SunCar Technology Reports 27% Revenue Growth, Including 55% Increase in Auto e-Insurance Business and Over 250% Increase in the Number of Electric Vehicle Insurance Policies in 1H 2024

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Sep 16, 2024, 07:00 ET

Adjusted EBITDA Increased to $6.4 Million for the First Half of 2024

Conference Call and Webcast on September 16^th at 8 AM ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SunCar Technology Group Inc. (the "Company" or "SunCar") (NASDAQ: SDA), an innovative leader in cloud-based B2B software-focused auto services and auto e-insurance in China, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the first half of fiscal year 2024.

First Half 2024 Financial Results

Total revenue increased by 27% to $203.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, from $159.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023.
- Auto Services ' revenue increased by 9% to $107.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, from $98.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was driven by an increase in the number of completed service orders and the addition of new enterprise clients. This segment leverages SunCar's software platform, facilitating a wide variety of auto services such as car wash, airport pickup, concierge services, courtesy car, and roadside assistance.
- Auto eInsurance revenue increased by 55% to $73.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, from $47.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, which was driven by the increased number of insurance policies sold in the six months ended June 30, 2024.
  - SunCar ranked First in China in selling auto insurance premiums tailored to EV owners. EV sales increased rapidly in the first half of the year, and our auto insurance business expanded rapidly.
  - Customer growth remained strong, as demonstrated by an over 250% increase in new insurance policies.
- Technology Services revenue increased by 70% to $21.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, from $12.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. This increase was due to an increased demand from insurance companies and their sales partners for our software, which streamlines workflows, manages customer relationships, and automates order processing. The Company's ongoing technology upgrades and use of a private cloud platform have simplified development and enhanced service capacity, enabling this rapid growth.
Operating costs and expenses increased to $261.7 million for the six months ending June 30, 2024, and $158.3 million for the six months ending June 30, 2023. Of the $261.7 million in operating costs and expenses, $62.8 million were related to the Company's Equity Incentive Plan.
Integrated service costs rose by 22%, from $87.9 million in the first half of 2023 to $107.6 million in 2024. These increases align with the growth in revenue from our Auto Services business and the significant expansion in our Technology Services business.
Selling expenses decreased by 20%, from $12.8 million in the first half of 2023 to $10.2 million in 2024. This $1.8 million decrease in on-site promotion expenses was driven by the synergistic growth between our auto service and auto eInsurance business lines, which enhanced promotion efficiency.
General and administrative expenses increased from $4.0 million in the first half of 2023 to $40.5 million in the first half of 2024. This increase was primarily due to a $31.0 million increase in share-based compensation expenses related to the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan and a $6.3 million increase in expected credit losses on account receivables. Excluding these two items, there was a slight decrease in general and administrative expenses compared to the previous year.
Research and development expenses increased from $4.0 million in the first six months of 2023 to $32.2 million in 2024. The primary driver of this increase was the $31.0 million share-based compensation expense related to the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan.
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP metric that excludes certain non-recurring items and non-cash expenses, is useful in evaluating our operational performance in addition to the GAAP metrics. Our Adjusted EBITDA increased by 4% to $6.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $5.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023.

Year-to-Date Operational Highlights

SunCar continues expanding its long-standing partnerships with China's leading banks, insurance companies, and auto companies in its Auto Services business.

In the eInsurance business, the Company has made significant progress in its partnership with leading electric vehicle manufacturers, including Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), Xiaomi (1810.HK), Nio (NYSE: NIO), Zeekr (NYSE: ZK), Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI), XPeng (NYSE: XPEV), Seres (601127.SHH), Leapmotor (9863.HK), SAIC Motor (600104.SS), and Changan Avatar (000625.SHE). These collaborations have driven growth beyond expectations.

