BEIJING, Oct. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) ("Baidu" or the "Company"), the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013([1]).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081103/BAIDULOGO)

Third Quarter 2013 Highlights


    --  Total revenues in the third quarter of 2013 were RMB8.892 billion
        ($1.453 billion), a 42.3% increase from the corresponding period in
        2012.
    --  Operating profit in the third quarter of 2013 was RMB3.338 billion
        ($545.4 million), a 1.2% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.
    --  Net income attributable to Baidu in the third quarter of 2013 was
        RMB3.048 billion ($498.0 million), a 1.3% increase from the
        corresponding period in 2012. Diluted earnings attributable to Baidu per
        ADS for the third quarter of 2013 were RMB8.63 ($1.41); diluted earnings
        attributable to Baidu per ADS excluding share-based compensation
        expenses (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2013 were RMB9.04 ($1.48).

"We were pleased to see strong results in the third quarter as revenue remained on a solid growth trajectory," said Robin Li, chairman and chief executive officer of Baidu. "Mobile search revenues in particular continued to grow at an exciting pace as more of our customers recognize the benefits of mobile marketing on the Baidu platform."

Mr. Li continued, "I am proud of the progress we made during the quarter. Our flagship mobile products like search and maps continue to gain momentum. We solidified our mobile native app distribution capabilities with the 91 Wireless acquisition. And we introduced search-enabled Light Apps, which will allow users to more easily discover long tail app content, and will offer developers a powerful distribution channel in Baidu mobile search."

"Our focus on investment continues, and we are now seeing real returns, particularly in mobile user adoption and in monetization," commented Jennifer Li, Baidu's chief financial officer. "In the quarters ahead, we will continue to invest aggressively in order to position ourselves well in this rapidly developing mobile market."


Third Quarter 2013 Results

Baidu reported total revenues of RMB8.892 billion ($1.453 billion) for the third quarter of 2013, representing a 42.3% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.

Online marketing revenues for the third quarter of 2013 were RMB8.848 billion ($1.446 billion), representing a 41.7% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. Baidu had about 464,000 active online marketing customers in the third quarter of 2013, representing a 19.0% increase from the corresponding period in 2012 and a 0.9% decrease from the second quarter of 2013.

Revenue per online marketing customer for the third quarter was approximately RMB19,100 ($3,121), a 19.4% increase from the corresponding period in 2012 and a 18.6% increase compared to the second quarter of 2013.

Traffic acquisition cost (TAC) as a component of cost of revenues was RMB1.039 billion ($169.7 million), representing 11.7% of total revenues, compared to 8.6% in the corresponding period in 2012 and 11.6% in the second quarter of 2013. The increase mainly reflects the increased contribution of contextual ads and hao123 promotions through our network.

Bandwidth costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB512.6 million ($83.8 million), representing 5.8% of total revenues, compared to 4.3% in the corresponding period in 2012. Depreciation costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB369.4 million ($60.4 million), representing 4.2% of total revenues, compared to 4.4% in the corresponding period in 2012. The year-over-year increase in bandwidth costs was mainly due to the consolidation of iQiyi.

Content costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB222.2 million ($36.3 million), representing 2.5% of total revenues, compared to 0.5% in the corresponding period in 2012, and 2.0% in the previous quarter. The increase was mainly due to iQiyi.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were RMB1.384 billion ($226.2 million), representing an increase of 115.4% from the corresponding period in 2012, primarily due to promotional expenses for mobile products.

Research and development expenses were RMB1.091 billion ($178.2 million), a 77.5% increase from the corresponding period in 2012, primarily due to an increase in the number of research and development personnel.

Share-based compensation expenses, which were allocated to related operating costs and expense line items, were RMB143.1 million ($23.4 million) in the third quarter of 2013, compared to RMB56.7 million in the corresponding period in 2012 and RMB83.3 million in the second quarter of 2013.

Operating profit was RMB3.338 billion ($545.4 million), representing a 1.2% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. Operating profit excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) was RMB3.481 billion ($568.8 million), a 3.8% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.

Income tax expense was RMB588.1 million ($96.1 million), compared to income tax expense of RMB467.7 million in the corresponding period in 2012. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2013 was 16.3%, as compared to 13.5% for the corresponding period in 2012, and 16.3% in the previous quarter.

Net income attributable to Baidu was RMB3.048 billion ($498.0 million), representing a 1.3% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS for the third quarter of 2013 amounted to RMB8.65 ($1.41) and RMB8.63 ($1.41), respectively.

