Limited (NASDAQ:BONA) is a leading film distributor in China, with an integrated business model encompassing film distribution, film production, film exhibition and talent representation. Bona distributes films to Greater China, Korea, Southeast Asia, the United States and Europe, invests and produces movies in a variety of genres, owns and operates thirty movie theaters and manages a range of talented and popular Chinese artists.

For more information about Bona, please visit http://www.bonafilm.cn.

To be added to Bona's email list to receive Company news, please send your request to bona@tpg-ir.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and 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" and similar statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this press release are forward-looking statements and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry in which the Company operates, but involve a number of unknown risks and uncertainties, Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Bona's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Bona uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income attributable to Bona Film Group Limited per ADS, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, and adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, interest, taxes, and non-cash depreciation and amortization charges. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or to be superior to the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, Bona's definition of non-GAAP net income may be different from the definitions used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited.

Bona believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance by excluding certain expenses and expenditures that may not be indicative of its operating performance and a supplemental liquidity measure which is useful for understanding and evaluating the Company's capacity for servicing its debt, and otherwise meeting its cash needs. Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP excludes depreciation and amortization, so it does not reflect any cash requirements for the replacement of the assets, which will often have to be replaced in the future. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company's performance and liquidity, and when planning and forecasting future periods. The table appears at the end of this press release has more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.



Contact Us

In China: In the U.S.:

Peng Li The Piacente Group, Inc.

Bona Film Group Limited Investor Relations

Tel: +86-10-5631-0700-398 Don Markley

Email: ir@bonafilm.cn Tel: (212) 481-2050

Email: bona@tpg-ir.com










BONA FILM GROUP LIMITED

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data)



Three-months ended Nine-months ended
September 30 September 30

2015 2014 2015 2014
---- ---- ---- ----


Net revenues 78,918 100,044 267,554 201,504

Cost of revenues 38,463 59,150 148,194 114,050

Gross profit 40,455 40,894 119,360 87,454
------ ------ ------- ------

Film participation expenses (1,533) 3,985 13,541 11,856

Selling and marketing expenses 10,869 11,854 35,120 20,530

General and administrative expenses 21,640 16,489 60,769 45,047

Total operating expenses 30,976 32,328 109,430 77,433
------ ------ ------- ------


Government subsidies 997 939 3,278 1,876

Equity in earnings of equity method investments, net of tax (1,340) 1,109 2,981 3,328

Operating income 9,136 10,614 16,189 15,225
----- ------ ------ ------

Interest income from bank deposits 334 316 1,284 904

Interest income from loan to producer of TV series 30 10 90 10

Interest expenses (1,152) (481) (3,625) (1,198)

Exchange (loss) gain (4,074) 856 (3,949) (673)

Other income 380 71 522 213

Investment income - - - 64

Loss on deconsolidation of a subsidiary (1,831) - (1,803) -

Income before income taxes 2,823 11,386 8,708 14,545
----- ------ ----- ------


Provision for income taxes 2,230 5,655 6,880 6,982

Net income 593 5,731 1,828 7,563
--- ----- ----- -----


Less: Net loss attributable (180) (140) (433) (422)
to the noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable 773 5,871 2,261 7,985
to Bona Film Group Limited
===



Net income attributable to Bona Film Group Limited per ADS

Basic 0.01 0.10 0.04 0.13

Diluted 0.01 0.09 0.03 0.13



Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share

Basic 31,188,741 30,409,861 30,854,369 30,334,730

Diluted 34,110,140 31,809,409 33,511,816 31,591,505










BONA FILM GROUP LIMITED

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive (Loss) Income

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)



Three-months ended Nine-months ended
September 30 September 30

2015 2014 2015 2014
---- ---- ---- ----

Net income 593 5,731 1,828 7,563

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

Foreign currency translation adjustments (3,743) 1,323 (3,607) (1,459)

Comprehensive (loss) income (3,150) 7,054 (1,779) 6,104

Less: comprehensive loss attribute to the noncontrolling interests (183) (137) (437) (424)

