e10vq
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
     
þ   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
for the Quarterly Period ended March 31, 2010
or
     
o   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: 0001-33800
SEARCHMEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Cayman Islands   77-0688094
     
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
15 Zhao Feng, Universe Building, 1800
Zhong Shan Xi Lu, Shanghai, China
  200235
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 86-21-64403190
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 þ No o
     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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes o No o
     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 o   Accelerated filer o  Non-accelerated filer o  Smaller reporting company þ
        (Do not check if a 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 o No þ
     Number of shares outstanding of each of the registrants’s classes of Ordinary Shares at December 14, 2010: 20,858,661 of Ordinary Shares, $0.0001 par value per share.
 
 

 


 

SEARCHMEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR FORM 10-Q
         
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
       
 
       
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
       
 
       
    3  
 
       
    4  
 
       
    5  
 
       
    6  
 
       
    7  
 
       
    24  
 
       
    30  
 
       
    30  
 
       
       
 
       
    32  
 
       
    32  
 
       
    32  
 
       
    32  
 
       
    32  
 
       
    32  
 
       
    32  
 
       
    33  
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2

2


Table of Contents

SEARCHMEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
                 
    As of March 31,   As of December 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)        
ASSETS
               
CURRENT ASSETS
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 20,846     $ 29,398  
Restricted cash
    170       270  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,151 and $2,325 as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    12,228       12,996  
Amounts due from related parties
    5,174       2,840  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    6,393       4,656  
Deferred tax assets
    455       480  
       
Total current assets
    45,266       50,640  
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
               
Property and equipment, net
    1,311       1,405  
Deposits for property and equipment
    553       553  
Intangible assets, net
    873       1,276  
Goodwill
    45,300       45,891  
     
Total assets
  $ 93,303     $ 99,765  
       
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
 
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Accounts payable
  $ 9,641     $ 9,013  
Accrued expenses and other payables
    14,988       15,898  
Short-term borrowings
    618       654  
Acquisition consideration payable
    16,724       16,381  
Amounts due to related parties
    415       346  
Deferred revenue
    1,789       1,902  
Income taxes payable
    6,927       6,855  
       
Total current liabilities
    51,102       51,049  
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Deferred tax liabilities
    217       316  
       
Total liabilities
    51,319       51,365  
       
 
               
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
 
               
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Common Shares — $0.0001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 20,766,078 and 20,758,368 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    2       2  
Additional paid-in capital
    119,813       122,922  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    1,099       1,050  
Accumulated deficit
    (78,930 )     (75,574 )
       
Total shareholders’ equity
    41,984       48,400  
       
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 93,303     $ 99,765  
       
See notes to the consolidated financial statements

3


Table of Contents

SEARCHMEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Advertising service revenues
  $ 8,472     $ 10,898  
Cost of revenues
    (6,179 )     (7,509 )
     
Gross profit
    2,293       3,389  
       
Operating expenses
               
Sales and marketing expenses
    (526 )     (672 )
General and administrative expenses
    (2,380 )     (3,778 )
       
Total operating expenses
    (2,906 )     (4,450 )
       
 
               
Loss from operations
    (613 )     (1,061 )
       
 
               
Other income / (expense)
               
 
               
Interest expense
    (13 )     (536 )
Decrease in fair value of liability warrant
          525  
Loss on impairment of goodwill
    (1,677 )     (11,861 )
Loss on abandonment of lease
    (1,292 )     (153 )
Other income / (expense), net
    626       (485 )
       
Loss before income taxes
    (2,969 )     (13,571 )
Provision for income taxes
    (387 )     (781 )
       
Net loss
  $ (3,356 )   $ (14,352 )
     
 
               
Loss per share
               
Basic and diluted
  $ (0.16 )   $ (6.62 )
       
 
               
Weighted average number of shares outstanding — Basic and diluted
    20,761,814       2,169,269  
       
See notes to the consolidated financial statements

4


Table of Contents

SEARCHMEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
                                                         
    Common Stock     Additional     Other             Total     Comprehensive  
    Number of             paid-in     comprehensive     Accumulated     shareholders’     Loss  
    shares     Amount     Capital     income     deficit     equity     Amount  
               
Beginning as of January 1, 2010
    20,758,368     $ 2     $ 122,922     $ 1,050     $ (75,574 )   $ 48,400          
 
                                                       
Net loss
                            (3,356 )     (3,356 )   $ (3,356 )
 
                                                       
Foreign currency exchange translation adjustment
                      49             49       49  
 
                                                     
 
               
Comprehensive Loss
                                                  $ (3,307 )
 
                                                     
 
                                                       
Repurchase of warrants
                (3,809 )                 (3,809 )        
 
                                                       
Exercise of warrants
    7,710             9                   9          
 
                                                       
Share-based compensation
                691                   691          
                     
 
                                                       
Balance as of March 31, 2010 (unaudited)
    20,766,078     $ 2     $ 119,813     $ 1,099     $ (78,930 )   $ 41,984          
                       
See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

5


Table of Contents

SEARCHMEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
               
Net loss
  $ (3,356 )   $ (14,352 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment
    99       109  
Amortization of intangible assets
    405       503  
Share-based compensation
    691       56  
Deferred tax benefit
    (74 )     (377 )
Decrease in fair value of note warrant liability
          (525 )
Loss on impairment of goodwill
    1,677       11,861  
Bad debt provision
    (174 )     324  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
(Increase) / decrease in assets:
               
Accounts receivable
    942       (1,400 )
Amounts due from related parties
    (2,334 )     836  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (1,737 )     (1,929 )
Increase / (decrease) in liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
    628       (316 )
Accrued expenses and other payables
    (906 )     4,300  
Amounts due to related parties
    69       (221 )
Deferred revenue
    (114 )     169  
Income taxes payable
    71       660  
       
Net cash used in operating activities
    (4,113 )     (302 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Purchase of property and equipment
          (47 )
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (716 )     (1,815 )
       
Net cash used in investing activities
    (716 )     (1,862 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Decrease in restricted bank deposit
    100       109  
Repayment of short-term borrowings
    (33 )      
Repurchase of warrants
    (3,809 )      
Proceeds from issuance of convertible promissory notes and warrants
          3,250  
Proceeds from exercise of warrants
    9        
       
Net cash (used in) / provided by financing activities
    (3,733 )     3,359  
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents
    10        
       
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (8,552 )     1,195  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
    29,398       5,096  
       
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
  $ 20,846     $ 6,291  
       
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
               
Cash paid for interest
    11       535  
Cash paid for income taxes
    327       821  
Non-cash investing transactions:
               
Acquisition consideration payable
    16,724       37,934  
See notes to the consolidated financial statements

6


Table of Contents

SEARCHMEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
1. Principal activities and basis of presentation
(a) Principal activities
SearchMedia Holdings Limited (the “Company”, “SearchMedia Holdings”, “we”, “our” or “us”) is a holding company and, through its consolidated subsidiaries and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) (collectively, the “Group”), is principally engaged in the provision of advertising services in the out-of-home advertising industry. Out-of-home advertising typically refers to advertising media in public places, such as billboards, in-elevator displays, street furniture and transit area displays. The Group is one of the largest operators of integrated outdoor billboard and in-elevator advertising networks in China. The Group’s outdoor billboard and in-elevator platforms are complemented by its transit advertising platform, which together enables the Group to provide multi-platform, “one-stop shop” services for its local, national and international clients.
(b) Basis of presentation
The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. However, the information included in these interim financial statements reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations. Results shown for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be obtained for a full year. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with that report.
(c) Reclassification
Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to current period’s presentation.
2. Summary of significant accounting policies
(a) Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Group will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Group’s net loss was $3,356 and $14,352, respectively, and the Group’s cash used in operating activities were $4,113 and $302, respectively.
Because the Group has been unable to generate net cash from operating activities, it has relied principally on cash provided by financing activities to fund its working capital requirements and to repay its obligations when they become due, including payments for its accrued expenses and other payables and acquisition consideration payable.
As discussed in Note 13, during the second and third quarters of 2010, the Group amended the earn-out agreements with the ex-owners of the following subsidiaries: Qingdao Kaixiang Advertising Co., Ltd, Beijing Wanshuizhiyuan Advertising Co., Ltd, Shanghai Haiya Advertising Co., Ltd, Shanghai Botang Advertising Co., Ltd, Wenzhou Rigao Advertising Co., Ltd., Wuxi Ruizhong Advertising Co., Ltd and Shenyang Jingli Advertising Co., Ltd. The amended earn-out agreements provides for the extension of the time period by one to more than two years for required cash and stock payments.
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