New Collaborations and Technological Advancements:

Partnered with Beijing Li Auto Insurance to develop the 'Li Auto Insurance Broker System' to improve brokerage operations through advanced insurance software solutions.
Expanded collaboration with Beijing Houji Insurance Brokerage (Xiaomi Group) to deliver software-based insurance services in 14 cities, utilizing SunCar's intelligent insurance platform. Extended partnership with premium electric vehicle brands Zeekr Intelligent Technology and Jiyue Auto, providing software-based insurance services using SunCar's intelligent platform.
Formed a strategic partnership with Lotus Technology to offer Lotus car owners comprehensive software-based automotive services and insurance.
Additionally, SunCar is delivering insurance technology services to a leading global electric vehicle manufacturer in over 40 cities, with insurance premiums growing from RMB 3 million in January to RMB 260 million in August, and further city expansion is ongoing.

Expansion of eInsurance Business into ICE Vehicle Sector:

Secured a two-year agreement with SAIC Maxus, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, to enhance e-insurance management across its dealership network.
The Company is also actively engaging in discussions with major ICE manufacturers regarding the significant opportunity for its eInsurance business in the traditional ICE market.

Luxury Concierge Services Expansion: Launched multi-year partnerships to provide exclusive concierge car services for preferred clients:

China CITIC Bank International
Ant Fortune
China Merchants Bank

Increased Collaborations with Major Insurance Firms:

Expanded collaboration with the Shenzhen Branch of Ping An Insurance, the largest insuer in China, marking the seventh Ping An branch to partner with SunCar for premium airport pickup services.
Established a new partnership with the Inner Mongolia branch of China Continent Insurance, recognized as one of the Top 10 Insurance Service Innovations by China Insurance News, utilizing innovative service package deals and boosting service sales by 30% in the first half of 2024.

Exclusive Service Contracts with China Construction Bank ("CCB"):

Signed a two-year exclusive vehicle service contract with CCB Fujian Branch, offering automotive services to tens of thousands of customers.
Awarded a one-year exclusive service contract with CCB Sichuan Branch.

Management Commentary

Ye Zaichang, CEO and Chairman of SunCar commented, "We are incredibly proud of SunCar's remarkable performance in the first half of 2024, with 27% revenue growth and a significant 55% increase in our auto eInsurance business. These achievements reflect the strength of our industry-specific software solutions and our ability to meet the evolving needs of enterprise clients across China's banking, automotive, and insurance sectors. We continue to leverage our unique technology platform to meet the evolving needs of our enterprise customers. As we expand our technology capabilities, service offerings, and partnerships, we are well-positioned to maintain this upward trajectory and deliver sustained value to our shareholders and customers. We look forward to building on this momentum in the second half of the year and beyond."

CONFERENCE CALL & AUDIO WEBCAST
SunCar will host a conference call on Monday, September 16^th at 8:00 AM ET (5:00 AM PT) with the investment community to discuss the Company's financial results and provide a business update.

To access the call by phone, please dial 1-877-407-0752 (international callers please dial 1-201-389-0912) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1688435&tp_key=b4a21ff1d5.

A webcast replay will also be available for a limited time at the following link:https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1688435&tp_key=b4a21ff1d5.

About SunCar Technology Group Inc.
Founded in 2007, SunCar is transforming the customer journey for auto services and auto insurance in China, the largest passenger vehicle market in the world. SunCar develops and operates cloud-based platforms that seamlessly connect drivers with a wide range of auto services and insurance coverage options through a nationwide network of sales partners. As a result, SunCar has established itself as the leader in China in the B2B auto services market and the auto eInsurance market for electric vehicles. The Company's intelligent cloud platform empowers its enterprise clients to access and manage their customer database and offerings optimally, and drivers gain access to hundreds of services from tens of thousands of independent providers in a single application. For more information, please visit: https://suncartech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains information about the Company's view of its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with its ability to raise additional funding, its ability to maintain and grow its business, variability of operating results, its ability to maintain and enhance its brand, its development and introduction of new products and services, the successful integration of acquired companies, technologies and assets into its portfolio of products and services, marketing and other business development initiatives, competition in the industry, general government regulation, economic conditions, dependence on key personnel, the ability to attract, hire and retain personnel who possess the technical skills and experience necessary to meet the requirements of its clients, and its ability to protect its intellectual property. The Company encourages you to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's annual reports and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact Information:
SunCar:
Investor Relations: Ms. Hui Jiang
Email: [email protected]
Legal: Ms. Li Chen
Email: [email protected]

