LiNiu Technology Group Announces Full Year 2016 Financial Results

HONG KONG–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LiNiu Technology Group (f/k/a Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited)
(“LINU” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:LINU), which operates through its
subsidiaries and related promotion entities that act as VIP room gaming
promoters and which recently launched the LiNiu Network, its electronic
trading platform focused on the Chinese agricultural industry in April
2017, today announced unaudited financial results for the full year
ended December 31, 2016. All currency amounts are stated in United
States dollars. Please refer to the Annual Report on Form 20-F that will
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in April 2017 for
the full audited financial statements and related disclosures for the
full year ended December 31, 2016.

Full Year 2016 Highlights – Gaming Operations

• Rolling Chip Turnover (a metric used by casinos to measure the
  aggregate amount of players’ bets and overall volume of VIP gaming
  room business transacted) for 2016 was $2.4 billion, a decrease of
  62%, compared to $6.4 billion for 2015.
• Net loss for 2016 was $215.0 million, or $3.41 net loss per share
  (basic and diluted), compared to net income of $5.1 million, or $0.08
  net income per share (basic and diluted), for 2015. During 2016, the
  Company recognized $100.4 million in bad debt and a $97.3 million
  impairment of intangible assets, while during 2015, the Company
  incurred a one-time $17.8 million impairment of goodwill.
• Non-GAAP loss, which is operating loss before amortization of
  intangible assets, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and
  the change in fair value of contingent consideration related to the
  acquisitions of King’s Gaming, Bao Li Gaming and Oriental VIP Room,
  was $109.6 million, or $1.74 net loss per share (basic and diluted),
  for 2016, as compared to non-GAAP income of $9.0 million, or $0.14 net
  income per share (basic and diluted), for 2015.
• The Company closed four VIP gaming rooms at the Sands Cotai Central
  Casino, Galaxy Macau, StarWorld and Le Royal Arc in Macau in 2016,
  terminated its gaming representative agreements with King’s Gaming
  Promotion Ltd., Sang Heng and Sang Lung Gaming Promotion Ltd. and
  terminated its collaborator agreement with Mr. Lam Chou In relating to
  those facilities, as the current Rolling Chip Turnover volume did not
  warrant the operation of any VIP gaming rooms. The Company’s current
  Macau VIP gaming operation is in Altira Complex and provides
  remuneration at a predetermined fixed rate commission.

Business Developments in 2017

• In March 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of 51% of
  Jia-Heng Industrial Ltd., the holding company of Guangzhou LiNiu
  Network Technology Co. Ltd. (“LiNiu Network”), a software technology
  development company.
• In April 2017, the Company launched the LiNiu Network, an electronic
  B2C, C2C and O2O trading platform focused on the Chinese agricultural
  industry. Since its launch, the site has seen traffic of over 50,000
  visitors on a daily basis, with more than 130,000 users, more than
  20,000 suppliers registered and over 80,000 products currently sold
  through the platform. The LiNiu Network generates revenue through
  commissions, advertising, management fees and guarantee deposits.

“2016 was a difficult year for the Company, and as such, the Company
took appropriate steps to streamline its operations, and is now
completing its transformation into a technology-focused company that is
creating solutions to improve the Chinese agricultural industry,” said
Mr. Wang Shun Yang, co-Chief Executive Officer of LiNiu Technology
Group. “We were pleased with the launch of the LiNiu Network earlier
this month, and believe that the platform is well positioned to more
efficiently bring farmers and agricultural suppliers together to conduct
business as well as provide education, medical, insurance, financing and
other services to farmers.”

Full Year 2016 Results

For the full year ended December 31, 2016, the increase in net loss for
2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily a result of the following:

1. Revenue of $32.4 million in 2016, a 69% decrease from 2015, primarily
due to lower Rolling Chip Turnover and no Rolling Chip Turnover in the
fourth quarter, as well as (i) low win rate for 2016; (ii) lower demand
due to the ongoing anti-corruption campaign in mainland China; (iii) the
Company continuing to tighten gaming credit as a result of lengthened
collection period on certain markets; (iv) the DICJ banning proxy
betting and (v) the closure of four of the Company’s five VIP rooms
during 2016 to streamline expenses.

