Leju Reports First Half Year 2022 Results

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Nov 30, 2022, 07:15 ET

BEIJING, Nov. 30, 2022 /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 six months ended June 30, 2022.

First Half 2022 Financial Highlights

Total revenues decreased by 44% year on year to $169.4 million.
- Revenues from e-commerce services decreased by 43% year on year to $132.7 million.
- Revenues from online advertising services decreased by 47% year on year to $36.8 million.
Loss from operations was $64.8 million, compared to loss from operations of $49.9 million for the same period of 2021.
Non-GAAP^[1] loss from operations was $58.6 million, compared to Non-GAAP loss from operations of $43.4 million for the same period of 2021.
Net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders was $52.9 million, or $3.86 loss per diluted American depositary share ("ADS"), compared to net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders of $47.8 million, or $3.50 loss per diluted ADS^[2], for the same period of 2021.
Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders was $48.0 million, or $3.50 loss per diluted ADS, compared to non-GAAP net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders of $42.6 million, or $3.12 loss per diluted ADS, for the same period of 2021.

^[1] 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, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, and income tax impact on the share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations. See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" below for more information about the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release.

^[2] On May 10, 2022, Leju announced that it would change its American depositary share ("ADS") to ordinary share ("Share") ratio from one (1) ADS representing one (1) Share to one (1) ADS representing ten (10) Shares. The change in the ADS ratio was effective on May 20, 2022. For Leju's ADS holders, the change in the ADS ratio had the same effect as a one-for-ten reverse ADS split. The ADS ratio change has no impact on Leju's underlying Shares. Loss per ADS for first half of 2021 had been retrospectively adjusted accordingly.

"In the first half of 2022, China's real estate developers experienced significant operational challenges which combined with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resurgence caused a decline in both real estate development and sales, largely impacting Leju's online advertising and e-commerce businesses," said Mr. Geoffrey He, Leju's Chief Executive Officer.

First Half 2022 Results

Total revenues were $169.4 million, a decrease of 44% from $301.1 million for the same period of 2021. China's real estate industry experienced a steep downturn since the second half of 2021 and many real estate developers faced severe operational challenges. This had a direct and negative impact on the Company's online advertising and e-commerce businesses. Due to the continuous decline of the real estate industry, the recoverable amount and time of some customers' transaction consideration cannot be reasonably expected. Since January 1, 2022, Leju has not recognized the revenue from such customers until the actual receipt of the transaction consideration.

Revenues from e-commerce services were $132.7 million, a decrease of 43% from $231.4 million for the same period of 2021, primarily due to a decrease in the number of discount coupons redeemed, partially offset by an increase in the average price per discount coupon redeemed.

Revenues from online advertising services were $36.8 million, a decrease of 47% from $69.3 million for the same period of 2021, primarily due to a decrease in property developers' demand for online advertising.

Cost of revenues was $14.5 million, a decrease of 54% from $31.7 million for the same period of 2021, primarily due to decreased cost of advertising resources purchased from media platforms, and decreased editorial personnel related costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $219.8 million, a decrease of 31% from $319.5 million for the same period of 2021, primarily due to bad debt provision which decreased $33.9 million compared to the same period of 2021, and decreased marketing expenses related to the Company's e-commerce business. The bad debt provision recorded in the first half of 2021 was mainly attributable to the recognition of additional loss allowance on expected credit loss of the Company's outstanding online advertising related receivables from certain customer, whose credit quality had worsened.

Loss from operations was $64.8 million, compared to loss from operation of $49.9 million for the same period of 2021. Non-GAAP loss from operations was $58.6 million, compared to non-GAAP loss from operations of $43.4 million for the same period of 2021.

Net loss was $52.8 million, compared to net loss of $46.9 million for the same period of 2021. Non-GAAP net loss was $47.9 million, compared to non-GAAP net loss of $41.7 million for the same period of 2021.

Net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders was $52.9 million, or $3.86 loss per diluted ADS, compared to net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders of $47.8 million, or $3.5 loss per diluted ADS, for the same period of 2021. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders was $48.0 million, or $3.50 loss per diluted ADS, compared to non-GAAP net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders of $42.6 million, or $3.12 loss per diluted ADS, for the same period of 2021.

Cash Flow

As of June 30, 2022, the Company's cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash balance was $182.6 million.

First half 2022 net cash used in operating activities was $60.6 million, primarily comprised of non-GAAP net loss of $47.9 million, a decrease in other current liabilities and accrued expenses of $37.7 million, a decrease in income tax payable of $10.8 million, partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable and contract assets of $19.5 million and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $18.5 million.

