Niu Technologies Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

— Second Quarter Total Volume of e-scooter sales down 17.4% year over year

— Second Quarter Revenues of RMB 827.6 million, down 12.4% year over year

— Second Quarter Net income of RMB 14.4 million, compared with net income of RMB 91.8 million in the same period of last year

BEIJING, Aug. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via SEAPRWire.com) — Niu Technologies (“NIU”, or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: NIU), the world’s leading provider of smart urban mobility solutions, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

  • Revenues were RMB 827.6 million, a decrease of 12.4% year over year
  • Gross margin was 20.3%, compared with 22.7% in the second quarter of last year
  • Net income was RMB 14.4 million, compared with net income of RMB 91.8 million in the second quarter of last year
  • Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)1 was RMB 31.2 million, compared with adjusted net income of RMB 104.0 million in the second quarter of last year

Second Quarter 2022 Operating Highlights

  • The number of e-scooters sold was 208,857, down 17.4% year over year
  • The number of e-scooters sold in China was 180,299, down 26.7% year over year
  • The number of e-scooters sold in the international markets was 28,558, up 309.1% year over year
  • The number of franchised stores in China was 3,329 as of June 30, 2022, an increase of 81 from March 31, 2022
  • International sales network expanded to 53 distributors covering 52 countries as of June 30, 2022

Other Highlights

Dr. Yan Li, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented: “We delivered mixed results for the second quarter. In China market, our sales were heavily hit and our product development was disrupted by the Covid-19 lockdowns. However, average sales price (ASP) and gross margin both rose due to increase of retail sales prices starting from April 1 and improvement of product mix. In the overseas market, our kick-scooter series continued to receive positive feedback, and the sales volume reached over 20,000 units, another record high since its debut last year.”

Facing the second half of this year, Dr Li said, “with the coming of peak season, we will make every effort to get back on the growth track. We just released our brand new series SQi and new version of the most popular series UQi+ earlier this month in China market, and will commence deliveries of our BQi e-bike series later this month in the overseas markets. We expect these new products will help us recover from the previous hit. For the rest of this year, since uncertainty remains over the pace of an economic recovery, we here adjust our full year sales volume guidance to 1-1.2 million.”

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Revenues were RMB 827.6 million, a decrease of 12.4% year over year, due to 17.4% decrease in sales volume, partially offset by increased revenues per e-scooter of 6.1%. The following table shows the revenues breakdown and revenues per e-scooter in the periods presented:

Revenues
(in RMB million)
  2022
Q2
  2021
Q2
  % change YoY
E-scooter sales from China market   596.6   757.5   -21.2%
E-scooter sales from international markets   146.3   57.7   +153.8%
E-scooter sales, sub-total   742.9   815.2   -8.9%
Accessories, spare parts and services   84.7   129.5   -34.6%
Total   827.6   944.7   -12.4%

Revenues per e-scooter
(in RMB)
  2022
Q2
  2021
Q2
  % change
YoY
E-scooter sales from China market2   3,309   3,079   +7.5%
E-scooter sales from international markets2   5,122   8,259   -38.0%
E-scooter sales   3,557   3,222   +10.4%
Accessories, spare parts and services3   406   512   -20.7%
Revenues per e-scooter   3,963   3,734   +6.1%
  • E-scooter sales revenues from China market were RMB 596.6 million, a decrease of 21.2%, and represented 80.3% of total e-scooter revenues. The decrease was mainly driven by the sales volume decreases by 26.7% in China.
  • E-scooter sales revenues from international markets were RMB 146.3 million, an increase of 153.8%, and represented 19.7% of total e-scooter revenues. The increase was mainly driven by the increase in sales of kick-scooter, and the increase in sales volume and unit price of electric motorcycle.
  • Accessories, spare parts sales and services revenues were RMB 84.7 million, a decrease of 34.6% and represented 10.2% of total revenues. The decrease was mainly due to the overseas battery pack sales reduction.
  • The increase of revenues per e-scooter was mainly due to the increase in unit price of e-scooter, and a better product mix in China market.

Cost of revenues was RMB 660.0 million, a decrease of 9.6% year over year, mainly due to lower e-scooter sales volume. The cost per e-scooter, defined as cost of revenues divided by the number of e-scooters sold in a specified period, was RMB 3,160, up 9.5% from RMB 2,885 in the second quarter 2021 due to higher raw material costs and product mix change.

Gross margin was 20.3%, compared with 22.7% in the same period of 2021. The decrease of gross margin was due to continuous cost pressure, the increase in sales of overseas kick-scooters, which have lower margin, and the decrease in sales of accessories, spare parts and services, which generally have higher gross margin.

Operating expenses were RMB 173.0 million, an increase of 26.4% from the same period of 2021. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenues was 20.9%, compared with 14.5% in the second quarter of 2021.