U.S. Investor Relations
Matthew Abenante, IRC
President
Strategic Investor Relations, LLC
Tel: 347-947-2093
Email: [email protected]

SUNCAR TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In U.S. Dollar thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)

		As of December 31,		As of June 30,
		2023		2024

ASSETS
Current assets
Cash	$	30,854	$	20,886
Restricted cash		2,741		2,843
Short-term investments		21,596		20,913
Accounts receivable, net		56,043		76,630
Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net		63,963		69,564
Total current assets		175,197		190,836

Non-current assets
Long-term investment		282		275
Software and equipment, net		22,466		19,977
Deferred tax assets, net		11,998		12,467
Other non-current assets		12,012		19,403
Right-of-use assets		1,280		978
Total non-current assets		48,038		53,100

TOTAL ASSETS	$	223,235	$	243,936

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term loan	$	83,029	$	81,324
Accounts payable		26,641		52,115
Deferred revenue		3,050		1,959
Tax payable		1,364		1,695
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		4,809		2,262
Amount due to a related party-current		4,751		4,557
Operating lease liability-current		748		765
Total current liabilities		124,392		144,677

Non-current liabilities
Operating lease liability-non-current		504		154
Amount due to a related party, non-current		29,688		29,004
Warrant liabilities		661		661
Total non-current liabilities		30,853		29,819

Total liabilities	$	155,245	$	174,496

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)

Shareholders' equity
Class A Ordinary shares* (par value of US$0.0001 per share; 400,000,000 Class A Ordinary shares authorized as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively; 39,876,493 and 48,876,493 Class A Ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively)	$	4	$	5
Class B Ordinary shares* (par value of US$0.0001 per share; 100,000,000 Class B Ordinary shares authorized as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively; 49,628,565 and 49,628,565 Class B Ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively)		5		5
Additional paid in capital		144,160		206,199
Accumulated deficit		(126,724)		(189,307)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,367)		(1,283)
Total SUNCAR TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC's shareholders' equity		16,078		15,619
Non-controlling interests		51,912		53,821
Total equity		67,990		69,440

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	223,235	$	243,936

SUNCAR TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In U.S. Dollar thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)

	For the six months ended June 30,
		2023		2024

Revenues
Auto service	$	98,813	$	107,451
Auto eInsurance service		47,710		73,747
Technology service		12,855		21,888
Total revenues		159,378		203,086

Operating cost and expenses
Integrated service cost		(87,854)		(107,621)
Promotional service expenses		(49,563)		(71,135)
Selling expenses		(12,793)		(10,199)
General and administrative expenses		(4,020)		(40,537)
Research and development expenses		(4,020)		(32,205)
Total operating costs and expenses		(158,250)		(261,697)

Operating profit/(loss)		1,128		(58,611)

Other income/(expenses)
Financial expenses, net		(1,915)		(2,302)
Investment income		323		306
Other income, net		2,450		734
Total other income/(loss), net		858		(1,262)

Income/(Loss) before income tax expense		1,986		(59,873)
Income tax expense		(850)		(267)
Net income/(loss)		1,136		(60,140)

Less: Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		4,515		2,443
Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders		(3,379)		(62,583)

Net loss per ordinary share
Basic and diluted	$	(0.04)	$	(0.67)

Weighted average shares outstanding used in calculating basic and diluted loss per share
Basic and diluted	$	81,374,609		93,663,300

Other comprehensive income/(loss)
Foreign currency translation difference		(2,614)		(1,195)
Total other comprehensive loss		(2,614)		(1,195)

Total comprehensive loss		(1,478)		(61,335)
Less: total comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest		2,068		1,164
Total comprehensive loss attributable to the SUNCAR TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC's shareholders	$	(3,546)	$	(62,499)

