Vipshop Reports Unaudited First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

GUANGZHOU, China, May 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE: VIPS), a leading online discount retailer for brands in China ("Vipshop" or the "Company"), today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

First Quarter 2020 Highlights

• Total net revenue for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB18.8 billion (US$2.7 billion), as compared with RMB21.3 billion in the prior year period, primarily attributable to soft consumer demand for discretionary categories, delayed logistic services and slow response from the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• GMV^[1] for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB28.9 billion, as compared with RMB33.8 billion in the prior year period.
• Gross profit for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB3.6 billion (US$510.8 million), as compared with RMB4.4 billion in the prior year period.
• Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB684.8 million (US$96.7 million), as compared with RMB872.3 million in the prior year period.
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders^[2] for the first quarter of 2020 increased by 20.8% year over year to RMB986.1 million (US$139.3 million) from RMB816.3 million in the prior year period.
• The number of active customers^[3] for the first quarter of 2020 was 29.6 million, as compared with 29.7 million in the prior year period.
• Total orders^[4] for the first quarter of 2020 increased by 4% year over year to 121.7 million from 116.5 million in the prior year period.

Mr. Eric Shen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vipshop, stated, "We are pleased to have delivered resilient results for the first quarter of 2020, despite the negative impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on the Chinese economy and consumption in general during this quarter. Through this difficult time, we have worked closely with our brand partners and logistics suppliers to provide desirable products and reliable services to our customers. We are glad to see that daily life in China has returned to normal, and as a result, our business has seen healthy recovery since March. We believe that we are well positioned to gain share in the discount retail market in China, and are committed to continuing to help our suppliers monetize on their excess inventory effectively, while offering our customers the best deals, particularly in our core categories."

Mr. Donghao Yang, Chief Financial Officer of Vipshop, further commented, "We are glad to have finished the first quarter of 2020 with solid profitability, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen solid customer retention trends in the first quarter of 2020, despite reduced investment in marketing. Looking ahead, we believe that we are presented with opportunities to expand our market share in the current macro-economic environment, due to the counter-cyclical nature of our discount retail business. We are deeply devoted to the execution of our merchandising strategy and will continue to balance our growth and profitability, further strengthening our expertise in apparel-related categories."

First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

REVENUE

Total net revenue for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB18.8 billion (US$2.7 billion), as compared with RMB21.3 billion in the prior year period, primarily attributable to soft consumer demand for discretionary categories, delayed logistic services and slow response from the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

GROSS PROFIT

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB3.6 billion (US$510.8 million), as compared with RMB4.4 billion in the prior year period. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2020 was 19.2%, as compared with 20.4% in the prior year period, primarily attributable to higher revenue contribution from standardized products with lower gross margin during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OPERATING EXPENSES

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2020 decreased to RMB3.0 billion (US$421.4 million) from RMB3.6 billion in the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenue, total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2020 decreased to 15.9% from 16.9% in the prior year period, primarily attributable to strict cost control.

• Fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2020 decreased to RMB1.4 billion (US$196.8 million) from RMB1.8 billion in the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenue, fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2020 decreased to 7.4% from 8.3% in the prior year period, primarily attributable to the change in fulfillment logistic arrangement.
• Marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2020 decreased to RMB412.3 million (US$58.2 million) from RMB780.9 million in the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenue, marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2020 decreased to 2.2% from 3.7% in the prior year period, primarily attributable to reduced spending during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Technology and content expenses for the first quarter of 2020 decreased to RMB338.4 million (US$47.8 million) from RMB383.0 million in the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenue, technology and content expenses for the first quarter of 2020 remained stable at 1.8% year over year.
• General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2020 were RMB839.2 million (US$118.5 million), as compared with RMB668.9 million in the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenue, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2020 were 4.5%, as compared with 3.1% in the prior year period, primarily attributable to operating expenses related to the Company's offline stores and share options granted to the Company's co-founders.

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB782.2 million (US$110.5 million), as compared with RMB863.2 million in the prior year period. Operating margin for the first quarter of 2020 increased to 4.2% from 4.0% in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP income from operations^[5] for the first quarter of 2020, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, was RMB1.0 billion (US$147.8 million), as compared with RMB1.0 billion in the prior year period. Non-GAAP operating income margin^[6] for the first quarter of 2020 increased to 5.6% from 4.9% in the prior year period.

NET INCOME

Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB684.8 million (US$96.7 million), as compared with RMB872.3 million in the prior year period. Net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the first quarter of 2020 was 3.6%, as compared with 4.1% in the prior year period. Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS^[7] for the first quarter of 2020 was RMB1.00 (US$0.14), as compared with RMB1.27 in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the first quarter of 2020, which excluded (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) impairment loss of investments, (iii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, (iv) tax effect of amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, (v) investment gain and revaluation of investments excluding dividends, (vi) tax effect of investment gain and revaluation of investments excluding dividends, and (vii) share of gain (loss) in investment of limited partnership that is accounted for as an equity method investee, increased by 20.8% year over year to RMB986.1 million (US$139.3 million) from RMB816.3 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders^[8] for the first quarter of 2020 increased to 5.2% from 3.8% in the prior year period. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS^[9] for the first quarter of 2020 increased to RMB1.44 (US$0.20) from RMB1.19 in the prior year period.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the Company's weighted average number of ADSs used in computing diluted income per ADS was 684,546,211.

BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of RMB5.8 billion (US$819.1 million) and short term investments of RMB3.4 billion (US$483.6 million).

For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, net cash used in operating activities was RMB1.7 billion (US$239.9 million), and free cash flow^[10], a non-GAAP measurement of liquidity, was as follows:

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2020, the Company expects its total net revenue to be between RMB22.7 billion and RMB23.8 billion, representing a year-over-year growth rate of approximately 0% to 5%, primarily factoring in the continued impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. These forecasts reflect the Company's current and preliminary view on the market and operational conditions, which is subject to change.

Exchange Rate

The Company's business is primarily conducted in China and the significant majority of revenues generated are denominated in Renminbi. This announcement contains currency conversions of Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.0808 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate on March 31, 2020 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into U.S. dollars at that rate on March 31, 2020, or at any other rate.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold a conference call on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 7:30 am Eastern Time or 7:30 pm Beijing Time to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the first quarter of 2020.

All participants wishing to join the conference call must pre-register online using the link provided below. Once pre-registration has been complete, participants will receive dial-in numbers, a passcode, and a unique registrant ID. To join the conference, simply dial the number in the calendar invite you receive after pre-registration, enter the passcode followed by your PIN, and you will join the conference instantly.

The replay will be accessible through June 4, 2020 by dialing the following numbers:

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.vip.com.

About Vipshop Holdings Limited

Vipshop Holdings Limited is a leading online discount retailer for brands in China. Vipshop offers high quality and popular branded products to consumers throughout China at a significant discount to retail prices. Since it was founded in August 2008, the Company has rapidly built a sizeable and growing base of customers and brand partners. For more information, please visit www.vip.com.

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 "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Vipshop's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Vipshop may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), 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 Vipshop'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: Vipshop's goals and strategies; Vipshop's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the online discount retail market in China; Vipshop's ability to attract customers and brand partners and further enhance its brand recognition; Vipshop's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of flash sales products and services; competition in the discount retail industry; the potential impact of the COVID-19 to Vipshop's business operations and the economy in China and elsewhere generally; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Vipshop's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Vipshop does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The condensed consolidated financial information is derived from the Company's unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), except that comparative consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the period presented and detailed footnote disclosures required by Accounting Standards Codification 270, Interim Reporting ("ASC270"), have been omitted. Vipshop uses non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders, non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating income margin, non-GAAP net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders, and free cash flow, each of which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders is net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) impairment loss of investments, (iii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, (iv) tax effect of amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, (v) investment gain and revaluation of investments excluding dividends, (vi) tax effect of investment gain and revaluation of investments excluding dividends, and (vii) share of gain (loss) in investment of limited partnership that is accounted for as an equity method investee. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS is computed using non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders divided by weighted average number of diluted ADS outstanding for computing diluted earnings per ADS. Non-GAAP income from operations is income from operations excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions. Non-GAAP operating income margin is non-GAAP income from operations as a percentage of total net revenue. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders is non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders as a percentage of total net revenue. Free cash flow is net cash from operating activities adding back the impact from Internet financing activities and less capital expenditures, which include purchase and deposits of property and equipment and land use rights, and purchase of other assets. Impact from Internet financing activities added back or deducted from free cash flow contains changes in the balances of financial products, which are primarily consumer financing and supplier financing that the Company provides to customers and suppliers. The Company believes that separate analysis and exclusion of the non-cash impact of (a) share-based compensation, (b) impairment loss of investments, (c) amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, (d) investment gain and revaluation of investments excluding dividends, and (e) share of gain (loss) in investment of limited partnership that is accounted for as an equity method investee adds clarity to the constituent parts of its performance. The Company reviews these non-GAAP financial measures together with GAAP financial measures to obtain a better understanding of its operating performance. It uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning, forecasting and measuring results against the forecast. The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures are useful supplemental information for investors and analysts to assess its operating performance without the effect of (1) non-cash share-based compensation expenses, (2) impairment loss of investments, (3) amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, (4) investment gain and revaluation of investments excluding dividends, and (5) share of gain (loss) in investment of limited partnership that is accounted for as an equity method investee. Free cash flow enables the Company to assess liquidity and cash flow, taking into account the impact from Internet financing activities and the financial resources needed for the expansion of fulfillment infrastructure and technology platform. Share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets have been and will continue to be significant recurring expenses in its business. However, the use of non-GAAP financial measures has material limitations as an analytical tool. One of the limitations of using non-GAAP financial measures is that they do not include all items that impact the Company's net income for the period. In addition, because non-GAAP financial measures are not measured in the same manner by all companies, they may not be comparable to other similar titled measures used by other companies. One of the key limitations of free cash flow is that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Vipshop Holdings Limited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" at the end of this release.

SOURCE Vipshop Holdings Limited