  • Selling and marketing expenses were RMB 92.5 million (including RMB 4.4 million of share-based compensation), an increase of 34.3% from RMB 68.9 million in the second quarter of 2021. The increase was mainly due to the increase in depreciation and amortization expense of RMB 12.0 million as a result of opening of new franchised stores, the increase in advertising and promotion expense of RMB 7.4 million, and the increase in staff cost of RMB 3.9 million. Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues was 11.2% compared with 7.3% in the second quarter of 2021.
  • Research and development expenses were RMB 44.5 million (including RMB 7.0 million of share-based compensation), an increase of 44.1% from RMB 30.8 million in the second quarter of 2021, mainly due to the increase in staff cost of RMB 7.4 million, the increase in design and testing expense of RMB 3.1 million, and the increase in share-based compensation expenses of RMB 2.7 million. Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues was 5.4%, compared with 3.3% in the second quarter of 2021.
  • General and administrative expenses were RMB 36.0 million (including RMB 5.1 million of share-based compensation), a decrease of 3.1% from RMB 37.2 million in the second quarter of 2021, mainly due to the foreign currency exchange gain of RMB 11.0 million as compared to the foreign currency exchange loss of RMB 1.4 million in the second quarter of 2021, partially offset by the increase in provision for credit losses of RMB 6.2 million, and the increase in staff cost of RMB 4.3 million. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues was 4.4%, compared with 3.9% in the second quarter of 2021.

Operating expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 156.5 million, increased by 25.3% year over year, and represented 18.9% of revenues, compared with 13.2% in the second quarter of 2021.

  • Selling and marketing expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 88.1 million, an increase of 33.7% year over year, and represented 10.6% of revenues, compared with 7.0% in the second quarter of 2021.
  • Research and development expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 37.5 million, an increase of 41.0% year over year, and represented 4.5% of revenues, compared with 2.8% in the second quarter of 2021.
  • General and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 30.9 million, a decrease of 4.8% year over year, and represented 3.7% of revenues, compared with 3.4% in the second quarter of 2021.

Government grants were RMB 0.3 million, decreased by RMB 21.2 million from the same period of 2021.

Share-based compensation was RMB 16.8 million, compared with RMB 12.1 million in the same period of 2021.

Income tax benefit was RMB 16.8 million, compared with income tax expense of RMB 11.5 million in the same period of 2021.

Net income was RMB 14.4 million, compared with RMB 91.8 million in the second quarter of 2021. The net income margin was 1.7%, compared with 9.7% in the same period of 2021.

Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) was RMB 31.2 million, compared with RMB 104.0 million in the second quarter of 2021. The adjusted net income margin4 was 3.8%, compared with 11.0% in the same period of 2021.

Basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB 0.19 (US$ 0.03) and RMB 0.18 (US$ 0.03), respectively.

Balance Sheet
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had cash, term deposits and short-term investments of RMB 861.0 million in aggregate. The Company had restricted cash of RMB 189.2 million and short-term bank borrowings of RMB 180.0 million.

Business Outlook

In light of the current market conditions, including the on-going COVID resurgence in China, NIU expects its revenues for the third quarter of 2022 to be in the range of RMB 1,165 million (representing a year-over-year decrease of 5%) to RMB 1,349 million (representing a year-over-year increase of 10%). In addition, NIU adjusts its 2022 full year sales volume guidance to 1-1.2 million.

This outlook is based on information available as of the date of this press release and reflects the Company’s current and preliminary expectation, which is subject to change due to uncertainties relating to a various factors, such as the pace of COVID-19 pandemic recovery, among others.

Conference Call

The Company will host an earnings conference call on Monday, Aug 15, 2022 at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong Time) to discuss its second quarter 2022 financial and business results and provide a corporate update.

To join via phone, participants need to register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. Upon registration, participants will receive dial-in numbers and an event passcode(PIN), which will be used to join the conference call.

Event: Niu Technologies Second Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call
Registration Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI5679fea7c16f492ba50c567ffd3f4ad1

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the investor relations website at https://ir.niu.com/news-and-events/webcasts-and-presentations.

About NIU

As the world’s leading provider of smart urban mobility solutions, NIU designs, manufactures and sells high-performance electric motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and kick-scooters. NIU has a diversified product portfolio that caters to the various demands of our users and addresses different urban travel scenarios. NIU’s product portfolio comprises its (i) four electric scooter and motorcycle series, NQi, MQi, UQi and Gova, (ii) one kick-scooter series, KQi, (iii) one high performance motorcycle series, RQi, (iv) one hybrid motorcycle series, YQi and (v) one e-bike series, BQi. NIU has adopted an omnichannel retail model, integrating the offline and online channels, to offer the products and services. For more information, please visit www.niu.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement NIU’s consolidated financial results presented in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), NIU uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted net income and adjusted net income margin. 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. NIU believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of its operating results. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to NIU’s historical performance. The Company 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 certain items that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant component in the Company’s results of operations. These non-GAAP financial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company’s data.

