GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 22, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CNinsure Inc., (Nasdaq:CISG), (the "Company" or "CNinsure"), a leading independent insurance intermediary company operating in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter 2010 ended September 30, 2010.1
Commenting on the financial results, Mr. Yinan Hu, chairman and chief executive officer of the Company, stated, "The Company maintained strong growth momentum in the third quarter with total net revenues and net income attributable to CNinsure's shareholders growing 30.4% and 42.7% year-over-year, respectively, exceeding our previous guidance. Although the follow-on public offering in July led to a dilution in our EPS, we still recorded a 29.7% year-over-year diluted EPS growth in the third quarter, demonstrating the strong execution capability of the management. Robust growth of our three existing business lines continued into the third quarter with the life insurance business and claims adjusting business growing 109.1% and 34.3% year-over-year, respectively. The overall commission rate from the property and casualty insurance business increased over the previous quarter, which led to a year-over-year growth of 6.7% in our property and casualty insurance business in the third quarter as compared to year-over-year decline of that in the second quarter. We believe there is still room for further improvement in our property and casualty insurance commission rate." Mr. Hu continued, "During the past decade, CNinsure has built a nation-wide sales and service network in 23 provinces, enabling the Company to change its role from an insurance product retailer with no bargaining power to a general agency with more influence in its cooperation with upstream product suppliers. To better meet customers' needs, we have placed more focus on customized products instead of merely distributing general products already prevalent in the market. Furthermore, we have been building new profits centers to sell multiple products to each of our customers in an effort to strengthen our profitability. We believe the ongoing insurance marketing system reform, coupled with the increasing demand for asset preservation and appreciation and financing service as a result of the growth in people's disposable income will provide CNinsure with greater opportunities for future development.
"Since our initial public offering in 2007, organic growth and growth through acquisitions have become the dual engines for our business development and we have maintained positive balance between the two strategies. Of the 30.4% year-over-year growth in terms of total net revenues in the third quarter, organic growth accounted for approximately 72% while growth through acquisitions accounted for approximately 28%. Due to the immature and fragmented nature of China's insurance intermediary industry, we have adopted a unique acquisition model to identify suitable acquisition targets while reducing risks, which has proved to be viable. Looking ahead, acquisition will continue to be one of our most important growth strategies. We will constantly review and refine our acquisition model to make it more simplified and straightforward, in terms of valuation matrix, payment method, and earn-out provisions. For the future potential acquisitions, we will, as always, place strong emphasis on restricting risk, enhancing cash flow and insisting on high growth and high return.
"We are now building the groundwork for our e-commerce insurance, insurance brokerage, consumer finance and wealth management businesses in an effort to turn our blueprint for the next five years into reality. Examining all the opportunities and challenges, we firmly believe that the Company will be able to continue its strong growth momentum for the next few years. We are confident in the growth prospects of the Company and China's financial services industry and committed to maximizing shareholder value by pursuing the long-term sustainable growth of the Company."
Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2010
Total net revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010 were RMB388.2 million (US$58.0 million), representing an increase of 30.4% from RMB297.8million for the corresponding period of 2009. The increase was primarily driven by the significant growth of the life insurance business as a result of the growth in sales volume, the increase in commission rate for new life insurance policies and the growth in renewal commissions.
Total operating costs and expenses were RMB269.2million (US$40.2million) for the third quarter of 2010, representing an increase of 28.1% from RMB210.1millionfor the corresponding period of 2009.
Commissions and fees expenses were RMB180.4 million (US$27.0 million) for the third quarter of 2010, representing an increase of 29.1% from RMB139.7 million for the corresponding period of 2009. The increase was primarily due to sales growth and largely tracked the increase in net revenues from commissions and fees.
Selling expenses were RMB17.5 million (US$2.6 million) for the third quarter of 2010, representing an increase of 18.3% from RMB14.8 million for the corresponding period of 2009, primarily due to sales growth and an increase in expenses incurred in connection with the establishment of new outlets.
