Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 001-15713

 

 

ASIAINFO-LINKAGE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   752506390

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4TH FLOOR, ZHONGDIAN INFORMATION TOWER

6 ZHONGGUANCUN SOUTH STREET, HAIDIAN DISTRICT

BEIJING 100086, CHINA

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

+8610 8216 6688

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of May 6, 2011 was 73,435,724.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

ASIAINFO-LINKAGE, INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION      1   
Item 1.   

Financial Statements (unaudited)

     1   
a)   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

     1   
b)   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010

     2   
c)   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

     3   
d)   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010

     4   
e)   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2011

     5   
f)   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     6   
Item 2.   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     22   
Item 3.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     33   
Item 4.   

Controls and Procedures

     34   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION      35   
Item 1.   

Legal Proceedings

     35   
Item 2.   

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     36   
Item 6.   

Exhibits

     36   
SIGNATURE   
EXHIBIT INDEX   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ASIAINFO-LINKAGE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

Revenues:

    

Software products and solutions

   $ 101,384      $ 53,755   

Service

     6,877        3,834   

Third-party hardware

     6,220        1,654   
                

Total revenues

     114,481        59,243   
                

Cost of revenues:

    

Software products and solutions

     52,569        19,645   

Service

     3,757        1,911   

Third-party hardware

     5,909        1,571   
                

Total cost of revenues

     62,235        23,127   
                

Gross profit

     52,246        36,116   
                

Operating expenses:

    

Sales and marketing

     19,255        7,614   

General and administrative

     8,014        8,647   

Research and development

     9,969        7,588   
                

Total operating expenses

     37,238        23,849   
                

Income from operations

     15,008        12,267   
                

Other income, net

    

Interest income

     1,418        661   

Dividend income

     4        4   

Gain from sales of short-term investments

     199        —     

Other expenses, net

     (115     —     
                

Total other income, net

     1,506        665   
                

Income before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations

     16,514        12,932   
                

Provision for income taxes

     (995     2,055   
                

Income from continuing operations

     17,509        10,877   
                

Discontinued operations:

    

Loss from operations of discontinued operations

     —          (1,221

Provision for income taxes

     —          266   
                

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     —          (955
                

Net income

     17,509        9,922   
                

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (331     (423
                

Net income attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc.

   $ 17,840      $ 10,345   
                

Earnings per share:

    

Net income from continuing operations attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. common stockholders:

    

Basic

   $ 0.24      $ 0.24   
                

Diluted

   $ 0.24      $ 0.23   
                

Net income from discontinued operations attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. common stockholders:

    

Basic

   $ —        $ (0.02
                

Diluted

   $ —        $ (0.02
                

Net income attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. common stockholders:

    

Basic

   $ 0.24      $ 0.22   
                

Diluted

   $ 0.24      $ 0.21   
                

Weighted average shares used in computation:

    

Basic

     74,992,768        47,227,325   
                

Diluted

     75,581,628        48,202,285   
                

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ASIAINFO-LINKAGE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

     March 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
ASSETS     

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 249,229      $ 237,844   

Restricted cash

     14,268        13,943   

Short-term investments – held-to-maturity securities

     14,490        10,570   

Short-term investments – available-for-sale securities

     32,799        31,682   

Accounts receivable (net of allowances of $3,645 and $2,514 as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively)

     302,806        258,338   

Inventories, net

     8,351        9,902   

Other receivables

     5,189        5,934   

Deferred income tax assets – current

     13,828        13,781   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     8,242        4,774   
                

Total current assets

     649,202        586,768   
                

Long-term investments

     5,646        5,646   

Property and equipment, net

     6,086        5,961   

Other acquired intangible assets, net

     196,716        209,626   

Deferred income tax assets – non-current

     2,067        2,066   

Goodwill

     433,215        433,139   

Prepaid land use right

     10,101        10,000   
                

Total assets

   $ 1,303,033      $ 1,253,206   
                
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND EQUITY     

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 121,584      $ 89,867   

Accrued expenses

     24,575        25,391   

Deferred revenue

     21,124        27,963   

Accrued employee benefits

     76,978        72,309   

Other payables

     7,183        6,608   

Income taxes payable

     16,108        18,457   

Other taxes payable

     17,363        11,678   

Deferred income tax liabilities

     3,695        3,657   
                

Total current liabilities

     288,610        255,930   
                

Unrecognized tax benefits

     3,791        4,870   

Deferred income tax liabilities–non-current

     51,836        51,836   

Other long-term liabilities

     274        274   
                

Total liabilities

     344,511        312,910   
                

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

     1,721        1,918   

Equity:

    

AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. equity

    

Common stock (100,000,000 shares authorized; $0.01 par value; 78,083,368 shares and 77,933,404 shares issued as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively; 74,834,468 shares and 74,933,404 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively)

     781        779   

Additional paid-in capital

     842,922        840,328   

Treasury stock, at cost (3,248,900 shares and 3,000,000 shares as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively)

     (32,705     (27,749

Retained earnings

     89,916        72,076   

Statutory reserve

     21,640        21,640   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     33,871        30,794   
                

Total AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. stockholders’ equity

     956,425        937,868   
                

Noncontrolling interest

     376        510   
                

Total equity

     956,801        938,378   
                

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity

   $ 1,303,033      $ 1,253,206   
                

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ASIAINFO-LINKAGE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Three months Ended March 31,  
     2011     2010  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 17,509      $ 9,922   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     690        417   

Share-based compensation expense

     1,897        1,971   

Amortization of other acquired intangible assets

     12,917        404   

Gain on disposal of property and equipment

     (56     (4

Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities

     (199     —     

Provision for bad debt

     1,111        1,939   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (45,579     9,838   

Inventories

     1,551        (226

Other receivables

     752        2   

Deferred income taxes

     23        —     

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     694        (757

Prepaid land use right

     —          (434

Accounts payable

     31,709        (12,807

Accrued expenses

     (816     1,899   

Deferred revenue

     (6,839     (10,315

Accrued employee benefits

     4,669        (142

Other payables

     484        (1,366

Other taxes payable

     1,523        1,735   

Income taxes payable

     (3,427     1,871   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     18,613        3,947   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Increase in restricted cash

     (325     (165

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

     (2,694     (1,465

Purchases of held-to-maturity securities

     (9,886     (5,859

Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities

     1,721        7,859   

Proceeds from maturity of held to maturity securities

     6,085        —     

Purchases of property and equipment

     (701     (201

Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment

     12        4   
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (5,788     173   
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     699        3,520   

Repurchase of common stock

     (4,956     —     
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (4,257     3,520   
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     2,817        35   
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     11,385        7,675   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     237,844        238,553   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 249,229      $ 246,228   
                

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ASIAINFO-LINKAGE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

    AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. Stockholders                    
    Common Stock                             Accumulated                    
    Outstanding
Shares
    Amount     Additional
Paid-in

Capital
    Treasury
Stock
    Retained earnings     Statutory
Reserve
    Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Noncontrolling
Interest
    Total Equity     Comprehensive
Income
 

Balance at January 1, 2010

    47,115,821      $ 501      $ 244,838      $ (27,749   $ 15,199      $ 22,306      $ 20,212      $ 1,362      $ 276,669     

Net income (loss)

    —          —          —          —          10,345        —          —          (423     9,922      $ 9,922   

Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          93        93        —     

Other comprehensive income:

                   

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    —          —          —          —          —          —          51        —          51        51   

Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments, net of tax effects of $ (194)

    —          —          —          —          —          —          607        —          607        607   
                         

Comprehensive income

                    $ 10,580   
                         

Stock option exercises

    183,479        2        3,518        —          —          —          —          —          3,520     

Restricted stock unit vesting

    17,622        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —       

Share-based compensation (restricted stock units)

    —          —          201        —          —          —          —          —          201     

Share-based compensation (performance-based restricted stock units)

    —          —          1,770        —          —          —          —          —          1,770     
                                                                         

Balance at March 31, 2010

    47,316,922      $ 503      $ 250,327      $ (27,749   $ 25,544      $ 22,306      $ 20,870      $ 1,032      $ 292,833     
                                                                         

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ASIAINFO-LINKAGE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

    AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. Stockholders                    
    Common Stock                             Accumulated                    
    Outstanding
Shares
    Amount     Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Treasury
Stock
    Retained
earnings
    Statutory
Reserve
    Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Noncontrolling
Interest
    Total
Equity
    Comprehensive
Income
 

Balance at January 1, 2011

    74,933,404      $ 779      $ 840,328      $ (27,749   $ 72,076      $ 21,640      $ 30,794      $ 510      $ 938,378     

Net income (loss)

    —          —          —          —          17,840        —          —          (331     17,509      $ 17,509   

Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          197        197        —     

Other comprehensive income:

                   

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    —          —          —          —          —          —          3,361        —          3,361        3,361   

Transfer to statements of operations of realized gain on available-for-sale investments, net of tax effects of $30

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (169     —          (169     (169

Net unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments, net of tax effects of $4

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (115     —          (115     (115
                         

Comprehensive income

                    $ 20,586   
                         

Stock option exercises

    114,874        1        698        —          —          —          —          —          699     

Restricted stock units vesting

    35,090        1        (1     —          —          —          —          —          —       

Share-based compensation (restricted stock units)

    —          —          294        —          —          —          —          —          294     

Share-based compensation (performance-based restricted stock units)

    —          —          1,603        —          —          —          —          —          1,603     

Repurchase of common stock

    (248,900     —          —          (4,956     —          —          —          —          (4,956  
                                                                         

Balance at March 31, 2011

    74,834,468      $ 781      $ 842,922      $ (32,705   $ 89,916      $ 21,640      $ 33,871      $ 376      $ 956,801     
                                                                         

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ASIAINFO-LINKAGE, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

On July 1, 2010, AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. (“AsiaInfo”) completed its combination with IT software and solutions provider Linkage Technologies International Holdings Limited (“Linkage”) through the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding share capital of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Linkage Technologies Investment Limited (“Linkage Technologies”) and was renamed “AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc.” (“AsiaInfo-Linkage”). Starting in the third quarter of 2010, AsiaInfo-Linkage’s financial statements consolidated the operating results and financial position of Linkage and its consolidated subsidiaries.

(a) The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AsiaInfo-Linkage, its subsidiaries, and its variable interest entities (the “VIEs”) (collectively, the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for completing annual financial statements. However, management believes that the disclosures are adequate to ensure the information presented is not misleading. US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, contingencies and results of operations. While management has based its assumptions and estimates on the facts and circumstances existing as of March 31, 2011, final amounts may differ from these estimates.

In the opinion of the management of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s audited financial statements included in its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not indicative of the operating results to be expected for any subsequent interim period or for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.

AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. uses the United States (“U.S.”) dollar as its reporting currency and functional currency. The financial records of the Company’s People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) subsidiaries and VIEs are maintained in Renminbi (“RMB”), their functional currency and the currency of the PRC. Their balance sheets are translated into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China as of the balance sheet date. Their statements of operations are translated using a weighted average exchange rate for the period. Translation adjustments are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in equity.

