UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of November 2022

 

Commission File Number: 001-36397

 

 

 

Weibo Corporation

(Registrant’s Name)

 

 

 

8/F, QIHAO Plaza, No. 8 Xinyuan S. Road

Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027

People’s Republic of China

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F x      Form 40-F o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit 99.1 — Press Release regarding Financial Results for Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2022 issued by Weibo Corporation on November 17, 2022

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  WEIBO CORPORATION
   
Date: November 17, 2022 By: /s/ Fei Cao
    Fei Cao
    Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Weibo Reports Third Quarter 2022 Unaudited Financial Results

 

BEIJING, China – November 17, 2022 – Weibo Corporation (“Weibo” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: WB and HKEX: 9898), a leading social media in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.

 

“We had solid execution of operating efficiency improvement in the third quarter,” said Gaofei Wang, CEO of Weibo. “In the third quarter, our user community and engagement remained solid, as we continued to improve operation efficiency on the user front. As our business entered into a gradual recovery trajectory, we continued to optimize cost structure to improve operating efficiency and cash generation capability, aiming to remain competitive in the long-run.”

 

Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

 

·Net revenues were $453.6 million, a decrease of 25% year-over-year or a decrease of 20% year-over-year on a constant currency basis [1].
·Advertising and marketing revenues were $393.4 million, a decrease of 27% year-over-year.
·Value-added services (“VAS”) revenues were $60.1 million, a decrease of 14% year-over-year.
·Income from operations was $123.2 million, representing an operating margin of 27%.
·Net loss attributable to Weibo’s shareholders was $17.1 million and diluted net loss per share was $0.07.
·Non-GAAP income from operations was $162.1 million, representing a non-GAAP operating margin of 36%.
·Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo’s shareholders was $119.0 million and non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.50.
·Monthly active users (“MAUs”) were 584 million in September 2022, a net addition of approximately 11 million users on a year-over-year basis. Mobile MAUs represented 95% of MAUs.
·Average daily active users (“DAUs”) were 253 million in September 2022, a net addition of approximately 5 million users on a year-over-year basis.

 

[1] On a constant currency (non-GAAP) basis, we assume that the exchange rate in the third quarter of 2022 had been the same as it was in the third quarter of 2021, or RMB6.46=US$1.00.

 

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

 

For the third quarter of 2022, Weibo’s total net revenues were $453.6 million, a decrease of 25% compared to $607.4 million for the same period last year.

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing revenues for the third quarter of 2022 were $393.4 million, a decrease of 27% compared to $537.6 million for the same period last year. Advertising and marketing revenues excluding ad revenues from Alibaba were $378.4 million, a decrease of 27% compared to $516.8 million for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to weak advertising demand amid macro headwinds and disruptions from COVID-19 resurgence in mainland China, as well as unfavorable foreign exchange impact on a year-over-year basis.

 

VAS revenues for the third quarter of 2022 were $60.1 million, a decrease of 14% year-over-year compared to $69.8 million for the same period last year. The decrease of VAS revenues was mainly due to less revenue contribution from membership service.

 

Costs and expenses for the third quarter of 2022 totaled $330.3 million, a decrease of 16% compared to $394.4 million for the same period last year. As the Company further implemented efficiency initiatives to optimize its cost structure and improve operating efficiency, all components of costs and expenses decreased on a year-over-year basis.

 

Income from operations for the third quarter of 2022 was $123.2 million, compared to $213.0 million for the same period last year. Operating margin was 27%, compared to 35% last year. Non-GAAP income from operations was $162.1 million, compared to $248.7 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP operating margin was 36%, compared to 41% last year.

 

Non-operating loss for the third quarter of 2022 was $120.4 million, compared to an income of $0.2 million for the same period last year. Non-operating loss for the third quarter of 2022 mainly included (i) a $91.5 million net loss from fair value change of investments in Didi Global Inc. and INMYSHOW Digital Technology (Group) Co., Ltd. (SHH: 600556), which was excluded under non-GAAP measures; (ii) a $14.6 million investment related impairment, which was excluded under non-GAAP measures; and (iii) a $14.5 million net interest and other loss.

 

Income tax expenses were $19.8 million, compared to $31.4 million for the same period last year.

