VisionChina Offers Response to Contempt Ruling of NY Supreme Court

VisionChina Media Inc. ("VisionChina Media" or the "Company")

, one of China's largest out-of-home digital television advertising networks on mass transportation systems today announced that on Monday, January 7, 2013, the New York State Supreme Court issued an order of civil contempt against VisionChina Media, Inc. and Vision Best Limited (collectively, "VisionChina") for their failure to comply fully with an August 13, 2012 turnover order requiring VisionChina to post security in connection with prejudgment orders of attachment totaling $60 million.   Justice Charles E. Ramos of the New York State Supreme Court issued an order of civil contempt against VisionChina in the case entitled Shareholder Representative Services LLC, et al, v. VisionChina Media Inc. et al. The ruling, after a brief hearing, was based on the judge's finding that VisionChina had failed to comply fully with an August 13, 2012 turnover order requiring VisionChina to post security in connection with prejudgment orders of attachment totaling $60 million. The turnover order required VisionChina to pay that amount to the New York City Sheriff or enter into an escrow of the funds in the People's Republic of China or alternative security arrangement acceptable to plaintiffs. Although VisionChina arranged to transfer to the Sheriff most of the assets of its subsidiaries located outside the PRC (almost $4.5 million), VisionChina had advised the judge that it was not able to transfer additional assets held by its PRC subsidiary because of restrictions of the PRC's State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The contempt sanction is a fine of $250 plus payment of the plaintiffs' attorneys' fees incurred on the contempt application. The amount of the fees is unknown at this point. Plaintiffs are required to submit an affidavit of services detailing the amount of their fees, and VisionChina will have an opportunity to object and respond to that.  VisionChina has appealed from the August 13, 2012 turnover order and the prejudgment attachment orders. Its appeals will be argued in the New York State Court's Appellate Division on January 15, 2013. VisionChina will also continue to vigorously pursue its appeal to revive its affirmative claims against Gobi Partners and Oak Investment Partners for fraud and other relief.