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Niu Technologies Announces Unaudited Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

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— Fourth Quarter Revenues of RMB 478.7 million, down 21.8% year over year

— Fourth Quarter Net Loss of RMB 130.2 million, compared to net loss of RMB 37.1 million in the same period of last year

— Full Year Revenues of RMB 2,651.8 million, down 16.3% year over year

— Full Year Net loss of RMB 271.8 million, compared to net loss of RMB 49.5 million in 2022

BEIJING, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Niu Technologies (“NIU”, or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: NIU), the world’s leading provider of smart urban mobility solutions, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

Fourth Quarter 2023 Operating Highlights

Dr. Yan Li, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented: “In 2023, the new products we rolled out rapidly gained momentum in the domestic market. Our flagship product, the MQiL, with enhanced performance and smart connectivity inherited from classic NIU design, garnered significant popularity and became our bestseller of the year. Additionally, our high-performance product, the RQi, is leading the industry’s transformation from petrol to electric. Our products position NIU not only as a leader in urban mobility but also as a pioneer in cultivating an ideal lifestyle.”

Dr. Li continued, “The XQi3 successfully expanded our overseas product portfolio in 2023. We believe that we have overcome the worst and will regain market favor in 2024. In the micro-mobility market, we have continually reinforced NIU’s brand recognition with our diverse products. Riding on the mega trend of transitioning from petrol to electric in mobility vehicles, we are poised to capture the great opportunities ahead of us.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Revenues were RMB 478.7 million, a decrease of 21.8% year over year, mainly due to decreased revenues per e-scooter of 21.4%. The following table shows the revenue breakdown and revenues per e-scooter in the periods presented:

Revenues
(in RMB million)		   2023
Q4		   2022
Q4		   % change
YoY
E-scooter sales from China market   355.2   446.7   -20.5%  
E-scooter sales from international markets   59.0   86.7   -32.0%  
E-scooter sales, sub-total   414.2   533.4   -22.3%  
Accessories, spare parts and services   64.5   78.9   -18.3%  
Total   478.7   612.3   -21.8%  
Revenues per e-scooter
(in RMB)		   2023
Q4		   2022
Q4		   % change
YoY
E-scooter sales from China market2   3,216   3,783   -15.0%  
E-scooter sales from international markets2   2,183   4,289   -49.1%  
E-scooter sales   3,013   3,857   -21.9%  
Accessories, spare parts and services3   469   571   -17.9%  
Revenues per e-scooter   3,482   4,428   -21.4%  

Cost of revenues was RMB 387.7 million, a decrease of 18.3% year over year, in line with the decrease of revenues. The cost per e-scooter, defined as cost of revenues divided by the number of e-scooters sold in a specific period, was RMB 2,820, down 17.9% from RMB 3,433 in the fourth quarter of 2022, mainly due to the decreased cost of battery packs and changes in product mix in both China and international markets.

Gross margin was 19.0%, compared with 22.5% in the same period of 2022. The decrease was mainly due to the increased proportion of mass-premium series in China market, and the decline in sales volume of e-motorcycles and e-mopeds in international markets.

Operating expenses were RMB 246.2 million, an increase of 25.9% from the same period of 2022. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenues was 51.4%, compared with 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Operating expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 238.8 million, increased by 29.1% year over year, and represented 49.9% of revenues, compared with 30.2% in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Government grants were RMB 1.1 million, decreased by RMB 13.9 million from the same period of 2022.

Share-based compensation was RMB 7.7 million, compared with RMB 10.9 million in the same period of 2022.

Income tax benefit was RMB 14.4 million, compared with income tax expense of RMB 0.3 million in the same period of 2022.

Net loss was RMB 130.2 million, compared with net loss of RMB 37.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The net loss margin was 27.2%, compared with net loss margin of 6.1% in the same period of 2022.

Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) was RMB 122.4 million, compared with an adjusted net loss of RMB 26.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The adjusted net loss margin4 was 25.6%, compared with an adjusted net loss margin of 4.3% in the same period of 2022.

Basic and diluted net loss per ADS were both RMB 1.65 (US$ 0.23).