7


Table of Contents

(b) Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the allowance for doubtful receivables; useful lives and residual values of property and equipment and intangible assets; recoverability of the carrying amount of property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets; fair values of financial instruments; the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed upon the consolidation of businesses acquired in 2008; and the assessment of contingent obligations. These estimates are often based on complex judgments and assumptions that management believes to be reasonable but are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
(c) Foreign currency transactions and translation
The Group’s reporting currency is the United States dollars (“US$”). The functional currency of the Company is the US$, whereas the functional currency of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC is the Renminbi (“RMB”) and the functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”) is the Hong Kong Dollars (“HK$”), as the PRC and HKSAR are the primary economic environments in which the respective entities operate. Since the RMB is not a fully convertible currency, all foreign exchange transactions involving RMB must take place either through the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”) or other institutions authorized to buy and sell foreign currency. The exchange rates adopted for the foreign exchange transactions are the rates of exchange quoted by the PBOC.
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the respective functional currency at the exchange rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the applicable exchange rate at each balance sheet date. The resulting exchange differences are recorded in “foreign currency exchange gain (loss)” in the consolidated statements of operations.
The assets and liabilities of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs are translated into the US$ reporting currency using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses of these entities are translated into US$ at average rates prevailing during the year. Gains and losses resulting from translation of these entities’ financial statements into the US$ reporting currency are recorded as a separate component of “accumulated other comprehensive income” within shareholders’ equity.
(d) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and bank deposits, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use. The Group’s cash and bank deposits were held in major financial institutions located in US and PRC, which management believes have high credit ratings.
(e) Restricted cash
Restricted cash represents amounts held by a bank as to withdrawal for use under court orders to hold the accounts as escrow. The restriction on cash is expected to be released when the related litigation is closed.
(f) Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable consist of amounts billed but not yet collected and unbilled receivables. Unbilled receivables relate to revenues earned and recognized, but which have not been billed by the Group in accordance with the terms of the advertising service contract. The payment terms of the Group’s service contracts with its customers vary and typically require an initial payment to be billed or paid at the commencement of the service period, progress payments to be billed during the service period, and a final payment to be billed after the completion of the service period. None of the Group’s accounts receivable bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is management’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Group’s existing accounts receivable. Management determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and reviews of customer-specific facts and economic conditions. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the

8


Table of Contents

potential for recovery is considered remote. The Group does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.
(g) Property and equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation or amortization. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, taking into consideration the assets’ salvage or residual value. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:
     
Leasehold improvements
  1 to 3 years
Advertisement display equipment
  5 years
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment
  5 years
Motor vehicles
  5 years
(h) Intangible assets
The Group’s intangible assets are amortized on a straight line basis over their respective estimated useful lives, which are the periods over which the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the future cash flows of the Group. The Group’s intangible assets represent customer relationship and lease agreements, which have estimated useful lives ranging from 0.5 to 4 years.
(i) Goodwill
Goodwill and other intangible assets are accounted for in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 350 “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other”. The Group accounts for business acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting. Goodwill consists of the cost of acquired businesses in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired. Other intangible assets are separately recognized if the benefit of the intangible asset is obtained through contractual or other legal rights, or if the intangible asset can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, regardless of an intent to do so.
Under FASB ASC 350, goodwill, including any goodwill included in the carrying value of investments accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and certain other intangible assets deemed to have indefinite useful lives, are not amortized.
(j) Impairment of long-lived assets
The Group tests goodwill for possible impairment in the fourth quarter of each year or when circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Circumstances that could trigger an impairment test between annual tests include, but are not limited to:
    a significant adverse change in the business climate or legal factors;
 
    an adverse action or assessment by a regulator;
 
    unanticipated competition;
 
    loss of key personnel;
 
    the likelihood that a reporting unit or a significant portion of a reporting unit will be sold or disposed of;
 
    a change in reportable segments; and/or results of testing for recoverability of a significant asset group within a reporting unit.
The Group utilizes a two-step method to perform a goodwill impairment review. In the first step, we determine the fair value of the reporting unit using expected future discounted cash flows and estimated terminal values. If the net book value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, we would then perform the second step of the impairment test which requires allocation of the reporting unit’s fair value of all of its assets and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, with any residual fair value being allocated to goodwill. The implied fair value of the goodwill is then compared to the carrying value to determine impairment, if any.
Application of goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to the reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units and estimating the

9


Table of Contents

fair value of each reporting unit. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value of each reporting unit which could trigger impairment.
In calculating the future cash flows, certain assumptions are required to be made in respect of highly uncertain matters such as revenue growth rates, gross margin percentages and terminal growth rates. We may incur additional goodwill impairment charges in the future although we cannot predict whether this will occur.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed for impairment at least annually based on comparisons of their respective fair values to their carrying values. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their respective useful lives and, along with other long-lived assets, are evaluated for impairment periodically whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their related carrying amounts may not be recoverable in accordance with FASB ASC 360-10-15, “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”.
In evaluating long-lived assets for recoverability, including finite-lived intangibles and property and equipment, the Group uses its best estimate of future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and eventual disposition in accordance with FASB ASC 360-10-15. To the extent that estimated future, undiscounted cash inflows attributable to the asset, less estimated future, undiscounted cash outflows, are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the difference between the carrying value of such asset and its fair value. Assets to be disposed of and for which there is a committed plan of disposal, whether through sale or abandonment, are reported at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell.
Asset recoverability is an area involving management judgment, requiring assessment as to whether the carrying value of assets can be supported by the undiscounted future cash flows. In calculating the future cash flows, certain assumptions are required to be made in respect of highly uncertain matters such as revenue growth rates, gross margin percentages and terminal growth rates.
No impairment loss is subsequently reversed even if facts and circumstances indicate recovery.
(k) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
FASB ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three levels based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market.
These tiers include:
    Level 1 — defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
 
    Level 2 — defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
 
    Level 3 — defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.
Except for promissory notes, the fair value of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities approximate their carrying amount because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. Based on management judgment, the fair value of the promissory notes is not materially different from its carrying value with reference to observable market transactions between market participants comparative with the Company and promissory note investors which are the best information available in the circumstances.
(l) Revenue recognition
The Company recognizes advertising service revenue on a straight-line basis over the period in which the customer advertisement is to be displayed, which typically ranges from 1 month to 2 years, starting from the date the Group first displays the advertisement. Written contracts are entered into between the Group and its

