VisionChina Media Inc. (“VisionChina Media”) (Nasdaq: VISN), one of China’s largest out-of-home digital television advertising networks on mass transportation systems, and Focus Media Holding Limited (“Focus Media”) (Nasdaq: FMCN), China’s largest lifestyle community digital out-of-home media company, today announced they have entered into a securities purchase agreement, pursuant to which Focus Media will purchase 15,331,305 newly issued common shares of VisionChina Media at a price of US$3.979 per share, equivalent to US$3.979 per ADS, for a total consideration of approximately US$61.0 million.
JJ Media Investment Holding Limited (“JJ Media”), an entity owned by Jason Nanchun Jiang, the chairman and chief executive officer of Focus Media and one of Focus Media’s largest shareholders, and Front Lead Investments Limited (“Front Lead”), an entity beneficially owned by Limin Li, the chief executive officer and largest shareholder of VisionChina Media (together the “Investors”) will each also acquire 1,022,087 newly issued common shares of VisionChina Media at the price of US$3.979per share, equivalent to US$3.979 per ADS, each for a consideration of approximately US$4.0 million.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in earlyJanuary 2011. Each of Focus Media and the Investors will pay 80% of the consideration and deliver a promissory note in the amount of the remaining 20% of the consideration to VisionChina Media at closing. The payment under the promissory notes will be due on March 31, 2011.
Following the transaction, Front Lead, an entity beneficially owned by Limin Li, will remain VisionChina Media’s largest shareholder with 17.2% of VisionChina Media’s outstanding issued shares. Focus Media will hold approximately 15%, and JJ Media will hold 1%, of VisionChina Media’s outstanding issued shares respectively. Focus Media, the Investors and VisionChina Media will also enter into a Shareholders Agreement, pursuant to which Focus Media is entitled to nominate one designee to VisionChina Media’s board of directors following the transaction. In addition, Focus Media, the Investors and VisionChina Media will also enter into a Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which Focus Media and the Investors will hold certain registration rights.
“We are very pleased that Focus Media, China’s largest lifestyle community out-of-home digital media company is investing in VisionChina Media. The purchase of this substantial block of our outstanding shares demonstrates that Focus Media recognizes that we have complementary businesses. Both companies see the future of out-of-home digital mobile television in China, and are confident in our leadership in our respective industry segments. We hope this alignment will provide a base from which to consider future business opportunities of mutual interest.” said Mr. Limin Li, founder, Chairman and chief executive officer of VisionChina Media.
Mr. Jiang, founder, Chairman and chief executive offer of Focus Media commented, “This is an opportunity for our company to partner with a proven market leader in the mobile television networks advertising business. VisionChina Media’s mass transportation mobile television network and Focus Media’s office, residential, hypermarket and supermarket television networks and theater network are highly complementary to each other, which we believe will offer opportunities to bring integrated media solutions and greater media value to advertisers. This minority investment in VisionChina Media is very much in line with Focus Media’s established development strategy of focusing on growing and investing in our core businesses while reducing our non-core businesses, and does not indicate any change in our existing stated direction. I am very pleased to be purchasing a 1% stake in VisionChina Media as a reflection of my confidence in the prospects for cooperation between VisionChina Media and Focus Media.”
ABOUT VISION CHINA MEDIA INC.
VisionChina Media Inc. (Nasdaq: VISN) operates an out-of-home advertising network on mass transportation systems, including buses and subways. As of September 30, 2010, VisionChina Media Inc.’s advertising network included 128,139 digital television displays on mass transportation systems in 23 of China’s economically prosperous cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhouand Shenzhen. VisionChina Media Inc. has the ability to deliver real-time, location-specific broadcasting, including news, stock quotes, weather and traffic reports and other entertainment programming. For more information, please visit http://www.visionchina.cn.
ABOUT FOCUS MEDIA HOLDING LIMITED
Focus Media Holding Limited (Nasdaq: FMCN) operates China’s largest lifestyle community media network, tracking the lifestyle of the consumers and using its media advertising platforms for residential communities, office buildings, shopping malls and movie theaters. Through its multi-platform digital media platforms, as of September 30, 2010, Focus Media’s digital out-of-home advertising network had approximately 196,000 LCD displays and approximately 312,000 advertising in-elevator poster and digital frames, installed in 184 cities throughout China, with a daily coverage of more than 170 million mainstream urban residents. For more information about Focus Media, please visit our website at http://ir.focusmedia.cn.
VisionChina Media Inc.
In China:
Mrs. Helen Plummer
Investor Relations Officer
VisionChina Media Inc.
Tel: +86-139-1167-2124
Email: helen.plummer [at] visionchina.cn
Mr. Colin Wang
Investor Relations Director
VisionChina Media Inc.
Tel: +86-135-1001-0107
Email: colin.wang [at] visionchina.cn
In the United States:
Ms. Jessica Barist Cohen
Ogilvy Financial, New York
Tel: +1-646-460-9989
E-mail: jessica.cohen [at] ogilvypr.com
Focus Media Holding Limited
Jing Lu
Tel: +86-21-2216-4155
Email: ir [at] focusmedia.cn
Source: Focus Media