The RMB is not freely convertible into U.S. dollars or other currencies. All foreign exchange transactions involving RMB must take place through the People’s Bank of China or other institutions authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies. The exchange rates adopted for the foreign exchange transactions are the rates of exchange quoted by the People’s Bank of China.

All the assets of the Company’s consolidated VIEs can be used to settle obligations of AsiaInfo-Linkage or its subsidiaries to settle obligations of these VIEs. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, there was $2,384 and $2,876 of liabilities of the Company’s consolidated VIEs for which creditors (or beneficial interest holders) did not have recourse to the general credit of AsiaInfo-Linkage or its subsidiaries.

 

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(b) The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the same accounting policies as used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, except for the following additional accounting policies:

Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to improve disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance amends previous guidance on fair value measurements to add new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements relating to Level 3 measurement on a gross basis rather than on a net basis as currently required. This guidance also clarifies existing fair value disclosures about the level of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activities of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis, which will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2010. Early application is permitted and, in the period of initial adoption, entities are not required to provide the amended disclosures for any previous periods presented for comparative purposes. The Company has adopted this pronouncement except for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activities of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In September 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. This pronouncement was issued in response to practice concerns related to accounting for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables under the existing pronouncement. Although the new pronouncement retains the criteria from the existing pronouncement for when delivered items in a multiple-deliverable arrangement should be considered separate units of accounting, it removes the separation criterion under the existing pronouncement that objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of any undelivered items must exist for the delivered items to be considered a separate unit or separate units of accounting. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date or retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted. However, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year and disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In September 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement to amend the scope of existing software revenue recognition accounting. Tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality would be scoped out of the accounting guidance on software and accounted for based on other appropriate revenue recognition guidance. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date, or retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted. However, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year and disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In March 2010, FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding the effect of denominating the exercise price of a share-based payment awards in the currency of the market in which the underlying equity securities trades and that currency is different from (1) entity’s functional currency, (2) functional currency of the foreign operation for which the employee provides services, and (3) payroll currency of the employee. The pronouncement clarifies that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should be considered an equity award assuming all other criteria for equity classification are met. The pronouncement will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010, and will be applied prospectively. Affected entities will be required to record a cumulative catch-up adjustment for all awards outstanding as of the beginning of the annual period in which the guidance is adopted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

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In April 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding the milestone method of revenue recognition. The scope of this pronouncement is limited to arrangements that include milestones relating to research or development deliverables. The pronouncement specifies criteria that must be met for a vendor to recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a substantive milestone in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. The criteria apply to milestones in arrangements within the scope of this pronouncement regardless of whether the arrangement is determined to have single or multiple deliverables or units of accounting. The pronouncement will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early application is permitted. Affected entities can apply this guidance prospectively to milestones achieved after adoption. However, retrospective application to all prior periods is also permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement on when to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. The pronouncement modifies Step 1 so that for those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with existing guidance, which requires that goodwill of a reporting unit be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. The pronouncement is effective for impairment tests performed during entities’ fiscal years (and interim periods within those years) that begin after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement on disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. The objective of this guidance is to address diversity in practice regarding the interpretation of the pro forma revenue and earnings disclosure requirements for business combinations. The amendments in this update specify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The amendments affect any public entity as defined by Topic 805 that enters into business combinations that are material on an individual or aggregate basis. The amendments will be effective for business combinations consummated in periods beginning after December 15, 2010, and should be applied prospectively as of the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

2. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable, accrued expenses, other payables, income taxes payable, other taxes payable, long-term investments in equity securities of unquoted companies and redeemable noncontrolling interest.

Short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale securities, held-to-maturity securities and trading securities, as discussed in Note 4.

The fair values of long-term investments are not readily determinable. Long-term investments are carried at cost.

The fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest is not readily determinable. Redeemable noncontrolling interest is carried at higher of (1) the initial carrying amount, increased or decreased for the noncontrolling interest’s share of net income or loss or (2) the accreted amount to the expected redemption value.

 

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The carrying values of other financial instruments approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company does not use derivative instruments to manage risks.

3. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, demand deposits and highly liquid investments, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use, and which have remaining maturities of three months or less when purchased. The following table provides additional information concerning the breakdown of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents:

 

     March 31, 2011      December 31, 2010  

Cash

   $ 118,030       $ 103,744   

Cash equivalents:

     

Money market funds

     115,090         119,001   

Seven-day notice deposits

     458         —     

Others

     15,651         15,099   
                 

Total cash and cash equivalents

   $ 249,229       $ 237,844   
                 

4. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

Short-term investments are classified as held-to-maturity securities, available-for-sale securities and trading securities.

As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s held-to-maturity securities consist of term deposits carried at cost of $14,490 and $10,570, respectively. The term deposits are either not allowed to be redeemed early or are subject to penalty for early redemption before their maturity. The carrying amounts of the held-to-maturity securities approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company did not hold trading securities.

The following table provides additional information concerning the Company’s available-for-sale securities, which consist principally of bond funds, balance funds, stock funds and corporate stocks issued by major financial institutions.

 

     March 31, 2011      December 31, 2010  
     Cost      Gross
unrealized
gains
     Gross
unrealized
losses
    Fair
value
     Cost      Gross
unrealized
gains
     Gross
unrealized
losses
     Fair value  

Bond funds

   $ 17,510       $ 2,999       $ —        $ 20,509       $ 17,334       $ 2,853       $ —         $ 20,187   

Balance funds

     1,999         160         (16     2,143         2,733         588         —           3,321   

Stock funds

     7,581         1,935         —          9,516         5,995         1,949         —           7,944   

Corporate stocks

     624         7         —          631         215         15         —           230   
                                                                      

Total

   $ 27,714       $ 5,101       $ (16   $ 32,799       $ 26,277       $ 5,405       $ —         $ 31,682   
                                                                      

Where applicable, the Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1 investments) to determine the fair value of trading and available-for-sale securities. If quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are not available to determine fair value, then the Company uses quoted prices for similar assets or inputs other than the quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly, which are included in Level 2 investments. The Company did not have Level 2 investments as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010. The Company’s Level 3 investments other than derivatives primarily include investments in certain mutual funds without quoted prices as of the date of reporting. The Company values its Level 3 investments using the quoted market price as of the most recent priced day prior to the date of reporting because the Company believes the fair value of the investments would not have materially changed between the pricing date and the date of reporting.

 

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The available-for-sale securities measured and recorded at fair value as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were as follows:

 

     March 31, 2011      December 31, 2010  
     Fair Value Measurements at the Reporting Date Using      Fair Value Measurements at the Reporting Date Using  
     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Instruments
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
     Total
Balance
     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Instruments
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
     Total
Balance
 

Bond funds

   $ 20,509       $ —         $ —         $ 20,509       $ 20,187       $ —         $ —         $ 20,187   

Balance funds

     —           —           2,143         2,143         —           —           3,321         3,321   

Stock funds

     —           —           9,516         9,516         —           —           7,944         7,944   

Corporate stocks

     631         —           —           631         230         —           —           230   
                                                                       

Total

   $ 21,140       $ —         $ 11,659       $ 32,799       $ 20,417       $ —         $ 11,265       $ 31,682   
                                                                       

The following table presents changes in Level 3 investments measured on a recurring basis for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2011     2010  

Beginning balance

   $ 11,265      $ 9,293   

Purchases

     2,284        1,465   

Redemption

     (1,522     —     

Realized gain

     (199     —     

Unrealized gain

     (194     53   

Impairment loss recognized

     —          —     

Exchange difference

     25        3   
                

Ending balance

   $ 11,659      $ 10,814   
                

The following table provides additional information on the realized gains of the Company during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 respectively. For purpose of determining gross realized gains, the cost of securities sold is based on specific identification.

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2011      2010  
     Proceeds      Costs      Gains      Proceeds      Costs      Gains  

Available-for-sale securities

   $ 1,721       $ 1,522       $ 199       $ —         $ —         $ —     
                                                     

Total

   $ 1,721       $ 1,522       $ 199       $ —         $ —         $ —     
                                                     

 

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5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Accounts receivable balances included both billed and unbilled amounts. Revenue recognized in excess of billings is recorded as unbilled receivables. All billed and unbilled amounts are expected to be collected within one year. Accounts receivable balances included bank acceptance drafts receivable and commercial acceptance drafts receivable. These bank acceptance drafts and commercial acceptance drafts were non-interest bearing and were due within nine months of issuance.

The Company generated service revenues by acting as a sales agent for International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”) or its distributors, and for a few other hardware companies for certain products sold to the customers of the Company (each, an “IBM Type Arrangement”). The components of the Company’s accounts receivable as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, including amounts attributable to the IBM Type Arrangements, were as follows:

 

     March 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
     IBM Type
Arrangements
    Non-IBM Type
Arrangements
    Total     IBM Type
Arrangements
    Non-IBM Type
Arrangements
    Total  

Billed accounts receivable

   $ 38,263      $ 82,836      $ 121,099      $ 24,561      $ 71,355      $ 95,916   

Unbilled accounts receivable

     50,948        132,381        183,329        48,738        115,859        164,597   

Bank acceptance drafts

     —          119        119        —          —          —     

Commercial acceptance drafts

     —          1,904        1,904        —          339        339   

Less: accounts receivable allowance

     (367     (3,278     (3,645     (256     (2,258     (2,514
                                                

Total accounts receivable, net

   $ 88,844      $ 213,962      $ 302,806      $ 73,043      $ 185,295      $ 258,338   
                                                

6. INVENTORIES, NET

The components of inventories, net as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were as follows:

 

     March 31, 2011      December 31, 2010  

Finished goods

     8,351         9,902   
                 

Total

   $ 8,351       $ 9,902   
                 

7. LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

(a) In October 2005, the Company acquired five percent of the outstanding equity interests of Hinge. The investment is accounted for using the cost method as the Company does not have a significant influence over the business and operations of Hinge. Due to the effects of the global financial crisis in 2008, Hinge’s business dropped significantly during 2008 causing a significant decline in fair value of Hinge. The Company determined that its investment in Hinge became worthless as of December 31, 2008 and that the decline in the fair value was other-than-temporary. Consequently, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $2,042, which is equal to the carrying amount of the investment after foreign exchange adjustment from the initial investment cost.

(b) On September 12, 2008, the Company acquired 2,170,000 redeemable convertible Series B Preferred Shares of C-Platform Corporation (“C-Platform”), for a total cash consideration of $4,696, including $52 in transaction costs. The total consideration had been paid as of September 30, 2008. Following the transaction, the Company owned approximately 19.9% of C-Platform’s issued and outstanding share capital, or 17% of C-Platform’s share capital on a fully-diluted basis. Since the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of C-Platform, the Company uses the cost method of accounting to record its investment in C-Platform.

