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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:

(RMB in thousands)

Three months ended

June 30, 2017

Three months ended

June 30, 2016

Amount

% of Revenue

Amount

% of Revenue

% Change

Service charges

116,076

44.3
%

112,051

52.9
%

3.6
%

Interest income

100,728

38.4
%

51,268

24.2
%

96.5
%

Property lease and management

45,279

17.3
%

43,518

20.5
%

4.0
%

Other income

0.0
%

5,003

2.4
%

(100.0
%)

Total income

262,083

100.0
%

211,840

100.0
%

23.7
%

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 / jcwang@fincera.net

Investor Relations

The Equity Group Inc.
Carolyne Y. Sohn
Senior Associate
(415) 568-2255 / csohn@equityny.com

Adam Prior
Senior Vice President
(212) 836-9606 / aprior@equityny.com

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

Three months ended June 30,

Six months ended June 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2017

2016

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

Income

Service charges

17,122

116,076

112,051

34,258

232,244

210,489

Interest income

14,858

100,728

51,268

26,274

178,118

73,054

Property lease and management

6,679

45,279

43,518

12,817

86,887

83,338

Other income

5,003

1,323

8,969

5,003

Total income

38,659

262,083

211,840

74,672

506,218

371,884

Operating Costs and Expenses

Interest expense

15,214

103,137

63,525

27,450

186,089

116,678

Interest expense, related parties

5,239

35,518

4,175

10,207

69,196

12,133

Provision for credit losses

1,837

12,454

44,704

4,566

30,952

60,370

Product development expense

3,143

21,305

14,587

6,076

41,193

27,454

Property and management cost

4,023

27,276

26,454

8,028

54,426

53,811

Selling and marketing

4,855

32,913

17,237

9,357

63,437

33,852

General and administrative

6,990

47,387

39,315

15,989

108,393

78,366

Total operating costs and expenses

41,301

279,990

209,997

81,673

553,686

382,664

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

(2,642

)

(17,907

)

1,843

(7,001

)

(47,468

)

(10,780

)

Income tax provision (benefit)

(1,354

)

(9,176

)

1,232

(1,792

)

(12,149

)

(1,024

)

Income (loss) from continuing operations

(1,288

)

(8,731

)

611

(5,209

)

(35,319

)

(9,756

)

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes

86

581

(5,449

)

898

6,088

(7,876

)

Net (loss)

(1,202

)

(8,150

)

(4,838

)

(4,311

)

(29,231

)

(17,632

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

(1,430

)

(9,696

)

(3,137

)

(1,065

)

(7,217

)

(2,969

)

Comprehensive (loss)

(2,632

)

(17,846

)

(7,975

)

(5,376

)

(36,448

)

(20,601

)

Earnings per share

Basic

Continuing operations

(0.05

)

(0.37

)

0.03

(0.22

)

(1.50

)

(0.41

)

Discontinued operations

0.00

0.02

(0.23

)

0.04

0.26

(0.33

)

(0.05

)

(0.35

)

(0.20

)

(0.18

)

(1.24

)

(0.74

)

Diluted

Continuing operations

(0.05

)

(0.37

)

0.03

(0.22

)

(1.50

)

(0.41

)

Discontinued operations

0.00

0.02

(0.23

)

0.04

0.26

(0.33

)

(0.05

)

(0.35

)

(0.20

)

(0.18

)

(1.24

)

(0.74

)

Weighted average shares outstanding

Basic

23,621,229

23,621,229

23,553,541

23,592,656

23,592,656

23,553,923

Diluted

23,621,229

23,621,229

24,070,599

23,592,656

23,592,656

23,553,923

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)

As of June 30,

As of December 31,

2017

2016

US$

(Unaudited)

RMB

(Unaudited)

RMB

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

95,843

649,748

722,301

Restricted cash

11,525

78,133

42,517

Other financing receivables, net

445,229

3,018,339

2,049,444

Loans, net

490,582

3,325,809

2,575,717

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

41,364

280,416

45,593

Current assets of discontinued operations

11,157

75,640

100,318

Total current assets

1,095,700

7,428,085

5,535,890

Noncurrent assets

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

203,232

1,377,769

1,401,780

Deferred income tax assets

27,968

189,603

163,209

Non-current assets of discontinued operations

6,921

46,917

51,147

Total assets

1,333,821

9,042,374

7,152,026

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities

Dividends payable

30,307

205,463

Short-term bank borrowings (including short-term bank borrowings of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of 680,000 and 520,000 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

100,305

680,000

580,000

Long-term bank borrowings, current portion

9,957

67,500

62,000

Borrowed funds from CeraVest loan investors, related party (including borrowed funds from CeraVest loan investors, related party of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of 963 and 930 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

4,914

33,311

30,171

Borrowed funds from CeraVest loan investors (including borrowed funds from CeraVest loan investors of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of 1,769,540 and 1,583,564 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

660,001

4,474,346

3,035,586

Financing payables, related parties (including financing payables, related parties of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of 2,114,493 and 1,392,400 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

345,612

2,343,008

1,900,533

Other payables and accrued liabilities (including other payables and accrued liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of 236,063 and 201,596 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

81,119

549,932

424,56

Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of 26,507 and 25,951 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

5,781

39,193

37,986

Current liabilities of discontinued operations (including current liabilities of discontinued operations of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Fincera of 13,356 and 5,591 as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

3,886

26,344

31,012

Total current liabilities

1,241,882

8,419,097

6,101,854

Non-current liabilities:

Long-term bank borrowings

92,561

627,500

664,000

Long-term payables, related parties

24,605

166,804

229,118

Total liabilities

1,359,048

9,213,401

6,994,972

Stockholders’ (deficiency) equity

Preferred shares, $0.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; –no shares issued or outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016

Ordinary shares – $0.001 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 23,629,172 and 23,561,949 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively

24

169

169

Additional paid-in capital

98,933

670,699

962,332

Statutory reserves

23,256

157,657

159,801

Accumulated losses

(149,320
)

(1,012,283
)

(985,196
)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

1,880

12,731

19,948

Total stockholders’ (deficiency) equity

(25,227
)

(171,027
)

157,054

Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficiency) equity

1,333,821

9,042,374

7,152,026

SOURCE: Fincera Inc.

ReleaseID: 478393

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