Fincera Reports Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results

SHIJIAZHUANG, HEBEI PROVINCE, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2017 / Fincera Inc. ("Fincera" or the "Company") (OTCQB: YUANF), a leading provider of web-based financing and ecommerce services for small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in China, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Operational Highlights

Loan transaction volume across both CeraPay and CeraVest platforms for the second quarter of 2017 totaled approximately RMB6.9 billion (US$1.0 billion). Non-credit transactions, transactions utilizing existing cash balances without extension of credit from the Company, conducted over the CeraPay platform, are not included in the charts below.

CeraPay (https://www.dianfubao.com)

CeraPay is the Company's credit advance and online payment processing platform. CeraPay allows customers to pay for their everyday needs at participating merchants through the online CeraPay transaction network. With functionality similar to a credit card, the Company issues revolving credit lines to customers, which they can use to make purchase transactions via the CeraPay application. In addition to the 30-day revolving credit line service, CeraPay now offers short-term financing for products purchased through any of the Company's ecommerce websites (TruShip, AutoChekk and Pingping). These "purchase" financing loans carry 12-month terms with amortized monthly payments and require at least a month of pre-payment kept as collateral in the customer's CeraVest investment account to be used for the final installment. The customers can use the collateral to invest on the CeraVest marketplace until the final payment is due.

CeraPay generated credit transactions totaling approximately RMB5.4 billion (US$796.5 million) during the second quarter of 2017, an increase of approximately RMB367.4 million (US$54.2 million), or 7.4%, compared to the first quarter of 2017, and an 18.0% increase compared to the second quarter of 2016. Fincera earns transaction fees through its CeraPay platform.

CeraVest (https://www.qingyidai.com)

Fincera created CeraVest as an online lending marketplace that provides short-term operating capital for small and medium-sized businesses. CeraVest allows lenders to provide loans to borrowers that have been vetted by the Company. The CeraVest platform also provides investors the opportunity to invest in loans originated from the CeraPay platform. From its inception in November 2014 through the second quarter of 2017, CeraVest originated over RMB10.2 billion (US$1.5 billion) in loans; its loan portfolio was approximately RMB3.4 billion (US$0.5 billion) at June 30, 2017.

Currently, customers may invest in three types of loans on the CeraVest platform: a 30-day loan with an annualized return of 8.1% if held to maturity, a 180-day loan with an annualized return of 8.62% if held to maturity, and a 12 month loan with an annualized return of 9.02% that returns principal and interest monthly. In addition, investors may trade the 30-day and 180-day loans on a secondary marketplace offered by CeraVest with pricing provided by the Company.

The Company also has a flexible investment product that yields an annualized return of 8.03%. This product will be phased out by the end of the year to comply with recent government regulations.

CeraVest originated RMB1.5 billion (US$221.3 million) during the second quarter of 2017, an increase of approximately RMB62.2 million (US$9.2 million), or 4.3%, over the first quarter of 2017 and an 18.1% increase over the second quarter of 2016. CeraVest had a total loan portfolio unpaid principal balance of approximately RMB3.4 billion (US$494.7 million) at June 30, 2017. Fincera earns origination fees on CeraVest loans.

Management Commentary

Mr. Yong Hui Li, Chairman and CEO of Fincera, stated, "We are pleased with the continued growth in our Internet-based businesses in the second quarter of 2017. Our top line improved by more than 23% during the second quarter of 2017 compared to the second quarter last year, resulting from the 18% year-over-year increase in CeraPay's transaction volume and in CeraVest's loan issuances during the quarter. We incurred increased operating expenses related to product development and sales and marketing during the period as we continued working to expand these businesses, which impacted our bottom line. We believe this ongoing growth demonstrates that our primary CeraPay and CeraVest products continue to resonate with underserved small and medium-sized businesses in China. We are continuing to explore ways in which we can further expand and improve our offerings and services."

Change of Reporting Currency from USD to RMB

As previously announced, the Company changed its reporting currency from the U.S. dollar ("US$") to Renminbi ("RMB") beginning with the second quarter ended June 30, 2017, to reduce the effect of increased volatility of the RMB to US$ exchange rate on the Company's reported operating results and to increase comparability with its peer companies in China. The alignment of the reporting currency with the location of the underlying operations will better depict the Company's results of operations for each period. Prior period numbers have been restated using RMB.

Currency Conversion

This release contains approximate translations of certain RMB amounts into US$ for convenience. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to US$ are made at a rate of RMB 6.7793 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate on June 30, 2017, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results

Income (Revenues)

The table below sets forth certain line items from the Company's Consolidated Statement of Income as a percentage of income:

