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Fincera Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Thursday, 05 July 2018 06:00 PM

Fincera Inc.

Topic:

SHIJIAZHUANG, HEBEI PROVINCE, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / July 5, 2018 / 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 first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

2018 First Quarter Financial Highlights

  • Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018, was RMB227.6 million (US$36.2 million), compared to RMB244.1 million in the prior-year period.
  • Net income of RMB103.5 million (US$16.5 million) compared to a net loss of RMB17.7 million in the prior-year period.

Operational Highlights

Loan transaction volume across all loan types for the first quarter of 2018 totaled approximately RMB7.0 billion (US$1.1 billion), an increase of approximately 8.8% compared to approximately RMB6.5 billion in the first quarter of 2017.

Fincera Inc., Thursday, July 5, 2018, Press release picture


30-day Lines of Credit

Fincera issues interest-free revolving credit lines to small and medium-sized businesses ("SMBs") to fund their short-term working capital needs. The credit lines have a 30-day billing cycle. Outstanding balances after the bill due date are considered delinquent and subject to certain penalties. Fincera collaborates with cooperative borrowers in delinquency to help them bring their accounts into good standing.

Similar to credit cards, Fincera's credit lines contain no fees for borrowers as long as any outstanding balances are paid in full each month. Fincera generates revenue primarily by charging transaction fees, which are currently approximately 2.4%. Merchants may use funds received from transactions to make payments to other users or merchants, or to cash out the funds via transfer to a bank account. Credit line users are subject to an application and credit approval process and are required to provide us with guarantees and collateral. For certain payments, such as driver salary payments, a fee is charged to the borrower as the merchant in these scenarios typically will not accept paying a fee for such a transaction.

In the first quarter of 2018, Fincera facilitated RMB3.8 billion (US$0.6 billion) in 30-day lines of credit transactions.

180-Day Term Loans

Currently, Fincera's 180-day term loans accrue interest at 4.25% (or 8.62% on an annualized basis). Fincera charges a facilitation fee between 2%-5% depending on the type of the loan. The fee portion is collected by the Company while the investor holding the loan at maturity receives the interest payment. In addition, the borrower remits 5%-8% of the principal loan balance to the Company as a security deposit that is refunded to the borrower upon timely repayment of principal and interest. Payment of principal and interest is due in a lump sum at the maturity date at the end of the 180-day term. Outstanding balances after the maturity date are considered delinquent. In the event of delinquency, the Company will keep the security deposit as a one-time penalty fee and may assess additional penalties. Fincera collaborates with cooperative borrowers in delinquency to help them bring their accounts into good standing.

In the first quarter of 2018, Fincera facilitated RMB1.9 billion (US$0.3 billion) in 180-day term loans.

Installment Loans

Fincera offers installment loans primarily to fund purchases of trucks and consumer discretionary goods and services in December 2016, with the borrowed purchase funds being transferred directly to the merchant via Fincera's payment network. Based on the term of the loan and the type of purchase, Fincera charges a merchant fee of between 6.9%-8.6% on the transaction and requires some borrowers to provide collateral to partially secure their obligations. Terms of these installment loans may vary between three and 24 months; however, the majority of the installment loans carry a term of 12 months.

In the first quarter of 2018, Fincera facilitated RMB1.3 billion (US$0.2 billion) in installment loans.

Operational Updates

Fincera is pleased to announce that it has made progress with certain corporate initiatives, including:

  • Increasing focus and efforts on facilitating sales of delinquent loans to regional third-party collection agencies;
  • Implementing mobile app solutions for its sales personnel to enhance its data-driven sales process and increase customer conversion through offline channels; and
  • Completing the implementation of a fund custody system with XWBank as its custodian for all customer accounts.

Management Commentary

Mr. Jason Wang, CFO of Fincera, stated, "We were pleased to begin 2018 on a strong note, achieving 8.8% in year-over-year loan transaction volume growth across all loan types for a total of RMB7.0 billion in the first quarter of the year. As we mentioned in our year-end 2017 earnings report, the Company made several changes to its products and services in the second half of 2017 to maintain compliance with government regulations that recently went into effect in China. We have continued to see strong demand for our products, returned to profitability on lower operating costs and expenses, enhanced our sales platform with data-driven mobile app solutions, and reduced our financial exposure by selling underperforming loans to third parties."

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 USD1.00 = RMB6.2881 on March 30, 2018, representing the certificated exchange rate published by the People's Bank of China's Monetary Policy Division. No representation is intended to imply that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at such rate, or at any other rate.

