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Global Sources reports fourth quarter and year-end 2009 results

March 15, 2010
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NEW YORK, March 15 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ — Global Sources Ltd.
(Nasdaq: GSOL) (http://www.globalsources.com ) reported financial results for
the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b )

Global Sources’ chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, said: “Global Sources
delivered strong profitability to our shareholders for 2009 in what has been
described as the most challenging economic environment of a generation. Today,
we are poised to build our business in what appears to be an improving global
trade environment with a very strong balance sheet, enhanced operating
efficiencies, extensive sales representation and a highly experienced
management team.

“We have various new initiatives underway that extend the integration
between our online, print and trade show media. These are expected to enhance
the value proposition to buyers and suppliers, while also creating greater
sales effectiveness and cross-selling opportunities. In addition, we are
building a broader and stronger foundation for the future of our trade show
business. We recently acquired an interest in the China International
Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE), and we have scheduled several new trade shows
encompassing new markets and new categories.”

    Financial highlights - Fourth quarter: 2009 compared to 2008

    -- Revenue was $54.9 million, compared to $65.0 million.
       -- Online revenue was $20.4 million, compared to $25.0 million.
       -- Exhibitions revenue was $25.8 million, compared to $26.4 million.
       -- Print revenue was $7.5 million, compared to $11.4 million.
       -- Revenue from mainland China was $40.6 million, compared to $45.4
          million.
    -- GAAP net income, including a non-cash stock based compensation (SBC)
       credit of $1.3 million, as well as $1.1 million of amortization of
       intangibles as it relates to certain equity compensation plans, was
       $8.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared to fourth quarter
       2008 GAAP net income of $7.5 million or $0.14 per diluted share, which
       included a non-cash SBC credit of $0.4 million.
    -- Non-GAAP net income was $8.5 million, or $0.18 per diluted share,
       compared to $8.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the fourth
       quarter of 2008.
    -- Total deferred income and customer prepayments were $76.4 million as at
       December 31, 2009, compared to $76.7 million as at December 31, 2008.

Global Sources’ non-GAAP metrics

Management believes non-GAAP metrics are useful measures of operations and
provides GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation tables at the end of this press
release. Global Sources defines non-GAAP net income as net income excluding
non-cash, SBC expense or credit, amortization of intangibles as it relates to
certain equity compensation plans, gains or losses on acquisitions and
investments, and/or impairment charges, for all historical and future
references to non-GAAP metrics. Non-GAAP EPS is defined as non-GAAP net income
divided by the weighted average of diluted common shares outstanding.

    Financial highlights - Full Year ended December 31: 2009 compared to 2008
    -- Revenue was $174.5 million, compared to $206.9 million.
    -- GAAP net income, including a non-cash SBC expense of $1.9 million, as
       well as $1.1 million of amortization of intangibles as it relates to
       certain equity compensation plans, was $16.1 million, or $0.35 per
       diluted share, compared to 2008 GAAP net income of $26.4 million, or
       $0.51 per diluted share.
    -- Non-GAAP net income was $19.1 million, or $0.42 per diluted share,
       compared to $26.5 million, or $0.51 per diluted share for 2008.

Global Sources’ CFO, David Gillan, said: “In 2009, through a difficult
economic environment, we effectively managed costs, remained profitable and
increased our cash position. Our trade show business is demonstrating growth
and should be augmented by our recently acquired interest in the CIOE show,
which we expect to be EPS accretive beginning in the third quarter of 2010.
Looking ahead, we are cautiously optimistic. We expect first half 2010
revenues to continue to be affected by the global economic environment;
however, we anticipate our lean cost structure to deliver earnings growth.”

    Recent Corporate Highlights
    -- Announced that eMedia Asia Limited, Global Sources' joint venture with
       United Business Media, acquired a 70% interest in the China
       International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE) for a net cash consideration
       of approximately $5 million.
    -- Conducted seven October China Sourcing Fairs and one India Sourcing
       Fair in Hong Kong, with over 6,620 booths from 15 countries and
       regions.
    -- China Sourcing Fairs were held in Mumbai in November and featured more
       than 800 booths. The plan is for an expanded schedule for 2010 to
       include Security Products, Gifts & Premiums, Home Products and Bathroom
       Products.
    -- Hosted China Sourcing Fairs in Shanghai in January 2010, featuring over
       840 booths, an increase of nearly 80% from last year's event. In
       addition to the three current China Sourcing Fairs, the 2011 event is
       being expanded to include shows for Home Products and Underwear &
       Swimwear.
    -- Announced the expansion of China Sourcing Fairs to Singapore in
       November 2010 and South Africa in December 2010.
    -- Announced the planned launch of Garments & Textiles trade shows. The
       new China Sourcing Fairs are scheduled as follows:
       -- Hong Kong in October 2010, and thereafter every April and October
       -- Singapore in November 2010
       -- Johannesburg in December 2010
    -- Private Sourcing Events were held from October 1, 2009 through February
       28, 2010 for 107 sourcing teams from very large buying organizations
       including Office Depot, Tesco, Canadian Tire, Carrefour, Marks &
       Spencer, Woolworths (AU), and El Corte Ingles. These events created
       more than 529 high quality one-on-one selling opportunities for Global
       Sources suppliers.
    -- Received the Titanium award in the December 2009 issue of The Asset's
       annual Triple A Corporate Awards for excellence in Corporate Governance
       and in Investor Relations.
    -- Generated over 136 million requests for information (RFIs) from buyers
       to suppliers through Global Sources Online during the 12 months ended
       December 31, 2009, up by 156% compared to the same period last year.
    -- Increased Global Sources' independently certified community of active
       buyers to more than 888,000 at the end of the fourth quarter, 12.5%
       higher than the same time last year.