Net income attributable to Baidu excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) was RMB3.191 billion ($521.4 million), a 4.1% increase from the corresponding period in 2012. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2013 amounted to RMB9.06 ($1.48) and RMB9.04 ($1.48), respectively.

As of September 30, 2013, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB43.300 billion ($7.075 billion). Net operating cash inflow for the third quarter of 2013 was RMB4.295 billion ($701.8 million). Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2013 were RMB779.6 million ($127.4 million).

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), defined in this announcement as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, other non-operating income and share-based compensation expenses, was RMB3.998 billion ($653.2 million) for the third quarter of 2013, representing a 7.3% increase from the corresponding period in 2012.

Outlook for Fourth Quarter 2013

Baidu currently expects to generate total revenues in an amount ranging from RMB9.220 billion ($1.507 billion) to RMB9.480 billion ($1.549 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2013, representing a 45.5% to 49.6% year-over-year increase. This forecast reflects Baidu's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

Baidu's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 PM on October 29, 2013, U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 AM on October 30, 2013, Beijing/Hong Kong Time).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:



    International:                   +65-6723-9381

    U.S.:                            +1-845-675-0437

    UK:                              +44-20-3059-8139

    Hong Kong:                        +852-2475-0994


    Passcode for all regions: 86667396

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until November 5, 2013:



    International:                   +61-2-8199-0299


    Passcode:                                          86667396

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

About Baidu

Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. As a technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best way for people to find information. In addition to serving individual Internet search users, Baidu provides an effective platform for businesses to reach potential customers. Baidu's ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU". Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the fourth quarter 2013 and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Baidu's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Baidu may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Baidu's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: our growth strategies; our future business development, including development of new products and services; our ability to attract and retain users and customers; competition in the Chinese and Japanese language Internet search markets; competition for online marketing customers; changes in our revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of our revenues; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to intellectual property rights; the expected growth of the Chinese language Internet search market and the number of Internet and broadband users in China; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Internet and Internet search providers and general economic conditions in China, Japan and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Baidu undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Baidu's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Baidu uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: adjusted EBITDA, operating profit excluding share-based compensation expenses, net income excluding share-based compensation expenses and basic and diluted earnings per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP results of operations measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures" and "Reconciliation from net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted EBITDA" set forth at the end of this release.

Baidu believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding certain expenses, particularly share-based compensation expenses, that may not be indicative of its operating performance or financial condition from a cash perspective. Baidu believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to Baidu's historical performance and liquidity. Baidu has computed its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter since April 1, 2006. Baidu believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation charge that has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our results of operations. A limitation of using non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is that it does not include all items that impact the Company's net income for the period. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

China
Victor Tseng
Baidu, Inc.
Tel: +86-10-5992-7244
ir@baidu.com

Nick Beswick
Brunswick Group LLC
Tel: +86-10-5960-8600
baidu@brunswickgroup.com

U.S.
Cindy Zheng
Brunswick Group
Tel: +1-212-333-3810
Email: baidu@brunswickgroup.com



                  This announcement contains
                  translations of certain RMB
                  amounts into U.S. dollars at
                  specified rates solely for the
                  convenience of the reader. Unless
                  otherwise noted, all translations
                  from RMB to U.S. dollars are made
                  at a rate of RMB6.1200 to US$1.00,
                  the effective noon buying rate as
                  of September 30, 2013, in The City
                  of New York for cable transfers of
                  RMB as certified for customs
                  purposes by the Federal Reserve
    [1]           Bank of New York.


    Baidu, Inc.

    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


                                                                       September 30 December 31

    (In RMB thousands except for number of shares and per share data)          2013        2012
    ----------------------------------------------------------------           ----        ----

                                                                          Unaudited     Audited


    ASSETS

        Current assets:

     Cash and cash equivalents                                           17,811,025  11,880,632

     Restricted cash                                                        466,874     395,029

     Short-term investments                                              25,489,360  20,604,223

     Accounts receivable, net                                             2,182,030   1,253,483

     Deferred tax assets, net                                               297,240     160,315

     Other assets, current                                                1,379,480     380,407

        Total current assets                                             47,626,009  34,674,089
                                                                         ----------  ----------


        Non-current assets:

     Fixed assets, net                                                    4,600,252   3,887,877

     Intangible assets, net                                               2,304,528   1,587,665

     Goodwill                                                             6,202,427   3,877,564

     Long-term investments, net                                           2,133,682     803,499

