Leju Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Results and Declares Cash Dividend

BEIJING, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Leju Holdings Limited ("Leju" or the "Company") (NYSE: LEJU), a leading online-to-offline ("O2O") real estate services provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fiscal quarter and full year ended December 31, 2014.

Fourth Quarter 2014 Financial Highlights

• Total revenues increased by 36% year-on-year to $171.8 million
  • Revenues from e-commerce services increased by 61% year-on-year to $124.5 million
  • Revenues from online advertising services increased by 1% year-on-year to $43.8 million
• Non-GAAP[1] income from operations increased by 8% year-on-year to $36.8 million
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to Leju shareholders increased by 12% year-on-year to $31.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted American depositary share ("ADS")

Full Year 2014 Financial Highlights

• Total revenues increased by 48% year-on-year to $496.0 million
  • Revenues from e-commerce services increased by 92% year-on-year to $326.7 million
  • Revenues from online advertising services increased by 7% year-on-year to $155.1 million
• Non-GAAP income from operations increased by 44% year-on-year to $107.0 million
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to Leju shareholders increased by 44% year-on-year to $90.7 million, or $0.68 per diluted ADS

"We are pleased to report strong results for our first year as a public company," said Mr. Geoffrey He, Leju's chief executive officer. "During 2014, Leju further strengthened its O2O platform for real estate services across the primary, secondary and home furnishing markets through continuous product innovation and with a strong focus on execution. We also successfully incorporated mobile marketing into our service portfolio through our cooperation with leading social media platforms Weibo and Weixin. In a softer primary real estate market, our new mobile platform and various product launches allow us to offer differentiated advantages and deliver positive results for our clients as they turn to us for support in marketing and promoting their projects."

"Looking ahead, we expect that China's real estate market will continue to experience a period of change, and we remain committed to executing on our business strategies in 2015," Mr. He continued. "We believe the e-commerce market offers unique opportunities and we plan to further grow this business through the use of mobile solutions. We will stay focused on building a transparent informational platform in the secondary listing business through the promotion of reliable home data using our verified listing model along with our brokerage partners. Furthermore, we also plan to expand our home furnishing business in 2015 through a new platform that brings together customers with individual contractors, who serve a pivotal role in home furnishing projects. We believe that our service-oriented business model and strong online and offline execution make us well-positioned to address our clients' marketing needs and generate and capture further growth."

"We are reporting strong top-line growth, with our e-commerce business in particular delivering another year of high revenue growth," said Ms. Min Chen, Leju's chief financial officer. "We generated strong operating cash flows for the year which will support the company's operations and strategic investments in 2015."

Fourth Quarter 2014 Results

Total revenues were $171.8 million, an increase of 36% from $126.4 million for the same quarter of 2013, mainly driven by growth of revenues from e-commerce services.

Revenues from e-commerce services were $124.5 million, an increase of 61% from $77.5 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to a 28% increase in discount coupons redeemed,[2] as a result of the expansion of the Company's e-commerce business through partnerships with property developers.

Revenues from online advertising services were $43.8 million, a slight increase from $43.2 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to revenue growth in the Company's new home channels.

Revenues from listing services were $3.5 million, a decrease of 38% from $5.6 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to the slowdown in secondary home sales.

Cost of revenues was $14.3 million, an increase of 2% from $14.1 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to increased editorial department headcount which was partially offset by decreased fees paid to third parties for services in connection with the Company's listing business and decreased amortization expenses of intangible assets.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $128.8 million, an increase of 52% from $84.8 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to increased marketing expenses related to the growth of the Company's e-commerce business, along with increased staff costs and bonuses resulting from increased headcount and improved profit.

Income from operations was $29.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, an increase of 5% from $27.6 million for the same quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP income from operations was $36.8 million, an increase of 8% from $34.2 million for the same quarter of 2013.

Net income was $22.9 million, a decrease of 7% from $24.6 million for the same quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP net income was $31.0 million, an increase of 12% from $27.8 million for the same quarter of 2013.

Net income attributable to Leju shareholders was $23.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted ADS, a decrease of 6% from $24.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted ADS, for the same quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Leju shareholders was $31.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted ADS, an increase of 12% from $27.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted ADS, for the same quarter of 2013.

Full Year 2014 Results

Total revenues were $496.0 million, an increase of 48% from $335.4 million for 2013, mainly driven by the growth of revenues from e-commerce services.

Revenues from e-commerce services were $326.7 million, an increase of 92% from $170.2 million for 2013, primarily due to a 61% increase in discount coupons redeemed,[2] as a result of the expansion of the Company's e-commerce business through partnerships with property developers.

Revenues from online advertising services were $155.1 million, an increase of 7% from $145.4 million for 2013, primarily due to revenue growth in both the Company's new home and home furnishing channels.

Revenues from listing services were $14.3 million, a decrease of 28% from $19.8 million for 2013, primarily due to the slowdown in secondary home sales.