C-Platform is a Cayman Islands company, which, through its subsidiaries in China, provides data operating services, a form of value-added telecommunication services, to telecommunications carriers in China. The Company believes that the transaction furthers its ongoing strategy of expanding its market leading telecommunications software solutions business in China.

(c) On November 30, 2010, the Company acquired 3,562,500 Series A-1 Preferred Shares of Santen Corporation (“Santen”), for a total cash consideration of $950 for 9.5% of Santen’s issued and outstanding voting share capital. Since the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of Santen, the Company uses the cost method of accounting to record its investment in Santen.

 

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Santen is a Cayman Islands company, which, through its subsidiaries in China, provides a form of value-added telecommunication services, to telecommunications carriers in China. The Company believes that the transaction furthers its ongoing strategy of expanding its market leading telecommunications software solutions business in China.

8. GOODWILL

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2011 were as follows:

 

     March 31,
2011
 

Gross amount:

  

Beginning balance at January 1, 2011

   $ 459,614   

Exchange differences

     81   
        

Ending balance at March 31, 2011:

     459,695   
        

Accumulated impairment loss:

  

Beginning balance at January 1, 2011:

     (26,475

Exchange differences

     (5

Ending balance at March 31, 2011:

     (26,480
        

Goodwill, net

   $ 433,215   
        

9. OTHER ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

The changes in the carrying amounts of the components of other acquired intangible assets, net, as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were as follows:

 

     March 31, 2011      December 31, 2010  
     Gross
carrying
amount
     Accumulated
amortization
    Foreign
exchange
difference
     Net
carrying
amount
     Gross
carrying
amount
     Accumulated
amortization
    Disposal     Foreign
exchange
difference
     Net
carrying
amount
 

Core technologies

   $ 45,931       $ (7,781   $ —         $ 38,150       $ 45,931       $ (5,964   $ —        $ —         $ 39,967   

Trade names

     21,037         (1,154     —           19,883         21,041         (882     (4     —           20,155   

Contract backlogs

     12,474         (9,765     12         2,721         12,474         (7,342     —          12         5,144   

Customer lists

     131         (143     12         —           131         (143     —          12         —     

Customer relationships

     117,755         (13,252     305         104,808         117,758         (8,272     (3     300         109,783   

Distribution network

     870         (870     —           —           870         (870     —          —           —     

Software

     1,721         (1,793     161         89         1,758         (1,753     (37     160         128   

Non-compete agreements

     1,249         (428     24         845         1,437         (373     (188     24         900   

Corporate business agency agreement

     2,037         (787     3         1,253         2,037         (657     —          2         1,382   

Existing technology

     38,396         (9,533     —           28,863         38,328         (6,333     —          —           31,995   

In process research and development assets (IPR&D assets)

     104         —          —           104         172         —          —          —           172   
                                                                             
   $ 241,705       $ (45,506   $ 517       $ 196,716       $ 241,937       $ (32,589   $ (232   $ 510       $ 209,626   
                                                                             

 

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The future amortization expenses for the net carrying amount of intangible assets with definite lives as of March 31, 2011 are expected to be as follows:

 

Nine-month period ended December 31, 2011

   $ 33,685   

2012

     41,457   

2013

     32,568   

2014

     23,445   

2015 and thereafter

     65,457   
        
   $ 196,612   
        

10. PREPAID LAND USE RIGHT

The Company has commenced the process to obtain land use rights for a piece of land in Beijing, on which the Company plans to construct a building for use as its new corporate headquarters. In October 2009, the Company entered into an agreement with Zhongguancun Software Park Development Co., Ltd. (“ZSPD”), pursuant to which ZSPD agreed to develop the land in preparation for construction of the building, for an aggregate consideration of approximately $10,777. In connection with the agreement, the Company will be eligible to enter into a land transfer agreement with relevant PRC government authorities in order to obtain land use rights with respect to such land. As of March 31, 2011, the Company had paid approximately $10,101 after an exchange rate difference adjustment of $101 pursuant to the agreement with ZSPD, with the remaining amount payable in the remainder of 2011. The Company has recorded the $10,101 as a prepaid land use right on its consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2011. The Company expects to report land use rights at cost less accumulated amortization and to amortize the cost of the land use rights on a straight-line basis over the term of the land use rights to be amortized, which is expected to be 50 years.

11. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The components of comprehensive income during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

Net income

   $ 17,509      $ 9,922   

Transfer to statements of operation of realized gain on available-for-sale investments net of tax effects of $30 and $nil for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively

     (169     —     

Net unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale investments, net of tax effects of $4 and $(194) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively

     (115     607   

Transfer to income statement of other-than-temporary-impairment

     —          —     

Change in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment

     3,361        51   
                

Comprehensive income

     20,586        10,580   
                

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (331     (423
                

Comprehensive income attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc.

   $ 20,917      $ 11,003   
                

 

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12. CREDIT FACILITIES

As of March 31, 2011, the Company had short-term credit facilities for working capital purposes totaling $83,422 expiring in December 2011. As of March 31, 2011, the credit facilities were secured by bank deposits of $10,356 and credit facilities of $15,096 were pledged as security for issuing standby letters of credit and accounts payable to hardware suppliers and customers. As of March 31, 2011, unused short-term credit facilities were $68,326. In addition, the Company had standby letters of credit and bank acceptance drafts as of March 31, 2011, which were collateralized by bank deposits of $3,912. Total bank deposits pledged as security for credit facilities, standby letters of credit, and bank acceptance drafts totaled $14,268 as of March 31, 2011 and were presented as restricted cash in the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had total short-term credit facilities totaling $95,968, which will expire in December 2011 and were secured by bank deposits of $10,293.

13. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Accounts payable included bank acceptance drafts payable of $2,736 and $2,813 and commercial acceptances payable of $nil and $nil as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. These bank acceptance drafts and commercial acceptances were non-interest bearing and were due within six months of issuance.

As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s accounts payable balance related to the IBM Type Arrangements was approximately $105,652 and $75,278, respectively, under which the Company is contractually obligated to pay its vendor only when the customer, China Mobile, pays the Company.

14. VALUE-ADDED TAXES REBATE

Revenue from software products and solutions included the benefit of the rebate of value-added taxes on sales of software and services as part of the PRC government’s policy of encouraging software development in the PRC. The rebate totaled $1,946 and $2,643 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

15. INCOME TAXES

The Company is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes and the Company’s subsidiaries and VIEs incorporated in the PRC are subject to PRC income taxes.

Reconciliation between the provision for income taxes computed by applying the U.S. federal tax rate to income before income taxes and the actual provision for income taxes is as follows:

 

     Three months Ended March 31,  
     2011     2010  

U.S. federal rate

     35     35

Difference between statutory rate and foreign effective tax rate

     (19     (28

Subpart F income inclusion and other dividend income

     —          5   

Decrease in valuation allowance

     (1     —     

Share-based compensation

     —          2   

Tax effect due to reduced rate granted for 2010

     (18     —     

Other permanent differences

     (3     1   
                
     (6 %)      15
                

 

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The tax rate for the first three months ended as of March 31, 2011 is lower than that of the same period of year 2010 mainly because the Company recognized the tax benefit of 2010 Key Software Enterprise upon receiving the Chinese government’s approval this quarter. Pursuant to the relevant rules, a company with Key Software Enterprise status could apply a reduced rate of 10%. Two of the Company’s subsidiaries, AsiaInfo-Linkage Technologies (China) and Linkage-AsiaInfo Technologies (Nanjing), applied for this status for 2010 and received approvals this quarter thus tax benefit was recorded this quarter.

Aggregate undistributed earnings of approximately $167,215 at March 31, 2011 of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs that are available for distribution to the Company are considered to be indefinitely reinvested under US GAAP and, accordingly, no provision has been made for the Chinese withholding tax on dividend that would be payable upon the distribution of those amounts to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. Additionally, the Chinese tax authorities have clarified that distributions to be made out of prior January 1, 2008 retained earnings would not be subject to the Chinese withholding tax. The Company has not quantified the deferred income tax liability that would arise if earnings in the three months ended March 31, 2011 were to be distributed or were determined to be no longer permanently reinvested.

Approximately $1,100 long-term unrecognized benefit was reclassified to current income tax payable due to a change in taxability for one of the PRC legal entities relating to certain tax exempted government refunds for a prior year. It is determined that this government refund is now taxable under the current tax enforcement of Chinese local tax authorities. This reclassification does not have a material impact to the effective tax rate for the quarter or the year.

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various states and foreign jurisdictions. There is no ongoing examination by any tax authority at this time. Other than the above states reclassification of a long term tax liability for unrecognized tax benefit to current tax payable, the Company did not change its position of recognizing uncertain tax benefit in the first three months ended March 31, 2011, and does not foresee any material change to the amount of uncertain tax benefit. The Company’s various tax years from 2000 to 2010 remain open in these taxing jurisdictions.

16. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

2002 Stock Option Plan and the Prior Plans

Under the Company’s 2002 Stock Option Plan (the “2002 Plan”), the Company was authorized to grant options for the purchase of up to 4,500,000 shares of common stock to employees, directors and consultants at prices not less than the fair market value on the date of grant for incentive stock options and nonqualified options. Shares as to which an option is granted under the 2002 Plan but remains unexercised at the expiration, forfeiture or other termination of such option may be the subject of the grant of further options. Prior to adopting the 2002 Stock Option Plan, the Company adopted annual stock option plans for each of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 (such plans, together with the 2002 Stock Option Plan, are referred to hereinafter as the “Option Plans”).

The vesting periods of the options under the Option Plans are determined based on the individual stock option agreements. Options granted prior to 1998 generally vest and become exercisable over three years at an equal annual rate. Exercise terms of options granted in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002 are substantially similar to those of options granted prior to 1998 except that the vesting and exercise periods are generally over four one-year cliffs at an annual rate of 20%, 20%, 30% and 30% for the 1999 plan, generally over four years at an annual rate of 25% for the 2000 plan, and are generally no more than four years at an annual rate of 25% for the 2002 Plan.

Activities for the Option Plans are summarized as follows:

 

     Number of shares     Weighted average
exercise  price per share
     Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 

Outstanding, January 1, 2011

     520,924      $ 5.74       $ 5,645   

Forfeited

     (730     9.25      

Exercised

     (133,864     5.21      
             

Outstanding, March 31, 2011

     386,330      $ 5.91       $ 6,485   
             

Vested and expected to vest, March 31, 2011

     386,330        5.91         6,485   

Exercisable, March 31, 2011

     386,330      $ 5.91       $ 6,485   

 

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The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the closing stock price of $21.65 of the Company’s common stock on the last trading day (March 31, 2011).

The total intrinsic value of options exercised for each of the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $1,630 and $1,099, respectively.

As of March 31, 2011, there was no unrecognized share-based compensation cost relating to share options.