10


Table of Contents

customers to specify the price, the period and the location at which the advertisement is to be displayed. Revenue is only recognized if the collectability of the advertising service fee is probable.
The Company generates advertising service revenues from the sales of frame space on the poster frame network, advertising time slots on traditional billboard networks and the sale of advertising services through our subway leases. In the majority of advertising arrangements, the Group acts as a principal in the transaction and records advertising revenues on a gross basis. The associated expenses are recorded as cost of revenues. In some instances the Group is considered an agent and recognizes revenue on a net basis.
Customer payments received in excess of the amount of revenue recognized are recorded as deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets, and are recognized as revenue when the advertising services are rendered.
Revenue was net of business tax of $648 and $838 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Gross revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $9,120 and $11,736, respectively.
(m) Cost of revenues
Cost of revenues consists primarily of operating lease cost of advertising space for displaying advertisements, depreciation of advertising display equipment, amortization of intangible assets relating to lease agreements and direct staff and material costs associated with production and installation of advertising content.
(n) Operating leases
The Group leases advertising space and office premises under non-cancellable operating leases. Minimum lease payments are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Under the terms of the lease agreements, the Group has no legal or contractual asset retirement obligation at the end of the lease.
(o) Share-based payments
The Group accounts for share-based payments in accordance with ASC Topic 718,“Compensation—Stock Compensation” (formerly FASB Statement No. 123R). Under ASC 718, the Group measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and recognizes the costs over the period the employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which generally is the vesting period. For awards with performance conditions, the compensation expense is based on the grant-date fair value of the award, the number of shares ultimately expected to vest and the vesting period.
(p) Income taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates or laws is recognized in income in the period that the change in tax rates or laws is enacted. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Group applies ASC Topic 740 “Income Taxes”, (formerly FASB Interpretation No. 48). ASC 740 clarifies the accounting for uncertain tax positions. This interpretation requires that an entity recognizes in the consolidated financial statements the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Group’s accounting policy is to accrue interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if and when required, as interest

11


Table of Contents

expense and a component of general and administrative expenses, respectively, in the consolidated statements of operations.
(q) Earnings/(loss) per share
For the purpose of calculating earnings per share for the periods presented, SearchMedia International’s shares have been restated retroactively for the year ended December 31, 2008 to reflect the share exchange ratio as at the date of the Share Exchange in a manner similar to a stock reorganization. The number of ordinary shares outstanding is determined on the basis of SearchMedia International’s historical number of ordinary shares outstanding multiplied by the share exchange ratio established in the Share Exchange Agreement.
Basic earnings/(loss) per share is computed by dividing income attributable to common shares shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings/(loss) per ordinary share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue ordinary shares were exercised or converted into ordinary shares and is calculated using the treasury stock method for stock options and unvested shares. Common equivalent shares for which the exercise price exceeds the average market price over the period have an anti-dilutive effect on income per share and, accordingly, are excluded from the calculation. Common equivalent shares are also excluded from the calculation in loss periods as their effects would be anti-dilutive.
(r) Segment reporting
The Group has one operating segment as defined by ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting” (formerly FASB Statement No. 131). For the two reporting periods, the Group’s advertising service revenues generated from customers outside the PRC is less than 10% of the Group’s total consolidated revenues and the Group’s total long-lived tangible assets located outside the PRC is less than 10% of the Group’s total consolidated long-lived tangible assets. Consequently no geographic information is presented.
(q) Recently issued accounting standards
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-05 (ASU 2010-05), “Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718)”. This standard codifies EITF Topic D-110 Escrowed Share Arrangements and the Presumption of Compensation and is effective immediately. The provisions of ASU 2010-05 did not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company and is effective immediately.
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-06 (ASU 2010-06), “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)”: Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. This amendment to Topic 820 has improved disclosures about fair value measurements on the basis of input received from the users of financial statements. This is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The provisions of ASU 2010-06 did not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
In February 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-09 (ASU 2010-09), “Subsequent Events (Topic 855).” The amendments remove the requirements for an SEC filer to disclose a date, in both issued and revised financial statements, through which subsequent events have been reviewed. Revised financial statements include financial statements revised as a result of either correction of an error or retrospective application of U.S. GAAP. ASU 2010-09 is effective for interim or annual financial periods ending after June 15, 2010. The provisions of ASU 2010-09 did not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

12


Table of Contents

In February 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-10 (ASU 2010-10), “Consolidation (Topic 810).” The amendments to the consolidation requirements of Topic 810 resulting from the issuance of Statement 167 are deferred for a reporting entity’s interest in an entity (1) that has all the attributes of an investment company or (2) for which it is industry practice to apply measurement principles for financial reporting purposes that are consistent with those followed by investment companies. An entity that qualifies for the deferral will continue to be assessed under the overall guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities in Subtopic 810-10 (before the Statement 167 amendments) or other applicable consolidation guidance, such as the guidance for the consolidation of partnerships in Subtopic 810-20. The deferral is primarily the result of differing consolidation conclusions reached by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) for certain investment funds when compared with the conclusions reached under Statement 167. The deferral is effective as of the beginning of a reporting entity’s first annual period that begins after November 15, 2009, and for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, which coincides with the effective date of Statement 167. Early application is not permitted. The provisions of ASU 2010-10 are effective for the Company beginning in 2010. The adoption of ASU 2010-10 did not have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
In March 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-11 (ASU 2010-11), “Derivative and Hedging (Topic 815).” All entities that enter into contracts containing an embedded credit derivative feature related to the transfer of credit risk that is not only in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another will be affected by the amendments in this Update because the amendments clarify that the embedded credit derivative scope exception in paragraph 815-15-15-8 through 15-9 does not apply to such contracts. ASU 2010-11 is effective at the beginning of the reporting entity’s first fiscal quarter beginning after June 15, 2010. The provisions of ASU 2010-11 are not expected to have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
In April 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-13 (ASU 2010-13), “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718).” This Update provides amendments to Topic 718 to clarify 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 not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would not classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. The amendments in ASU 2010-13 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The provision of ASU 2010-13 are not expected to have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
3. Loss per share
Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. Diluted earnings per share is not done for periods in a loss position as this would be antidilutive. The information related to basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Numerator:
               
Net Loss
  $ (3,356 )   $ (14,352 )
 
               
Denominator:
               
Weighted average shares outstanding — Basic and diluted
    20,761,814       2,169,269  
Loss per share — Basic and diluted
  $ (0.16 )   $ (6.62 )
As of March 31, 2010, there were a total of 814,343 stock options and 746,008 warrants that would have been included in the computation of diluted earnings per share that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future.

13


Table of Contents

4. Intangible assets
Intangible assets consist of the following:
                         
    Weighted average   March   December
    amortization period   31, 2010   31, 2009
            (unaudited)
Gross amount
                       
Customer relationship
  0.5-3 years   $ 2,344     $ 2,343  
Lease agreements
  1-4 years     4,851       4,849  
             
 
            7,195       7,192  
             
 
                       
Accumulated amortization
                       
Customer relationship
            (2,294 )     (2,135 )
Lease agreements
            (3,100 )     (2,854 )
             
 
            (5,394 )     (4,989 )
               
 
                       
Accumulated impairment
                       
Customer relationship
            (15 )     (15 )
Lease agreements
            (913 )     (912 )
               
 
            (928 )     (927 )
               
 
                       
Net intangible assets
          $ 873     $ 1,276  
               
     Amortization of intangible assets was allocated to the following categories of cost and expenses:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Cost of revenues
  $ 246     $ 344  
Sales and marketing expenses
    159       159  
       
Total amortization expenses
  $ 405     $ 503  
       
     Future expected amortization of intangible assets as of March 31, 2010 is as follows:
         
2010
  $ 684  
2011
    189  
 
     
 
  $ 873  
 
     
5. Goodwill
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Group acquired several companies in the advertising businesses. These acquisitions were unrelated to each other. Pursuant to a series of acquisition agreements signed with each of the acquired entities’ ex-owners in 2008 (“original acquisition agreements”), the purchase consideration for each acquisition would be settled in cash and is contingent based on the operational results

