RLX Technology Announces Unaudited Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

BEIJING, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RLX Technology Inc. ("RLX Technology" or the "Company") (NYSE: RLX), a leading branded e-vapor company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights

• Net revenues were RMB1,904.4 million (US$298.8 million), representing an increase of 17.7% from RMB1,618.5 million in the same period of 2020.
• Gross margin was 40.2%, compared with 42.9% in the same period of 2020.
• U.S. GAAP net income was RMB494.4 million (US$77.6 million), compared with U.S. GAAP net loss of RMB236.7 million in the same period of 2020.
• Non-GAAP net income^[1] was RMB536.5 million (US$84.2 million), compared with RMB419.3 million in the same period of 2020.

Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Highlights

• Net revenues were RMB8,521.0 million (US$1,337.1 million) in the fiscal year 2021, representing an increase of 123.1% from RMB3,819.7 million in the prior year.
• Gross margin was 43.1% in the fiscal year 2021, compared with 40.0% in the prior year.
• U.S. GAAP net income was RMB2,028.1 million (US$318.3 million) in the fiscal year 2021, compared with U.S. GAAP net loss of RMB128.1 million in the prior year.
• Non-GAAP net income was RMB2,251.5 million (US$353.3 million) in the fiscal year 2021, compared with RMB801.0 million in the prior year.

"We are pleased with our operational and financial performance in the fourth quarter, ending 2021 on a strong note. Despite the evolving industry regulatory framework and challenging backdrop of recurrent COVID-19 outbreaks, we remained focused throughout the year on optimizing our distribution and retail channels, investing in scientific research, new product development, and digitalization upgrades," said Ms. Ying (Kate) Wang, Co-founder, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of RLX Technology. "The 2021 fiscal year was defined by year-over-year revenue growth of 123.1%, further cementing our leadership as a trusted e-vapor brand for adult smokers. Looking ahead, we are confident that the Company is well-positioned to further explore the enormous potential of this vast yet growing industry and achieve future growth in 2022 and beyond."

"In the fourth quarter of 2021, we delivered net revenues of RMB1,904.4 million, up 17.7% year-over-year, reflecting the momentum behind our efforts to optimize our distribution and retail channel network and enhance our diversified product portfolio," said Mr. Chao Lu, Chief Financial Officer of RLX Technology. "In December 2021, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which we may repurchase up to US$500 million of our shares over a period until December 31, 2023. This program demonstrates our continued confidence in the future development of our industry and the strength of our business. As we progress through 2022, we will strive to strengthen our core capabilities, bolster our market leading position, and reinforce our commitment to achieve sustainable growth and generate long-term value for our shareholders."

Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Net revenues increased by 17.7% to RMB1,904.4 million (US$298.8 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021 from RMB1,618.5 million in the same period of 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net revenues from sales to offline distributors, which was mainly attributable to the expansion of the Company's distribution and retail network.

Gross profit increased by 10.3% to RMB765.5 million (US$120.1 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021 from RMB694.1 million in the same period of 2020.

Gross margin was 40.2% in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with 42.9% in the same period of 2020. The decrease was primarily due to (i) an increase in direct costs related to promotional activities and (ii) an increase in the inventory provision.

Operating expenses were RMB231.5 million (US$36.3 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021, representing a decrease of 72.8% from RMB852.6 million in the same period of 2020. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to the change of share-based compensation expenses, which decreased by 93.6% to RMB42.1 million (US$6.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021 from RMB656.1 million in the same period of 2020. The decrease in share-based compensation expenses was primarily due to the changes in the fair value of the share incentive awards that the Company granted to its employees as affected by the fluctuations of the share price of the Company.

Selling expenses decreased by 76.3% to RMB46.6 million (US$7.3 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021 from RMB196.7 million in the same period of 2020. The decrease was mainly driven by (i) a decrease in share-based compensation expenses and (ii) a decrease in salaries and welfare benefits primarily attributable to a decrease in performance-based cash compensation, partially offset by an increase in branding material expenses.

General and administrative expenses decreased by 62.6% to RMB167.1 million (US$26.2 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021 from RMB447.0 million in the same period of 2020. The decrease was mainly driven by (i) a decrease in share-based compensation expenses and (ii) a decrease in salaries and welfare benefits primarily attributable to a decrease in performance-based cash compensation, partially offset by an increase in software and technical service expenses.

Research and development expenses decreased by 91.5% to RMB17.8 million (US$2.8 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021 from RMB208.9 million in the same period of 2020. The decrease was mainly driven by (i) a decrease in share-based compensation expenses and (ii) a decrease in salaries and welfare benefits primarily attributable to a decrease in performance-based cash compensation, partially offset by an increase in consulting expenses.

Income from operations was RMB534.0 million (US$83.8 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with a loss from operations of RMB158.5 million in the same period of 2020.

Income tax expense was RMB129.5 million (US$20.3 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with RMB110.6 million in the same period of 2020.

U.S. GAAP net income was RMB494.4 million (US$77.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with U.S. GAAP net loss of RMB236.7 million in the same period of 2020.

Non-GAAP net income was RMB536.5 million (US$84.2 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with RMB419.3 million in the same period of 2020.

U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net income per American depositary share ("ADS") were RMB0.367 (US$0.058) and RMB0.363 (US$0.057), respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS of RMB0.165, in the same period of 2020.

Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS^[2] were RMB0.398 (US$0.062) and RMB0.394 (US$0.062), respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with RMB0.292 in the same period of 2020.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

The Company's liquidity was significantly enhanced by the completion of our IPO in early 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term bank deposits, net, short-term investments, and long-term bank deposits, net of RMB14,857.8 million (US$2,331.5 million), compared with RMB3,421.4 million as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, approximately US$1,624.5 million (RMB10,352.3 million) was denominated in U.S. dollars.

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021, net cash generated from operating activities was RMB465.7 million (US$73.1 million).

Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

Net revenues increased by 123.1% to RMB8,521.0 million (US$1,337.1 million) in the fiscal year 2021 from RMB3,819.7 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net revenues from sales to offline distributors, which was mainly attributable to the expansion of the Company's distribution and retail network.

Gross profit increased by 140.4% to RMB3,672.1 million (US$576.2 million) in the fiscal year 2021 from RMB1,527.6 million in the prior year.

Gross margin increased to 43.1% in the fiscal year 2021 from 40.0% in the prior year. 

Operating expenses were RMB1,373.4 million (US$215.5 million) in the fiscal year 2021, representing a decrease of 9.3% from RMB1,514.4 million in the prior year. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to the change of share-based compensation expenses, which decreased by 76.0% to RMB223.3 million (US$35.0 million) in the fiscal year 2021 from RMB929.1 million in the prior year. The decrease in share-based compensation expenses was primarily due to the changes in the fair value of the share incentive awards that the Company granted to its employees as affected by the fluctuations of the share price of the Company.

Selling expenses increased by 17.5% to RMB520.7 million (US$81.7 million) in the fiscal year 2021 from RMB443.2 million in the prior year. The increase was mainly driven by (i) an increase in branding material expenses, (ii) an increase in shipping expenses, and (iii) an increase in salaries and welfare, partially offset by the decrease of share-based compensation expenses.

General and administrative expenses decreased by 12.9% to RMB672.7 million (US$105.6 million) in the fiscal year 2021 from RMB772.0 million in the prior year. The decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease of share-based compensation expenses, partially offset by (i) an increase in salaries and welfare benefits, and (ii) an increase in legal and other consulting fees.

Research and development expenses decreased by 39.9% to RMB179.9 million (US$28.2 million) in the fiscal year 2021 from RMB299.3 million in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease of share-based compensation expenses, partially offset by (i) an increase in salaries and welfare benefits, (ii) an increase in software and technical expenses, and (iii) an increase in consulting expenses.

Income from operations was RMB2,298.7 million (US$360.7 million) in the fiscal year 2021, compared with RMB13.1 million in the prior year.

Income tax expense was RMB631.4 million (US$99.1 million) in the fiscal year 2021, representing an increase of 173.9% from RMB230.5 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in taxable income.

U.S. GAAP net income was RMB2,028.1 million (US$318.3 million) in the fiscal year 2021, compared with U.S. GAAP net loss of RMB128.1 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP net income was RMB2,251.5 million (US$353.3 million) in the fiscal year 2021, compared with RMB801.0 million in the prior year.

U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB1.445 (US$0.227) and RMB1.436 (US$0.225), respectively, in the fiscal year 2021, compared with U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS of RMB0.089 in the prior year.

Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB1.604 (US$0.252) and RMB1.595 (US$0.250), respectively, in the fiscal year 2021, compared with RMB0.557 in the prior year.

Share Repurchase Program

On December 8, 2021, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$500 million of its shares over a period until December 31, 2023.

Conference Call

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 7:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on March 11, 2022 (8:00 P.M. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on March 11, 2022).

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

Participants should dial in 10 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "RLX Technology Inc." with the Participant Code as set forth above.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.relxtech.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call until March 18, 2022, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

About RLX Technology Inc.

RLX Technology Inc. (NYSE: RLX) is a leading branded e-vapor company in China. The Company leverages its strong in-house technology and product development capabilities and in-depth insights into adult smokers' needs to develop superior e-vapor products. RLX Technology Inc. sells its products through an integrated offline distribution and "branded store plus" retail model tailored to China's e-vapor market.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.relxtech.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses Non-GAAP net income and Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating its operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. Non-GAAP net income represents net income excluding share-based compensation expenses. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS is computed using Non-GAAP net income attributable to RLX Technology Inc. and the same number of ADSs used in U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net income/(loss) per ADS calculation.

The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by the management to evaluate its operating performance and formulate business plans. The Company believes that they help identify underlying trends in its business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that are included in net income/(loss). The Company also believes that the use of the non-GAAP measures facilitates investors' assessment of its operating performance, as they could provide useful information about its operating results, enhances the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the management in its financial and operational decision making.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. They should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net income/(loss), basic and diluted net income/(loss) per ADS or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of its operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review its historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures 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 our data. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on any single financial measure.

For more information on the 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.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB6.3726 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on December 30, 2021 set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or U.S. dollars amounts referred could be converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement 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 "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue" and similar statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company 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 third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company's beliefs 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: the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; trends and competition in China's e-vapor market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; PRC governmental policies, laws and regulations relating to the Company's industry, and general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these 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 and in the attachments is current as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

In China:

RLX Technology Inc.
Head of Investor Relations
Sam Tsang
Email: [email protected] 

The Piacente Group, Inc.
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: [email protected] 

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE RLX Technology Inc.