2. $100.4 million of bad debts and a one-time $97.3 million impairment
of intangible assets in 2016.

These were partially offset by lower Commission to Junket Agents
and selling, general and administrative expenses for 2016 compared to
2015, primarily due to lower Rolling Chip Turnover, lower VIP gaming
room costs due to the reduced number of junket agents, as well as the
closure of VIP rooms in the second half of 2016.

On December 12, 2016, the first civil court of the Macao Special
Administrative Region Court of First Instance publicly announced that
Sang Heng and Sang Lung were summoned by such court to respond to a
request for bankruptcy filed by Galaxy Casino in connection with its
desire to liquidate Sang Heng and Sang Lung. The outstanding balance for
Sang Heng and Seng Lung as of December 31, 2016 was HKD312 million
(approximately $40.4 million) and is included in lines of credit payable
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The lines of credit for Sang Heng and
Sang Lung are guaranteed by Mr. Lam or Mr. Vong and are secured by their
personal checks and a deposit paid by Mr. Lam. Additionally, as a result
of the default, the Company is subject to monthly interest of 1.5% and
potential losses and expenses caused by the default.

On March 13, 2017, the court ruled in favor of Sang Heng (the defendant)
in the case. However, on the same day, the court ruled in favor of the
plaintiff in the Sang Lung case. The Company’s management, upon receipt
of further legal advice, filed an appeal to the Macau First Instance
Court. Currently, the bankruptcy process will be stopped in the stage of
liquidation. However, if the appeal is not successful, the plaintiff may
claim the relevant credits against the debtors of Sang Lung which may
equal the entire default of lines of credit in the amount of
approximately $26.9 million (HKD 203.8 million). The debtors of Sang
Lung include LINU, Asia Gaming & Resort Limited and AERL Company Limited
and the junket agents.

About LiNiu Technology Group

LiNiu Technology Group (NASDAQ: LINU) recently launched the LiNiu
Network, a Business to Customer (“B2C”), Customer to Customer (“C2C”)
and Online to Offline (“O2O”) electronic trading platform focused on the
Chinese agricultural industry. The Company also currently participates
in the promotion of VIP gaming at the Altira Macau. For more information
on the LiNiu Network, please visit www.liniuyang.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. 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. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from management’s current expectations include but not
limited to those risks and uncertainties relating to future business
development; ability to maintain the reputation and brand; privacy and
regulatory concerns; competition; security breaches; the continued
growth of the e-commerce market in China; and fluctuations in general
economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or
related to any of the foregoing. The Company expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions
to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change
in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required
by law. Investors and potential investors should consult all of the
information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors
set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F to be filed
in April 2017, and other reports filed or to be filed from time-to-time
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Cash flow information (in thousands) (audited)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company’s calculation of Non-GAAP income (operating income before
amortization of intangible assets, impairment of goodwill and change in
fair value of contingent consideration) and Non-GAAP EPS differs from
EPS based on net income because it does not include amortization of
intangible assets, impairment of goodwill and change in fair value of
contingent consideration. The Company uses this information internally
in evaluating its operations and believes this information is important
to investors because it provides users of the Company’s financial
information with additional useful information in evaluating operating
performance for the periods and is more consistently comparable to the
prior periods. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Non-GAAP income and EPS
should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net
income and EPS as determined in accordance with GAAP. The following is a
reconciliation of the Company’s net income to Non-GAAP income and GAAP
EPS to its Non-GAAP EPS:

Contacts

LiNiu Technology Group
Ryan Yip, +852 2111 9220
ryany@ikghcl.com