14


Table of Contents

agreed and confirmed by the Group and each of the acquired entities’ ex-owners for each individual 12-month period in a 2-year earn-out period following respective acquisition dates (“earn-out period”).
The contingent purchase price consideration for each entity is payable when each individual 12-month period during the earn-out period is completed and the operational results were agreed and confirmed. As such, the purchase price allocation cannot be completed until the contingencies are resolved. Therefore, the contingent consideration was not determinable beyond a reasonable doubt at the date of acquisition, and no goodwill was recognized due to the contingent nature of the consideration. However, a liability is recorded for the estimated fair value of identifiable net assets acquired, which represents the amount of negative goodwill upon initial purchase price allocation. Upon resolution of the contingency, adjustment to goodwill or against the identifiable net assets is to be made in accordance with SFAS No. 141 (“ASC Topic 805”).
Management performs a goodwill impairment test for each of its reporting units as of December 31 of each year or when circumstances change that would more likely than not that the carrying amount of goodwill may be impaired. As a result of impairment tests, the Group recorded a goodwill impairment loss of $1,677 and $11,861 for the three months ended on March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
During the first quarter of 2010, the contingent consideration in connection with the second 12-month earn-out period of Shanghai Haiya Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Haiya”), Shanghai Botang Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Botang”) and Ad-Icon Company Limited (“HK Ad-Icon”) were resolved and is estimated to be $1,075. These amounts were recorded as additional goodwill and were immediately impaired as there has been no material changes in the fair value of the reporting unit subsequent to December 31, 2009, the most recent impairment analysis date.
The Group applied the income approach to estimate the fair value of its reporting units for goodwill impairment tests. The key assumptions used in this approach, which requires significant management judgment, include business assumptions, growth rate, terminal value, discount rate, and tax amortization benefit.
The changes in carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:
                 
    March 31,   December 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)        
Beginning balance of goodwill
  $ 45,891     $ 12,955  
Goodwill recorded as a result of contingent consideration resolved
    1,075       48,672  
Impairment of goodwill
    (1,677 )     (15,749 )
Translation adjustment
    11       13  
       
 
               
Ending balance of goodwill
  $ 45,300     $ 45,891  
       
6. Accrued expenses and other payables
Accrued expenses and other payables consist of the following:
                 
    March 31,   December 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)        
Accrued payroll and staff benefits
  $ 2,221     $ 2,559  
Accrued professional fee
    1,855       2,852  
Business tax and surcharges payable
    8,120       7,074  
Contingent liabilities (Note 12(c))
    844       844  
Accrued liabilities for abandonment of lease
    1,889       597  
Other accrued liabilities
    59       1,972  
       
 
               
Total accrued expenses and other payables
  $ 14,988     $ 15,898  
       

15


Table of Contents

7. Warrant
The Company has a total of 13,400,000 warrants outstanding prior to the business combination. Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock at a price of $6.00 to $8.00 per share at any time commencing on the completion of a business combination. The warrants have a four years term and will expire in November 2011.
The Company issued 1,519,182 warrants to the SearchMedia International shareholders or warrantholders in the business combination and 428,219 warrants to the note holder.
Each of the warrants issued to a SearchMedia International shareholder, warrantholder or note holder in the business combination entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of SearchMedia Holding’s common stock at a price ranging from $0.0001 to $8.14 per share, subject to adjustment, at any time. The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below their respective exercise prices. The warrants will expire three years from the date of issuance of such warrant.
During January 2010, the Company repurchased in aggregate, 1,738,500 warrants in the open market for total consideration of $3,809 under a Board authorized plan. 7,710 warrants were exercised during the first quarter of 2010 and the Company received net proceed of $8.7 thousand. As of March 31, 2010, there were 13,601,191 warrants outstanding.
8. Share-based payments
Effective on January 1, 2008, the board of directors and shareholders of the SearchMedia International approved and adopted the 2008 Share Incentive Plan (the “Share Incentive Plan”) which provides for the granting of up to 1,796,492 share options and restricted share units to the eligible employees to subscribe for ordinary shares of SearchMedia International. The granted stock options and restricted share units were subsequently converted into SearchMedia Holdings’ stock options and restricted shares on October 30, 2009 in the business combination pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement.
(a) Share options
Details of stock options activity during the first quarter of 2010 was as follows:
                                 
            Weighted   Weighted    
            average   average    
            exercise   remaining    
    Number of   price per   contractual   Aggregate
    options   share   term   fair value
Balance as of January 1, 2010
    423,797       3.19                  
Granted
    770,000       6.86               1,929  
Forfeited
    (30,392 )     7.02               (55 )
 
                               
Balance as of March 31, 2010
    1,163,405       5.52     9.16 years        
 
                               
Options exercisable at March 31, 2010
    321,614       3.90     8.41 years        

16


Table of Contents

The Company determined the estimated grant-date fair value of share options based on the Binomial Tree option-pricing model using the following assumptions:
                 
Options granted to employee:   2010   2009
Risk-free rate of return
    1.54 %     3.43 %
Weighted average expected option life
  10 years     10 years  
Expected volatility rate
    64.0 %     63.30 %
Dividend yield
    0 %     0 %
The expected volatility in the table above was based on the weighted average volatility of several comparable U.S. listed companies in the advertising industry with operations in the PRC. Management believes that the weighted average volatility of such companies is a reasonable benchmark to use in estimating the expected volatility of the Company’s ordinary shares.
The Company has accounted for these options in accordance with ASC Topic 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation” (formerly SFAS No. 123R), by measuring compensation cost based on the grant-date fair value and recognizing the cost over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award.
During the first quarter of 2010, 545,000 options to purchase common shares of the Company were granted to senior executives of the Company with the options vesting one-third annually over a three year period. A total of 225,000 options were also granted to Board members with vesting one year from the date of grant.
The amount of compensation cost recognized for these share options was $401 and $22 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As of March 31, 2010, unrecognized share-based compensation cost in respect of granted share options amounted to $2,394.
(b) Restricted share units
Detail of restricted share unit activity during the first quarter of 2010 was as follows:
                         
                    Weighted
    Number of           average
    restricted           remaining
    share units   Grant-date   contractual
    granted   fair value   term
Balance as of January 1, 2010
    463,779                  
Granted
    100,000       605          
Forfeitures
                     
 
                       
Balance as of March 31, 2010
    563,779             8.92 years
 
                       
Units vested as of March 31, 2010
    264,730             8.88 years
 
                       
During the first quarter of 2010, 100,000 restricted shares were granted to a senior executive of the Company with the shares of restricted stock vesting on the third year anniversary of the date of grant. The fair value of the restricted share units was estimated using the closing quoted market price at the date of grant.
The Group recognized compensation cost (included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations) for these restricted share units of $290 and $34 for the three months period ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
As of March 31, 2010, unrecognized share-based compensation cost in respect of granted restricted share units amounted to $1,335, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 16.5 months.
9. Related party transactions and balances

17


Table of Contents

(a) Related party transactions
In the ordinary course of business, the Group enters into certain transactions with its related parties. Management believes that these related party transactions were conducted at normal commercial terms. For the periods presented, material related party transactions are summarized as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:
                         
            Three Months Ended March 31,
    Note   2010   2009
            (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Revenue from provision of advertising services
    (i)     $ 141     $ 1,106  
 
                       
Expenses for leases of advertising space
  (ii)   $ 244     $ 254  
Notes:
(i) Represents amounts received / receivable from affiliated entities of senior management personnel of certain companies acquired by Jingli, for provision of advertising services to these entities. The transactions are conducted on terms comparable to the terms of similar transactions with third parties.
(ii) Represents amounts paid / payable to affiliated entities of senior management personnel of certain companies acquired by Jingli, for leases of advertising spaces from these entities. The transactions are conducted on terms comparable to the terms of similar transactions with third parties.
(b) Amounts due from / to related parties are analyzed as follows:
                         
            March 31,   December 31,
    Note   2010   2009
            (unaudited)        
Customer payments collected on behalf of the Group
    (i)     $ 3,870     $ 2,018  
 
                       
Receivables for provision of advertising services
  (ii)     505       453  
 
                       
Advances to ex-owners of acquired companies
  (iii)     799       369  
             
Due from related parties
          $ 5,174     $ 2,840  
             
 
                       
Operating expenses paid on behalf of the Group
  (iv)     112       195  
 
                       
Payables for the lease of advertising space
    (v)       303       151  
             
Due to related parties
          $ 415     $ 346  
             
Note:
(i) Represents customer payments collected by the Company’s shareholders and senior management personnel of Jingli’s acquired subsidiaries on behalf of the Group companies which had not been remitted to the Group companies as of the balance sheet date. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, certain customers remitted cash to affiliated companies controlled by shareholders of the Company and senior management personnel of certain subsidiaries of the Company to settle the amounts they owed to the Group. The amounts received by the shareholders and the senior management personnel are repaid back to the Group on a periodic basis. The balance is expected to be repaid to the Group within 12 months.