2005 Stock Incentive Plan – restricted stock units (RSUs)

Under the Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), the Company may grant participants restricted stock awards, stock options, or other types of equity incentives. The number of shares authorized for issuance is (a) 600,000 shares plus (b) any authorized shares of the Company’s common stock that, as of April 21, 2005, were available for issuance under the 2002 Plan, or that thereafter become available for issuance under the 2002 Plan in accordance with its terms.

A restricted stock unit (“RSU”) is an agreement to issue stock at the time when the award vests. These units are vested on an annual basis equally over four years, 25% on each anniversary of the grant date. The fair value of each RSU is measured on the grant date based on the market price of the stock on the grant date. The Company also has the right, in its sole discretion, to pay cash in lieu of the issuance of vested shares of common stock. No such cash payment right was exercised by the Company.

RSUs as of March 31, 2011 and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2011 were as follows:

 

     Number of shares     Weighted average
grant date fair value
 

Restricted stock units unvested at January 1, 2011

     178,350      $ 21.22   

Granted

     2,800        20.35   

Vested

     (35,090     21.68   

Forfeited

     (1,500     26.07   
          

Restricted stock units unvested at March 31, 2011

     144,560      $ 21.05   
          

The total intrinsic value of RSUs vested for each of the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $663 and $500, respectively.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $2,637 in unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to RSUs, which is expected to be recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations over a weighted-average vesting period of 1.61 years. To the extent the actual forfeiture rate is different from the original estimate, the actual share-based compensation related to these awards may be different from the expectation.

2008 Stock Incentive Plan

On February 25, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2008 Plan”). The 2008 Plan was subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders. Under the 2008 Plan, the Company may grant participants restricted stock awards, stock options, or other types of equity incentives. The number of shares authorized for issuance is (a) 2,000,000 shares plus (b) any authorized shares of the Company’s common stock that, as of February 25, 2008, were available for issuance under the 2005 Plan, or that thereafter become available for issuance under the 2005 Plan in accordance with its terms.

As of March 31, 2011, 1,689,400 performance stock units (“PSUs”) were granted under the 2008 Plan. These awards will vest based on certain performance-based criteria, such as the Company’s operating margin annual growth rate, provided the award holder continues to be an employee of the Company at the time the performance goals are met. Each PSU represents a contingent right of the participant to receive a payment in respect of a share of the Company’s common stock, whether in shares, cash, or a combination thereof, subject to the terms and conditions of the participant’s PSU agreement. The Company also has the right, in its sole discretion, to pay cash in lieu of the issuance of vested shares of common stock. No such cash payment right was exercised by the Company.

 

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PSUs as of March 31, 2011 and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2011 were as follows:

 

     Number of shares     Weighted average
grant date fair value
 

Performance-based restricted stock units unvested at January 1, 2011

     487,088      $ 13.33   

Forfeited

     (3,138     13.10   
          

Performance-based restricted stock units unvested at March 31, 2011

     483,950      $ 13.33   
          

Total intrinsic value of the PSUs granted under the 2008 Plan and vested in each of the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $nil and $nil, respectively.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $3,227 in unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to the PSUs, which is expected to be recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations over a weighted-average vesting period of 1 year. To the extent the actual forfeiture rate is different from the original estimate, the actual share-based compensation related to these awards may be different from the expectation.

The amount of share-based compensation attributable to cost of revenues, sales and marketing, general and administrative expenses, and research and development is included in those line items on the face of the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, share-based compensation expenses related to stock options, RSUs and PSUs were allocated as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2011      2010  

Cost of revenues

   $ 479       $ 520   

Sales and marketing

     430         546   

General and administrative

     714         619   

Research and development

     274         286   
                 

Total share-based compensation expense

   $ 1,897       $ 1,971   
                 

17. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted net income per share computations:

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,  
     2011      2010  

Amounts attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. common stockholders (numerator)

     

Income from continuing operations, net of taxes

   $ 17,840       $ 11,300   

Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     —           (955
                 

Net income

   $ 17,840       $ 10,345   
                 

Shares (denominator):

     

Weighted average common stock outstanding

     

Basic

     74,992,768         47,227,325   

Dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted stock units

     588,860         974,960   
                 

Diluted

     75,581,628         48,202,285   
                 

Earnings per share

     

Net income from continuing operations attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. common stockholders

     

Basic

   $ 0.24       $ 0.24   
                 

Diluted

   $ 0.24       $ 0.23   
                 

Net income from discontinued operations attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. common stockholders

     

Basic

   $ —         $ (0.02
                 

Diluted

   $ —         $ (0.02
                 

Net income attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. common stockholders

     

Basic

   $ 0.24       $ 0.22   
                 

Diluted

   $ 0.24       $ 0.21   
                 

 

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As of March 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had $78,381 and 5,000 common stock options outstanding, respectively, that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (“EPS”), as their exercise prices exceeded the average market values in those periods. These options could potentially have a dilutive effect on the Company’s EPS in the future.

18. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company’s operations are currently organized into three business units by three major customers, the three telecommunication carriers in China. In accordance with FASB guidance, each of these three business units represents an operating segment, of which discrete financial information is available and is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The three operating segments are aggregated into one reportable segment because they meet the aggregation criteria of FASB that have same economic characteristics.

The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Company’s Business Committee, comprising the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and senior management team.

The Company primarily operates in the PRC and substantially all of the Company’s long-lived assets are located in the PRC.

19. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation–In December 2001, a securities class action case was filed in New York City against the Company, certain of its officers and directors and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”). The lawsuit alleged violations of the U.S. federal securities laws and was docketed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York as Hassan v. AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc., et al. The lawsuit alleged, among other things, that the underwriters of the Company’s IPO improperly required their customers to pay the underwriters excessive commissions and to agree to buy additional shares of the Company’s common stock in the aftermarket as conditions of their purchasing shares in the Company’s IPO. The lawsuit further claimed that the alleged practices of the underwriters should have been disclosed in the Company’s IPO prospectus and registration statement. The suit seeks rescission of the plaintiffs’ alleged purchases of the Company’s common stock as well as unspecified damages. In addition to the case against the Company, various other plaintiffs have filed approximately 1,000 other, substantially similar class action cases (collectively, the “IPO Allocation Cases”) against approximately 300 other publicly traded companies and their IPO underwriters in New York City, which along with the case against the Company, have all been transferred to a single federal district judge for purposes of case management.

 

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In April 2009, the Company and most of the other issuer defendants in the IPO Allocation Cases reached a definitive agreement with the plaintiffs and the underwriter defendants to settle the IPO Allocation Cases. The agreement was filed with the court in April 2009 and a final approval was granted by the court in October 2009. The final approval was subject to appeal until November 2009. Ten appeals were filed objecting to the definition of the settlement class and fairness of the settlement, five of which have been dismissed with prejudice. Two appeal briefs have been filed by the remaining objector groups, and those appeals remain pending. If the settlement is approved, the Company expects any damages payable to the plaintiffs to be fully funded by its directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies. If the litigation proceeds, the Company intends to continue to defend the litigation vigorously. Moreover, if the litigation proceeds, the Company believes that the underwriters may have an obligation to indemnify the Company for the legal fees and other costs of defending this suit and that its directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies would also cover the defense and potential exposure in the suit.

In addition, in June 2007 the Company received a letter from a putative stockholder demanding that the Company investigate and prosecute a claim for alleged short-swing trading in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), by the underwriters of the Company’s IPO and certain of the Company’s unidentified directors, officers and stockholders. In October 2007, the putative stockholder commenced a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank, two of the lead underwriters of the Company’s IPO, alleging violations of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. The complaint alleges that the combined number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by the lead underwriters and certain unnamed officers, directors and principal stockholders exceeded ten percent of the Company’s outstanding common stock from the date of the Company’s IPO in March 2000, for at least one year. It further alleges that those entities and individuals were thus subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) and the short-swing trading prohibition of Section 16(b), and failed to comply with those provisions. The complaint seeks to recover from the lead underwriters any “short-swing profits” obtained by them in violation of Section 16(b). None of the Company’s directors, officers or stockholders is named as defendants in this action, although the Company is named as a nominal defendant. In July 2008, the Company together with several other issuers who are also named as nominal defendants in the action filed a joint motion to dismiss the action. In March 2009, the court granted the motion, dismissing the complaint without prejudice on the ground that the plaintiff failed to make an adequate demand to the Company prior to filing the complaint. The plaintiff subsequently appealed the judgment to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the underwriter defendants have filed certain cross-appeals. In December 2010, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the case, but reversed and remanded certain claims relating to the underwriters. In January 2011, the Ninth Circuit denied certain petitions for rehearing and ordered that no further petitions for rehearing may be filed. In April 2011, the plaintiff requested review with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking reversal of the Ninth Circuit’s decision, and briefing on the request is currently being provided to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Company intends to continue to defend vigorously the two litigation matters described above. While the Company cannot guarantee the outcome of these proceedings, the Company believes that the final results of these lawsuits will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

20. STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

On September 11, 2007, the Company announced the authorization of a stock repurchase program under which the Company was entitled, from time to time for a period of four months, depending on market conditions, share price and other factors, to make one or more purchases, on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to availability, of up to 3,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock. As of December 31, 2007, the Company repurchased 244,300 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $1,953 pursuant to this repurchase program.

On February 27, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized an extension to the 2007 share repurchase program through July 10, 2008. Under the extended program, the Company was authorized from time to time, depending on market conditions, share price and other factors make one or more purchases on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to availability, of up to 2,755,700 shares of its outstanding common stock. Any common stock repurchased by the Company became part of its treasury stock and may be retired or used by the Company to finance or execute acquisitions or other arrangements. As of July 10, 2008, the Company had repurchased 166,400 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $1,664 pursuant to this repurchase program.

 

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On September 17, 2008, the Company announced a new stock repurchase program under which the Company was authorized to repurchase up to 3,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had repurchased 2,589,300 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $24,132.

No stock repurchased during year 2009 or 2010.

On January 30, 2011, the Company announced the authorization of a new stock repurchase program, under which the Company may, from time to time for a period of twelve months, depending on market conditions, share price and other factors, make one or more purchases, on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, of up to $60,000 in aggregate value of the Company’s outstanding common stock. As of March 31, 2011, the Company repurchased 248,900 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $4,956 pursuant to this repurchase program.

Any common stock repurchased by the Company will become part of its treasury stock.

21. NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

(a) In September 2008, the Company established a new subsidiary, Shanghai Xinjia Science & Technology Co., Ltd (“AISH”) in Shanghai, with a total capital contribution of $732. The Company and Mr. Yao Yuan, the other shareholder of AISH, hold 90% and 10% of AISH’s share capital, respectively. AISH mainly provides software and services to telecommunication carriers in Shanghai.

(b) In October 2009, the Company acquired 60% of the share capital of SmartCall Holding Limited and the remaining 40% of the share capital was recorded as noncontrolling interest.

22. REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

(a) In October 2009, the Company formed AsiaInfo International Pte Ltd (“AIP”) with Alpha Growth International Pte Ltd, a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore (“AGI”), in Singapore. AIP has total issued and paid-up share capital of $4,000. The Company contributed $2,800 to AIP in cash, which represents 70% of AIP’s share capital. AGI contributed $1,200 to the AIP in cash, which represents 30% of AIP’s share capital. AIP serves as an exclusive agent to market and distribute the Company’s telecommunications software and service solutions in certain regions in Southeast Asia until December 2014 or such other date as the Company and AGI may mutually agree. The Company has consolidated AIP since its incorporation.

Pursuant to the agreement with AGI, the Company granted a put option to AGI to sell, while the Company received a call option from AGI to purchase, the 30% equity interest held by AGI. The options are exercisable within a 30 day-period from the date of issuing the audit report of AIP’s 2013 financial statements. The exercise prices for the call and the put options of the 30% equity interest held by AGI are the same and are determined by a formula based on the performance of AIP for years 2012 and 2013.

(b) In May 2010, the Company, through a subsidiary of the Company, consummated the acquisition of 80% equity interest of Hangzhou Zhongbo for an aggregate purchase price of $7,068 in cash. Hangzhou Zhongbo provides IT solutions to broadcasting operators in China.

Pursuant to the agreement with Hangzhou Zhongbo, the Company granted a put option to Hangzhou Zhongbo to sell, while the Company received a call option from Hangzhou Zhongbo to purchase, the 20% equity interest held by Hangzhou Zhongbo. The options are exercisable after December 31, 2011. The exercise prices for the call and the put options of the 20% equity interest held by Hangzhou Zhongbo are the same and are determined by a formula based on the performance of Hangzhou Zhongbo for years 2010 and 2011.

 

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These noncontrolling interests were recorded outside of the permanent equity on the consolidated balance sheets initially at the fair value of the noncontrolling interests as of the date of incorporation or the date of acquisition of these subsidiaries. Subsequently, each noncontrolling interest was carried at the higher of (1) the initial carrying amount, increased or decreased for the noncontrolling interest’s share of net income or loss or (2) the accreted amount to the expected redemption value. The change of the carrying amounts of the redeemable noncontrolling interest is recognized as net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the consolidated statements of operations. For the first quarter of year 2011, the amounts charged to the net income attributable to noncontrolling interests were $197, which represents the noncontrolling interests’ share of net loss of these subsidiaries.

 

     Redeemable Noncontrolling
Interest
 

Balance at December 31, 2010

   $ 1,918   

Net loss

     (197

Adjustment to redemption value

     —     
        

Balance at March 31, 2011

   $ 1,721   
        

23. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company evaluated events occurring after March 31, 2011 until the date the consolidated financial statements were issued.

At the annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders held on April 21, 2011 (the “Annual Meeting”), the Company’s stockholders approved and adopted the Company’s 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”). The 2011 Plan provides a means whereby employees, directors, officers, consultants, advisors and independent contractors of the Company may be granted restricted stock awards, performance stock awards, stock options, or other types of equity incentives. Subject to certain adjustments, the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2011 Plan is 7,501,752 shares, plus any shares that are available for grant under the Company’s 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, or would again become available for grant under the Prior Plan, in accordance with its terms. The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors is the plan administrator of the 2011 Plan and has discretion over whether and to whom awards will be granted as well as the terms and conditions of awards, including the vesting of restricted stock awards and the exercise price of any options granted under the 2011 Plan. The 2011 Plan does not have a fixed expiration date. However, no option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the grant date of the option and the term of an incentive stock option may not exceed ten years.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Except for historical information, the statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or the Reform Act, contains certain safe harbors regarding forward-looking statements. Certain of the forward-looking statements include management’s expectations, intentions and beliefs with respect to our growth, our operating results, the nature of the industry in which we are engaged, our business strategies and plans for future operations, our needs for capital expenditures, capital resources and liquidity, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. All forward-looking statements included in this report are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. These cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the provisions of the Reform Act with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the safe harbor provisions of the Reform Act. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part II Other Information below and in the reports we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, from time to time.

In this report, the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. and its subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities, or VIEs, “Linkage” refers to Linkage Technologies International Holdings Limited; and “AsiaInfo” refers to the Company prior to its combination with Linkage.

Overview

We are the leading provider of high-quality communications software solutions and IT related services in China. Our software and services enable our customers to build, maintain, operate, manage and improve their communications infrastructure. Our largest customers are the major telecommunications carriers in China and their provincial subsidiaries, including China Mobile Communications Corporation, or China Mobile, China United Telecommunications Corporation, or China Unicom, and China Telecommunications Corporation, or China Telecom.

We commenced our operations in the United States, or the U.S., in 1993 and moved our major operations from the U.S. to China in 1995. We began generating significant network solutions revenues in 1996 and significant software revenues in 1998. We conduct the bulk of our business through our operating subsidiaries, most of which are Chinese companies. On July 1, 2010, we completed the combination with Linkage and, in connection with the closing, changed our corporate name to “AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc.”

We have derived, and believe that we will continue to derive, a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of large telecommunications customers, such as China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom and their respective provincial subsidiaries. The following table shows our revenues and percentage of total revenues derived from those three customers (and their respective provincial subsidiaries) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2011     2010  
     Revenues
(in  thousands)
     Percentage of Total
Revenues
    Revenues
(in  thousands)
     Percentage of Total
Revenues
 

China Mobile

   $ 61,910         54   $ 44,484         75

China Telecom

     22,144         19     4,198         8

China Unicom

     28,788         25     10,300         17
                                  

Total

   $ 112,842         98   $ 58,982         100
                                  

 

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As a result of our reliance on our key customers in the telecommunications industry, our operating results are influenced by governmental spending policies in that sector. Historically, there have been a number of state-mandated restructurings in China’s telecommunications sector. Some of these restructurings have led to cancellation or delays in telecommunications-related capital expenditures that have negatively impacted our operating results. Other restructurings have caused our revenues to increase as carriers have increased spending on software and IT infrastructure designed to increase their competitiveness. Any future restructurings affecting our major telecommunications customers could have an adverse impact on our business.

Our telecom solutions business unit, encompassing our telecommunications business For financial reporting purposes, each of the business is further organized into three product lines:

 

   

Software products and solutions;

 

   

Services; and

 

   

Third-party hardware.

Recent Developments

On July 1, 2010, we completed the combination with Linkage. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement dated December 4, 2009, as supplemented on June 5, 2010 by the Supplemental Agreement, by and among AsiaInfo, Linkage, certain shareholders of Linkage, and Mr. Libin Sun as agent for the shareholders of Linkage, which we collectively refer to as the Combination Agreement, we purchased from Linkage 100% of the outstanding share capital of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Linkage Technologies Investment Limited, or Linkage Technologies, for $60 million in cash and 26,832,731 shares of our common stock, resulting in Linkage Technologies becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary. In connection with the closing, on July 1, 2010 we changed our corporate name to “AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc.” In the third quarter of 2010, we consolidated the operating results and financial position of Linkage and its consolidated subsidiaries. Our consolidated financial statements for periods before July 1, 2010 reflect the standalone operating results and financial position of AsiaInfo and its consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs.

On December 1, 2010, we entered into a Framework Agreement for Termination of Lenovo Security Control Structure with Messrs. Jian Qi and Kequan Liu, the management of Lenovo Security Technologies (Beijing), Inc., or Lenovo Security, and Lenovo-AsiaInfo-Linkage Technologies, Inc., one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, whereby we sold our IT security business through the disposition of Lenovo Security to the management team of the IT security business, including our former executive officer Mr. Jian Qi. Under the terms of the agreement, we received approximately $15.0 million in cash in exchange for 100% of our economic interest in Lenovo Security and settlement of certain inter-company liabilities. Since December 2010, we began reflecting the historical results of our IT security business as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements.

On January 30, 2011, we announced the authorization of a new stock repurchase program under which we may, from time to time for a period of twelve months, depending on market conditions, share price and other factors, make one or more purchases, on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, of up to $60 million in aggregate value of our outstanding common stock. As of March 31, 2011, we had repurchased 248,900 shares of our common stock at a total cost of approximately $5.0 million pursuant to this repurchase program.

Revenues

We report our revenues on the basis of the three principal types of revenues derived from our business: software products and solutions revenue, service revenue and third-party hardware revenue. We allocate revenues of bundled arrangements in the three categories based on the selling prices of each component as set out in sales contracts.

 

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Software products and solutions revenue. We typically sell our software as part of a total solutions package for our customers, which includes proprietary software licenses, professional services related to the design and implementation of the solutions (such as consulting, training, technical support and maintenance) and, in cases where the customer requests a turn-key solution, related hardware. Software products and solutions revenue includes two types of revenues: software license revenue and software services revenue. Software license revenue consists of fees received from customers for licenses or sublicenses to use our software products or third-party software products in perpetuity, typically up to a specified maximum number of users. In most cases where a customer is required to purchase additional licenses from us because the number of users exceeds the number of licensed users, we enter into an extension agreement with the customer to expand and upgrade the customer’s system. These extension contracts will usually include a license for the additional users, updated versions of our software and, if required, additional services and hardware for the customer’s network. Our software license revenue also includes the benefit of value-added tax rebates on software license sales, which reflect the Chinese government’s policy of encouraging the development of China’s software industry. Software services revenue consists of revenue from software installation, customization, training and other services. We also record reductions from revenue for our estimates of expected software sales returns from distributors based on current sales and historical sales returns.

Service revenue. Service revenue consists of revenue from professional services, including IT services, management consulting, and network planning, design, systems integration and training services.

In addition, we generate service revenues by acting as a sales agent for International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM, or its distributors, and a few other hardware vendors, for certain products sold to our customers, which we refer to as our IBM Type Arrangements. The service fee under the IBM Type Arrangements is determined as a percentage of the gross contract amount. We have evaluated the criteria outlined in guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, regarding reporting revenue gross as principal versus net as an agent, in determining whether to record as revenues the gross amount billed to our customers and related costs or the net amount earned after deducting hardware costs paid to the vendor, even though we bear inventory risks after the vendor ships the products to us and we bill gross amounts to our customers. We record the net amount earned after deducting hardware costs as agency service revenue because (1) the vendor is the primary obligor in these transactions, (2) we have no latitude in establishing the prices, (3) we are not involved in the determination of the product specifications, and (4) we do not have the right to select suppliers.

Third-party hardware revenue. Other than the IBM Type Arrangements, we sometimes procure for, and sell hardware to, our customers as part of certain turn-key solutions. We typically minimize our exposure to hardware inventory risks by sourcing equipment from hardware vendors against letters of credit from our customers. For these hardware transactions, we have also evaluated the criteria outlined in FASB guidance. As a result of the evaluation, we record the gross amounts billed to our customers as revenues because (1) we are the primary obligor in these transactions, (2) we bear the inventory risk, (3) we have latitude in establishing prices, (4) we are involved in the determination of the product specifications, (5) we bear credit risk, and (6) we have the right to select suppliers. As the telecommunications-related IT services market in China develops, our customers are increasingly purchasing hardware directly from hardware vendors and retaining us for our software and professional services.

