SHIJIAZHUANG, CHINA--(Marketwired - Apr 21, 2014) - AutoChina International Limited ("AutoChina" or the "Company") (OTCBB: AUTCF), China's largest commercial vehicle sales, servicing, leasing, and support network, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013.

Operational Highlights

  • 4,290 commercial vehicles leased in fourth quarter of 2013, a 425.7% increase from 816 in prior-year period
  • 11,902 commercial vehicles leased in 2013, a 121.0% increase from 5,385 in 2012
  • During the 2013 fourth quarter, the Company established eight additional commercial vehicle financing and service centers. As of December 31, 2013, AutoChina operated 546 financing and service centers in 26 provinces.
  • Company announces development of two new products: 1) KyPay, a new form of electronic payment that offers its members a line of credit, and 2) TopAuto Net, a cloud-based e-commerce platform enabling transportation and logistics businesses in China to manage their operations online

Q4 2013 Financial Highlights (comparisons are year over year)

  • Total revenues of $238.3 million, up 359.0% from $51.9 million, largely due to the increase in new commercial vehicle leases initiated during Q4 2013
  • Gross profit of $22.5 million, up 31.1% from $17.2 million
  • Net income of $3.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to $2.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $11.3 million, a 65.6% increase from $6.8 million

Full-year 2013 Financial Highlights (comparisons are year over year)

  • Total revenues of $658.1 million, up 97.6% from $333.1 million, largely due to the increase in new commercial vehicle leases initiated during 2013
  • Gross profit of $73.5 million, compared to $88.8 million, primarily as a result of the significantly larger number of new trucks purchased for leases initiated during 2013, which have relatively low margin, while finance income, which is relatively high margin, contributed a greater percentage of revenue in 2012
  • Net income of $11.8 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, compared to $23.5 million, or $0.99 per diluted share
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $33.8 million, compared to $50.3 million

Operational and Market Review
Mr. Yong Hui Li, Chairman and CEO of AutoChina, stated, "As we saw China's heavy truck industry begin to stabilize and recover over the course of 2013, we were able to capitalize on these improving market conditions and are very pleased to have achieved 121.0% year-over-year growth in commercial vehicle leases in 2013. The Company's revenues for the year nearly doubled to $658.1 million in 2013 as a result of the significant growth in new leases, which will continue to provide earnings and have a positive impact on margin as we collect finance income from these leases. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, sales of commercial vehicles in China saw year-over-year growth of 6.4%, to 4.06 million units in 2013, with heavy truck sales growing 21.7% year over year. 2013 marked the first year of growth in our industry since the declines experienced in 2011-2012. We anticipate growth in the heavy truck industry will remain steady in 2014 as China's economy and infrastructure continues to develop, and AutoChina will continue working to expand its specialty financing business by exploring new opportunities while providing quality service to its customers."

Heavy Truck Sales
The Company recorded 4,290 new leases of commercial vehicles (primarily Class 8 heavy trucks) as part of the Company's sales-type leasing program in the fourth quarter of 2013, an increase of 425.7% compared to 816 in the fourth quarter of 2012.

At December 31, 2013, the Company had 14,995 leased vehicles under its sales-type leasing program. AutoChina recorded 11,902 new leases in 2013, a 121.0% increase from 5,385 trucks leased in 2012. An additional 284 trucks were leased under AutoChina's used commercial vehicle sale-leaseback program during 2013, compared to 824 in the prior year.

Since launching its commercial vehicle sales and leasing business in March 2008, the Company has leased over 49,000 trucks.

Expansion of Specialty Finance Store Network
During the 2013 fourth quarter, the Company established eight additional commercial vehicle financing and service centers, one in Liaoning province, two in Sichuan province, one in Jiangsu province, two in Yunnan province, and two in Zhejiang province. As of December 31, 2013, AutoChina operated 546 financing and service centers in 26 provinces. The Company operates commercial vehicle financing and service centers in the Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin, Yunnan, and Zhejiang areas of China.