18


Table of Contents

(ii) Represents amount receivable from affiliated companies of certain companies acquired by Jingli for advertising services provided by the Group to these entities as described in the note (i) above. These amounts are repayable in accordance with normal payment terms with other unrelated customers.
(iii) Represents the advances made by the Group to ex-owners of certain companies acquired by Jingli. The amounts are interest free and are expected to be settled within 12 months from the balance sheet date and are secured by the contingent purchase price payable of certain companies acquired by Jingli to the previous owners of the acquired companies.
(iv) Represents operating expenses paid by the senior management personnel of certain companies acquired by Jinglli on behalf of the Group. The amounts are interest free, unsecured and have no fixed terms of repayment.
(v) Represents operating lease payments payable to affiliated companies of certain companies acquired by Jingli for leases of advertising space as described in note (ii) above. The amounts are repayable in accordance with normal payment terms with other unrelated advertising space suppliers.
10. Interest expense
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Bank loan interest
  $ 13     $ 7  
Convertible promissory notes interest
          450  
Interest on short-term loan from a third party lender
          79  
     
Total interest expense
  $ 13     $ 536  
     
During 2009, SearchMedia International issued convertible promissory notes to investors prior to the business combination. All these notes were either repaid or converted into SearchMedia Holdings’ common stocks or warrants upon the business combination with SearchMedia International Limited as of October 31, 2009.
11. Income taxes
Cayman Islands
Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on its income or capital gains. In addition, upon any payment of dividends by the Company, no withholding tax is imposed.
Peoples’ Republic of China
The Company’s consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC are governed by the income tax law of the PRC and file separate income tax returns. The entities acquired by Jingli in 2008 are subject to PRC enterprise income tax at 25% on their assessable profits.
Under the new tax law and related implementation rules, a withholding tax is applied on the gross amount of dividends received by the Company from its PRC consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs after January 1, 2008; however undistributed earnings prior to January 1, 2008 are exempted from withholding tax. The implementation rules provide that the withholding tax rate is 10% or the applicable rate specified in a tax treaty. The Company has not provided for income taxes on accumulated earnings of its PRC subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 since these earnings are intended to be reinvested indefinitely in the PRC. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of additional taxes that might be payable on such undistributed earnings.

19


Table of Contents

Hong Kong
Ad-Icon and Great Talent are subject to Hong Kong profits tax at a tax rate of 16.5% on their assessable profits.
For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, substantially all of the Group’s income before income taxes is derived from the PRC. Income tax expense consists of the following:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Current tax
               
- PRC
  $ 442     $ 1,092  
- HK
    18       9  
Deferred tax
               
- PRC
    (73 )     (320 )
- HK
           
     
Total income tax expense
  $ 387     $ 781  
     
The actual income tax expense reported in the consolidated statements of operations differs from the expected income tax expense computed by applying the PRC statutory tax rate of 25% for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively to income before income taxes as a result of the following:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Computed expected tax expense
  $ (742 )   $ (3,393 )
Effect of differential tax rate on income of Ad-Icon
    (9 )     (4 )
Effect of non-PRC entities not subject to income tax
    302       397  
Non-deductible expenses
    432       3,028  
Tax loss which no deferred tax asset was recognized
    404       884  
Income not subject to tax
          (131 )
     
Actual income tax expense
  $ 387     $ 781  
     
Non-deductible expenses primarily represent goodwill impairment which is not deductible for tax purpose and entertainment expenses in excess of statutory limits for tax purpose.
The tax effects of the Group’s temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
                 
    March 31,   December 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)        
Deferred tax assets-current:
               
- Tax loss carried forwards of a subsidiary
  $ 23     $ 23  
- Allowance for doubtful accounts
    405       430  
- Accrued expenses
    27       27  
     
 
    455       480  
Deferred tax liabilities — non-current:
               
Intangible assets
    (217 )     (316 )
     
Net deferred tax assets
  $ 238     $ 164  
     

20


Table of Contents

The realization of the future tax benefits of a deferred tax asset is dependent on future taxable income against which such tax benefits can be applied or utilized and the consideration of the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and any available tax planning strategies. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. All available evidence must be considered in the determination of whether sufficient future taxable income will exist since the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible and tax loss carryforwards are utilized. Such evidence includes, but is not limited to, the financial performance of the entities, the market environment in which these entities operate and the length of relevant carryover periods. Sufficient negative evidence, such as cumulative net losses during a three-year period that includes the current year and the prior two years, may require that a valuation allowance be established against the deferred tax assets.
For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Group did not have unrecognized tax benefits, and it does not expect that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly within the next 12 months. No interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were accrued at the date of initial adoption of FIN 48 and as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer or the withholding agent. The statute of limitations is extended to five years under special circumstances, where the underpayment of taxes is more than USD15 (RMB 100). In the case of transfer pricing issues, the statute of limitation is ten years. There is no statute of limitation in the case of tax evasion. The tax returns of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC for the tax years beginning in 2004 are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities. The tax returns of the Company’s operating subsidiary in the HKSAR for the tax years beginning in 2002 are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities.
12. Commitments and contingencies
(a) Operating lease commitments
The Group leases space primarily inside elevators, light boxes and billboards to display the content of its customers’ advertisements, and office premises under operating lease arrangements. These operating leases do not contain provisions for contingent rentals.
Rental expenses under operating leases were allocated to the following categories of cost and expenses:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Cost of revenues
  $ 6,088     $ 6,873  
General and administrative expenses
    236       472  
     
Total rental expenses
  $ 6,324     $ 7,345  
     
As of March 31, 2010 future minimum rental payments under non-cancellable operating leases having initial or remaining lease terms of more than one year are as follows:
         
Year        
2010
  $ 15,408  
2011
    6,565  
2012
    3,070  
2013
    696  
2014
    181  
Thereafter
    11  
 
     
 
  $ 25,931  
 
     