Cost of revenues was $51.1 million, a decrease of 20% from $64.0 million for 2013, primarily due to decreased fees paid to third parties for services in connection with the Company's listing business and decreased amortization expenses of intangible assets.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $366.3 million, an increase of 62% from $226.1 million for 2013, primarily due to increased marketing expenses related to the growth of the Company's e-commerce business, along with increased staff costs and bonuses resulting from increased headcount and improved profit.

Income from operations was $81.1 million, an increase of 77% from $45.9 million for 2013. Non-GAAP income from operations was $107.0 million, an increase of 44% from $74.2 million for 2013. 

Net income was $66.7 million, an increase of 56% from $42.7 million for 2013. Non-GAAP net income was $90.9 million, an increase of 43% from $63.4 million for 2013.

Net income attributable to Leju shareholders was $66.5 million, or $0.50 per diluted ADS, an increase of 56% from $42.5 million, or $0.35 per diluted ADS, for 2013. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Leju shareholders was $90.7 million, or $0.68 per diluted ADS, an increase of 44% from $63.0 million, or $0.53 per diluted ADS, for 2013.

Cash Flow

As of December 31, 2014, the Company's cash and cash equivalents balance was $317.8 million.

Fourth quarter 2014 net cash provided by operating activities was $59.7 million, mainly attributable to non-GAAP net income of $31.0 million, an increase in accrued payroll and welfare of $9.0 million, an increase in income tax payables and other tax payables of $9.5 million, and an increase in other current liabilities of $7.2 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $4.0 million, mainly comprised of a payment of $3.3 million to Baidu related to the Company's exclusive right to sell Baidu's real estate-related Brand-Link product and to build and operate the Baidu real estate and home furnishing channels. Net cash used in financing activities was $1.6 million, and mainly comprised of a payment of $2.2 million to acquire non-controlling interests.

Declaration of Cash Dividend

Leju also announced today that its board of directors has authorized and approved the Company's payment of a cash dividend of $0.20 per ordinary share ($0.20 per ADS). The cash dividend will be payable on or about May 15, 2015 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 10, 2015. Dividends to be paid to the Company's ADS holders through the depositary bank will be subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder.

Business Outlook

The Company estimates that its fiscal 2015 total revenues will be approximately $600 million to $620 million, which would represent an increase of approximately 21% to 25% from $496.0 million in 2014. This forecast reflects the Company's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

Leju's management will host an earnings conference call on March 18, 2015 at 7 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (7 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is "Leju earnings call."

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until March 25, 2015:

Additionally, a live and archived webcast will be available at http://ir.leju.com.

About Leju

Leju Holdings Limited ("Leju") (NYSE: LEJU) is a leading online-to-offline, or O2O, real estate services provider in China, offering real estate e-commerce, online advertising and online listing services. Leju's integrated online platform comprises various mobile applications along with local websites covering more than 250 cities, enhanced by complementary offline services to facilitate residential property transactions. In addition to the Company's own websites, Leju operates the real estate and home furnishing websites of leading internet companies such as SINA Corporation and Baidu Inc., and maintains a strategic partnership with Tencent Holdings Limited. For more information about Leju, please visit http://ir.leju.com.

Safe Harbor: Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "going forward," "outlook" and similar statements. Leju may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished with 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 third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Leju's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained, either expressly or impliedly, in any of the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in China's real estate market; the highly regulated nature of, and government measures affecting, the real estate and internet industries in China; Leju's ability to compete successfully against current and future competitors; its ability to continue to develop and expand its content, service offerings and features, and to develop or incorporate the technologies that support them; its limited operating history and lack of experience as a stand-alone public company, given its recent carve-out from E-House and prior reliance on E-House for various corporate services; its reliance on SINA, Baidu and others with which it has developed, or may develop in the future, strategic partnerships; substantial revenue contribution from a limited number of real estate markets; complexities resulting from its ongoing relationships with E-House, due to E-House's controlling interest in Leju; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to the corporate structure, business and industry of Leju. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Leju's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), Leju uses in this press release the following non-GAAP financial measures: (1) income (loss) from operations, (2) net income (loss), (3) net income (loss) attributable to Leju shareholders, (4) net income (loss) attributable to Leju shareholders per basic ADS, and (5) net income (loss) attributable to Leju shareholders per diluted ADS, each of which excludes share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions. 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. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.

Leju believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information to investors regarding its operating performance by excluding share-based compensation expense, and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, which may not be indicative of Leju's operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to Leju's historical performance and assist its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions may continue to exist in Leju's business for the foreseeable future. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables provide more details on the reconciliation between non-GAAP financial measures and their most comparable GAAP financial measures.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Ms. Melody Liu
Leju Holdings Limited
Phone: +86 (10) 5895-1062
E-mail: [email protected]

Mr. Derek Mitchell
Ogilvy Financial
In the U.S.: +1 (646) 867-1888
In China: +86 (10) 8520-6139
E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Leju Holdings Limited

Related Links

http://ir.leju.com

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