First Quarter 2018 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:



(RMB in thousands)
Three months ended
March 31, 2018
Three months ended
March 31, 2017
Amount
% of Revenue
Amount
% of Revenue
% Change
Facilitation fee
94,814
41.7%
-
-
N/A
Interest income
50,174
22.0%
44,890
18.4%
11.8%
Service charges
225
0.1%
105,581
43.3%
-99.8%
Property lease and management
51,325
22.6%
41,604
17.0%
23.4%
Other income
31,059
13.6%
52,060
21.3%
-40.3%
Total income
227,597
100.0%
244,135
100.0%
-6.8%

  • Total income for the three months ended March 31, 2018, decreased 6.8% to RMB227.6 million (US$36.2 million), from RMB244.1 million in the prior-year period.
  • Facilitation fees, which represent upfront fees charged for facilitating loan transactions via Fincera's marketplace lending platform, totaled RMB94.8 million (US$15.1 million) during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The Company began charging these fees in July 2017 when Fincera redeveloped its loan transaction process to comply with online lending regulations.
  • Interest income, which represents interest earned on CeraVest loans held by the Company, increased 11.8% to RMB50.2 million (US$8.0 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2018, from RMB44.9 million in the prior-year period, mainly due to an increase in the amount of loans made by the Company directly to certain third-parties.
  • Service charges, which represent CeraPay transaction fees, decreased 99.8% to RMB0.2 million (US$0.04 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2018, from RMB105.6 million in the prior-year period. Since July 2017, CeraPay loan transactions have been facilitated through a revised transaction process via Fincera's peer-to-peer lending platform. As a result, the service charges earned under the previous transaction process are now allocated as a facilitation fee to the Company and as interest payable to investors of each loan once the facilitation is successful. Thus, service charges have declined drastically since July 2017, and the Company anticipates it will eventually discontinue reporting this revenue item in future financial reports.
  • Property lease and management revenues increased 23.4% to RMB51.3 million (US$8.2 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to RMB41.6 million in the prior-year period. The average occupancy rate of the Kaiyuan Finance Center during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, increased to 85%, compared to 64% during the prior-year period. Income from the Company's hotel operation at the Kaiyuan Finance Center also increased during the period.
  • Other income is mainly comprised of late payment fees (penalty income) from both CeraPay and CeraVest. Other income decreased 40.3% to RMB31.1 million (US$4.9 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to RMB52.1 million in the prior-year period due to the strengthening of collection efforts and the sale of delinquent loans to third parties during the quarter.

Operating Costs and Expenses

  • The Company's operating costs and expenses decreased 65.8% to RMB92.4 million (US$14.7 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2018, from RMB270.3 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to decreased interest expense, provision for credit losses and selling and marketing expenses. Interest expense decreased as a result of the change to our new business model in July 2017 in response to new regulations in China. Under the new business model, loans that are successfully subscribed to by investors on the Company's peer-to-peer lending platform are derecognized from the Company's balance sheet. Therefore, interest due to these investors is also not recognized by the Company. In addition, large amounts of underperforming loans were sold to third parties during the quarter, which resulted in a reduction to the provision for credit losses, a portion of which is allocated to selling and marketing expenses as an accrued marketing expense per the Company's accounting policies, resulting in a reversal of selling and marketing expenses during the first quarter of 2018.

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

  • Income from continuing operations before income taxes totaled RMB135.2 million (US$21.5 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to a loss of RMB26.2 million in the prior-year period, primarily as a result of the decreased operating costs and expenses mentioned above.

Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes

  • Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes, totaled RMB2.7 million (US$0.4 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to RMB5.5 million in the prior-year period. The Company continues the winding down of its legacy truck-leasing business, which is classified as discontinued operations. This income is a result of the collection of overdue traditional leasing receivables, thus reversing the corresponding provision recorded against them on the Company's financial statements.

Net Income (Loss)

  • Net income improved to RMB103.5 million (US$16.5 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2018, from a net loss of RMB17.7 million in the prior-year period.

Balance Sheet Highlights

At March 31, 2018, Fincera's cash and cash equivalents (not including restricted cash) were RMB1.2 billion, compared to RMB1.1 billion at December 31, 2017. Total liabilities were RMB6.0 billion and stockholders' equity was RMB182.3 million, compared to RMB6.9 billion and negative RMB119.6 million, respectively, at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The increase in stockholders' equity was primarily a result of a transaction into which the Company entered to exchange debt for equity during the quarter. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company issued RMB188.6 million (US$30.0 million) in shares to Mr. Yong Hui Li, its Chairman and CEO, as repayment of certain debts. The repayment consisted of an RMB22.0 million (US$3.5 million) partial repayment of a loan Mr. Li had previously provided to the Company in March 2017 and payment of RMB166.6 million (US$26.5 million) still owed to Mr. Li from the US$2.00 per share dividend the Company declared in June 2017. The resulting issuance of 1.32 million shares was calculated using the trailing 90 trading day average price of US$22.71 per share.