21


Table of Contents

(b) Capital commitment
The Group has no material capital commitment as of March 31, 2010.
(c) Contingency
The Group is periodically involved in legal proceedings and has made full provision for operational claims of $844 as of March 31, 2010. Some complaints received after March 31, 2010 was disclosed under subsequent events.
13. Subsequent events
The Company evaluated all events and transactions after March 31, 2010 through the date these financial statements were issued and the material subsequent events were as follows:
During the second and third quarters of 2010, the Company amended the earnout agreements with the following subsidiaries: Qingdao Kaixiang Advertising Co., Ltd, Beijing Wanshuizhiyuan Advertising Co., Ltd, Shanghai Haiya Advertising Co., Ltd, Shanghai Botang Advertising Co., Ltd, Wenzhou Rigao Advertising Co., Ltd., Wuxi Ruizhong Advertising Co., Ltd and Shenyang Jingli Advertising Co., Ltd. The amended earnout agreements provides for the extension of the time period by one to more than two years for required cash and stock payments. The amended earnout agreements also provided for the extension of the employment agreements of certain key members of management of these subsidiaries.
On April 22, 2010, the Company received a notice from the NYSE Amex LLC (“Amex”), indicating that it was not in compliance with Amex’s continued listing criteria because the Company did not timely file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. On May 5, 2010, the Company submitted to Amex an initial Plan of Compliance, setting forth actions the Company had taken and would take to bring the Company into compliance. On May 25, 2010, the Company received a notice from Amex, indicating that it was not in compliance with Amex’s continued listing criteria because the Company did not timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010. On June 8, 2010, the Company submitted to Amex a supplemental plan of compliance, setting forth actions the Company had taken and would take to bring the Company into compliance. Amex initially accepted the Company’s Plan of Compliance, as supplemented, on June 22, 2010 and extended the deadline for compliance such that the Company’s filing of Annual Report on Form 10-K on or before October 15, 2010 and the Company’s filing of its first quarter Form 10-Q on or before November 15, 2010 would bring the Company into compliance with the standards set forth in Amex delinquency notices. On October 13, 2010, the Company amended its Plan of Compliance and requested an additional extension to file the Form 10-K by October 29, 2010 and the 2010 first quarter Form 10-Q by December 15, 2010. These requests were approved by Amex on October 21, 2010. The Company submitted its Form 10-K on October 29, 2010.
On June 26, 2010, the Company completed its acquisition of Zhejiang Continental Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Continental”) in a combination of cash and stock transaction. The stock component of the transaction is expected to be paid in 2012, based on Continental’s 2011 financial performance and the Company’s 2012 stock price.
A complaint was filed on June 23, 2010 by an ex-owner of Xinshichuang claimed for unpaid acquisition considerations and other expenses of approximately $1.3 million. The Company has vigorously contested such claim and we believe such claim does not have merit.
A shareholder complaint was filed on September 13, 2010 by Sid Murdeshwar against the Company and certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers (the “Individual Defendants”) as a purported class action on behalf of the Company’s shareholders in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The case was filed under the caption Sid Murdeshwar, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff v. SearchMedia Holdings Limited f/k/a Ideation Acquisition Corp., Robert N. Fried, Phillip Frost, Rao Uppaluri, Steven D. Rubin, Glenn Halpryn, Thomas E. Beier, David

22


Table of Contents

H. Moskowitz, Shawn Gold, Garbo Lee, Paul Conway, Qinying Liu, Earl Yen, and Jennifer Huang, Defendants. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the Company’s directors violated the federal securities laws by making false and misleading statements regarding Ideation’s acquisition of the target company, SearchMedia International and by overstating SearchMedia International’s financial results. The complaint further alleges that the Individual Defendants are liable for the alleged misrepresentations as controlling persons. The complaint seeks certification of a class of the Company’s shareholders, an award of compensatory damages, an award of reasonable fees and costs incurred in this action, and such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.
In addition, we have been notified that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Los Angeles Regional Office, is conducting a formal investigation regarding the issues that are the subject of our restatement of financial results announced on August 20, 2010. We intend to cooperate fully with the SEC during this investigation process.
We cannot predict the costs or potential liabilities that may arise in connection with the purported class action, SEC investigation or any other related investigation or litigation.
In August 2010, subject to stockholder approval, the Board approved an increase of the number of authorized shares to be awarded under 2008 Plan from 1,796,492 shares to 3,000,000 shares which may be granted to designated employees, directors and consultants of the Company.

23


Table of Contents

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere herein and in conjunction with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Readers should carefully review the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
As used in this report, the terms “Company”, “SearchMedia Holdings”, “we”, “our” and “us” refer to SearchMedia Holding Limited.
PRELIMINARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This quarterly report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These include statements about our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future, which we indicate by words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “we believe,” “management believes” and similar language. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of SearchMedia Holdings and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including but not limited to, those set forth in the discussion under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this report. Actual results may differ materially from results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. We base the forward-looking statements on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update them.
Investors are also advised to refer to the information in our previous filings with the SEC, especially on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and 6-K, in which we discuss in more detail various important factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historic results. It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. As such, investors should not consider any list of such factors to be an exhaustive statement of all risks and uncertainties or potentially inaccurate assumptions.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
This section should be read together with the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included as Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-05 (ASU 2010-05), “Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718)”. This standard codifies EITF Topic D-110 Escrowed Share Arrangements and the Presumption of Compensation and is effective immediately. The provisions of ASU 2010-05 did not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company and is effective immediately.
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-06 (ASU 2010-06), “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)”: Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. This amendment to Topic 820 has improved disclosures about fair value measurements on the basis of input received from the users of financial statements. This is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The provisions of ASU 2010-06 did not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
In February 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-09 (ASU 2010-09), “Subsequent Events (Topic 855).” The amendments remove the requirements for an SEC filer to disclose a date, in both issued and revised financial statements, through which subsequent events have been reviewed. Revised financial statements include financial statements revised as a result of either correction of an error or retrospective application of U.S. GAAP. ASU 2010-09 is effective for interim or annual financial periods

24


Table of Contents

ending after June 15, 2010. The provisions of ASU 2010-09 did not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
In February 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-10 (ASU 2010-10), “Consolidation (Topic 810).” The amendments to the consolidation requirements of Topic 810 resulting from the issuance of Statement 167 are deferred for a reporting entity’s interest in an entity (1) that has all the attributes of an investment company or (2) for which it is industry practice to apply measurement principles for financial reporting purposes that are consistent with those followed by investment companies. An entity that qualifies for the deferral will continue to be assessed under the overall guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities in Subtopic 810-10 (before the Statement 167 amendments) or other applicable consolidation guidance, such as the guidance for the consolidation of partnerships in Subtopic 810-20. The deferral is primarily the result of differing consolidation conclusions reached by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) for certain investment funds when compared with the conclusions reached under Statement 167. The deferral is effective as of the beginning of a reporting entity’s first annual period that begins after November 15, 2009, and for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, which coincides with the effective date of Statement 167. Early application is not permitted. The provisions of ASU 2010-10 are effective for the Company beginning in 2010. The adoption of ASU 2010-10 did not have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
In March 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-11 (ASU 2010-11), “Derivative and Hedging (Topic 815).” All entities that enter into contracts containing an embedded credit derivative feature related to the transfer of credit risk that is not only in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another will be affected by the amendments in this Update because the amendments clarify that the embedded credit derivative scope exception in paragraph 815-15-15-8 through 15-9 does not apply to such contracts. ASU 2010-11 is effective at the beginning of the reporting entity’s first fiscal quarter beginning after June 15, 2010. The provisions of ASU 2010-11 are not expected to have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
In April 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-13 (ASU 2010-13), “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718).” This Update provides amendments to Topic 718 to clarify 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 not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would not classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. The amendments in ASU 2010-13 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The provision of ASU 2010-13 are not expected to have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

25


Table of Contents

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AS COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009
The following table sets forth the amounts and the percentage relationship to revenues of certain items in our consolidated statements of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,   Increase/   Increase/
    2010   2009   (Decrease)   (Decrease) %
(Amounts in thousands)   (unaudited)   (unaudited)                
Revenues
  $ 8,472     $ 10,898     $ (2,426 )     (22 %)
Cost of revenues
    (6,179 )     (7,509 )     1,330       (18 %)
     
Gross profit
    2,293       3,389       (1,096 )     (32 %)
     
Operating expenses
                               
Sales and marketing expenses
    (526 )     (672 )     146       (22 %)
General and administrative expenses
    (2,380 )     (3,778 )     1,398       (37 %)
     