Conference call for Global Sources fourth quarter and year end 2009
earnings

Chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, and CFO, David Gillan, are scheduled
to conduct a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on March 15, 2010 (8:00 p.m. on
March 15, 2010 in Hong Kong) to review these results in more detail. Please
note this will be the first Monday following the Daylight Savings time change
in the U.S. To participate, please call at least 10 minutes in advance to
ensure all callers are placed into the call at the start time. Investors in
the United States may participate by dialing (888) 212-8315, and international
participants may dial (1-706) 643-0144. Investors in Hong Kong are required to
provide the conference ID 52249250; are encouraged to dial into the call 10 to
15 minutes prior to the call to prevent delay in joining; and may participate
by dialing (852) 3011-4522. A live webcast of the conference call is scheduled
to be available on Global Sources’ corporate site at
http://www.investor.globalsources.com .

For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a webcast replay of the
call is scheduled to be available on the company’s corporate site for at least
30 days. A telephone replay of the call is also scheduled to be available
through March 22, 2010. To listen to the telephone replay, dial (800) 642-
1687, or dial (1-706) 645-9291 outside the United States, and enter pass code
52249250#. For those in the Hong Kong area, the replay dial-in number is (852)
3011-4541, and the pass code is 52249250#.

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a
primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses
English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world.
The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies
to sell to, and within Greater China.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated
marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 888,000 active
buyers source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the
goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and
sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over
240 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing
services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on 4.5 million
products and more than 253,000 suppliers annually through 14 online
marketplaces, 13 monthly magazines, over 80 sourcing research reports and 17
specialized trade shows which run 55 times a year across 10 cities.

Suppliers receive more than 136 million sales leads annually from buyers
through Global Sources Online (http://www.globalsources.com ) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 39 years. Global
Sources’ network covers more than 60 cities worldwide. In mainland China,
Global Sources has about 2,500 team members in more than 40 locations, and a
community of over 1 million registered online users and magazine readers for
its Chinese-language media.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21-E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The company’s actual results
could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements
as a result of the risks associated with the company’s business, changes in
general economic conditions, and changes in the assumptions used in making
such forward-looking statements.

                             -- Tables Follow --

                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
   (In U.S. Dollars Thousands, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)

                                                        At             At
                                                   December 31,   December 31,
                                                       2009          2008
                                                    (Unaudited)
    ASSETS
    Current Assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                         $91,553     $70,225
     Term deposits with banks                           60,357          --
     Available-for-sale securities                       6,423      60,786
     Accounts receivable, net                            3,438       6,025
     Receivables from sales representatives              5,607       5,574
     Inventory                                             600       1,306
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets          13,603      16,513
     Deferred tax assets                                    13          28
        Total Current Assets                           181,594     160,457

    Property and equipment, net                         77,815      82,657
    Intangible assets, net                               8,770          --
    Long term investments                                  100         100
    Deferred tax assets                                    446         323
    Other noncurrent assets                              1,667       1,561
        Total Assets                                  $270,392    $245,098

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
     Accounts payable                                  $10,901     $10,117
     Deferred income and customer prepayments           73,841      73,636
     Accrued liabilities                                11,585      11,579
     Income taxes payable                                  435         261
        Total Current Liabilities                       96,762      95,593
     Deferred income and customer
      prepayments                                        2,516       3,044
     Deferred tax liability                                141         318
        Total Liabilities                               99,419      98,955

    Shareholders' equity:
     Common shares, US$0.01 par value; 75,000,000
      shares authorized; 51,427,642 (2008:
      51,376,335) shares issued and 44,552,642
      (2008: 44,501,335) outstanding                       514         514
     Additional paid in capital                        138,468     133,922
     Treasury shares, at cost - 6,875,000 (2008:
      6,875,000) shares                                (50,000)    (50,000)
     Retained earnings                                  71,369      55,259
     Accumulated other comprehensive income              2,859       2,225
       Total Company Shareholders' Equity              163,210     141,920