Development of New Products -- KyPay and TopAuto Net
The Company announced it is developing two new products that are expected to help the Company expand its business and further assist its customers with their everyday operational needs: 1) KyPay, a new form of electronic payment that offers its members a line of credit and 2) TopAuto Net, a cloud-based e-commerce platform enabling transportation and logistics businesses in China to manage their operations online.

KyPay is a solution whereby the Company will provide credit advances to its customers, allowing them to pay for their everyday truck-operating needs without the need to use cash up front. Based on AutoChina's proprietary methods to determine credit worthiness, KyPay will grant new members a credit line they can use for purchases at merchants that are part of the KyPay network. For example, a vehicle owner will be able to use KyPay to pay for purchases such as gas, parts, and repairs from merchants or other KyPay members. These merchants will then be able to withdraw the funds as cash or use them to pay for goods and services provided by other KyPay members. AutoChina plans to collect merchant fees for KyPay. Fees from customers are anticipated to apply only if customers carry a balance.

TopAuto Net will provide businesses in China's transportation industry with a powerful outsourced solution for managing their operations, as well as an opportunity to build an online presence and audience. TopAuto Net is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that will allow many traditional automotive operating and servicing businesses in China to manage their operations through customizable online information systems (i.e. CRM, ERP) without the need to acquire additional IT resources or hardware/software. AutoChina plans to charge a subscription fee for the use of TopAuto Net.

Financial Review

2013 Fourth Quarter

Revenues

  • Total revenues for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013, were $238.3 million, a 359.0% increase from $51.9 million in the prior-year period.
             
(in thousands)   Three months ended
December 31, 2013		     Three months ended
December 31, 2012   		        
   Amount  % of Revenue    Amount  % of Revenue    YoY % Change  
Commercial vehicles   $ 220,696   92.7 %   $ 34,819   67.1 %   533.8 %
Finance     12,029   5.0 %     13,145   25.3 %   (8.5 )%
Insurance     5,296   2.2 %     3,945   7.6 %   34.2 %
Rent and property management     259   0.1 %     --   0.0 %   100.0 %
Total revenues  $238,280  100.0%  $51,909  100.0%  359.0%
                               
  • Commercial vehicle revenues increased 533.8% to $220.7 million from $34.8 million in the prior-year period, primarily as a result of the increase in new leases initiated during the 2013 fourth quarter. The increase in commercial vehicle revenues was also a result of an increase in average price per vehicle, from $45,000 per vehicle in the 2012 fourth quarter to $51,400 per vehicle in the 2013 fourth quarter.
  • The Company reported finance revenue of $12.0 million, or 5.0% of total revenues, during the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $13.1 million in the prior-year period, as a result of the decrease in the total outstanding number of commercial vehicle sales, servicing, leasing and support contracts in effect and a decrease in the effective interest rate on leases during the three months ended December 31, 2013, compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.
  • Once a lease term ends, a customer can elect to continue to participate in AutoChina's service and support network, and the Company will charge service and support fees on a monthly basis when the services are rendered. As of December 31, 2013, owners of 1,217 vehicles continued to pay for services after the termination of the direct financing and sales-type lease, representing a retention rate of approximately 3.7%.
  • The Company launched its own insurance agency business in December 2011 and has signed agreements with seven major insurance carriers in China. All of AutoChina's branch locations are each licensed to sell insurance from these carrier partners. The Company's insurance-related revenue increased 34.2% to $5.3 million during the period from $3.9 million in the prior-year period.
  • Rent and property management revenue from the Company's newly commenced office-leasing business totaled $259,000. This business did not exist in the prior-year period.