Full Year 2023 Financial Results

Revenues were RMB 2,651.8 million, a decrease of 16.3% year over year, mainly due to the decrease in e-scooter sales volume. E-scooter sales revenues from China market and international markets represented 85.2% and 14.8% of our total revenues from e-scooter sales, respectively. The following table shows the revenue breakdown and revenues per e-scooter in the years presented:

Revenues
(in RMB million)		   2023
Full Year		   2022
Full Year		   % change
YoY
E-scooter sales from China market   2,010.0   2,360.2   -14.8%  
E-scooter sales from international markets   348.7   493.7   -29.4%  
E-scooter sales, sub-total   2,358.7   2,853.9   -17.4%  
Accessories, spare parts and services   293.1   314.7   -6.9%  
Total   2,651.8   3,168.6   -16.3%  
Revenues per e-scooter
(in RMB)		   2023
Full Year		   2022
Full Year		   % change
YoY
E-scooter sales from China market2   3,344   3,322   +0.7%  
E-scooter sales from international markets2   3,204   4,079   -21.5%  
E-scooter sales   3,323   3,432   -3.2%  
Accessories, spare parts and services3   413   378   +9.3%  
Revenues per e-scooter   3,736   3,810   -1.9%  


Cost of revenues were RMB 2,081.0 million, a decrease of 16.7% year over year, mainly resulted from lower e-scooter sales volume. The cost per e-scooter, defined as cost of revenues divided by the number of e-scooters sold in a specific period, was RMB 2,932, down 2.4% from RMB 3,005 in 2022.

Gross margin was 21.5%, compared with 21.1% in 2022. The increase mainly attributable to the strategic launch of our new premium product in China market.

Operating expenses were RMB 891.2 million, an increase of 14.9% from RMB 775.3 million in 2022. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenues was 33.6%, compared with 24.5% in 2022.

Operating expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 844.8 million, an increase of 17.6% year over year, and represented 31.9% of revenues, compared with 22.7% in 2022.

Government grants were RMB 3.0 million, decreased by 13.4 million compared with 2022.

Share-based compensation was RMB 47.7 million, a decrease of RMB 10.6 million from RMB 58.2 million in 2022.

Income tax benefit was RMB 10.2 million, compared with income tax benefit of RMB 21.8 million in 2022.

Net loss was RMB 271.8 million, compared with net loss of RMB 49.5 million in 2022. The net loss margin was 10.3%, compared with net loss margin of 1.6% in 2022.

Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) was RMB 224.2 million, compared with an adjusted net income of RMB 8.8 million in 2022. The adjusted net loss margin4 was 8.5%, compared with an adjusted net income margin of 0.3% in 2022.

Basic and diluted net loss per ADS were both RMB 3.47 (US$ 0.49).

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments of RMB 970.1 million in aggregate. The Company had restricted cash of RMB 107.7 million and short-term bank borrowings of RMB 100.0 million as of December 31, 2023.

Business Outlook

NIU expects revenues of the first quarter 2024 to be in the range of RMB 438 million to RMB 480 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 5% to 15%. NIU expects the sales volume for full year 2024 to be in the range of 1.0 million to 1.2 million units, representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 41% to 69%.

The above outlook is based on information available as of the date of this press release and reflects the Company’s current and preliminary expectation and is subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company will host an earnings conference call on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong Time) to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial and business results and provide a corporate update.

To join via phone, participants need to register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. Upon registration, participants will receive dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which will be used to join the conference call.

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the investor relations website at https://ir.niu.com/news-and-events/webcasts-and-presentations.

About NIU

As the world’s leading provider of smart urban mobility solutions, NIU designs, manufactures and sells high-performance electric motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and kick-scooters. NIU has a diversified product portfolio that caters to the various demands of our users and addresses different urban travel scenarios. NIU’s product portfolio comprises its (i) six electric scooter and motorcycle series, RQi, NQi, MQi, SQi, UQi, and Gova, and (ii) two micro-mobility series, including kick-scooter series, KQi, and e-bike series, BQi. NIU has adopted an omnichannel retail model, integrating the offline and online channels, to sell its products and provide services. For more information, please visit www.niu.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement NIU’s consolidated financial results presented in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), NIU uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) margin. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. NIU believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of its operating results. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to NIU’s historical performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude certain items that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant component in the Company’s results of operations. These non-GAAP financial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company’s data.

Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) excluding share-based compensation expenses. Adjusted net income (loss) margin is defined as adjusted net income (loss) as a percentage of the revenues.

For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned “Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results”.