    Non-controlling interest                             7,763       4,223
        Total Equity                                   170,973     146,143
        Total Liabilities and Equity                  $270,392    $245,098

                     GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
   (In U.S. Dollars Thousands, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)

                                      Three months ended       Year ended
                                         December 31,          December 31,
                                       2009       2008       2009       2008
                                  (Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)

    Revenue:
      Online and other media
       services (Note 1)             $27,950    $36,363   $115,381   $142,129
      Exhibitions                     25,775     26,448     55,147     58,179
      Miscellaneous                    1,168      2,230      3,985      6,584
                                      54,893     65,041    174,513    206,892
    Operating Expenses:
      Sales (Note 2)                  17,990     24,716     63,810     73,625
      Event production                 8,353     10,134     18,385     21,493
      Community (Note 2)               6,879      9,063     24,764     30,488
      General and administrative
       (Note 2)                       10,885     11,716     44,860     47,525
      Online services development
       (Note 2)                        1,244      1,462      5,416      5,992
      Amortization of intangibles
       and software costs              1,164         46      1,270        193
    Total Operating Expenses          46,515     57,137    158,505    179,316
    Income from Operations             8,378      7,904     16,008     27,576
      Interest and dividend income       256        268        981      2,884
      Impairment loss on
       available-for-sale securities      --       (939)        --       (939)
      Foreign exchange gains
       (losses), net                     179        662        237       (657)
    Income before Income Taxes         8,813      7,895     17,226     28,864
    Income Tax Expense                  (228)      (116)      (498)      (677)
    Net Income                        $8,585     $7,779    $16,728    $28,187
      Net income attributable to
       non-controlling interest           51       (249)      (618)    (1,757)
    Net Income Attributable to the
     Company                          $8,636     $7,530    $16,110    $26,430
    Diluted net income per share
     attributable to the
     Company's shareholders            $0.19      $0.14      $0.35      $0.51
    Shares used in diluted net
     income per share
     calculations                 45,896,193 52,273,241 45,794,197 52,230,293

      Note: 1. Online and other media services consists of:

                                    Three months ended         Year ended
                                         December 31,          December 31,
                                       2009       2008       2009       2008
                                  (Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)

      Online services                $20,448    $24,967    $85,376    $94,481
      Print services                   7,502     11,396     30,005     47,648
                                     $27,950    $36,363   $115,381   $142,129

      Note: 2. Non-cash compensation expenses associated with the employee and
               team member equity compensation plans, Global Sources
               Directors Share Grant Award Plan and Directors Purchase Plan
               included under various categories of expenses are as follows:

                                    Three months ended         Year ended
                                         December 31,          December 31,
                                       2009       2008       2009       2008
                                  (Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)

      Sales                            $(291)     $(664)      $762    $(2,054)
      Community                          (87)       (21)       217        173
      General and administrative        (946)       206        623        742
      Online services development         14         59        269        237
                                     $(1,310)     $(420)    $1,871      $(902)

                       GLOBAL SOURCES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     ACTUAL GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
     (In U.S. Dollars Thousands, Except Number of Shares and Per Share Data)

                                  Three months ended          Year ended
                                    December 31,              December 31,
                                     2009        2008        2009       2008

    GAAP EPS                        $0.19       $0.14       $0.35      $0.51

    GAAP Net Income                $8,636      $7,530     $16,110    $26,430

    Non-cash stock based
     compensation expense /
     (credit)  (Note 1)            (1,310)       (420)      1,871       (902)

    Amortization of
     intangibles (Note 2)           1,137          --       1,137         --

    Loss on investment, net
     (Note 3)                          --         939          --        939

    Non-GAAP Net Income            $8,463      $8,049     $19,118    $26,467

    Non-GAAP diluted net
     income per share               $0.18       $0.15       $0.42      $0.51

    Total shares used in non-
     GAAP diluted net income
     per share calculations    45,896,193  52,273,241  45,794,197 52,230,293

    Note:
    (1) Actual SBC is calculated based on actual share price on date of the
        awards for employees and revaluation based on the share price of the
        last day of the quarter for consultants.
    (2) Amortization of intangible assets relating to certain equity
        compensation plans.
    (3) Impairment on available-for-sale securities.

    For financial matrix, please visit:

http://www.prnasia.com/sa/attachment/2010/03/2010031514017.pdf

    Global Sources Press Contact in Asia:
     Camellia So
     Tel:   +852-2555-5021
     Email: cso@globalsources.com

    Global Sources Press Contact in U.S.:
     James W.W. Strachan
     Tel:   +1-480-664-8309
     Email: strachan@globalsources.com

    Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia:
     Investor Relations Department
     Tel:   +852-2555-4777
     Email: investor@globalsources.com

    Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S.:
     Kirsten Chapman & Timothy Dien
     Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
     Tel:   +1-415-433-3777
     Email: tdien@lhai.com

SOURCE Global Sources


Source: newswire