Net revenue (non-GAAP). Although we report our revenue on a gross basis, inclusive of hardware acquisition costs, we manage our business internally based on revenues net of hardware costs, or net revenues (non-GAAP), which is consistent with our strategy of providing our customers with high-value IT professional services and, where efficient, outsourcing lower-end services such as hardware acquisition and installation. This strategy may result in lower growth rates for total revenue as against prior periods, but will not adversely impact revenue net of hardware costs. The following table shows our revenue breakdown on this basis and reconciles our net revenues (non-GAAP) to total revenues:

 

     Reconciliation of Net Revenues (non-GAAP) to Total Revenues
(in thousands)
 
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2011      2010  

Revenues net of hardware costs:

     

Software products and solutions revenue

   $ 101,384       $ 53,755   

Service revenue

     6,877         3,834   

Third-party hardware revenue net of hardware costs

     311         83   
                 

Total revenues net of hardware costs

     108,572         57,672   

Total hardware costs

     5,909         1,571   
                 

Total revenues

   $ 114,481       $ 59,243   
                 

 

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We believe total revenues net of hardware costs more accurately reflect our core business, which is the provision of software solutions and services. We also believe this measure provides transparency to our investors because it is the measure used by our management to evaluate the competitiveness and performance of our business. In addition, third-party hardware revenue tends to fluctuate from period to period depending on the requirements of our customers. As a result, a presentation that excludes hardware costs allows investors to better evaluate the performance of our core business and we report this presentation to our chief operating decision maker.

Cost of Revenues

Software products and solutions costs. Software products and solutions costs consist primarily of three components:

 

   

packaging and written manual expenses for our proprietary software products and solutions;

 

   

compensation and travel expenses for the professionals involved in modifying, customizing or installing our software products and solutions and in providing consultation, training and support services; and

 

   

software license fees paid to third-party software providers for the right to sublicense their products to our customers as part of our solutions offerings.

The costs associated with designing and further developing our proprietary software are classified as research and development expenses as incurred.

Service costs. Service costs consist primarily of compensation and travel expenses for the professionals involved in designing and implementing IT services, management consulting and network solutions projects.

Third-party hardware costs. We generally recognize hardware costs in full upon delivery of the hardware to our customers. In order to minimize our working capital requirements, we generally obtain from our hardware vendors payment terms that are timed to permit us to receive payment from our customers for the hardware before our payments to hardware vendors are due. However, in large projects we sometimes obtain less favorable payment terms from our customers, thereby increasing our working capital requirements.

Amortization of intangible assets, depreciation of properties and equipment, and rental expenses are also included in cost of revenue.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses are comprised of sales and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, and research and development expenses. Compensation expenses consistently comprise a significant portion of our total operating expenses.

Sales and marketing expenses include compensation expenses for employees in our sales and marketing departments, third-party advertising expenses, sales commissions and sales consulting fees, as well as the depreciation and amortization expenses allocated to our sales and marketing departments.

Research and development expenses relate to the development of new software and the modification of existing software. We expense such costs as they are incurred.

Taxes

Except for certain hardware procurement and resale transactions, we conduct majority of our business through our Chinese subsidiaries and VIEs. Prior to the enactment of China’s current Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, foreign-invested enterprises, or FIEs, were generally subject to a 30% state enterprise income tax plus a 3% local income tax. However, most of our operating subsidiaries in China, as FIEs, were entitled to tax holidays or certain preferential tax treatments, which thus reduced their effective rate of income tax to 15% or lower in some cases. Since the EIT Law became effective, all Chinese resident enterprises are subject to a flat 25% income tax rate, unless they are eligible for certain preferential tax treatments.

 

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Pursuant to the related tax legislation, a qualified High-and-New Technology Enterprise, or the HNTE, is eligible for a reduced EIT rate of 15%. The HNTE status is valid for three years. At the conclusion of the three-year period, the qualifying enterprise has the option to renew its HNTE status for additional three years through a simplified assessment if such enterprise’s business operations continue to qualify for HNTE status. After the first six years, the enterprise would be subject to a new application process if it continues to renew its HNTE status. As of December 2008, we had received HNTE certification for AsiaInfo-Linkage Technologies (China), AsiaInfo-Linkage Technologies (Chengdu), and Linkage-AsiaInfo Technologies (Nanjing), which allows those companies to compute tax at a reduced 15% tax rate starting January 1, 2008. The three entities intend to file renewal applications with related authorities in 2011 and we believe they are likely to pass the renewal assessment and have their HNTE certificates renewed.

Both AsiaInfo-Linkage Technologies (China) and Linkage-AsiaInfo Technologies (Nanjing) were approved as Key Software Enterprise, or KSE, for 2010. Pursuant to the prevailing Chinese tax legislations, KSE’s income tax rate would have been further reduced from 15% to 10% for 2010. Related approvals, however, were not announced until early 2011. As such, both companies include related tax benefit as a discrete item in this quarter.

Sales of hardware procured in China are subject to 17% Value Added Tax, or VAT. Most of our sales of hardware procured outside of China are made through our U.S. parent company, AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, Hong Kong AsiaInfo-Linkage Technologies Ltd., and thus are not subject to the VAT. We effectively pass VAT on hardware sales through to our customers and do not include them in revenue reported in our financial statements. Companies that develop their own software and register the software with relevant authorities in China are generally entitled to a VAT refund. If the net amount of the VAT payable exceeds 3% of software sales and software-related services, the excess portion of the VAT is refundable immediately. The policy is extended by a new tax circular issued in January 2011. The benefit of the VAT rebate is included in software revenue. Historically, the VAT refund received is not taxable for income tax purposes as long as the refund is used for research and development activities. However, according to a tax circular which was issued by the PRC State Administration of Taxation in January 2009, although the refund would remain non-taxable when the refund is used for expenses or purchase of or expenses associated with fixed assets, the expenses and depreciation associated with such fixed assets are not tax deductible for income tax purposes. This circular also stipulates that any VAT refund not spent within a five-year period since it is received shall be added back to taxable income in the sixth year. It is unclear how this new rule will be implemented and in the absence of specific guidance we are treating the VAT refund received as a non-taxable item for income tax purposes till the five-year period ends.

Our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are subject to business tax, or BT, at the rate of 3% or 5%, respectively, on certain types of service revenues, which are presented in our statements of operations net of business tax incurred. Business taxes deducted from revenues during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were $3.1 million and $1.9 million, respectively. Effective from December 1, 2010, our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are also subject to Urban Maintenance and Construction Tax as well as Education Fee Surcharge at the rate of 7% and 3% of VAT and BT paid.

In January 2011, the State Council issued a new circular providing an exemption from business tax for eligible software companies on software development and testing, system integration, consulting and maintenance services. The circular also retains various policies stipulated by previous circulars, including extending the policy of VAT rebate on sales of self-developed software. However, the implementation guidance of this new circular has not yet been issued, causing Chinese tax authorities to delay their processing of VAT rebates in the first three months of 2011.

We are also subject to U.S. income taxes on revenues generated in the U.S., including revenues from our limited hardware procurement activities through our U.S. parent company, AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc., and interest income earned in the U.S.

 

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Foreign Exchange

A majority of our revenues and expenses relating to the hardware, software and service components of our business are denominated in Renminbi, or RMB. The value of our shares will be affected by the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and RMB because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while our shares are traded in U.S. dollars. Furthermore, an increase in the value of the RMB may require us to exchange more U.S. dollars into RMB in order to meet the working capital requirements of our subsidiaries in China. Depreciation of the value of the U.S. dollar will also reduce the value of the cash we hold in U.S. dollars, which we may use for purposes of future acquisitions or other business expansion. We actively monitor our exposure to these risks and adjust our cash position in the RMB and the U.S. dollar when we believe such adjustments will reduce our foreign exchange risks. For example, in February 2004 we exchanged approximately $28.0 million cash from U.S. dollars to RMB in order to address concerns regarding a possible increase in the relative value of the RMB. We did not engage in any significant foreign exchange transactions in the three-month period ended March 31, 2011.

As of March 31, 2011, approximately 88.2%, or $232.4 million, of our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were RMB-denominated and approximately 11.4%, or $30.2 million, were U.S. dollar-denominated. Pursuant to the rate of exchange quoted by People’s Bank of China as of March 31, 2011, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the RMB was US$1.00 = RMB6.5564, compared to the rate of US$1.00=RMB6.8263 as of March 31, 2010.

Critical Accounting Policies

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or US GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenues and cost of revenues under customer contracts, warranty obligations, bad debts, inventories, short-term investments, long-term investments, long-lived assets, income taxes, goodwill and other intangible assets, stock options, and litigation. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue recognition. Our revenue is derived from three primary sources: (i) software license and related services, including assistance in implementation, customization and integration, post-contract customer support, or PCS, training and consulting; (ii) professional services for systems design, planning, consulting, and system integration; and (iii) the procurement of hardware on behalf of our customers.

Revenues from customer orders requiring significant production, modifications, or customization of the software are recognized over the service period based on the percentage of completion method as prescribed by US GAAP. Software arrangements with significant production, modifications, or customization are sold with bundled PCS services. Because PCS services have never been sold separately in these arrangements, they do not have stand-alone fair value or vendor specific objective evidence of fair value. The percentage of completion method of revenue recognition is therefore applied to the period from the start of the significant production, modifications, or customization through the last element delivered, which is typically the end of the bundled PCS service period. Revisions in estimated contract costs are made in the period in which the circumstances requiring the revision become known. Provisions, if any, are made currently for anticipated losses on uncompleted contracts.

Consulting and other professional services revenues are recognized when the services are performed. Sales of third-party hardware, if not bundled with other arrangements, are recognized when delivered if all other revenue recognition criteria are met. Costs associated with revenues are recognized when incurred.

We generated service revenues by acting as a sales agent for International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM, or its distributors, and for a few other hardware companies for certain products sold to our customers. We refer to each such arrangement as an “IBM-Type Arrangement.” The service fee under our IBM-Type Arrangements is determined as a percentage of the gross contract amount. We have evaluated the criteria outlined in guidance issued by FASB regarding reporting revenue gross as principal versus net as agent, when determining whether we would record as revenues the gross amount billed to our customers and related costs or the net amount earned after deducting hardware costs paid to the vendor, even though we bear inventory risks after the vendor ships the products to us and we bill gross amounts to our customers. We record the net amount earned after deducting hardware costs as agency service revenue because (1) the vendor is the primary obligor in these transactions, (2) we have no latitude in establishing the prices, (3) we are not involved in the determination of the product specifications, (4) we do not bear credit risk because we are contractually obligated to pay the vendor only when the customer, pays us, and (5) we do not have the right to select suppliers.