About Leju

Leju Holdings Limited ("Leju") (NYSE: LEJU) is a leading e-commerce and online media platform for real estate and home furnishing industries 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 380 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 SINA Corporation, 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 reliance on SINA 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; 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, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, and income tax impact on the share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations. 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. Christina Wu
Leju Holdings Limited
Phone: +86 (10) 5895-1062
E-mail: [email protected]

Philip Lisio
The Foote Group
Phone: +86 135-0116-6560
E-mail: [email protected]

LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

	December 31,		June 30,
	2021		2022
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		250,314		178,202
Restricted cash		2,082		4,349
Accounts receivable, net		36,071		5,318
Contract assets, net		1,415		—
Marketable securities		1,186		—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		25,110		7,283
Customer deposits		784		—
Amounts due from related parties		3,913		10,116
Total current assets		320,875		205,268
Property and equipment, net		16,667		15,324
Intangible assets, net		23,298		17,803
Right-of-use assets		23,409		19,822
Investment in affiliates		18		17
Deferred tax assets, net		51,605		49,024
Other non-current assets		1,376		1,712
Total assets		437,248		308,970

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings		784		1,490
Accounts payable		1,631		1,181
Accrued payroll and welfare expenses		21,517		15,438
Income tax payable		60,952		49,440
Other tax payable		18,046		13,693
Amounts due to related parties		7,632		3,635
Advances from customers		82,788		55,905
Lease liabilities, current		5,582		4,923
Accrued marketing and advertising expenses		43,272		31,825
Other current liabilities		18,504		16,477
Total current liabilities		260,708		194,007
Lease liabilities, non-current		19,438		16,414
Deferred tax liabilities		6,043		4,707
Total liabilities		286,189		215,128
Shareholders' Equity
Ordinary shares ($0.001 par value): 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 136,822,601 and 137,172,601 shares issued and outstanding, as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively		137		137
Additional paid-in capital		801,477		802,406
Accumulated deficit		(648,935)		(701,787)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,424)		(6,726)
Total Leju Holdings Limited shareholders' equity		151,255		94,030
Non-controlling interests		(196)		(188)
Total equity		151,059		93,842
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		437,248		308,970

LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data and per share data)

	Six months ended
	June 30,
	2021		2022
Revenues
E-commerce		231,401		132,654
Online advertising		69,290		36,783
Listing		401		11
Total net revenues		301,092		169,448
Cost of revenues		(31,671)		(14,474)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(319,472)		(219,762)
Other operating income, net		199		25
Loss from operations		(49,852)		(64,763)
Interest income, net		1,575		1,515
Other income, net		2,128		801
Loss before taxes and loss from equity in affiliates		(46,149)		(62,447)
Income tax benefits (expenses)		(730)		9,642
Loss before loss from equity in affiliates		(46,879)		(52,805)
Loss from equity in affiliates		(8)		—
Net loss		(46,887)		(52,805)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests		885		47
Net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders		(47,772)		(52,852)

Loss per ADS:
Basic		(3.50)		(3.86)
Diluted		(3.50)		(3.86)
ADS used in computation of loss per ADS:
Basic		13,648,534		13,691,216
Diluted		13,648,534		13,691,216

The conversion of Renminbi ("RMB") amounts into reporting currency USD amounts is based on the rate of USD1 = RMB6.7114 on June 30, 2022 and the average rate of USD1 = RMB6.4423 for the six months ended June 30, 2022

LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

	Six months ended
	June 30,
	2021		2022

Net loss		(46,887)		(52,805)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of nil
Foreign currency translation adjustment		2,400		(5,341)

Comprehensive loss		(44,487)		(58,146)

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest		892		8

Comprehensive loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders		(45,379)		(58,154)

LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data and per ADS data)

	Six months ended
	June 30,
	2021		2022

GAAP loss from operations		(49,852)		(64,763)
Share-based compensation expense		1,194		929
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions		5,279		5,279
Non-GAAP loss from operations		(43,379)		(58,555)

GAAP net loss		(46,887)		(52,805)
Share-based compensation expense		1,194		929
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions		5,279		5,279
Income tax benefit:
Current		—		—
Deferred^[3]		(1,320)		(1,320)
Non-GAAP net loss		(41,734)		(47,917)

Net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders		(47,772)		(52,852)
Share-based compensation expense (net of non-controlling interests)		1,194		929
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions (net of non-controlling interests)		5,279		5,279
Income tax benefit:
Current		—		—
Deferred		(1,320)		(1,320)
Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders		(42,619)		(47,964)

GAAP net loss per ADS — basic		(3.50)		(3.86)

GAAP net loss per ADS —diluted		(3.50)		(3.86)

Non-GAAP net loss per ADS —basic		(3.12)		(3.50)

Non-GAAP net loss per ADS —diluted		(3.12)		(3.50)

ADS used in calculating basic GAAP/non-GAAP net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders per ADS		13,648,534		13,691,216

ADS used in calculating diluted GAAP/non-GAAP net loss attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders per ADS		13,648,534		13,691,216

^[3] Amount represents the realization of deferred tax liabilities recognized for the temporary difference between the tax basis of intangible assets recognized from acquisitions and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The income tax impact on the share-based compensation expense is nil.

LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
SELECTED OPERATING DATA


	Six months ended
	June 30,
	2021		2022
Operating data for e-commerce services
Number of discount coupons issued to prospective purchasers (number of transactions)		92,058		31,456
Number of discount coupons redeemed (number of transactions)		77,378		35,262