     Deferred tax assets, net                                                48,574      53,303

     Other assets, non-current                                            1,028,683     784,893
                                                                          ---------     -------

        Total non-current assets                                         16,318,146  10,994,801
                                                                         ----------  ----------


    Total assets                                                         63,944,155  45,668,890
                                                                         ==========  ==========


    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

       Current liabilities:

    Short-term loans                                                         25,050           0

    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                              5,765,072   3,806,836

    Customer advances and deposits                                        2,542,911   2,067,586

    Deferred revenue                                                        119,915      94,121

    Deferred income                                                          72,287      64,506

    Long-term loans, current portion                                              0   2,170,978

    Capital lease obligation                                                 34,130      32,502

        Total current liabilities                                         8,559,365   8,236,529
                                                                          ---------   ---------


        Non-current liabilities:

    Deferred income                                                         370,891     190,000

    Long-term loans                                                       2,482,333     356,589

    Notes payable                                                        15,283,757   9,336,686

    Deferred tax liabilities                                                885,183     289,482

    Capital lease obligation                                                 18,674      44,479

        Total non-current liabilities                                    19,040,838  10,217,236
                                                                         ----------  ----------


    Total liabilities                                                    27,600,203  18,453,765
                                                                         ----------  ----------


    Redeemable noncontrolling interests                                     892,696   1,033,283


    Equity

    Class A Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.00005 per share,                     12          12

    825,000,000 shares authorized, and  27,202,710 shares and

    27,319,703 shares issued and outstanding as at December 31,

    2012 and September 30, 2013


    Class B Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.00005 per share,                      3           3

    35,400,000 shares authorized, and 7,763,000 shares and

    7,674,300 shares issued and outstanding as at December 31,

    2012 and September 30, 2013

    Additional paid-in capital                                            2,330,045   2,095,273

    Retained earnings                                                    31,751,481  24,038,219

    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                         1,003,693     (78,278)
                                                                          ---------     -------

        Total Baidu, Inc. shareholders' equity                           35,085,234  26,055,229

        Noncontrolling interests                                            366,022     126,613

    Total equity                                                         35,451,256  26,181,842
                                                                         ----------  ----------


    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity   63,944,155  45,668,890
                                                                         ==========  ==========


    Baidu, Inc.

    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income


                                                                                Three Months Ended
                                                                                ------------------

                                                                                   September 30,               September 30,             June 30,

    (In RMB thousands except for share, per share (or ADS) information)                                  2013                      2012                 2013
    ------------------------------------------------------------------                                   ----                      ----                 ----

                                                                                     Unaudited                   Unaudited               Unaudited

     Revenues:

     Online marketing services                                                                      8,847,987                 6,246,009            7,539,133

     Other services                                                                                    43,671                     4,711               21,682

     Total revenues                                                                                 8,891,658                 6,250,720            7,560,815
                                                                                                    ---------                 ---------            ---------


     Operating costs and expenses:

     Cost of revenues (note 1, 2)                                                                  (3,078,969)               (1,696,512)          (2,637,118)

     Selling, general and administrative (note 2)                                                  (1,384,399)                 (642,788)          (1,078,066)

     Research and development (note 2)                                                             (1,090,549)                 (614,541)            (941,766)

     Total operating costs and expenses                                                            (5,553,917)               (2,953,841)          (4,656,950)
                                                                                                   ----------                ----------           ----------


     Operating profit                                                                               3,337,741                 3,296,879            2,903,865
                                                                                                    ---------                 ---------            ---------


     Other income:

     Interest income                                                                                  348,822                   228,330              317,811

     Interest expense                                                                                (118,381)                  (24,002)             (91,249)

     Foreign exchange loss, net                                                                          (676)                   (2,359)              (6,382)

     Income (loss) from equity method investments                                                         215                   (69,312)                  84

     Other income, net                                                                                 36,815                    29,656               27,341

     Total other income                                                                               266,795                   162,313              247,605
                                                                                                      -------                   -------              -------


     Income before income taxes                                                                     3,604,536                 3,459,192            3,151,470
                                                                                                    ---------                 ---------            ---------


     Income taxes                                                                                    (588,067)                 (467,699)            (513,170)


     Net income                                                                                     3,016,469                 2,991,493            2,638,300
                                                                                                    =========                 =========            =========

     Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests                                          (31,512)                  (16,208)              (5,589)

     Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.                                                         3,047,981                 3,007,701            2,643,889
                                                                                                    =========                 =========            =========



    Earnings per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares:

    Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.-Basic                                                        86.47                     86.02                75.19

    Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.-Diluted                                                      86.34                     85.94                75.15


    Earnings per ADS (1 Class A ordinary share equals 10 ADSs ):

    Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.-Basic                                                         8.65                      8.60                 7.52

    Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.-Diluted                                                       8.63                      8.59                 7.52


    Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares outstanding:

    Basic                                                                                          34,985,689                34,946,375           34,975,728

    Diluted                                                                                        35,041,729                34,979,732           34,994,400


     (1) Cost of revenues are detailed as follows:

     Sales tax and surcharges                                                                        (649,496)                 (427,145)            (544,958)

     Traffic acquisition costs                                                                     (1,038,641)                 (538,192)            (879,971)

     Bandwidth costs                                                                                 (512,644)                 (266,871)            (457,287)

     Depreciation costs                                                                              (369,403)                 (274,960)            (356,979)

     Operational costs                                                                               (280,204)                 (154,632)            (243,229)

     Content costs                                                                                   (222,224)                  (32,309)            (150,652)

     Share-based compensation expenses                                                                 (6,357)                   (2,403)              (4,042)

     Total cost of revenues                                                                        (3,078,969)               (1,696,512)          (2,637,118)
                                                                                                   ==========                ==========           ==========


     (2) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows:

     Cost of revenues                                                                                  (6,357)                   (2,403)              (4,042)

     Selling, general and administrative                                                              (49,167)                  (18,294)             (22,135)

     Research and development                                                                         (87,620)                  (36,023)             (57,107)

     Total share-based compensation expenses                                                         (143,144)                  (56,720)             (83,284)
                                                                                                     ========                   =======              =======


    Reconciliations of non-GAAP results of operations measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures (*) (in RMB thousands, unaudited)


                                                           Three months ended September 30, 2012  Three months ended June 30, 2013      Three months ended September 30, 2013
                                                           -------------------------------------  --------------------------------      -------------------------------------

                                                                         GAAP Result                          Adjustment                           Non-GAAP Results               GAAP Result           Adjustment        Non-GAAP Results           GAAP Result           Adjustment         Non-GAAP Results
                                                                         -----------                          ----------                           ----------------               -----------           ----------        ----------------           -----------           ----------         ----------------

    Operating profit                                                                   3,296,879                            56,720                                      3,353,599             2,903,865            83,284                  2,987,149             3,337,741            143,144                  3,480,885


                                                           Three months ended September 30, 2012  Three months ended June 30, 2013       Three months ended Septemer 30, 2013
                                                           -------------------------------------  --------------------------------       ------------------------------------

                                                                         GAAP Result                          Adjustment                           Non-GAAP Results               GAAP Result           Adjustment        Non-GAAP Results           GAAP Result           Adjustment         Non-GAAP Results
                                                                         -----------                          ----------                           ----------------               -----------           ----------        ----------------           -----------           ----------         ----------------

    Net income                                                                         3,007,701                            56,720                                      3,064,421             2,643,889            83,284                  2,727,173             3,047,981            143,144                  3,191,125
    attributable to Baidu,

    Inc.


    (*) The adjustment is only for share-based compensation.


    Reconciliation from net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted EBITDA(*) (in RMB thousands, unaudited)



                                                                                                                                                           Three months ended              As a % of         Three months ended              As a % of         Three months ended              As a % of
                                                                                                                                                           ------------------              ---------         ------------------              ---------         ------------------              ---------

                                                                                                                                                           September 30, 2012            total revenues        June 30, 2013               total revenues      September 30, 2013            total revenues
                                                                                                                                                           ------------------            --------------        -------------               --------------      ------------------            --------------

    Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                                                                                 3,779,180                  61%                    3,205,046                  42%                    4,295,062                  48%


       Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions                                                                                                       (360,530)                 -6%                        6,321                   0%                     (618,730)                 -7%

       Income taxes expenses                                                                                                                                                    467,699                   8%                      513,170                   7%                      588,067                   7%

       Interest income and other, net                                                                                                                                          (162,313)                 -3%                     (247,605)                 -3%                     (266,795)                 -3%


    Adjusted EBITDA                                                                                                                                                           3,724,036                  60%                    3,476,932                  46%                    3,997,604                  45%
                                                                                                                                                                              =========                 ===                     =========                 ===                     =========                 ===


    (*) Definition of adjusted EBITDA: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization,  other non-operating income, and share-based compensation expenses.

SOURCE Baidu, Inc.