RLX Technology Announces 2022Q1 Financial Results

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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 first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

First Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

Net revenues were RMB1,714.5 million (US$270.4 million), compared with RMB2,398.5 million in the same period of 2021.
Gross margin was 38.3%, compared with 46.0% in the same period of 2021.
U.S. GAAP net income was RMB687.1 million (US$108.4 million), compared with U.S. GAAP net loss of RMB267.0 million in the same period of 2021.
Non-GAAP net income^[1] was RMB361.8 million (US$57.1 million), compared with RMB610.5 million in the same period of 2021.

^[1] Non-GAAP net income is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information on the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the table captioned “Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this press release.

RLX Technology Announces 2022Q1 Financial Results

“During the first quarter of 2022, we continued to focus on our core strategy and maintain our leading position in the industry while preparing for the anticipated regulatory changes. As the new regulatory framework has come into effect and detailed implementation measures have been released, we are proactively adapting our business to the new market environment by applying for the relevant licenses and developing qualified products that meet the requirements of the most recent national standards. We believe that, by leveraging our leading research and development abilities, we are able to launch market-leading products that conform to the national standards and satisfy our users’ needs,” said Ms. Ying (Kate) Wang, Co-founder, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and CEO of RLX Technology. “As a trusted e-vapor brand for adult smokers, we will continue to strictly comply with the new regulations and policies while deepening our commitment to providing high-quality products and exploring new growth opportunities in the industry.”

“Amid the evolving regulatory environment and the COVID-19 resurgences, we recorded net revenues of RMB1,714.5 million, down 28.5% year-over-year, in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was mainly due to the pandemic’s impact on our production plant in Shenzhen, which limited our production and shipment volume. Our cash position remains solid, which will support us as we navigate the market dynamics and agilely adjust our business to the fluctuating macro environment,” said Mr. Chao Lu, Chief Financial Officer of RLX Technology. “Looking ahead, we will remain focused on the business elements under our control, such as product innovation, cost optimization and operating efficiency, to reinforce our fundamentals and position ourselves to seize future opportunities. As always, we are committed to delivering sustainable growth for our shareholders in the long run.”

First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Net revenues were RMB1,714.5 million (US$270.4 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared with RMB2,398.5 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 on our production plant in Shenzhen, which adversely affected our production and shipment volume.

Gross profit was RMB657.0 million (US$103.6 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared with RMB1,104.1 million in the same period of 2021.

Gross margin was 38.3% in the first quarter of 2022, compared with 46.0% in the same period of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to (i) a change in product mix and (ii) an increase in inventory provision largely due to recent regulatory developments.

Operating expenses were RMB33.6 million (US$5.3 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a decrease of 97.2% from RMB1,216.0 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to the change in share-based compensation expenses, which decreased to positive RMB325.2 million (US$51.3 million) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB877.5 million in the same period of 2021, consisting of (i) share-based compensation expenses of positive RMB41.9 million (US$6.6 million) recognized in selling expenses, (ii) share-based compensation expenses of positive RMB230.1 million (US$36.3 million) recognized in general and administrative expenses, and (iii) share-based compensation expenses of positive RMB53.2 million (US$8.4 million) recognized in research and development expenses. 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 73.9% to RMB75.9 million (US$12.0 million) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB291.5 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was mainly driven by (i) a decrease in share-based compensation expenses, (ii) a decrease in salaries and welfare benefits, and (iii) a decrease in branding material expenses.

General and administrative expenses decreased by 109.3% to positive RMB66.4 million (US$10.5 million) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB712.8 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was mainly driven by (i) a decrease in share-based compensation expenses and (ii) a decrease in salaries and welfare benefits, partially offset by an increase in legal and other consulting expenses.

Research and development expenses decreased by 88.7% to RMB24.0 million (US$3.8 million) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB211.6 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was mainly driven by (i) a decrease in share-based compensation expenses and (ii) a decrease in salaries and welfare benefits, partially offset by (i) an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses and (ii) an increase in software and technical service expenses.