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Bona Film Group Ltd. (2,967) 7,191 (1,342) 6,528
------ ----- ------ -----










BONA FILM GROUP LIMITED

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data)



September 30, December 31,

2015 2014
---- ----


Cash and cash equivalents 75,799 97,171

Restricted cash 75,108 56,473

Accounts receivable and notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 71,801 72,680

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 25,870 23,691

Amounts due from related parties 1,028 269

Current deferred tax assets 1,516 1,564

Inventories 585 377

Total current assets 251,707 252,225


Distribution rights 11,555 6,546

Production costs 167,928 168,475

Prepaid film costs 5,730 4,407

Property and equipment, net 86,063 75,716

Acquired intangible assets, net 2,336 2,346

Non-current deferred tax assets 793 918

Cost method investments 1,474 1,477

Equity method investments 67,913 34,622

Goodwill 48,141 49,312

Long-term prepaid expenses 18 34

Other non-current assets 151,629 -

Total assets 795,287 596,078
======= =======


Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $58,174 and
$29,882 as of September 30,2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively) 59,010 31,592

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entities
without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $57,992 and $46,699 as of September 30,2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively) 58,374 50,686

Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group
Limited of $9,081 and $6,995 as of September 30,2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively) 13,057 8,373

Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $15,212 and
$11,734 as of September 30,2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively) 8,594 11,702

Bank borrowings (including bank borrowings of the consolidated variables interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $28,321 and $54,277
as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively) 120,828 127,293

Other borrowings (including other borrowings of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $1,697 and $7,304
as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively) 26,697 7,304

Current film participation financing liabilities with unrelated parties (including current film participation financing liabilities with unrelated parties of
the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $14,106 and $13,063 as of September 30, 2015 and December 31,
2014, respectively) 14,340 13,251

Current film participation financing liabilities with related parties (including current film participation financing liabilities with related parties of the
consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $77,827 and $84,033 as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014,
respectively) 77,827 84,033

Total current liabilities 378,727 334,234


Bank borrowings (including bank borrowings of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $5,951 and 24,227
as of September 30,2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively) 5,951 24,227

Deferred income (including deferred income of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $1,010 and $1,049 as
of September 30,2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively) 1,010 1,249

Non-current film participation financing liabilities with an unrelated party (including current film participation financing liabilities with an unrelated
party of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of nil and $1,990 as of September 30,2015 and December 31,
2014, respectively) - 1,990

Non-current film participation financing liabilities with related parties (including non-current film participation financing liabilities with related
parties of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to Bona Film Group Limited of $174,636 and $14,667 as of September 30,2015 and
December 31, 2014, respectively) 174,636 14,667

Total liabilities 560,324 376,367
------- -------


Bona Film Group Limited's ordinary shares (par value of US$0.0005 per share, 85,000,000 shares authorized, 32,402,346 and 31,359,919 shares issued and
outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and 31,402,346 and 30,496,848 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014) 16 15

Additional paid-in capital 213,013 195,976

Statutory reserves 3,704 3,704

Accumulated profit 13,706 11,445

Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,929 6,532

Total Bona Film Group Limited's equity 233,368 217,672
------- -------


Noncontrolling interests 1,595 2,039

Total equity 234,963 219,711
------- -------


Total liabilities and equity 795,287 596,078
======= =======










BONA FILM GROUP LIMITED

Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)



Three-months ended Nine-months ended
September 30 September 30

2015 2014 2015 2014
---- ---- ---- ----


Net income 593 5,731 1,828 7,563


Adjustment for share-based compensation 4,459 3,582 11,586 7,189

Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) 5,052 9,313 13,414 14,752
----- ----- ------ ------


Adjustment for interest 788 155 2,251 284

Adjustment for taxes 2,230 5,655 6,880 6,982

Adjustment for depreciation & amortization 1,799 1,352 5,174 4,113


Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) 9,869 16,475 27,719 26,131
----- ------ ------ ------
SOURCE Bona Film Group Limited

Bona Film Group Limited


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