Form 8-K
0001376321 False 0001376321 2021-11-16 2021-11-16 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________

FORM 8-K

_________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  November 16, 2021

_______________________________

ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

Nevada001-3464720-4672080
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Room 1106, Xinghuo Keji Plaza, No. 2 Fufeng Road, Fengtai District

Beijing, CN 100070

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: +86-10-60846616

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

_______________________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001CNETNasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 
 
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 16, 2021, ZW Data Action Technologies Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), issued a press release containing certain unaudited financial results for its third fiscal quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021. A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

As provided in General Instruction B.2 of SEC Form 8-K, such information shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and it shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

No. Description
      
99.1 Press Release dated November 16, 2021.
104 Cover page interactive data file (embedded within the iXBRL document)
 
 

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.
   
  
Date: November 16, 2021By: /s/ Cheng Handong        
  Cheng Handong
  Chief Executive Officer
  
 
 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No. Description
      
99.1 Press Release dated November 16, 2021.
104 Cover page interactive data file (embedded within the iXBRL document)

 

EdgarFiling

EXHIBIT 99.1

ZW Data Action Technologies Reports Third Quarter and First Nine Months 2021 Unaudited Financial Results

BEIJING, Nov. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: CNET) (the "Company" or “CNET”), an integrated online advertising, precision marketing, data analytics and other value-added services provider serving enterprise clients, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Financial Highlights

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Revenues

For the third quarter of 2021, revenues decreased by $0.40 million, or 3.3%, to $11.90 million from $12.30 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to the decrease in revenues from our Ecommerce O2O advertising and marketing services and technical solutions services business segments, which was partially offset by the increase in revenues from our internet advertising and related services business segment.

Cost of revenues

Total cost of revenues decreased by $1.09 million, or 8.4%, to $11.86 million for the third quarter of 2021 from $12.95 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in cost of revenues was primary attributable to the decrease in costs and the improvement of gross margin rate of our internet advertising and related services, and the decrease in cost associated with technical solutions services, which was in line with the decrease in the related revenues.

Gross profit (loss) and gross profit (loss) margin

Gross profit was $0.04 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared to gross loss of $0.64 million for the same period of last year, which was primarily attributable to the improvement of gross margin rate of our main stream of service revenues generating from the distribution of the right to use search engine marketing services. Gross profit margin was 0.4% for the third quarter of 2021, compared to gross loss margin of 5.2% for the same period of last year.

Operating expenses

Sales and marketing expenses was $0.06 million, remained unchanged for the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of last year. There was no significant fluctuation of our sales and marketing expenses.

General and administrative expenses increased by $0.88 million, or 148.5%, to $1.47 million for the third quarter of 2021 from $0.59 million for the same period of last year. The increase in general and administrative expenses was mainly attributable to the increase in general departmental expenses, which were primarily related to the expansion of our new office in Guangzhou.

Research and development expenses decreased by $0.02 million, or 22.1%, to $0.09 million for the third quarter of 2021 from $0.11 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in research and development expenses was mainly attributable to a reduction in headcount in our research and development department.

Operating loss

Loss from operations was $1.57 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared to $1.40 million for the same period of last year. Operating loss margin was 13.2% for the third quarter of 2021, compared to 11.4% for the same period of last year.

Other income (expense), net

Total other net income was $2.82 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared to total other net expense of $0.08 million for the same period of last year, which was primarily attributable to the increase in gain from change in fair value of warrant liabilities.
   
Net income (loss) attributable to CNET and earnings (loss) per share

Net income attributable to CNET was $1.38 million, or earnings per share of $0.04, for the third quarter of 2021. This compared to net loss attributable to CNET of $1.33 million, or loss per share of $0.06, for the same period of last year.

First Nine Months 2021 Financial Results

Revenues

For the first nine months of 2021, revenues increased by $7.75 million, or 28.6%, to $34.85 million from $27.10 million for the same period of last year. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to the increase in revenues from our Internet advertising and related services business segment, as a result of economic recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak since the second half of fiscal 2020.

Cost of revenues

For the first nine months of 2021, cost of revenues increased by $9.19 million, or 34.6%, to $35.74 million from $26.55 million for the same period of last year. The increase in cost of revenues was primary attributable to the increase in costs associated with the distribution of the right to use search engine marketing service we purchased from key search engines during the periods, which were in line with the increase in the related revenues.

Gross profit (loss) and gross profit (loss) margin

Gross loss was $0.89 million for the first nine months of 2021, compared to a gross profit of $0.56 million for the same period of last year, which was primarily due to the negative gross margin rate incurred by our main stream of service revenues.

Overall gross loss margin was 2.6% for first nine months of 2021, compared to a gross profit margin of 2.1% for the same period of last year.

Operating expenses

Sales and marketing expenses decreased by $0.13 million, or 45.7%, to $0.16 million for the first nine months of 2021 from $0.29 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in sales and marketing expenses was mainly attributable to the decrease in share-based compensation expenses related to restricted shares granted and issued to our sales staff during the first fiscal quarter of last year.