 

Net loss attributable to Weibo’s shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $17.1 million, compared to an income of $181.7 million for the same period last year. Diluted net loss per share attributable to Weibo’s shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $0.07, compared to diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo’s shareholders of $0.78 for the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo’s shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $119.0 million, compared to $209.6 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo’s shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $0.50, compared to $0.90 for the same period last year.

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2022, Weibo’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $3.0 billion. For the third quarter of 2022, cash provided by operating activities was $74.0 million, capital expenditures totaled $4.6 million, and depreciation and amortization expenses amounted to $13.2 million.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

The Company announced in March 2022 that its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $500 million of its American depositary shares (“ADSs”) over the next 12 months, ending on March 31, 2023. As of September 30, 2022, approximately 3.1 million ADSs had been repurchased under this program for a total cost of $57.7 million.

 

Conference Call

 

Weibo's management team will host a conference call from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM Eastern Time on November 17, 2022 (or 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Beijing Time on November 17, 2022) to present an overview of the Company's financial performance and business operations.

 

Participants who wish to dial in to the teleconference must register through the below public participant link. Dial in and instruction will be in the confirmation email upon registering.

 

Participants Registration Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIffdf69efe5064f169d617b509bd74ee9

 

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will available at http://ir.weibo.com.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

This release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo’s shareholders, non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo’s shareholders and adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, measures of the Company’s financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

 

 

 

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures exclude stock-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, non-cash compensation cost to non-controlling interest shareholders, impairment of intangible assets, net results of impairment on, gain/loss on sale of and fair value change of investments, non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items on the share of equity method investments, non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items for the income/loss attributable to non-controlling interests, income tax expense related to the amortization and impairment of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and fair value change of investments (other non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items have no tax effect), and amortization of convertible debt and senior notes issuance cost. Adjusted EBITDA excludes interest income, net, income tax expenses, and depreciation expenses.

 

The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in their financial and operating decision-making, because management believes these measures reflect the Company’s ongoing operating performance in a manner that allows more meaningful period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in the following ways: (i) in comparing the Company’s current financial results with the Company’s past financial results in a consistent manner, and (ii) in understanding and evaluating the Company’s current operating performance and future prospects in the same manner as management does, if they so choose. The Company also believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses, gains (losses) and other items (i) that are not expected to result in future cash payments or (ii) that are non-recurring in nature or may not be indicative of the Company’s core operating results and business outlook.

 

Use of non-GAAP financial measures has limitations. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures do not include all income and expense items that affect the Company’s operations. They may not be comparable to non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Accordingly, care should be exercised in understanding how the Company defines its non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures are set forth in the section below titled “Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Results.”

 

About Weibo

 

Weibo is a leading social media for people to create, share and discover content online. Weibo combines the means of public self-expression in real time with a powerful platform for social interaction, content aggregation and content distribution. Any user can create and post a feed and attach multi-media and long-form content. User relationships on Weibo may be asymmetric; any user can follow any other user and add comments to a feed while reposting. This simple, asymmetric and distributed nature of Weibo allows an original feed to become a live viral conversation stream.

 

 

 

 

Weibo enables its advertising and marketing customers to promote their brands, products and services to users. Weibo offers a wide range of advertising and marketing solutions to companies of all sizes. The Company generates a substantial majority of its revenues from the sale of advertising and marketing services, including the sale of social display advertisement and promoted marketing offerings. Designed with a “mobile first” philosophy, Weibo displays content in a simple information feed format and offers native advertisement that conform to the information feed on our platform. To support the mobile format, we have developed and continuously refining our social interest graph recommendation engine, which enables our customers to perform people marketing and target audiences based on user demographics, social relationships, interests and behaviors, to achieve greater relevance, engagement and marketing effectiveness.