 

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Revenue recognized in excess of billings is recorded as unbilled receivables and is included in trade accounts receivable. Amounts billed but not yet collected are recorded as billed receivables and are included in trade accounts receivable. All billed and unbilled amounts are expected to be collected within one year. Billings for installation and customization services are rendered based on agreed upon milestones specified in customer contracts. Billings in excess of revenues recognized are recorded as deferred revenue.

Revenue recognition policies for discontinued IT security business. The information security products sold by our former Lenovo-AsiaInfo division have been accounted for under US GAAP accounting guidance regarding software revenue recognition for products with multiple deliverables. The related software contained in our information security products is considered to be more than incidental and is essential to the functionality of the related equipment. These information security products are sold bundled with PCS services over a term of one, two or three years.

For contracts entered into before December 31, 2008, we recognized the total arrangement fees for the information security products as revenue upon delivery assuming all other revenue recognition criteria were met regardless of whether the PCS services terms are one, two or three years because (a) PCS services primarily included telephone and online support, (b) PCS services were substantially provided within the first year of the arrangement term, (c) the costs of providing PCS services had historically been insignificant and were expected to be insignificant in the future, and (d) PCS services did not include upgrades or enhancements. PCS services provided beyond the first year of the service term had historically been negligible. We accrued the estimated costs of providing PCS services upon delivery of our security business’s information security software products.

For contracts entered into after January 1, 2009, we extended PCS services terms to include unspecified upgrades. In addition, we have established vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value of the PCS services. Therefore, the security products revenue is now recognized upon delivery and the PCS services revenue is deferred and recognized ratably over the PCS services period.

Income taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for tax credits and net operating losses available for carry-forwards and significant temporary differences. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as current or non-current based upon the classification of the related asset or liability in the financial statements or the expected timing of their reversal if they do not relate to a specific asset or liability.

The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.

AsiaInfo-Linkage Technologies (China), AsiaInfo-Linkage Technologies (Chengdu) and Linkage-AsiaInfo Technologies (Nanjing)’s HNTE certificates are subject to renewal in 2011. Given the current legislation in this regard and the three companies’ operations, we expect they will obtain renewals.

We adopted the statutory rate, i.e., 25%, as the applicable rate to calculate the deferred tax balance of Linkage-AsiaInfo Technologies (Nanjing) for the years after the expiration of its current HNTE certificate in 2011. If we successfully have such a certificate renewed by passing a number of tests, the applicable rate will be reduced to 15% for the next three years. It will cause a credit to the deferred tax balance and have a positive impact to our consolidated statement of operations.

 

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Under the EIT Law, a “resident enterprise,” which may include an enterprise established outside of the PRC with management located in the PRC, will be subject to PRC income tax. We believe we and our subsidiaries registered outside the PRC are not resident enterprises under the EIT law.

We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that we believe is more likely than not to be realized. In the event we were to determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to income in the period such change occurred.

Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.

Goodwill. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. We perform our annual goodwill impairment test on October 1 of each fiscal year for all reporting units. Goodwill is tested following a two-step process. The first step compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner similar to accounting for a business combination with the allocation of the assessed fair value determined in the first step to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess in the carrying value of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill. We recognized no impairment loss on goodwill in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010.

Impairment of long-term and short-term investments. We review our long-term and short-term investments for other-than-temporary impairment in accordance with relevant accounting literature, based on the specific identification method. We consider available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating potential impairment of our investments. If the cost of an investment exceeds the investment’s fair value, we consider, among other factors, general market conditions, government economic plans, the duration and the extent to which the fair value of the investment is less than the cost, and our intent and ability to hold the investment. We recognized no impairment loss on long-term investment in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010. We recognize nil and a $0.3 million impairment loss on short-term investment in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Consolidated Results of Operations

Revenues. Total revenues were $114.5 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, representing a 93.2% increase over the year ago period and a 0.1% increase sequentially. Our revenues for the first quarter of 2011 are not comparable to those of prior periods before July 1, 2010 due to the combination with Linkage and we are not able to separately present the portion of revenues in this quarter contributed by AsiaInfo’s historical business and Linkage’s historical business as a result of our full integration strategy. Software products and solutions revenue was $101.4 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, representing an increase of 88.6% over the comparable period in 2010 and a 0.2% sequential increase. Service revenue was $6.9 million in the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, representing an increase of 79.4% over the comparable period in 2010 and a 15.5% sequential decrease. The sequential decrease of service revenue is primarily due to service revenue generated by IBM Type Arrangement decreased approximately $0.8 million compared with last quarter. Third-party hardware revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011 was $6.2 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 276.1% and a sequential increase of 23.4%. During the first quarter, sales to our top three customers, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom (and their respective provincial subsidiaries), accounted for approximately 98.6% of our total revenue.

Cost of revenues. Our cost of revenues was $62.2 million in the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, representing an increase of 169.1% over the comparable period in 2010. Cost of revenues in the first quarter of 2011 decreased 0.6% compared to the preceding quarter. The year-over-year increase in cost of revenues was primarily related to Linkage combination and in line with the change in total revenues for the period.

 

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Gross profit. Our gross profit margin in the three-month period ended March 31, 2011 was 45.6%, compared to 61.0% in the same period in 2010 and 45.3% in the preceding quarter. The year-over-year decrease in gross margin was primarily due to the amortization of acquired intangible assets related to the Linkage combination.

Operating expenses. Our operating expenses in the first quarter of 2011 were $37.2 million, representing an increase of 56.1% over the comparable period in 2010 and 4.3% sequential increase. The year over year increase was primarily due to the Linkage merger and the amortization of acquired intangible assets related to Linkage.

Sales and marketing expenses were $19.3 million for the first quarter of 2011, representing an increase of 152.9% over the comparable period in 2010 and an 2.2% sequential increase.

General and administrative expenses were $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2011, representing an decrease of 7.3% over the comparable period in 2010 and a 28.0% sequential increase. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to $3.5 million in non-recurring transaction expenses incurred in the first quarter of 2010 associated with the Linkage merger. The sequential increase was primarily due to a $1.1 million accounts receivable provision for one provincial contract accrued in the first quarter of 2011 as well as additional consulting and legal service fees.

Research and development, or R&D, expenses were $10.0 million for the first quarter of 2011, representing an increase of 31.4% over the comparable period in 2010 and a 6.0% sequential decrease. The slight sequential decrease in R&D expenses was primarily due to R&D personnel temporarily being assigned to support client services on specific projects.

Total other income, net. Total other income, including interest income, dividend income, and other income (expenses), net, in the first quarter of 2011 was $1.5 million, representing an increase of 126.5% over the comparable period in 2010 and an increase of 159.7% over the preceding quarter. The year-over-year and sequential increase was primarily due to higher yields from our bank deposits and short-term investments.

Net income. As a result of the foregoing, net income was $17.5 million for the first quarter of 2011, representing an increase of 76.5% over the comparable period in 2010 and an increase of 14.6% sequentially.

Net income attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. Net income attributable to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. for the first quarter of 2011 was $17.8 million, or $0.24 per basic share, compared to $10.3 million, or $0.22 per basic share, for the year-ago period, and $15.5 million, or $0.21 per basic share, for the previous quarter.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our capital requirements are primarily working capital requirements related to hardware sales and costs associated with the expansion of our business, such as research and development and sales and marketing expenses. We recognize hardware costs in full upon delivery of the hardware to our customers. In order to minimize our working capital requirements, we generally obtain from our hardware vendors payment terms that are timed to permit us to receive payment from our customers for the hardware before our payments to hardware vendors are due. With respect to our billing cycle, we generally require our customers to pay 80% to 90% of the invoice value of the hardware upon delivery. We typically place orders for hardware against back-to-back orders from customers and seek favorable payment terms from hardware vendors. However, we sometimes obtain less favorable payment terms from our customers, thereby increasing our working capital requirements. In addition to this careful management of our billing cycle, we have also historically financed working capital and other capital requirements through private placements of equity securities, our initial public offering in 2000 and, to a limited extent, bank loans.

Our net cash provided by operating activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011 was $18.6 million. This was primarily attributable to our net income of $17.5 million, adjusted by net non-cash related expenses of $16.4 million and a net increase in the components of our working capital of $15.3 million.

 

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Our accounts receivable balance as of March 31, 2011 was $303 million, consisting of $120 million in billed receivables and $183 million in unbilled receivables. Our billed receivables are recorded based on agreed-upon milestones included in our customer contracts. Our unbilled receivables are based on the revenues that we have booked through the percentage completion method, but for which we have not yet billed the customer. The IBM Type Arrangements related accounts receivable balance as of March 31, 2011 was approximately $89 million. Our days sales outstanding as of March 31, 2011 was 159 days, as compared to last year’s 137 days. When calculating our days sales outstanding, we have adjusted for the net effect of the IBM Type Arrangements. The increase in days of sales outstanding from December 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011 was primarily attributable to the seasonality of the collection process. When calculating our days sales outstanding, we include both billed and unbilled accounts receivable and we use the net accounts receivable balance for the IBM Type Arrangements.

Our inventory position at the end of the first quarter of 2011 was approximately $8.4 million, as compared to $9.9 million as of December 31, 2010.

Our accounts payable balance as of March 31, 2011 was approximately $121.6 million, compared to $89.9 million as of December 31, 2010. As of March 31, 2011, our accounts payable balance related to the IBM Type Arrangements was approximately $105.7 million, under which we are contractually obligated to pay our vendor only when our customers pay us.

Our net cash used in investing activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011 was $5.8 million. This was primarily due to our purchase of $12.6 million in short-term investments, which was partially offset by the proceeds from sales of short-term investment for $7.8 million.

Our net cash used in financing activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011 was $4.3 million. This was primarily due to our repurchase of shares of our common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program.

As of March 31, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash totaling $263.5 million and short-term investments totaling $47.3 million.

As of March 31, 2011, we had total short-term credit facilities of $83.4 million for working capital purposes, expiring in December 2011, which were secured by bank deposits of $10.4 million. As of March 31, 2011, unused short-term credit facilities were $68.3 million and used facilities totaled $15.1 million. The used facilities were pledged as security for issuing standby letters of credit and trade notes payable to hardware suppliers and customers. Additional bank deposits of $3.9 million were used for issuing standby letters of credit and bank acceptance drafts as of March 31, 2011. Total bank deposits pledged as security for these credit facilities totaled $14.3 million as of March 31, 2011 and are presented as restricted cash in our consolidated balance sheets. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, the largest aggregate amount that we had used of our short-term credit facilities was $15.1 million.

We anticipate that our available funds and cash flows generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated needs for working capital, capital expenditures and business expansion through 2011. We may need to raise additional funds in the future, however, in order to fund acquisitions, develop new or enhanced services or products, respond to competitive pressures to compete successfully for larger projects involving higher levels of hardware purchases, or if our business otherwise grows more rapidly than we currently predict. We anticipate that we would raise additional funds, if necessary, through new issuances of shares of our equity securities in one or more public offerings or private placements, or through credit facilities extended by lending institutions.