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the readers. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB 7.0999 to US$ 1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of December 29, 2023, as set forth in the H.10 Statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release 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,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as NIU’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. NIU may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 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 NIU’s beliefs, plans 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: NIU’s strategies; NIU’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; NIU’s ability to maintain and enhance its “NIU” brand; its ability to innovate and successfully launch new products and services; its ability to maintain and expand its offline distribution network; its ability to satisfy the mandated safety standards relating to e-scooters; its ability to secure supply of components and raw materials used in e-scooters; its ability to manufacture, launch and sell smart e-scooters meeting customer expectations; its ability to grow collaboration with operation partners; its ability to control costs associated with its operations; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in NIU’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and NIU does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Niu Technologies
E-mail: ir@niu.com

NIU TECHNOLOGIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
　 　 　 　 　 　
　 As of
　 December 31, 　 December 31, 　 December 31,
　 2022   　 2023   　 2023  
　  RMB  　  RMB  　 US$
ASSETS 　 　 　 　 　
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents 534,286,849     872,573,460     122,899,401  
Term deposits-current 208,589,770     97,555,565     13,740,414  
Restricted cash 186,340,321     107,666,733     15,164,542  
Short-term investments 160,406,301     –     –  
Accounts receivable, net 299,742,923     94,956,170     13,374,297  
Inventories 417,009,148     392,790,141     55,323,334  
Prepayments and other current assets 205,695,717     195,072,129     27,475,335  
Total current assets 2,012,071,029     1,760,614,198     247,977,323  
　          
Non-current assets          
Term deposits-non-current 20,000,000     –     –  
Property, plant and equipment, net 397,356,795     323,112,366     45,509,425  
Intangible assets, net 1,857,320     1,306,401     184,003  
Operating lease right-of-use assets 86,597,121     76,821,285     10,820,052  
Deferred income tax assets 6,132,499     20,747,021     2,922,157  
Other non-current assets 12,683,090     6,730,378     947,954  
Total non-current assets 524,626,825     428,717,451     60,383,591  
　          
Total assets 2,536,697,854     2,189,331,649     308,360,914  
　          
LIABILITIES 　 　 　 　 　
Current liabilities          
Short-term bank borrowings 160,000,000     100,000,000     14,084,705  
Notes payable 316,832,113     167,282,688     23,561,274  
Accounts payable 459,466,937     575,724,288     81,089,070  
Income taxes payable  1,898,065     1,357,913     191,258  
Advances from customers 24,931,897     19,304,488     2,718,980  
Deferred revenue-current 37,539,733     41,755,097     5,881,082  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 192,092,943     165,511,396     23,311,795  
Total current liabilities 1,192,761,688     1,070,935,870     150,838,164  
　          
Deferred revenue-non-current 11,429,500     13,168,111     1,854,690  
Deferred income tax liabilities 1,398,279     2,362,494     332,750  
Operating lease liabilities 7,569,128     280,421     39,496  
Other non-current liabilities 13,441,382     8,968,519     1,263,189  
Total non-current liabilities 33,838,289     24,779,545     3,490,125  
　          
Total liabilities 1,226,599,977     1,095,715,415     154,328,289  
　          
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:          
Class A ordinary shares 89,428     90,031     12,681  
Class B ordinary shares 10,316     10,316     1,453  
Additional paid-in capital 1,915,825,641     1,964,138,365     276,643,103  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (16,536,686 )   (9,495,674 )   (1,337,438 )
Accumulated deficit (589,290,822 )   (861,126,804 )   (121,287,174 )
Total shareholders’ equity 1,310,097,877     1,093,616,234     154,032,625  
　          
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 2,536,697,854     2,189,331,649     308,360,914  
                 
                     
NIU TECHNOLOGIES  
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS  
                     
  Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,  
  2022     2023     2022     2023    
  RMB   RMB US$   RMB   RMB US$  
Revenues 612,271,193     478,687,794   67,421,766     3,168,597,334     2,651,757,646   373,492,253    
Cost of revenues(a) (474,737,508 )   (387,743,580 ) (54,612,541 )   (2,498,916,443 )   (2,081,010,633 ) (293,104,217 )  
Gross profit 137,533,685     90,944,214   12,809,225     669,680,891     570,747,013   80,388,036    
                     