Income from operations was RMB623.4 million (US$98.3 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared with a loss from operations of RMB111.9 million in the same period of 2021.

Income tax expense was RMB112.6 million (US$17.8 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared with RMB176.3 million in the same period of 2021.

U.S. GAAP net income was RMB687.1 million (US$108.4 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared with U.S. GAAP net loss of RMB267.0 million in the same period of 2021.

Non-GAAP net income was RMB361.8 million (US$57.1 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared with RMB610.5 million in the same period of 2021.

U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net income per American depositary share (“ADS”) were RMB0.528 (US$0.083) and RMB0.521 (US$0.082), respectively, in the first quarter of 2022, compared with U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS of RMB0.174, in the same period of 2021.

Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS^[2] were RMB0.284 (US$0.045) and RMB0.281 (US$0.044), respectively, in the first quarter of 2022, compared with RMB0.398 in the same period of 2021.

^[2] Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information on the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the table captioned “Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this press release.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

The Company’s liquidity was significantly enhanced by the completion of its initial public offering in early 2021. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term bank deposits, net, short-term investments, and long-term bank deposits, net of RMB14,948.9 million (US$2,358.1 million), compared with RMB14,437.8 million as of March 31, 2021. Among them, approximately US$1,602.7 million (RMB10,160.2 million) was denominated in U.S. dollars as of March 31, 2022. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2022, net cash generated from operating activities was RMB308.2 million (US$48.6 million).

Regulatory Developments

Since the first quarter of 2022, PRC government authorities have issued a series of rules and regulations to regulate the e-cigarette industry. The new requirements set forth in those recently promulgated rules and regulations are expected to materially impact the business operations of the market participants in the e-vapor industry, including that of the Company.

The new regulatory requirements that are expected to materially impact the Company’s current business operations, primarily include, but are not limited to, requirements for (i) all e-cigarette market participants to apply for and obtain requisite licenses and approvals; (ii) e-cigarette products to comply with the mandatory national standards, such as specifications in relation to flavor, e-atomization material component, the concentration of nicotine in the aerosol and the total amount of nicotine contained, and pass the technical review before being launched for sale; (iii) e-cigarette products to be transacted only via the National Transaction Platform to be established by the department of tobacco monopoly administration under the State Council, subject to the administration by the competent department of tobacco monopoly administration in terms of overall transaction amounts and the prohibition of exclusive retail operations; (iv) advertising activities for e-cigarettes to follow the restrictions applicable to tobacco advertisements; and (v) foreign investment in the production of e-cigarette products, and domestic or overseas offering and listing by any e-cigarette enterprise to obtain regulatory approval. Discussion of the relevant regulatory developments and the corresponding risks, uncertainties and/or factors in a more comprehensive and detailed manner is and will be included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F filed on April 29, 2022.

Currently, the Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of all applicable regulatory requirements and implementing business adjustments to comply with those requirements in due course. A transition period ending September 30, 2022 is granted to e-cigarette manufacturers and operators that existed before November 10, 2021, such as the Company, in respect of the implementation and enforcement of the E-Cigarettes Administrative Measures, the National Standards for E-Cigarettes, and relevant implementing policies and rules. During such transition period, existing e-cigarette manufacturers and operators are allowed to continue with their current business, provided that they fully comply with the instructions and requirements imposed by the department of tobacco monopoly administration and should apply for requisite permits as prescribed by the E-Cigarettes Administrative Measures. E-cigarette products manufactured or operated by existing e-cigarette manufacturers and operators should be submitted for technical review and be adjusted to the extent that such e-cigarette products fully comply with applicable regulatory rules.

Many provincial departments of the tobacco monopoly administration have issued draft rules regarding the layout of local e-cigarette retail outlets, while some provincial departments of the tobacco monopoly administration, such as the ones in Beijing, Liaoning Province, Jiangsu Province and Qinghai Province, have set a cap for the total number of their local e-cigarette retail outlets.

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, 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 retail model tailored to China’s e-vapor market.