General and administrative expenses increased by $5.85 million, or 129.3%, to $10.37 million for the first nine months of 2021 from $4.52 million for the same period of last year. The increase in general and administrative expenses was mainly attributable to the increase in share-based compensation expenses and general office administrative expenses, which was partially offset by the decrease in allowance for doubtful accounts.

Research and development expenses decreased by $0.19 million, or 43.3%, to $0.25 million for the first nine months of 2021 from $0.44 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily due to the decrease in share-based compensation expenses related to restricted shares granted and issued to our research and development staff during the first fiscal quarter of last year.

Operating loss

Loss from operations increased by $6.97 million, or 148.3%, to $11.67 million for the first nine months of 2021 from $4.70 million for the same period of last year. Operating loss margin was 33.5% for the first nine months of 2021, compared to 17.3% for the same period of last year.

Other income (expense), net

Total other net income was $9.91 million for the first nine months of 2021, compared to $nil million for the same period of last year, which was primarily due to the increase in gain from change in fair value of warrant liabilities.
   
Net loss attributable to CNET and loss per share

As a result of the foregoing, net loss attributable to CNET was $1.59 million, or loss per share of $0.05, for the first nine months of 2021. This compared to net loss attributable to CNET of $4.61 million, or loss per share of $0.22, for the same period of last year.

Financial Condition

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $8.73 million, compared to $4.30 million as of December 31, 2020. Accounts receivable, net was $2.67 million as of September 30, 2021, compared to $2.41 million as of December 31, 2020. Working capital was $11.84 million as of September 30, 2021, compared to $4.86 million as of December 31, 2020.

Net cash used in operating activities was $6.60 million for the first nine months of 2021, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $0.60 million for the same period of last year. Net cash used in investing activities was $6.10 million for the first nine months of 2021, compared to $1.27 million for the same period of last year. Net cash provided by financing activities was $17.11 million for the first nine months of 2021, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $0.43 million for the same period of last year.

Recent Developments

During the third quarter of 2021, the Company finalized its blockchain infrastructure (“BIF”) platform for business applications of Non-Fungible Token (“NFT”) to provide micro, small and medium enterprises (“MSMEs”) one-stop enterprise-level blockchain network and application services. Upon test launch of its BIF automation platform, the Company cooperated with one of its strategic partners to provide digital transformations and solutions of NFT through BIF platform. The Company expects to fully launch the platform to MSMEs during the fourth fiscal quarter of 2021.

Meanwhile, the Company completed an upgrade to its official website reflecting the Company’s recent developments on its BIF platform and related business transformation. The Company is integrating its value-added blockchain service platform into its existing information services and expects to become an integrated digital operation service provider with Information + transaction + Blockchain in the near future.

In addition to the Company’s continuous development and efforts on its blockchain related solutions and platform, it remains active on its big data supported marketing promotion services. The Company was authorized by JD.com, Inc. as a business expansion service provider for WanDianBao, a micro service solution for JD.com online stores.

About ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.

Established in 2003 and headquartered in Beijing, China, ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (the “Company”) offers online advertising, precision marketing, data analytics and other value-added services for enterprise clients. Leveraging its fully integrated services platform, proprietary database, and cutting-edge algorithms, ZW Data Action Technologies delivers customized, result-driven business solutions for small and medium-sized enterprise clients in China. The Company also develops blockchain and artificial intelligence enabled web/mobile applications and software solutions for general public, enterprise clients, and government agencies. More information about the Company can be found at: http://www.zdat.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of ZW Data Action Technologies Inc., which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including business uncertainties relating to government regulation of our industry, market demand, reliance on key personnel, future capital requirements, competition in general and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. will be those anticipated by ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the Company) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

For more information, please contact:

Sherry Zheng        
Weitian Group LLC
Email: shunyu.zheng@weitian-ir.com
Phone: +1 718-213-7386


ZW DATA ACTION TECHNOLOGIES INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)


   September 30,
2021
 December 31,
2020
   (US $) (US $)
   (Unaudited)  
Assets     
Current assets:     
Cash and cash equivalents *  $8,731 $4,297
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,198 and $4,247, respectively *   2,669  2,407
Prepayment and deposit to suppliers *   8,673  4,657
Due from related parties *   96  61
Other current assets *   1,658  1,462
Total current assets   21,827  12,884
      
Long-term investments *   1,911  67
Operating lease right-of-use assets *   2,042  48
Property and equipment, net *   190  60
Intangible assets, net *   3,275  2,557
Blockchain platform applications development costs   4,408  4,406
Long-term deposits and prepayments *   481  39
Deferred tax assets, net *   781  606
Total Assets  $ 34,915 $ 20,667
      
Liabilities and Equity     
Current liabilities:     
Accounts payable *  $750 $608
Advance from customers *   1,311  1,436
Accrued payroll and other accruals *   350  489
Taxes payable *   3,414  3,430
Operating lease liabilities *   193  18
Lease payment liability related to short-term leases *   150  203
Other current liabilities *   136  333
Warrant liabilities   3,686  1,505
Total current liabilities   9,990  8,022


Long-term liabilities:      
Operating lease liabilities-Non current *   1,923   32  
Long-term borrowing from a related party   135   134  
Total Liabilities   12,048   8,188  
       