Gross Profit/Margin

  • Cost of sales during the period totaled $215.8 million, compared to $34.7 million in the prior-year period, as a result of the increased number of leases initiated.
  • Gross profit was $22.5 million in the three months ended December 31, 2013, a 31.1% increase from $17.2 million in the prior-year period.
  • Gross margin decreased to 9.4% for the three months ended December 31, 2013, from 33.1% in the prior-year period, primarily due to the significantly higher number of new leases established during the period, which increased the revenue contributions from the lower-margin initial establishment of new leases relative to the higher-margin monthly amortized finance income.
  • As these new leases generate finance income over the next two years, they will have a positive impact on margins.

Net Income

  • Net income in the three months ended December 31, 2013, was $3.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share based on 23.7 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding, compared to $2.6 million, or $0.11 per share based on 23.9 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding, in the three months ended December 31, 2012.

Adjusted EBITDA

  • Adjusted EBITDA, which is EBITDA excluding stock-based compensation, increased 65.5% to $11.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2013, compared to $6.8 million in the prior-year quarter.

See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for a description of Adjusted EBITDA.

Full-year 2013

Revenues

  • Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013, were $658.1 million, a 97.6% increase from $333.1 million in the prior year.
             
(in thousands)   Year ended
December 31, 2013		     Year ended
December 31, 2012   		        
   Amount  % of Revenue    Amount  % of Revenue    YoY % Change  
Commercial vehicles   $ 593,912   90.2 %   $ 249,090   74.8 %   138.4 %
Finance     43,385   6.6 %     69,804   21.0 %   (37.8 )%
Insurance     20,330   3.1 %     14,268   4.3 %   42.5 %
Rent and property management     501   0.1 %     --   0.0 %   100.0 %
Total revenues  $658,128  100.0%  $333,112  100.0%  97.6%
                               
  • Commercial vehicle revenues increased 138.4% to $593.9 million from $249.1 million in the prior year, primarily as a result of the increase in new leases initiated during 2013. An increase in average price per vehicle, from $46,200 per vehicle in 2012 to $49,900 per vehicle in 2013, also contributed to the growth in commercial vehicle revenues.
  • The Company reported finance revenue of $43.4 million, or 6.6% of total revenues, during 2013, compared to $69.8 million in the prior year, as a result of the decrease in the total outstanding number of commercial vehicle sales, servicing, leasing and support contracts in effect.
  • The Company's insurance-related revenue increased 42.5% to $20.3 million during 2013 from $14.3 million in 2012.
  • Rent and property management revenue from the Company's newly commenced office-leasing business totaled $501,000. This business did not exist during the year ended December 31, 2012.

Gross Profit/Margin

  • Gross profit for year ended December 31, 2013, was $73.5 million, representing gross margin of 11.2%, a decrease from gross margin of 26.7% in 2012, which is primarily due to reasons stated in the 2013 fourth quarter financial review.

Net Income

  • Net income for the year ended December 31, 2013, was $11.8 million, or $0.50 per share based on 23.8 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding, compared to $23.5 million, or $0.99 per share based on 23.8 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding, in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA

  • Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2013, was $33.8 million, compared to $50.3 million in the prior year.

Balance Sheet Highlights
At December 31, 2013, AutoChina's cash and cash equivalents (not including restricted cash) were $31.4 million, working capital was $47.9 million, total debt was $295.0 million (including due to affiliates and accounts payable, related parties), and stockholders' equity was $252.8 million, compared to $75.8 million, $105.4 million, $201.7 million, and $228.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012. 

Mr. Li concluded, "As we enter 2014, we are excited to announce the launch of two new offerings for the commercial transportation and logistics industries. We believe KyPay and TopAuto Net will greatly enhance the value AutoChina brings to its customers and the industry at large as KyPay will provide its members with an advanced line of credit that functions as a cashless and secure payment solution while TopAuto Net will enable businesses to expand the scope of their operations through a modern, easy-to-use online platform. Customers will be able to readily communicate and transact with a growing network of merchants, while merchants will be able to market and sell their products and services to a large captive audience, with all transactions funneling through the KyPay payment system. We continue to work toward completing the development of KyPay and TopAuto Net and expect to launch these new products later this year."