Adjusted net income is defined as net income excluding share-based compensation expenses. Adjusted net income margin is defined as adjusted net income as a percentage of the revenues.

For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned “Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results”.

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the readers. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB 6.6981 to US$ 1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of June 30, 2022, as set forth in the H.10 Statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release 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,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as NIU’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. NIU 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 first parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about NIU’s beliefs, plans 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: NIU’s strategies; NIU’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; NIU’s ability to maintain and enhance its “NIU” brand; its ability to innovate and successfully launch new products and services; its ability to maintain and expand its offline distribution network; its ability to satisfy the mandated safety standards relating to e-scooters; its ability to secure supply of components and raw materials used in e-scooters; its ability to manufacture, launch and sell smart e-scooters meeting customer expectations; its ability to grow collaboration with operation partners; its ability to control costs associated with its operations; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing.   Further information regarding these and other risks is included in NIU’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and NIU does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:
Niu Technologies
E-mail: ir@niu.com

NIU TECHNOLOGIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
           
  As of
  December 31,   June 30,   June 30,
  2021   2022   2022
  RMB   RMB   US$
ASSETS          
Current assets          
Cash 208,373,759     367,164,224     54,816,175  
Term deposits-current 95,635,500     218,120,500     32,564,533  
Restricted cash 223,971,197     189,213,375     28,248,813  
Short-term investments 773,678,455     255,748,785     38,182,288  
Notes receivable     2,889,538     431,397  
Accounts receivable, net 268,557,176     267,053,157     39,869,987  
Inventories 269,637,042     471,976,698     70,464,266  
Prepayments and other current assets 56,061,263     131,613,097     19,649,318  
Total current assets 1,895,914,392     1,903,779,374     284,226,777  
           
Non-current assets          
Term deposits-non-current 35,939,250     20,000,000     2,985,921  
Property, plant and equipment, net 397,215,911     413,954,582     61,801,792  
Intangible assets, net 3,668,189     2,812,960     419,964  
Operating lease right-of-use assets 94,201,263     90,496,335     13,510,747  
Deferred income tax assets 11,907,344     10,773,996     1,608,515  
Other non-current assets 2,367,064     11,516,028     1,719,298  
Total non-current assets 545,299,021     549,553,901     82,046,237  
           
Total assets 2,441,213,413     2,453,333,275     366,273,014  
           
LIABILITIES          
Current liabilities          
Short-term bank borrowings 180,000,000     180,000,000     26,873,292  
Notes payable 143,622,874     175,612,699     26,218,286  
Accounts payable 538,930,163     514,086,844     76,751,145  
Income taxes payable 17,601,525     2,405,109     359,073  
Advances from customers 17,266,994     29,413,170     4,391,271  
Deferred revenue-current 32,757,740     33,761,838     5,040,510  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 198,904,558     177,420,561     26,488,192  
Total current liabilities 1,129,083,854     1,112,700,221     166,121,769  
           
Deferred revenue-non-current 10,693,692     10,530,020     1,572,091  
Deferred income tax liabilities 1,992,388     1,441,686     215,238  
Operating lease liabilities 13,921,859     10,802,360     1,612,750  
Other non-current liabilities 20,967,430     17,532,325     2,617,507  
Total non-current liabilities 47,575,369     40,306,391     6,017,586  
           
Total liabilities 1,176,659,223     1,153,006,612     172,139,355  
           
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:          
Class A ordinary shares 89,038     89,295     13,331  
Class B ordinary shares 10,316     10,316     1,540  
Additional paid-in capital 1,855,403,759     1,887,444,914     281,788,106  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (51,121,030 )   (32,176,060 )   (4,803,759 )
Accumulated deficit (539,827,893 )   (555,041,802 )   (82,865,559 )
Total shareholders’ equity 1,264,554,190     1,300,326,663     194,133,659  
           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 2,441,213,413     2,453,333,275     366,273,014  
           

NIU TECHNOLOGIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                   
  Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
  2021   2022
  2021   2022
  RMB   RMB US$   RMB   RMB US$
Revenues 944,745,010     827,619,915   123,560,400     1,492,081,575     1,403,097,817   209,476,989  
Cost of revenues(a) (730,010,232 )   (659,994,763 ) (98,534,624 )   (1,147,012,501 )   (1,125,788,331 ) (168,075,772 )
Gross profit 214,734,778     167,625,152   25,025,776     345,069,074     277,309,486   41,401,217  
                   
