China Customer Relations Centers, Inc. announces financial results for the first half of 2020

China Customer Relations Centers, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCRC) ("CCRC" or the "Company"), a leading business process outsourcing ("BPO") service provider serving internet, e-commerce, banking, and telecommunications clients in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

First Half of 2020 Highlights (all comparisons to prior year unless noted)

Revenues increased by 33.4% to $97.72 million, driven by strong demand for our business from existing BPO clients and the contribution from new clients including Huaxia Bank, Ping'An Bank, Suning Insurance, and Vipshop, among others.

Gross profit increased by 38.9% to $25.91 million. Gross margin was 26.5%, compared to 25.5% for the same period of the prior year.

Operating income increased by 89.1% to $10.06 million. Operating margin increased by 3.0 percentage point to 10.3%.

Net income attributable to common shareholders increased by 106.4% to $10.30 million.

Earnings per share was $0.56, compared to $0.27 for the same period of the prior year.        

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, revenues increased by $24.45 million, or 33.4%, to $97.72 million from $73.27 million for the same period of the prior year. We continued to see strong demand for our business from existing BPO clients while adding new clients with notable additions including Huaxia Bank, Ping'An Bank, Suning Insurance, and Vipshop, among others, during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

We continued to increase our service capacity, which increased by 2,969 seats, or 13.3%, to 25,329 seats as of June 30, 2020 from 22,360 seats at the end of 2019.

Cost of revenues

Cost of revenues consists primarily of salaries, payroll taxes and employee benefits costs of our customer service associates and other operations personnel. Cost of revenues also includes direct communications costs, rent expense, IT costs, and facilities support expenses. Cost of revenues increased by $17.19 million, or 31.5%, to $71.81 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $54.62 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase in cost of revenues was in line with the increase in revenues. As a percentage of revenues, cost of revenues was 73.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to 74.5% for the same period of the prior year.

Gross profit and gross margin

Gross profit increased by $7.26 million, or 38.9%, to $25.91 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $18.65 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase in gross profit was primarily driven by increased revenues as well as COVID-19 related social security and rent relief benefits received during the pandemic. Gross margin increased by 1.0 percentage point to 26.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from 25.5% for the same period of the prior year.

Selling, general and administrative expense

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses consist primarily of sales and administrative employee-related expenses, professional fees, travel costs, research and development costs, and other corporate expenses. SG&A expenses increased by $2.52 million, or 18.9%, to $15.85 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $13.33 million for the same period of the prior year. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A expenses decreased from 18.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2019 to 16.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Operating income and operating margin

Income from operations increased by $4.74 million, or 89.1%, to $10.06 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $5.32 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase in operating income was related to increased gross profit which was partially offset by increased SG&A expenses. Operating margin was 10.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to 7.3% for the same period of the prior year.

Other income

We recognized government grants, which are discretionary and unpredictable in nature, of $1.38 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $0.56 million recognized during the same period of the prior year. Total other income, net of other expenses, increased by $1.30 million, or 184.7%, to $2.01 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $0.71 million for the same period of the prior year.

Income before provision for income taxes

Income before provision for income taxes increased by $6.05 million, or 100.3%, to $12.07 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $6.03 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase in income before provision for income taxes was due to increased operating income as well as government grants and other income.

Income taxes

Provision for income taxes was $1.73 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $0.96 million for the same period of the prior year.

Net income and earnings per share

Net income increased by $5.27 million, or 104.1%, to $10.34 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $5.07 million for the same period of the prior year. After deducting net income attributable to non-controlling interest, net income attributable to common shareholders was $10.30 million, or $0.56 per basic and diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $4.99 million, or $0.27 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of the prior year.

Financial Conditions

As of June 30, 2020, the Company had cash of $28.67 million, compared to $25.33 million at December 31, 2019. Total working capital was $58.59 million as of June 30, 2020, compared to $47.50 million at the end of 2019.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $7.87 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $1.34 million for the same period of the prior year. Net cash used in investing activities was $1.81 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $1.30 million for the same period of the prior year. Net cash used in financing activities was $2.17 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $0.03 million for the same period of the prior year.  

Notice

Rounding amounts and percentages: Certain amounts and percentages included in this press release have been rounded for ease of presentation. Percentage figures included in this press release have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, certain percentage amounts in this press release may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in the financial statements. In addition, certain other amounts that appear in this press release may not sum due to rounding.