About AutoChina International Limited
 AutoChina International Limited is China's largest commercial vehicle sales, servicing, leasing, and support network. AutoChina's operating subsidiary was founded in 2005 by nationally recognized Chairman and CEO, Yong Hui Li. As of December 31, 2013, the Company owned and operated 546 commercial vehicle financing centers across China, and primarily provides sales-type leasing and support services for local customers. The Company's website is http://www.autochinaintl.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
 This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about the Company. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to meaningfully differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements:

  • Continued compliance with government regulations;
  • Changing legislation or regulatory environments;
  • Requirements or changes affecting the businesses in which the Company is engaged;
  • Industry trends, including factors affecting supply and demand;
  • Labor and personnel relations;
  • Credit risks affecting the Company's revenue and profitability;
  • Changes in the commercial vehicle industry;
  • The Company's ability to effectively manage its growth, including implementing effective controls and procedures and attracting and retaining key management and personnel;
  • Changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles;
  • General economic conditions; and
  • Other relevant risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the information contained in this press release.

 
AUTOCHINA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands except share and per share data)
 
   Three months ended December 31,    Year ended December 31,  
   2013      2012    2013    2012  
    (unaudited)       (unaudited)     (audited)     (audited)  
Revenues                          
  Commercial vehicles   $ 220,696       $ 34,819     $ 593,912     $ 249,090  
  Finance     12,029         13,145       43,385       69,804  
  Insurance     5,296         3,945       20,330       14,268  
  Property lease and management     259         -       501       -  
    Total revenues     238,280         51,909       658,128       333,112  
                                   
Cost of sales                                  
  Commercial vehicles     2,727         1,268       9,981       7,350  
  Commercial vehicles, related parties     211,661         32,569       569,807       234,781  
  Insurance     822         894       3,485       2,159  
  Property lease and management     554         -       1,360       -  
    Total cost of sales     215,764         34,731       584,633       244,290  
                                   
Gross profit     22,516         17,178       73,495       88,822  
                                   
Operating (income) expenses                                  
  Selling and marketing     2,882         2,615       10,262       10,126  
  General and administrative     14,230         11,317       49,927       41,951  
  Interest expense     2,406         1,839       7,626       10,621  
  Interest expense, related parties     980         184       1,971       869  
  Other income, net     (3,501 )       (2,167 )     (13,435 )     (7,101 )
    Total operating expenses     16,997         13,788       56,351       56,466  
                                   
Income from operations     5,519         3,390       17,144       32,356  
                                   
Other income                                  
  Interest income     31         82       406       308  
    Total other income     31         82       406       308  
                                   
Income before income taxes     5,550         3,472       17,550       32,664  
                                   
Income tax provision     (1,759 )       (875 )     (5,722 )     (9,115 )
                                   
Net income     3,791         2,597       11,828       23,549  
                                   
Foreign currency translation adjustment     2,432         (2,484 )     8,842       402  
                                   
Comprehensive income   $ 6,223       $ 5,081     $ 20,670     $ 23,951  
                                   
Earnings per share                                  
  Basic   $ 0.16       $ 0.11     $ 0.50     $ 1.00  
  Diluted   $ 0.16       $ 0.11     $ 0.50     $ 0.99  
                                   
Weighted average shares outstanding                                  
  Basic     23,545,939         23,538,919       23,540,761       23,538,919  
  Diluted     23,740,298         23,538,919       23,806,194       23,762,378  
                                     
                                     
                                     
AUTOCHINA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands except share and per share data)
 
   December 31,
   2013  2012
ASSETS        
Current assets        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 31,370   $ 75,777
Restricted cash     1,244     160
Accounts receivable, net of provision for doubtful accounts of $20,891 and $12,041, respectively     27,931     32,956
Inventories     5,319     6,728
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     5,261     4,532
Current maturities of net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases, net of provision for doubtful accounts of $389 and $296, respectively     261,684     196,213
Deferred income tax assets     5,515     --
Total current assets     338,324     316,366
             