In the event that we decide to pay dividends to our stockholders, our ability to pay dividends will depend in part on our ability to receive dividends from our operating subsidiaries in China. Foreign exchange and other regulations in China may restrict our ability to distribute retained earnings from our operating subsidiaries in China or convert those payments from RMB into foreign currencies.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not entered into any transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements to which an entity unconsolidated with us is a party and under which we have (i) any obligation under a guarantee, (ii) any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity, (iii) any obligation under derivative instruments that are indexed to our shares and classified as equity in our consolidated balance sheets, or (iv) any obligation arising out of a variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us.

 

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As of March 31, 2011, we had short-term credit facilities for working capital purposes totaling $83.4 million, expiring in December 2011, of which $15.1 million had been used for issuing standby letters of credit and trade notes payable to hardware suppliers and customers. Unused short-term credit facilities were $68.3 million.

Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to improve disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance amends previous guidance on fair value measurements to add new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements relating to Level 3 measurement on a gross basis rather than on a net basis as currently required. This guidance also clarifies existing fair value disclosures about the level of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activities of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis, which will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2010. Early application is permitted and, in the period of initial adoption, entities are not required to provide the amended disclosures for any previous periods presented for comparative purposes. We have adopted this pronouncement except for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activities of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In September 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. This pronouncement was issued in response to practice concerns related to accounting for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables under the existing pronouncement. Although the new pronouncement retains the criteria from the existing pronouncement for when delivered items in a multiple-deliverable arrangement should be considered separate units of accounting, it removes the separation criterion under the existing pronouncement that objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of any undelivered items must exist for the delivered items to be considered a separate unit or separate units of accounting. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date or retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted. However, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year and disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In September 2009, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement to amend the scope of existing software revenue recognition accounting. Tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality would be scoped out of the accounting guidance on software and accounted for based on other appropriate revenue recognition guidance. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Entities can elect to apply this pronouncement prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements after the pronouncement’s effective date, or retrospectively for all periods presented. Early application is permitted. However, if the entity elects prospective application and early adopts this pronouncement after its first interim reporting period, it must also retrospectively apply this pronouncement as of the beginning of that fiscal year and disclose the effect of the retrospective adjustments on the prior interim periods’ revenue, income before taxes, net income, and earnings per share. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In March 2010, FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding the effect of denominating the exercise price of a share-based payment awards in the currency of the market in which the underlying equity securities trades and that currency is different from (1) entity’s functional currency, (2) functional currency of the foreign operation for which the employee provides services, and (3) payroll currency of the employee. The guidance clarifies that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should be considered an equity award assuming all other criteria for equity classification are met. The pronouncement will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010, and will be applied prospectively. Affected entities will be required to record a cumulative catch-up adjustment for all awards outstanding as of the beginning of the annual period in which the guidance is adopted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

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In April 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement regarding the milestone method of revenue recognition. The scope of this pronouncement is limited to arrangements that include milestones relating to research or development deliverables. The pronouncement specifies criteria that must be met for a vendor to recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a substantive milestone in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. The criteria apply to milestones in arrangements within the scope of this pronouncement regardless of whether the arrangement is determined to have single or multiple deliverables or units of accounting. The pronouncement will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early application is permitted. Affected entities can apply this guidance prospectively to milestones achieved after adoption. However, retrospective application to all prior periods is also permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement on when to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. The pronouncement modifies Step 1 so that for those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with existing guidance, which requires that goodwill of a reporting unit be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. The pronouncement is effective for impairment tests performed during entities’ fiscal years (and interim periods within those years) that begin after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative pronouncement on disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. The objective of this guidance is to address diversity in practice regarding the interpretation of the pro forma revenue and earnings disclosure requirements for business combinations. The amendments in this update specify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable t the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The amendments affect any public entity as defined by Topic 805 that enters into business combinations that are material on an individual or aggregate basis. The amendments will be effective for business combinations consummated in periods beginning after December 15, 2010, and should be applied prospectively as of the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to interest rate risk primarily associated with our cash and short-term investments. To date, we have not entered into any types of derivatives to hedge against interest-rate changes. There have been no significant changes in our exposure to changes in interest rates for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. Our exposure to interest rate changes is limited as we do not have any material borrowings.

 

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We are exposed to exchange rate risk in connection with the relative value of the U.S. dollar and the RMB. Substantially all of our revenues and expenses relating to the service and software components of our business are denominated in RMB. As of March 31, 2011, approximately 88.2%, or $232.4 million, of our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were RMB-denominated and approximately 11.4%, or $30.2 million, were U.S. dollar-denominated. As of that date, the rate of exchange quoted by the People’s Bank of China was US$1.00 = RMB6.5564. If the exchange rate were to increase by 10% to US$1.00 = RMB7.2120, our net assets would potentially decrease by $36.4 million. If the exchange rate were to decrease by 10% to US$1.00 = RMB5.9008, our net assets would potentially increase by $44.5 million.

The value of our shares may be affected by the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and RMB because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while our shares are traded in U.S. dollars. Furthermore, an increase in the value of the RMB may require us to exchange more U.S. dollars into RMB to meet the working capital requirements of our subsidiaries and VIEs in China. Depreciation of the value of the U.S. dollar will also reduce the value of the cash we hold in U.S. dollars, which we may use for purposes of future acquisitions or business expansion. We actively monitor our exposure to these risks and adjust our cash position in the RMB and the U.S. dollar when we believe such adjustments will reduce our foreign exchange risk. For example, in February 2004 we exchanged approximately $28 million cash in U.S. dollars into RMB in anticipation of increases in the value of the RMB. We did not engage in any significant foreign exchange transactions during the three-month period ended March 31, 2011.

As in any other business, we are subject to the risk of macroeconomic changes such as recessions and inflation.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In December 2001, a securities class action case was filed in New York City against us, certain of our officers and directors and the underwriters of our initial public offering, or our IPO. The lawsuit alleged violations of the U.S. federal securities laws and was docketed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York as Hassan v. AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc., et al. The lawsuit alleged, among other things, that the underwriters of our IPO improperly required their customers to pay the underwriters excessive commissions and to agree to buy additional shares of our common stock in the aftermarket as conditions of their purchasing shares in our IPO. The lawsuit further claimed that the alleged practices of the underwriters should have been disclosed in our IPO prospectus and registration statement. The suit seeks rescission of the plaintiffs’ alleged purchases of our common stock as well as unspecified damages. In addition to the case against us, various other plaintiffs have filed approximately 1,000 other, substantially similar class action cases, or the IPO Allocation Cases, against approximately 300 other publicly traded companies and their IPO underwriters in New York City, which along with the case against us have all been transferred to a single federal district judge for purposes of case management.

In April 2009, we and most of the other issuer defendants in the IPO Allocation Cases reached a definitive agreement with the plaintiffs and the underwriter defendants to settle the IPO Allocation Cases. The agreement was filed with the court in April 2009 and a final approval was granted by the court in October 2009. The final approval was subject to appeal until November 2009. Ten appeals were filed objecting to the definition of the settlement class and fairness of the settlement, five of which have been dismissed with prejudice. Two appeal briefs have been filed by the remaining objector groups, and those appeals remain pending. If the settlement is approved, we expect any damages payable to the plaintiffs to be fully funded by our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies. If the litigation proceeds, we intend to continue to defend the litigation vigorously. Moreover, if the litigation proceeds, we believe that the underwriters may have an obligation to indemnify us for the legal fees and other costs of defending this suit and that our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies would also cover the defense and potential exposure in the suit.

In addition, in June 2007 we received a letter from a putative stockholder demanding that we investigate and prosecute a claim for alleged short-swing trading in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act by the underwriters of our IPO and certain of our unidentified directors, officers and stockholders. In October 2007, the putative stockholder commenced a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank, two of the lead underwriters of our IPO, alleging violations of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. The complaint alleges that the combined number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the lead underwriters and certain unnamed officers, directors and principal stockholders exceeded ten percent of our outstanding common stock from the date of our IPO in March 2000, for at least one year. It further alleges that those entities and individuals were thus subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) and the short-swing trading prohibition of Section 16(b), and failed to comply with those provisions. The complaint seeks to recover from the lead underwriters any “short-swing profits” obtained by them in violation of Section 16(b). None of our directors, officers or stockholders is named as defendants in this action, although we are named as a nominal defendant. In July 2008, we, together with several other issuers who are also named as nominal defendants in the action, filed a joint motion to dismiss the action. In March 2009, the court granted our motion, dismissing the complaint without prejudice on the ground that the plaintiff failed to make an adequate demand to us prior to filing the complaint. The plaintiff subsequently appealed the judgment to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the underwriter defendants have filed certain cross-appeals. In December 2010, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the case, but reversed and remanded certain claims relating to the underwriters. In January 2011, the Ninth Circuit denied certain petitions for rehearing and ordered that no further petitions for rehearing may be filed. In April 2011, the plaintiff requested review with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking reversal of the Ninth Circuit’s decision, and briefing on the request is currently being provided to the U.S. Supreme Court.

We intend to continue to defend vigorously the two litigation matters described above. While we cannot guarantee the outcome of these proceedings, we believe that the final results of these lawsuits will have no material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

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During the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2011, we did not have any other material legal proceedings brought against us. No further material developments occurred in connection with any previously reported legal proceedings against us during the last fiscal quarter.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table presents information with respect to purchases during the three months ended March 31, 2010 made by us or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3)) of equity securities that are registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
(1)
     Average Price Paid
per Share
     Total Dollar Value
of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
(in thousands)
     Maximum Dollar
Value of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs
(in thousands)
 

January 1, 2011 to January 31, 2011

     —         $ —         $ —         $ 60,000   

February 1, 2011 to February 28, 2011

     —           —           —           60,000   

March 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011

     248,900         19.9123         4,956         55,044   
                       

Total

     248,900       $ 19.9123       $ 4,956       $ 55,044   
                       

 

(1) Represents repurchases of shares of our common stock by us pursuant to a stock repurchase program we publicly announced on January 30, 2011. Under the program, we may, from time to time for a period of twelve months, depending on market conditions, share price and other factors, make one or more purchases, on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, of up to $60 million in aggregate value of our outstanding common stock.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Please see Exhibit Index.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc.
Date: May 9, 2011   By:  

/s/ Jun Wu

  Name:   Jun Wu
  Title:   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (signing on behalf of the registrant and as principal financial officer)


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EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Report.

 

                 Incorporated by Reference  

Exhibit
No.

  

Exhibit Title

   Filed
Herewith
     Form      Exhibit
No.
     File No.      Filing
Date
 
10.1    First Amendment to Stockholders’ Agreement, dated January 27, 2011, by and among the Company, Linkage, Edward Tian and Libin Sun         8-K         10.1         001-15713         2/2/2011   
31.1    Certification of Principal Executive Officer required by Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated May 9, 2011      X               
31.2    Certification of Principal Financial Officer required by Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated May 9, 2011      X               
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated May 9, 2011      X               
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated May 9, 2011      X