• Income for the three months ended June 30, 2017, increased 23.7% to RMB262.1 million (US$38.7 million), from RMB211.8 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to the Company's ramp-up of its Internet-based business segment, particularly its CeraPay and CeraVest products.
• Service charges, which represent CeraPay transaction fees, late payment fees and penalties, increased 3.6% to RMB116.1 million (US$17.1 million) in the three months ended June 30, 2017, from RMB112.1 million in the prior-year period. During the second quarter of 2017, RMB5.4 billion (US$796.5 million) of transactions were processed through CeraPay, a 10.0% decrease from the RMB6.0 billion processed in the second quarter of 2016. Although the decreased transaction volume resulted in lower transaction fees, this decrease was more than offset by increased income from the new CeraPay short-term purchase financing product that was launched near the end of 2016.
• Interest income, which represents interest earned on CeraVest loans, penalty fees and origination fees, increased 96.5% to RMB100.7 million (US$14.9 million) in the three months ended June 30, 2017, from RMB51.3 million in the prior-year period, due to the increase in the aggregate amount of CeraVest loans facilitated by the Company as well as increases inpenalty fees. At June 30, 2017, CeraVest's portfolio had a total unpaid principal balance of RMB3.4 billion (US$501.5 million), an increase of 36.0% from the RMB2.5 billion in CeraVest total unpaid principal outstanding at June 30, 2016.
• Property lease and management revenues increased 4.0% to RMB45.3 million (US$6.7 million) during the second quarter of 2017, compared to RMB43.5 million in the prior-year period. The occupancy rate of the Kai Yuan Finance Center during the three months ended June 30, 2017 fell to 74%, compared to 81% at June 30, 2016. However, this decrease was more than offset by increased income from the Company's hotel operation at the Kai Yuan Finance Center.

Operating Costs and Expenses

• The Company's operating costs and expenses increased 33.3% to RMB280.0 million (US$41.3 million) during the second quarter of 2017 from RMB210.0 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to increased interest expense, provision for credit losses, product development expense, selling and marketing expense, and general and administrative expenses to support the growth of the Company's Internet-based business.

Loss from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

• Loss from continuing operations before income taxes totaled RMB17.9 million (US$2.6 million) during the second quarter of 2017, compared to income of RMB1.8 million in the prior-year period, primarily as a result of the increased operating expenses mentioned above.

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes

• Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes, totaled RMB0.6 million (US$86,000) during the second quarter of 2017, compared to a loss of RMB5.4 million in the prior-year period. The Company continues the winding down of its legacy truck-leasing business, which is classified as discontinued operations. The loss in the prior-year period was primarily caused by the disposition of sales branches.

Net Loss

• Net loss totaled RMB8.2 million (US$1.2 million) during the second quarter of 2017, compared to RMB4.8 million in the prior-year period.

Balance Sheet Highlights

At June 30, 2017, Fincera's cash and cash equivalents (not including restricted cash) were RMB649.7 million, compared to RMB722.3 million at December 31, 2016. Total liabilities were RMB9.2 billion and stockholders' equity was negative RMB171.0 million, compared to RMB7.0 billion and RMB157.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 2016. The reduction in stockholders' equity was primarily a result of the US$2.00 per share cash dividend that the Company declared in June 2017.

Portfolio Information

Fincera has released certain demographic information about its customers in an effort to increase shareholders' understanding of its business. Below are some details regarding Fincera's investors and borrowers as of June 30, 2017.

Fincera has also released certain information about the location of its customers. The below graphics illustrate the geographic distribution of Fincera's investors and borrowers by province. Hebei province, where the Company is headquartered, has the highest number of investors.

Regional Distribution of Investors

Regional Distribution of Borrowers

The Company has also announced a new methodology for measuring delinquencies. Based on a static pool methodology, the Company now tracks delinquencies based on when a loan was originated (its vintage). The following chart tracks the changes of the greater than 90 days delinquent balances from each CeraPay loan vintage. Vintages are segregated by quarter and start with loans originated during the first quarter of 2015. Delinquency rates for CeraPay credit lines have consistently remained or fallen under 2% for nearly all vintages. The new short-term purchase financing loans offered by CeraPay are not included in the analysis below.

The following chart tracks the changes of the greater than 90 days delinquent balances from each CeraVest loan vintage. Vintages are segregated by quarter and start with loans originated during the fourth quarter of 2014.

About Fincera Inc.

Founded in 2005, Fincera Inc. (OTCQB: YUANF) provides innovative web-based financing and ecommerce services for small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in China. The Company also operates a network of branch offices in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across China. Fincera's primary service offerings include a credit advance/online payment-processing network and a web-based small business lending platform. The Company's website is http://www.fincera.net. Fincera trades on the OTCQB venture stage marketplace for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies. OTCQB companies are current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about the Company. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to meaningfully differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements:

• changing principles of generally accepted accounting principles;
• outcomes of any government or government-related reviews, inquiries, investigations, and related litigation;
• continued compliance with government regulations;
• legislation or regulatory environments, requirements or changes adversely affecting the financial services industry in China;
• fluctuations in consumer demand;
• management of rapid growth;
• general economic conditions;
• changes in government policy;
• fluctuations in sales of commercial vehicles in China;
• China's overall economic conditions and local market economic conditions;
• the Company's business strategy and plans, including its ability to expand through strategic acquisitions, the establishment of new locations, and the introduction of new products and services;
• the Company's ability to successfully integrate recent acquisitions;
• credit risk affecting the Company's revenue and profitability, including its ability to manage the default risk of customers;
• the results of future financing efforts; and
• geopolitical events.

The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the information, including forward looking statements, contained in this press release.

CONTACT

At the Company

Jason Wang
Chief Financial Officer
(858) 997-0680 / [email protected]

Investor Relations

The Equity Group Inc.
Carolyne Y. Sohn
Senior Associate
(415) 568-2255 / [email protected]

Adam Prior
Senior Vice President
(212) 836-9606 / [email protected]

FINCERA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) (Unaudited)
(in thousands except share and per share data)

Note: For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the figures are converted from RMB to USD at the spot rate of RMB 6.7793 to US$1.00 while U.S. GAAP requires such conversion should be made using average rates prevailing during each reporting period.

FINCERA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands except share and per share data)

SOURCE: Fincera Inc.