Commitments and contingencies      
       
Equity:      
ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.’s stockholders’ equity      
Common stock (US$0.001 par value; authorized 100,000,000 and 50,000,000   35   26  
  shares at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively; issued          
  and outstanding 35,332,677 shares and 26,062,915 shares at September 30,           
  2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)           
Additional paid-in capital   61,761   49,772  
Statutory reserves   2,598   2,598  
Accumulated deficit   (42,566)  (40,980) 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   1,104   1,129  
Total ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.’s stockholders’ equity   22,932   12,545  
       
Noncontrolling interests   (65)  (66) 
Total equity   22,867   12,479  
       
Total Liabilities and Equity  $ 34,915  $ 20,667  

*All of the VIEs' assets can be used to settle obligations of their primary beneficiary. Liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on the Company’s general assets.


ZW DATA ACTION TECHNOLOGIES INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME
(In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)

       
  Nine Months Ended September 30, Three Months Ended September 30,  
   2021   2020   2021   2020   
  (US $) (US $) (US $) (US $)  
  (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)  
Revenues          
From unrelated parties $34,843  $27,086  $11,896  $12,300   
From a related party  4   18   4   4   
Total revenues  34,847   27,104   11,900   12,304   
Cost of revenues  35,739   26,548   11,857   12,945   
Gross (loss)/profit  (892)  556   43   (641)  
           
Operating expenses          
Sales and marketing expenses  159   293   58   58   
General and administrative expenses  10,366   4,520   1,471   592   
Research and development expenses  251   443   88   113   
Total operating expenses  10,776   5,256   1,617   763   
           
Loss from operations  (11,668)  (4,700)  (1,574)  (1,404)  
           
Other income/(expenses)          
Interest income/(expense), net  3   -   1   1   
Other income/(expenses), net  265   (4)  (37)  (21)  
Loss on disposal of long-term investments  (38)  -   -   -   
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities  9,682   4   2,853   (64)  
Total other income/(expenses)  9,912   -   2,817   (84)  
           
(Loss)/income before income tax benefit  (1,756)  (4,700)  1,243   (1,488)  
  and noncontrolling interests                   
Income tax benefit  171   87   131   155   
Net (loss)/income  (1,585)  (4,613)  1,374   (1,333)  
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests  (1)  2   1   -   
Net (loss)/income attributable to ZW                  
  Data Action Technologies Inc. $(1,586 ) $(4,611) $1,375  $(1,333)  
         
         
Net (loss)/income $(1,585) $(4,613) $1,374  $(1,333)
Foreign currency translation loss  (25)  (135)  (2)  (203)
Comprehensive (loss)/income $ (1,610) $ (4,748) $ 1,372  $ (1,536)
Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests  (1)  3   -   2 
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable                 
  to ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.  $(1,611) $(4,745) $1,372  $(1,534)
         
(Loss)/earnings per share        
(Loss)/earnings per common share        
Basic and diluted $(0.05) $(0.22) $0.04  $(0.06)
         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:        
Basic and diluted  32,279,304   21,271,301   35,332,220   21,720,259 


ZW DATA ACTION TECHNOLOGIES INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

   
   
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
   2021   2020 
  (US $) (US $)
  (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net loss $(1,585) $(4,613)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities    
Depreciation and amortization  450   622 
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets  149   7 
Share-based compensation expenses  6,945   2,066 
Provision for allowances for doubtful accounts  -   751 
Loss on disposal of long-term investments  38   - 
Deferred taxes  (171)  (87)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities  (9,682)  (4)
Other losses  24   - 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities    
Accounts receivable  (257)  254 
Prepayment and deposit to suppliers  (1,698)  1,077 
Due from related parties  -   24 
Other current assets  6   (5)
Long-term deposits and prepayments  (314)  (375)
Accounts payable  142   137 
Advance from customers  (133)  754 
Accrued payroll and other accruals  (126)  (55)
Other current liabilities  (230)  (38)
Taxes payable  (31)  8 
Lease payment liability related to short-term leases  (54)  81 
Operating lease liabilities  (73)  (9)
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities  (6,600)  595 
     
Cash flows from investing activities    
Payment for leasehold improvements and purchase of vehicles, furniture and office equipment  (306)  - 
Cash effect of deconsolidation of VIEs’ subsidiaries  (8)  - 
Investments and advances to ownership investee entities  (1,919)  (27)
Short-term loan to an unrelated party  (1,507)  (944)
Repayment of short-term loan from an unrelated party  1,303   - 
Payment for purchase of software technologies  (1,160)  - 
Deposit and prepayment paid for contracts of other investing activities  (2,500)  - 
Payment for blockchain platform applications development costs  -   (302)
Net cash used in investing activities  (6,097)  (1,273)
     
Cash flows from financing activities    
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrant (net of cash offering cost of US$1,600)  17,111   - 
Repayment of short-term bank loan  -   (429)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities  17,111   (429)
     
Effect of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents  20   4 
     
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  4,434   (1,103)
     
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period  4,297   1,603 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period $ 8,731  $ 500