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to, among other things, Weibo’s expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans (as described, without limitation, in quotations from management in this press release). Weibo may also make forward-looking statements in the Company’s periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology, such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “confidence,” “estimates” and similar statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Weibo’s limited operating history in certain new businesses; failure to grow active user base and the level of user engagement; the uncertain regulatory landscape in China; fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly operating results; the Company’s reliance on advertising and marketing sales for a majority of its revenues; failure to successfully develop, introduce, drive adoption of or monetize new features and products; failure to compete effectively for advertising and marketing spending; failure to successfully integrate acquired businesses; risks associated with the Company’s investments, including equity pick-up and impairment; failure to compete successfully against new entrants and established industry competitors; the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations and on general economic conditions; risks associated with weak or uncertain global economic conditions and their impact on the level of expenditures on advertising; risks associated with unrest, terrorist threats and the war in Ukraine and the associated global effects; changes in the macro-economic environment, including the depreciation of the Renminbi; and adverse changes in economic and political policies of the PRC government and its impact on the Chinese economy. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Weibo’s annual report on Form 20-Fs and other filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date hereof, and Weibo assumes no obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

 

Contact:

Investor Relations

Weibo Corporation

Phone: +86 10 5898-3336

Email: ir@staff.weibo.com

 

 

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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

 

   Three months ended   Nine months ended 
   September 30,   June 30,   September 30, 
   2022   2021   2022   2022   2021 
Net revenues:                         
Advertising and marketing  $393,426   $537,620   $385,559   $1,206,106   $1,429,969 
Value-added services   60,134    69,814    64,593    182,228    210,827 
Net revenues   453,560    607,434    450,152    1,388,334    1,640,796 
Costs and expenses:                         
Cost of revenues (1)   94,383    102,978    95,314    294,498    275,296 
Sales and marketing (1)   113,619    140,839    115,512    354,442    439,207 
Product development (1)   97,025    118,821    106,403    315,862    316,806 
General and administrative (1)   25,322    31,747    28,809    93,358    94,597 
Impairment of intangible assets   -    -    10,176    10,176    - 
Total costs and expenses   330,349    394,385    356,214    1,068,336    1,125,906 
Income from operations   123,211    213,049    93,938    319,998    514,890 
Non-operating income (loss):                         
Impairment on, gain/loss on sale of and fair value change of investments, net   (105,901)   646    (25,676)   (309,527)   (134,368)
Interest and other income (loss), net   (14,460)   (489)   (21,721)   (21,765)   24,489 
    (120,361)   157    (47,397)   (331,292)   (109,879)
                          
Income (loss) before income tax expenses   2,850    213,206    46,541    (11,294)   405,011 
Income tax expenses   (19,760)   (31,405)   (17,502)   (48,978)   (93,260)
                          
Net income (loss)   (16,910)   181,801    29,039    (60,272)   311,751 
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests   227    63    739    (3,911)   (835)
Net income (loss) attributable to Weibo's shareholders  $(17,137)  $181,738   $28,300   $(56,361)  $312,586 
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders  $(0.07)  $0.79   $0.12   $(0.24)  $1.37 
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders  $(0.07)  $0.78   $0.12   $(0.24)  $1.36 
Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders   235,894    228,675    235,521    235,543    228,185 
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders   235,894    237,183    237,025    235,543    229,765 
                          
(1) Stock-based compensation in each category:                         
Cost of revenues  $2,544   $2,450   $2,716   $7,597   $5,690 
Sales and marketing   5,107    4,700    5,502    15,224    10,249 
Product development   14,424    11,047    16,760    44,520    29,260 
General and administrative   7,749    6,840    6,483    20,995    16,059 

 

 

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2022   2021 
Assets
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $2,758,901   $2,423,703 
Short-term investments   201,356    711,062 
Accounts receivable, net   488,837    723,089 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   409,639    450,726 
Amount due from SINA(1)   485,845    494,200 
Current assets subtotal   4,344,578    4,802,780 
           
Property and equipment, net   57,922    68,396 
Goodwill and intangible assets, net   242,223    297,335 
Long-term investments   988,532    1,207,651 
Other non-current assets   1,194,375    1,143,360 
Total assets  $6,827,630   $7,519,522 
           
Liabilities, Redeemable Non-controlling Interests and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities:          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $158,871   $197,643 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   632,779    828,952 
Deferred revenues   86,940    91,136 
Income tax payable   84,912    144,747 
Convertible debt   899,647    896,541 
Current liabilities subtotal   1,863,149    2,159,019 
           
Long-term liabilities:          
Unsecured senior notes   1,540,142    1,538,415 
Other long-term liabilities   119,151    134,068 
Total liabilities   3,522,442    3,831,502 
           
Redeemable non-controlling interests   69,637    66,622 
           
Shareholders’ equity :          
Weibo shareholders’ equity    3,214,804    3,593,821 
Non-controlling interests   20,747    27,577 
Total shareholders’ equity   3,235,551    3,621,398 
Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interests and shareholders’ equity  $6,827,630   $7,519,522 

 

(1) Included short-term loans to and interest receivable from SINA of $450.5 million as of September 30, 2022 and $479.6 million as of December 31, 2021.