Operating expenses:                  
Selling and marketing expenses(a) (68,873,391 )   (92,531,147 ) (13,814,537 )   (142,391,875 )   (162,578,383 ) (24,272,313 )
Research and development expenses(a) (30,847,683 )   (44,450,826 ) (6,636,334 )   (56,456,917 )   (86,299,410 ) (12,884,163 )
General and administrative expenses(a) (37,185,424 )   (36,024,525 ) (5,378,320 )   (68,499,223 )   (67,084,960 ) (10,015,521 )
Total operating expenses (136,906,498 )   (173,006,498 ) (25,829,191 )   (267,348,015 )   (315,962,753 ) (47,171,997 )
Government grants 21,504,500     254,668   38,021     21,856,842     523,038   78,088  
Operating income (loss) 99,332,780     (5,126,678 ) (765,394 )   99,577,901     (38,130,229 ) (5,692,692 )
                   
Interest expenses (1,641,648 )   (1,464,438 ) (218,635 )   (3,374,348 )   (2,918,902 ) (435,781 )
Interest income 1,630,287     925,854   138,226     2,846,865     2,109,777   314,981  
Investment income 4,042,059     3,248,458   484,982     8,170,999     8,295,350   1,238,463  
Income (loss) before income taxes 103,363,478     (2,416,804 ) (360,821 )   107,221,417     (30,644,004 ) (4,575,029 )
Income tax benefit (expense) (11,528,628 )   16,779,140   2,505,060     (20,760,134 )   15,430,095   2,303,653  
Net income (loss) 91,834,850     14,362,336   2,144,239     86,461,283     (15,213,909 ) (2,271,376 )
                   
Other comprehensive income (loss)                  
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of nil income taxes (7,208,765 )   23,106,426   3,449,699     (4,305,029 )   21,412,240   3,196,763  
Unrealized gain/(reclassification adjustment for gains) on available for sale securities, net 897,660     (87,078 ) (13,000 )   1,097,840     (2,467,270 ) (368,354 )
Comprehensive income 85,523,745     37,381,684   5,580,938     83,254,094     3,731,061   557,033  
Net income (loss) per ordinary share                  
—Basic 0.60     0.09   0.01     0.56     (0.10 ) (0.01 )
—Diluted 0.57     0.09   0.01     0.54     (0.10 ) (0.01 )
Net income (loss) per ADS                  
—Basic 1.20     0.19   0.03     1.13     (0.20 ) (0.03 )
—Diluted 1.14     0.18   0.03     1.08     (0.20 ) (0.03 )
                   
Weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary shares equivalents outstanding used in computing net income (loss) per ordinary share      
—Basic 153,528,657     155,223,662   155,223,662     153,177,159     154,887,972   154,887,972  
—Diluted 160,860,781     157,998,918   157,998,918     160,751,121     154,887,972   154,887,972  
Weighted average number of ADS outstanding used in computing net income (loss) per ADS                
—Basic 76,764,329     77,611,831   77,611,831     76,588,580     77,443,986   77,443,986  
—Diluted 80,430,391     78,999,459   78,999,459     80,375,561     77,443,986   77,443,986  
                   
Note:                  
(a) Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:                  
  Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
  2021   2022
  2021   2022
  RMB   RMB US$   RMB   RMB US$
Cost of revenues 183,165     307,095   45,848     366,502     593,072   88,543  
Selling and marketing expenses 2,977,457     4,421,095   660,052     6,009,319     8,338,551   1,244,913  
Research and development expenses 4,283,976     6,988,758   1,043,394     8,285,463     11,906,652   1,777,616  
General and administrative expenses 4,685,866     5,076,711   757,933     9,523,418     9,199,001   1,373,375  
Total share-based compensation expense 12,130,464     16,793,659   2,507,227     24,184,702     30,037,276   4,484,447  
                   

NIU TECHNOLOGIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS
                   
  Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
  2021   2022   2021   2022
  RMB   RMB US$   RMB   RMB US$
Net Income (loss) 91,834,850   14,362,336 2,144,239   86,461,283   (15,213,909 ) (2,271,376 )
Add:                  
Share-based compensation expense 12,130,464   16,793,659 2,507,227   24,184,702   30,037,276   4,484,447  
Adjusted net income 103,965,314   31,155,995 4,651,466   110,645,985   14,823,367   2,213,071  
                   

_____________________

1 Adjusted net income/loss (non-GAAP) is defined as net income/loss excluding share-based compensation expense
2 Revenues per e-scooter on e-scooter sales from China or international markets is defined as e-scooter sales revenues from China or international markets divided by the number of e-scooters sold in China or international market in a specific period
3 Revenues per e-scooter on accessories, spare parts and services is defined as accessories, spare parts and services revenues divided by the total number of e-scooters sold in a specific period
4 Adjusted net income/loss margin is defined as adjusted net income/loss (non-GAAP) as a percentage of the revenues