Total operating expenses
    (2,906 )     (4,450 )     1,544       (35 %)
     
Loss from operations
    (613 )     (1,061 )     448       (42 %)
Interest expense, net
    (13 )     (536 )     523       (98 %)
Decrease in fair value of liability warrant
          525       (525 )     (100 %)
Loss on impairment of goodwill
    (1,677 )     (11,861 )     10,184       (86 %)
Loss on abandonment of lease
    (1,292 )     (153 )     (1,139 )     744 %
Other income / (expense), net
    626       (485 )     1,111       (229 %)
     
Total other (expense)
    (2,356 )     (12,510 )     10,154       (81 %)
     
Loss before income taxes
    (2,969 )     (13,571 )     10,602       (78 %)
Provision for income taxes
    (387 )     (781 )     394       (50 %)
     
Net loss
  $ (3,356 )   $ (14,352 )   $ 10,996       (77 %)
     
Revenue. We generate our revenues from providing advertising services over our network which consists primarily from our billboard, transit and elevator poster frame platforms.
Revenue was net of business tax of $0.6 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Gross revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $9.1 million and $11.7 million, respectively.
Revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $8.5 million compared to $10.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. Revenue in 2010 decreased primarily due to expiration of certain billboard contracts and delay of certain billboard advertising campaigns in the first quarter of 2010 to the second quarter and a decrease in revenue from our Jingli subsidiary as a result of a smaller elevator network, which declined from $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2009 to $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2010. The decreases were partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in the first quarter of 2010 revenues from one of our elevator subsidiaries. We intend to increase the number of contracts in the future in addition to increasing the average revenue per contract.
Cost of revenues. The cost of revenues consists primarily of operating lease cost of advertising space for displaying advertisements, depreciation of advertisement display equipment, amortization of intangible assets

26


Table of Contents

relating to lease agreements and direct staff and material costs associated with production and installation of advertisement content.
Cost of revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was $6.2 million compared to $7.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The cost of revenues for both periods primarily consisted of leasing cost to site owners and managers. The cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues was 72.9% for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, as compared to 68.9% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. This increase was due primarily to changes in the mix of service offerings and the cost associated with our network expansion, and lower utilization rate in early 2010. We intend to increase our margins in the future through enhancing our occupancy rates while also increasing our average revenue per contract.
Gross profit. Our gross profit declined from $3.4 million in 2009 to $2.3 million in 2010 primarily due to a decrease in operating profits at two of our billboard subsidiaries by $2.0 million due to the increase in billboard concession cost. The decrease of the gross profit was partially offset by the increase of our elevator business.
Operating expenses. Selling and marketing expenses consist of marketing and promotion, amortization of intangible assets relating to customer relationship and sales commissions, payroll, traveling expenses, transportation and advertising expenses incurred by our selling and distribution team. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits for management and administrative personnel, share-based compensation, rental and utility expenses.
Total operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $2.9 million compared to $4.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The components of operating expenses are set forth below:
    Sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses declined from $0.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 to $0.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, primarily as a result of the reduction of sales commissions, which decreased by $0.2 million in 2010 compared to 2009 primarily due to lower sales revenues.
 
    General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased from $3.8 million for 2009, to $2.4 million for 2010.
 
      The following table describes our general and administrative expenses for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. The decrease in bad debt expenses is primarily due to a subsequent settlement of accounts receivable for elevator subsidiaries. The increase in share-based compensation is partly due to new options granted. Staff cost declined from $1.1 million to $0.6 million as a result of increased efficiencies in our infrastructure and a reduction in staff. Professional fees in 2010 were $0.8 million lower than in 2009, primarily due to the decrease of one-time expenses related to the completion of the merger.
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
(Amounts in thousands)   (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Staff cost
  $ 643     $ 1,055  
Professional fees
    320       1,082  
Rental expense
    236       472  
Bad debt (reversal) / provision
    (174 )     614  
Share-based compensation
    691       56  
Others
    664       499  
     
 
  $ 2,380     $ 3,778  
     
Other expenses. Total other expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $2.4 million compared to $12.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. Significant components of the other expenses are set forth below:
    Interest expense. Interest expense decreased by $0.5 million in 2010 compared to 2009. The 2009 amount primarily relates to the interest of $0.5 million on the convertible promissory notes. Interest expense costs in the first quarter of 2010 were mainly related to the short term bank loan.

27


Table of Contents

    Loss on impairment of goodwill. As a result of the reduction of the estimated value of as part of annual impairment tests, goodwill was reduced by $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2010 and $11.9 million in the first quarter of 2009.
 
    Loss on abandonment of lease. For our elevator subsidiary Jingli, we determined that a substantial portion of rental elevators may not be utilized in the future due to the decision to optimize the media assets. As a result, we recorded a $1.3 million abandonment loss in the first quarter of 2010 and $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2009.
 
    Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense decreased from $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2009 to $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2010. Although we had consolidated net loss, the PRC statutory tax rate was 25% for our subsidiaries with taxable income. Increase in income tax expense was also due to the fact that our administrative and interest expenses and certain operating expenses for our consolidated variable interest entities were not deductible for income tax purposes.
Net loss. As a result of the foregoing, we had a net loss of $3.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, as compared to a net loss of $14.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
Cash Flow Analysis
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows and beginning and ending cash balances for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2010   2009
(Amounts in thousands)   (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Net cash used in operating activities
  $ (4,113 )   $ (302 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (716 )     (1,862 )
Net cash (used in) / provided by financing activities
    (3,733 )     3,359  
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents
    10        
     
 
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (8,552 )     1,195  
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
  $ 29,398     $ 5,096  
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
  $ 20,846     $ 6,291  
     
Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities was $4 million and $0.3 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in net cash used in operating activities was primarily due to the $5.4 million increase for working capital. The increase was partially offset by the decrease of net loss from $14.4 million in 2009 to $3.4 million in 2010. The increased cash out-flow was also attributed to the increase of payments due from related parties for period ended March 31, 2010 compared to 2009.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $0.7 million and $1.9 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The $1.2 million decrease in cash used in investing activities in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009 was primarily due to a $1.1 million decrease in cash paid for acquisitions in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009.