 

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS

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

 

   Three months ended   Nine months ended 
   September 30,   June 30,   September 30, 
   2022   2021   2022   2022   2021 
Income from operations  $123,211   $213,049   $93,938   $319,998   $514,890 
  Add: Stock-based compensation   29,824    25,037    31,461    88,336    61,258 
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions   4,381    5,478    4,895    15,027    14,873 
Non-cash compensation cost to non-controlling interest shareholders   4,689    5,140    4,824    15,587    18,420 
Impairment of intangible assets   -    -    10,176    10,176    - 
Non-GAAP income from operations  $162,105   $248,704   $145,294   $449,124   $609,441 
                          
Net income (loss) attributable to Weibo's shareholders  $(17,137)  $181,738   $28,300   $(56,361)  $312,586 
  Add: Stock-based compensation   29,824    25,037    31,461    88,336    61,258 
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions   4,381    5,478    4,895    15,027    14,873 
Non-cash compensation cost to non-controlling interest shareholders   4,689    5,140    4,824    15,587    18,420 
Impairment of intangible assets   -    -    10,176    10,176    - 
Net results of impairment on, gain/loss on sale of and fair value change of investments   105,901    (646)   25,676    309,527    134,368 
Non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items on the share of equity method investments   (3,503)   (1,715)   8,571    2,414    (10,881)
Non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items for the income/loss attributable to non-controlling interests   (154)   (233)   (278)   (5,063)   (72)
Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments(1)   (6,605)   (6,856)   (5,541)   (22,917)   (12,356)
Amortization of convertible debt and unsecured senior notes issuance cost   1,611    1,611    1,611    4,833    4,834 
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders  $119,007   $209,554   $109,695   $361,559   $523,030 
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders  $0.50*  $0.90*  $0.46*  $1.52*  $2.25*
Shares used in computing GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders   235,894    237,183    237,025    235,543    229,765 
Add: The number of shares for dilution resulted from convertible debt(2)   6,753    -    6,753    6,753    6,753 
The number of shares for dilution resulted from unvested restricted share units(2)   1,550    -    -    1,167    - 
Shares used in computing non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders   244,197    237,183    243,778    243,463    236,518 
Adjusted EBITDA:                         
Net income (loss) attributable to Weibo's shareholders  $(17,137)  $181,738   $28,300   $(56,361)  $312,586 
Non-GAAP adjustments   136,144    27,816    81,395    417,920    210,444 
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders   119,007    209,554    109,695    361,559    523,030 
Interest income, net   (8,896)   (701)   (8,443)   (28,325)   (8,488)
Income tax expenses   26,365    38,261    23,043    71,895    105,616 
Depreciation expenses   8,268    8,141    8,616    25,614    24,254 
Adjusted EBITDA  $144,744   $255,255   $132,911   $430,743   $644,412 

 

(1)  To adjust the income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments, which primarily related to amortization and impairment of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and fair value change of investments. Other non-GAAP adjustment items have no tax effect, because (i) they were recorded in entities established in tax free jurisdictions, or (ii) full valuation allowances were provided for related deferred tax assets as it is more-likely-than-not they will not be realized.
(2)  To adjust the number of shares for dilution resulted from convertible debt and unvested restricted share units which were anti-dilutive under GAAP measures.
                                 
*  Net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders is adjusted for interest expense of convertible debt for calculating diluted EPS.

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

   Three months ended   Nine months ended 
   September 30,   June 30,   September 30, 
   2022   2021   2022   2022   2021 
Net revenues                         
Advertising and marketing                         
Non-Ali advertisers  $378,378   $516,818   $361,831   $1,141,405   $1,335,901 
Alibaba - as an advertiser   15,048    20,802    23,728    64,701    94,068 
Subtotal   393,426    537,620    385,559    1,206,106    1,429,969 
Value-added services   60,134    69,814    64,593    182,228    210,827 
   $453,560   $607,434   $450,152   $1,388,334   $1,640,796