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 materially 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, the discontinuance of certain products and services, and the introduction of new products and services;
  • the Company's ability to successfully integrate 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
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except share and per share data)



Three months ended March 31,
2018
2018
2017
USD
RMB
RMB
Income
Facilitation fee
15,078 94,814
Interest income
7,979 50,174 44,890
Service charges
36 225 105,581
Property lease and management
8,162 51,325 41,604
Other income
4,939 31,059 52,060
Total income
36,194 227,597 244,135
Operating Costs and Expenses (Income)
Interest expense
2,640 16,601 82,952
Interest expense, related parties
5,314 33,414 33,677
Provision for credit losses
(1,094 ) (6,880 ) 18,497
Product development expense
3,154 19,834 19,888
Property and management cost
4,502 28,306 27,150
Selling and marketing
(8,519 ) (53,571 ) 30,524
General and administrative
8,697 54,685 57,660
Total operating costs and expenses
14,694 92,389 270,348
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
21,500 135,208 (26,213 )
Income tax provision (benefit)
5,473 34,415 (2,974 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations
16,027 100,793 (23,239 )
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
432 2,714 5,507
Net income (loss)
16,459 103,507 (17,732 )

Earnings (losses) per share(1)
Basic
Continuing operations
0.34 2.11 (0.49 )
Discontinued operations
0.01 0.06 0.12
0.35 2.17 (0.37 )
Diluted
Continuing operations
0.32 2.02 (0.49 )
Discontinued operations
0.01 0.05 0.12
0.33 2.07 (0.37 )
Weighted average shares outstanding(1)
Basic
47,728,629 47,728,629 47,127,530
Diluted
49,957,072 49,957,072 47,127,530


(1) All per share amounts and shares outstanding for all periods have been retroactively restated to reflect Fincera’s 2-for-1 stock split, which was effective on November 1, 2017.


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



March 31,
December 31,
2018
2017
USD
RMB
RMB
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
183,720 1,155,251 1,123,296
Restricted cash
23,737 149,261 127,762
Loans, net
273,551 1,720,119 1,851,001
Other financing receivables, net
226,489 1,424,185 1,936,213
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
11,008 69,212 62,913
Current assets of discontinued operations
7,136 44,875 49,872
Total current assets
725,641 4,562,903 5,151,057
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net
212,673 1,337,309 1,350,858
Deferred tax assets, net
30,536 192,011 209,587
Non-current assets of discontinued operations
6,461 40,628 42,002
Total assets
975,311 6,132,851 6,753,504


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities

Dividends payable
172,932
Short-term bank borrowings (including short-term bank borrowings of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of RMB420,000 and RMB520,000 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
66,793
420,000
520,000
Long-term bank borrowings, current portion
12,126
76,250
73,000
Borrowed funds from CeraVest investor, related party (including borrowed funds from CeraVest investor, related party of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of nil and RMB1,161 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
1,161
Borrowed funds from CeraVest investors (including borrowed funds from CeraVest investors of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of nil and RMB743,496 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
743,496
Financing payables, related parties (including financing payables, related parties of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of RMB1,589,456 and RMB1,729,327 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
266,097
1,673,244
1,836,203
Other payables and accrued liabilities (including other payables and accrued liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of RMB7,599,165 and RMB2,358,109 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
424,461
2,669,052
2,635,604
Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of RMB44,592 and RMB36,733 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
10,808
67,959
53,278


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



December 31,
2018
2018
2017
USD
RMB
RMB
Current liabilities of discontinued operations (including current liabilities of discontinued operations of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of RMB187 and RMB5 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
1,764 11,095 10,916
Total current liabilities
782,049 4,917,600 6,046,590
Non-current liabilities
Long-term bank borrowings
122,772 772,000 591,000
Long-term financing payables, related party
41,500 260,954 235,527
Total liabilities
946,321 5,950,554 6,873,117
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred shares, $0.001 par value authorized - 1,000,000 shares; issued – none
Ordinary shares - $0.001 par value authorized – 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding – 48,870,310 shares at March 31, 2018; issued and outstanding – 47,531,799 shares at December 31, 2017 (1)
53 336 327
Additional paid-in capital
141,900 892,283 693,889
Statutory reserves
25,483 160,241 160,289
Accumulated deficit
(138,446 ) (870,563 ) (974,118 )
Total stockholders’ equity
28,990 182,297 (119,613 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
975,311 6,132,851 6,753,504

(1)All per share amounts and shares outstanding for all periods have been retroactively restated to reflect Fincera’s 2-for-1 stock split, which was effective on November 1, 2017.

SOURCE: Fincera Inc.

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