ChinaNet Online Holdings Receives Extension to Regain Compliance With NASDAQ Listing Rules

BEIJING, July 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) (the "ChinaNet" or "Company"), a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing online-to-offline ("O2O") sales channel expansion services for small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") and entrepreneurial management and networking services for entrepreneurs in the People's Republic of China, today announced that on June 30, 2014, NASDAQ granted an exception to enable the Company to regain compliance with NASDAQ's filing requirements set forth in Listing Rules 5250(c)(1) (the "Rule"). The Company must file the Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2014 (the "Form 10-Q') as required by the Rule on or before July 31, 2014.

By another letter dated June 30, 2014, NASDAQ advised the Company that as a result of the filing of its Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company is no longer non-compliant with the filing of the Form 10-K. However, since NASDAQ has not received the Form 10-Q, the Company remains non-compliant with the Rule.

The Company is continuing to work diligently to complete the Form 10-Q on or before July 31, 2014. These notifications have no immediate effect on the listing of the Company's common stock on NASDAQ. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the listing requirements discussed above or otherwise satisfy the other NASDAQ listing criteria.

About ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.

The Company, a parent company of ChinaNet Online Media Group Ltd., incorporated in the BVI ("ChinaNet"), is a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing O2O (online to offline) sales channel expansion service for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial management and networking service for entrepreneurs in China. The Company, through certain contractual arrangements with operating companies in the PRC, provides Internet advertising and other services for Chinese SMEs via its portal websites, 28.com, Liansuo.com and Chuangye.com, TV commercials and program production via China-Net TV, and in-house LCD advertising on banking kiosks targeting Chinese banking patrons. Website: http://www.chinanet-online.com.

Safe Harbor

This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of ChinaNet Online Holdings, 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 ChinaNet's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting ChinaNet will be those anticipated by ChinaNet. 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. ChinaNet 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.

CONTACT: MZ North America

         Ted Haberfield, President

         Tel:  +1-760-755-2716

         Email: thaberfield@mzgroup.us

         Web: www.mzgroup.us

News Provided by Acquire Media