SUNCAR TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In U.S. Dollar thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)

	For the six months ended June 30,
		2023		2024
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income/(loss)	$	1,136	$	(60,140)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Provision (Reversal)for credit losses		(3,694)		2,654
Depreciation and amortization		2,840		1,813
Amortization of right-of-use assets		350		392
Share-based compensation of subsidiary		776		745
Share-based compensation of the Group		-		62,040
Deferred income tax benefit		(207)		(750)
Fair value income from short-term investments		(323)		(493)
Financing expense related to issuance of GEM Warrants		-		303
Property and equipment written off		-		12
Interest expense		-		146
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		10,353		(24,689)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(38,757)		(7,492)
Accounts payable		7,647		26,277
Deferred revenue		497		(1,029)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(787)		(2,458)
Tax payable		(202)		365
Operating lease liabilities		(321)		(321)
Amount due to a related party		167		-
Net cash used in operating activities		(20,525)		(2,625)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of software and equipment		(577)		(245)
Purchase of short-term investment		-		(20,603)
Proceeds from the redemption of short-term investment		4,784		21,283
Purchase of other non-current assets		(3,310)		(7,725)
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities		897		(7,290)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from short-term loan		68,271		56,979
Repayments of short-term loan		(53,418)		(56,771)
Cash required on reverse recapitalization		(482)		-
Proceeds from Private Placement		21,737		-
Payment for offering cost related to Business Combination		(623)		-
Net cash provided by financing activities		35,485		208

Effect of exchange rate changes		(1,661)		(159)

Net change in cash and restricted cash		14,196		(9,866)

Cash and restricted cash, beginning of the period	$	23,917	$	33,595
Cash and restricted cash, end of the period	$	38,113	$	23,729

Reconciliation of cash and restricted cash to the consolidated balance sheets:
Cash	$	35,460	$	20,886
Restricted cash	$	2,653	$	2,843
Total cash and restricted cash	$	38,113	$	23,729

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Income tax paid	$	1,128	$	535
Interest expense paid	$	1,704	$	1,872

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities:
Obtaining right-of-use assets in exchange for operating lease liabilities	$	1,552	$	88

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, the Company's management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure that excludes certain non-recurring items such as costs and expenses related to the Business Combination and prior and subsequent capital raises, is useful in evaluating our operational performance. The Company uses this non-GAAP financial information to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning, budgeting and forecasting purposes. We believe that this non-GAAP financial information, when taken collectively with GAAP measures, may be helpful to investors in assessing our operating performance and comparing our performance with competitors and other comparable companies, which may or may not present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. Our computation of these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies, because all companies may not calculate these measures in the same fashion. We endeavor to compensate for the limitation of the non-GAAP measure presented by also providing the most directly comparable GAAP measure and a description of the reconciling items and adjustments to derive the non-GAAP measure. This non-GAAP measure should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using non-GAAP measures on a supplemental basis.

Adjusted EBITDA

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA, as defined below, is useful in evaluating our operational performance distinct and apart from certain expenses that may not be indicative of our recurring core business operating results and non-operational expenses. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Operating profit (loss) adjusted for depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation and non-recurring expenses related to the Business Combination and prior and subsequent capital raises. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Total revenues.

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS) TO ADJUSTED EBITDA

	For the Six Months Ended June 30,
		2023		2024
		(In thousands)
Operating profit (loss)	$	1,128	$	(58,611)
Depreciation and amortization (1)		2,840		1,813
Share-based compensation (2)		776		62,785
Transaction fees (3)		1,071		53
Adjusted EBITDA	$	5,815	$	6,040
*Adjusted EBITDA Margin*		3.6 %		3.0 %

(1) Non-cash expenses related to depreciation and amortization

(2) Non-cash expense related to compensation costs for equity classified awards (both for the subsidiary and the Group)

(3) Includes non-recurring transaction related fees and expenses associated with the Company's Business Combination and prior and subsequent capital raises

SOURCE SunCar Technology Group Inc.