Construction-in-progress     --     76,669
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net     82,254     4,985
Deferred income tax assets     4,126     2,547
Net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases, net of current maturities     128,415     38,739
             
Total assets   $ 553,119   $ 439,306
             
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY            
             
Current liabilities            
Short-term borrowings (including short-term borrowings of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of $124,654 and $75,412 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)   $ 160,737   $ 102,458
Long-term payables, current (including long-term payables, current of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of nil and nil as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     1,436     --
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of $93 and $68 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     10,130     16,392
Accounts payable, related parties (including accounts payable, related parties of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of $44,044 and $706 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     57,586     2,228
Other payables and accrued liabilities (including other payables and accrued liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of $10,323 and $4,857 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     17,146     15,049
Due to affiliates (including due to affiliates of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of $12,745 and $86 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     38,143     65,595
Customer deposits (including customer deposits of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of $319 and $161 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     1,680     1,956
Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of $2,761 and $1,931 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     3,599     2,551
Deferred income tax liabilities (including deferred income tax liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of nil and nil as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     --     4,717
Total current liabilities     290,457     210,946
             
Noncurrent liabilities            
Long-term payables (including long-term payables of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to AutoChina of $8,955 and nil as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)     9,857     --
Total liabilities     300,314     210,946
             
             
             
AUTOCHINA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - Continued  
(in thousands except share and per share data)  
   
   December 31,  
   2013    2012  
Commitment and Contingencies            
             
Equity            
Preferred shares, $0.001 par value authorized - 1,000,000 shares; issued - none     --       --  
Ordinary shares - $0.001 par value authorized - 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 23,545,939 shares at December 31, 2013, respectively; and $0.001 par value authorized - 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 23,538,919 shares at December 31, 2012, respectively     24       24  
Additional paid-in capital     327,631       323,856  
Statutory reserves     22,947       16,997  
Accumulated losses     (129,609 )     (135,487 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income     31,812       22,970  
Total equity     252,805       228,360  
                 
Total liabilities and equity   $ 553,119     $ 439,306  
                 
                 
                 
AUTOCHINA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
 
   December 31,  
   2013    2012    2011  
                   
Cash flow from continuing operating activities:                  
                   
Net income   $ 11,828     $ 23,549     $ 25,151  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:                        
Net loss from discontinued operations     --       --       973  
Loss on change in fair value of earn-out obligation     --       --       17,300  
Depreciation and amortization     3,289       1,902       1,420  
Provision for bad debts     18,886       14,550       4,271  
Deferred income taxes     (11,681 )     (4,180 )     6,261  
Stock-based compensation expenses     3,775       4,553       2,914  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures:                        
Restricted cash     (1,060 )     --       --  
Accounts receivable     (12,832 )     (22,331 )     (5,997 )
Net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases     (145,392 )     209,063       2,175  
Inventories     1,594       (4,176 )     (1,024 )
Deposits for inventories, related party     --       14,515       (14,177 )
Prepaid expense and other current assets     (576 )     7,671       (2,588 )
Accounts payable     874       15,922       (536 )
Other payable and accrued liabilities     1,596       1,356       5,729  
Customers deposits     (332 )     798       (100 )
Income tax payable     951       (254 )     (4,568 )
                         
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing operating activities     (129,080 )     262,938       37,204  
                         
Cash flow from continuing investing activities:                        
                         
Capital expenditure on construction in progress     --       (76,353 )     --  
Purchase of property, equipment and leasehold improvements     (8,892 )     (3,516 )     (1,967 )
Cash received from sales of subsidiaries     --       --       7,589  
Increase in restricted cash     --       --       (155 )
Decrease in due from an affiliate     --       7,891       9,000  
                         
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing investing activities     (8,892 )     (71,978 )     14,467  
                         
                         
                         
AUTOCHINA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - Continued  
(in thousands)  
   