28


Table of Contents

Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities were $3.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and net cash provided by financing activities was $3.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The $7.1 million increase in net cash used in financing activities in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009 was primarily due to a $3.8 million repurchase of warrants in 2010 and a $3.3 million proceeds from issuance of convertible promissory notes and warrants in 2009.
Cash
Our cash balance at March 31, 2010 was $20.8 million, representing a decrease of $8.6 million from $29.4 million at December 31, 2009. The decrease was mainly attributable to three reasons: 1) a $3.4 million working capital decrease in the first quarter of 2010; 2) a total earn-out payment of $0.7 million to the ex-owners of subsidiaries; and 3) the repurchase of warrants for $3.8 million.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net current liabilities increased by $5.4 million to $5.8 million at March 31, 2010 as compared to the net current liabilities at December 31, 2009. Total current assets decreased by $5.3 million from $50.6 million at December 31, 2009 to $45.3 million at March 31, 2010. The decrease in current assets was primarily due to the decrease in cash of $8.6 million, including a $3.8 million repurchase of the Company warrant on the open market.
We are obligated to pay earn-out payments over the next two to three years in connection to our acquisitions of a number of advertising businesses. The amount of earn-out consideration typically depends, among other factors, on the annual financial results of an acquired entity in a two-year post-closing period starting from the date of acquisition based on mutual agreement by the Company and the ex-owners of the subsidiaries. Our acquisition payable was approximately $16.7 million as of March 31, 2010 including earn-out consideration with respect to the relevant acquired entities’ financial results for 2008 and 2009.
During the second and third quarters of 2010, we amended the earn-out agreements with seven of our subsidiaries. The amended earn-out agreements provide for the extension of the time period by one to more than two years for required cash and stock payments. As a result of the aforementioned amendments and previous payments, we estimate the remaining earn-out payable is approximately $23.8 million. Of such payable approximately $5.9 million is payable within the next twelve months and $17.9 million is payable after the next twelve months and within the next two to three years. We also estimate that more than 50% of the estimated earn-out payable is payable in stock. Based on the performance of the acquired companies to date and forecast for the rest of the payment period we believe that we currently have sufficient capital to pay the required earn-out payments over the next twelve months. However, due to a variety of factors which cannot presently be ascertained, including without limitation, the amount of working capital that we have available, and the financial performance of both the Company and the acquired companies entitled to receive an earn-out payment, we may not have sufficient liquidity to meet our earn-out obligations. If we do not have sufficient liquidity to meet our earn-out obligations when they come due, and such failure cannot be remedied through renegotiation of the terms of such earn-outs with the acquiring companies or the raising of the required proceeds on reasonable terms, our cash flows are likely to be adversely and materially impacted.
Our short-term borrowing of $0.6 million as of March 31, 2010 represents a short-term bank loan guaranteed by management personnel of a subsidiary, bears interest at LIBOR minus 1%, has maturity through April 2010 and does not contain any financial covenants.
We anticipate that our material capital expenditures for the next twelve months will be approximately $1 million for frames and billboard structures, and operating lease obligations of $14.2 million. We believe that we will be able to fund our capital expenditures, operating lease payments and our anticipated operating cash requirements for at least the next twelve months and satisfy any remaining obligations from our working capital and anticipated cash flows from operations.
In addition, we may need additional cash resources in the future if we find and wish to pursue opportunities for investment, acquisition, strategic cooperation or other similar actions. If we ever determine that our cash requirements exceed our amounts of cash and cash equivalents on hand, we may seek to issue debt or equity securities or obtain a credit facility. Any issuance of equity securities could cause dilution to our

29


Table of Contents

shareholders. Any incurrence of indebtedness could increase our debt service obligations and cause us to be subject to restrictive operating and financial covenants. It is possible when we need additional cash resources, financing will only be available to us in amounts or on terms not acceptable to us or that financing will not be available at all.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not required for smaller reporting companies, as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act as of March 31, 2010. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. As a result of previously disclosed material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that remain unremediated as of March 31, 2010, identified below, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure (1) that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (2) that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
In assessing the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, management identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting relating to the following:
    Revenue recognition and accounts receivable;
 
    Disclosure, approval, and documentation of transactions among entities related to prior owners of acquired subsidiaries (which we refer to as “related entity transactions”);
 
    Recording of various erroneous transactions by certain employees;
 
    Recording of certain assets and other accounting irregularities related to acquisitions;
 
    Procedures related to diligence and approval of transactions; and
 
    Confirmation of payments related to acquisitions.
The results of these material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and the impact of these weaknesses on our results of operations were more fully described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Our management has discussed the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting described above with our audit committee and our audit committee has approved and adopted a remediation plan from the management to address these material weaknesses. During the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010 and through the date of this filing, we made continuous changes to our internal control over financial reporting in order to address and remediate the material weaknesses identified:
  We appointed a new Chief Financial Officer in January 2010, replaced certain accounting personnel and hired more qualified accountants at its corporate offices and subsidiary locations.

30


Table of Contents

  We have established our process and procedures governing our internal reporting. We also performed analytical and detail review of all general ledger accounts, prepared and independently reviewed critical information for financial reporting.
 
  We have enhanced our procedure documentation for unusual or infrequent transactions, such as business valuation and acquisitions, and engaged qualified third party specialists to assist management with preparing documentation to support such transactions and their disclosure in our financial statements.
 
  We identified key internal control points and continue to design and implement effective controls for each business cycle, particularly with regard to revenues recognition, accounts receivable, related party transactions and payments approval.
 
  The Company’s legal counsel together with external consultants have developed a set of written compliance policies on topics related to fiduciary duties of officers and directors; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act risks; insider trading; Code of Business Ethics and Conduct and Sarbanes Oxley. We also set up an independent third party whistleblower hotline. We plan to provide regular tailored training to relevant senior management.
Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(d), our efforts described above constituted material changes to the internal control structure. Not all the material weaknesses noted in the earlier filings have been remediated as of March 31, 2010 and we implemented further changes to our internal control over financial reporting through the date of this filing. Our efforts involved management, outside consultants and our audit committee, which approved and provided oversight in the execution of the remediation plan. We intend to allocate a sufficient level of resources to ensure that our internal control structure will continue to improve and functions properly and effectively.

31


Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
     None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
     Not required for smaller reporting companies, as defined in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
     During January 2010, we repurchased an aggregate of 1,738,500 warrants in the open market for a total consideration of $3.8 million under a plan authorized by the board of directors. On December 29, 2009, the board of directors authorized a plan to repurchase up to a value of $5.0 million in common stock or warrants. This plan does not have an expiration date.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
                                 
    (a)   (b)   (c)   (d)
                    Total Number of   Approximate Dollar
                    Warrants Purchased as   Value of Warrants that May
                    Part of Publicly   Yet Be Purchased Under
    Total Number of   Average Price Paid   Announced Plans or   the Plans or Programs
Period   Warrants Purchased   per Warrant   Programs   (Amount in thousands)
January 1 – January 31, 2010
    1,738,500     $ 2.2       1,738,500     $ 1,191  
February 1 – February 28, 2010
                    $ 1,191  
March 1 – March 31, 2010
                    $ 1,191  
Total
    1,738,500       2.2       1,738,500     $ 1,191  
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
     None.
Item 4. (Removed and Reserved).
Item 5. Other Information.
     None.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibits:
  10.1   Executive Employment Agreement between SearchMedia Holdings Limited and Wilfred Chow dated December 30, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K dated January 6, 2010).*
 
  10.2   Executive Employment Agreement between SearchMedia Holdings Limited and Paul Conway dated February 1, 2010 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K dated February 3, 2010).*
 
  31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
  31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
  32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32


Table of Contents

  32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
*   Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

33


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  SEARCHMEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
 
Date: December 15, 2010  By:   /s/ Paul Conway    
    Paul Conway   
    Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) 
 
 
     
Date: December 15, 2010  By:   /s/ Wilfred Chow    
    Wilfred Chow   
    Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 
 
 

34

exv31w1
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Paul Conway, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of SearchMedia Holdings Limited;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  a.   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b.   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  c.   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  d.   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  a.   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b.   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
             
 
  By:   /s/ Paul Conway    
 
           
    Paul Conway    
    Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)    
    December 15, 2010    

 

exv31w2
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Wilfred Chow, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of SearchMedia Holdings Limited;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  a.   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b.   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  c.   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  d.   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  a.   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b.   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
             
 
  By:   /s/ Wilfred Chow    
 
           
    Wilfred Chow    
    Chief Financial Officer    
    December 15, 2010    

 

exv32w1
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT
TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
     In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of SearchMedia Holdings Limited for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that:
(1)   the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
(2)   the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of SearchMedia Holdings Limited.
             
 
  By:   /s/ Paul Conway    
 
           
    Paul Conway    
    Chief Executive Officer    
    December 15, 2010    
     The certification set forth above is being furnished as an Exhibit solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes—Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document of SearchMedia Holdings Limited or the certifying officers.

 

exv32w2
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT
TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
     In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of SearchMedia Holdings Limited for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that:
(1)   the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
(2)   the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of SearchMedia Holdings Limited.
             
 
  By:   /s/ Wilfred Chow    
 
           
    Wilfred Chow    
    Chief Financial Officer    
    December 15, 2010    
     The certification set forth above is being furnished as an Exhibit solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes—Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document of SearchMedia Holdings Limited or the certifying officers.