   
   December 31,  
   2013    2012    2011  
                   
Cash flow from continuing financing activities:                  
                   
Proceeds from borrowings     201,761       102,036       189,850  
Repayments of borrowings     (136,515 )     (194,093 )     (163,567 )
Proceeds from affiliates     22,224       137,052       320,641  
Repayment to affiliates     (50,672 )     (170,520 )     (372,259 )
Increase in accounts payable, related parties     569,807       234,781       404,492  
Repayment to accounts payable, related parties     (515,438 )     (232,562 )     (421,036 )
Dividend paid     --       (5,885 )     --  
Capital distribution     --       (29,274 )     --  
                         
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing financing activities     91,167       (158,465 )     (41,879 )
                         
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing operating, financing and investing activities     (46,805 )     32,495       9,792  
                         
Cash flow of discontinued operations:                        
                         
Cash provided by provided by operating activities     --       --       48,537  
Cash provided by investing activities     --       --       172,922  
Cash used in financing activities     --       --       (222,289 )
                         
Net cash flow used in discontinued operations     --       --       (830 )
                         
Effect of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents     2,398       234       3,138  
                         
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents     (44,407 )     32,729       12,100  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year     75,777       43,048       30,948  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year   $ 31,370     $ 75,777     $ 43,048  
                         
Analysis of balances of cash and cash equivalents                        
Included in cash and cash equivalents per consolidated balance sheet     31,370       75,777       43,048  
Included in assets of discontinued operations     --       --       --  
      31,370       75,777       43,048  
                         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:                        
Continuing Operations                        
Interest paid   $ 8,191     $ 15,194     $ 14,607  
Income taxes paid   $ 16,486     $ 13,544     $ 11,348  
                         
Discontinued Operations                        
Interest paid   $ --     $ --     $ 3,943  
Income taxes paid   $ --     $ --     $ 8  
                         
Supplemental disclosure on non-cash continuing financing activities                        
Reclassification from liability of the obligation to issue shares for the amendments of earn-out provision to equity   $ --     $ --     $ 90,400  
                         
                         
                         
Non-GAAP Financial Measures ($ in thousands)  
   
A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income is provided below:  
   
   Three Months Ended
December 31,		    Year Ended
December 31,		  
   2013    2012    2013    2012  
Net income attributable to shareholders  $3,791    $2,597    $11,828    $23,549  
Interest expenses     3,386       2,023       9,597       11,490  
Interest income     (31 )     (82 )     (406 )     (308 )
Income tax provision     1,759       875       5,722       9,115  
Stock-based compensation     1,834       926       3,775       4,553  
Depreciation & Amortization     562       491       3,289       1,902  
Adjusted EBITDA  $11,301    $6,830    $33,805    $50,301  
                                 

USE OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
 AutoChina defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest expense (income), income taxes, depreciation and amortization, as well as the exclusion of stock-based compensation. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain financial information that would be included in net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Users of this financial information should consider the type of material events and transactions that are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, and the material limitations of therein. For example, Adjusted EBITDA does not include net interest expense, but because AutoChina has borrowed money to finance its operations, interest expense is a necessary and ongoing part of its costs and has assisted AutoChina in generating revenue; Adjusted EBITDA does not include taxes, although payment of taxes is a necessary and ongoing part of AutoChina's operations; and Adjusted EBITDA does not include depreciation and amortization expense, but because AutoChina uses capital assets to generate revenue, depreciation and amortization expense is a necessary element of its cost structure. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, since it omits the impact of these expenses incurred by AutoChina. 

AutoChina believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is warranted and useful to its shareholders because it provides an additional analytical tool for understanding the Company's financial performance by excluding certain items that may obscure trends in the core operating performance of the Company's business. Using Adjusted EBITDA also facilitates management's internal comparisons to AutoChina's historical performance and liquidity. AutoChina computes Adjusted EBITDA using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter. The table above has more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to Non-GAAP financial measures.