Operating expenses:                    
Selling and marketing expenses(a) (107,463,926 )   (191,169,312 ) (26,925,634 )   (440,408,982 )   (495,734,694 ) (69,822,771 )  
Research and development expenses(a) (40,341,909 )   (35,634,011 ) (5,018,945 )   (176,478,130 )   (150,985,739 ) (21,265,897 )  
General and administrative expenses(a) (47,773,658 )   (19,396,568 ) (2,731,949 )   (158,460,764 )   (244,518,817 ) (34,439,755 )  
Total operating expenses (195,579,493 )   (246,199,891 ) (34,676,528 )   (775,347,876 )   (891,239,250 ) (125,528,423 )  
Government grants 14,980,000     1,071,262   150,884     16,385,038     2,968,735   418,138    
Operating loss (43,065,808 )   (154,184,415 ) (21,716,419 )   (89,281,947 )   (317,523,502 ) (44,722,249 )  
                     
Interest expenses (1,337,935 )   (817,656 ) (115,164 )   (5,715,878 )   (1,423,924 ) (200,556 )  
Interest income 6,009,766     9,946,526   1,400,939     12,860,216     35,492,190   4,998,970    
Investment income 1,578,877     441,028   62,117     10,917,736     1,426,370   200,900    
Loss before income taxes (36,815,100 )   (144,614,517 ) (20,368,527 )   (71,219,873 )   (282,028,866 ) (39,722,935 )  
Income tax benefit (expense) (317,209 )   14,444,605   2,034,480     21,756,944     10,192,884   1,435,638    
Net loss (37,132,309 )   (130,169,912 ) (18,334,047 )   (49,462,929 )   (271,835,982 ) (38,287,297 )  
                     
Other comprehensive loss                    
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of nil income taxes (8,013,103 )   (5,456,486 ) (768,530 )   37,342,724     7,386,368   1,040,348    
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification 193,707     –   –     (2,758,380 )   (345,356 ) (48,642 )  
Comprehensive loss (44,951,705 )   (135,626,398 ) (19,102,577 )   (14,878,585 )   (264,794,970 ) (37,295,591 )  
Net loss per ordinary share                    
—Basic (0.24 )   (0.83 ) (0.12 )   (0.32 )   (1.73 ) (0.24 )  
—Diluted (0.24 )   (0.83 ) (0.12 )   (0.32 )   (1.73 ) (0.24 )  
Net loss per ADS                    
—Basic (0.48 )   (1.65 ) (0.23 )   (0.64 )   (3.47 ) (0.49 )  
—Diluted (0.48 )   (1.65 ) (0.23 )   (0.64 )   (3.47 ) (0.49 )  
                     
Weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary shares equivalents outstanding used in computing net loss per ordinary share              
—Basic 155,584,223     157,474,523   157,474,523     155,176,922     156,816,105   156,816,105    
—Diluted 155,584,223     157,474,523   157,474,523     155,176,922     156,816,105   156,816,105    
Weighted average number of ADS outstanding used in computing net loss per ADS                  
—Basic 77,792,112     78,737,262   78,737,262     77,588,461     78,408,053   78,408,053    
—Diluted 77,792,112     78,737,262   78,737,262     77,588,461     78,408,053   78,408,053    
                     
Note:                    
(a) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows: 
                  
  Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,  
  2022     2023     2022     2023    
  RMB   RMB US$   RMB   RMB US$  
Cost of revenues 311,071     335,225   47,215     1,224,796     1,237,902   174,355    
Selling and marketing expenses 2,684,492     1,784,011   251,273     15,433,684     9,991,688   1,407,300    
Research and development expenses 3,182,290     2,997,597   422,203     22,361,742     21,653,946   3,049,895    
General and administrative expenses 4,712,681     2,623,526   369,516     19,198,964     14,775,768   2,081,123    
Total share-based compensation expenses 10,890,534     7,740,359   1,090,207     58,219,186     47,659,304   6,712,673    
NIU TECHNOLOGIES    
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS    
                     
  Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,  
  2022     2023     2022     2023    
  RMB    RMB  US$   RMB    RMB  US$  
Net loss (37,132,309 )   (130,169,912 ) (18,334,047 )   (49,462,929 )   (271,835,982 ) (38,287,297 )  
Add:                    
Share-based compensation expenses 10,890,534     7,740,359   1,090,207     58,219,186     47,659,304   6,712,673    
Adjusted net income (loss) (26,241,775 )   (122,429,553 ) (17,243,840 )   8,756,257     (224,176,678 ) (31,574,624 )  
                       

___________________

1 Adjusted net income/loss (non-GAAP) is defined as net income/loss excluding share-based compensation expense
2 Revenues per e-scooter on e-scooter sales from China or international markets is defined as e-scooter sales revenues from China or international markets divided by the number of e-scooters sold in China or international market in a specific period
3 Revenues per e-scooter on accessories, spare parts and services is defined as accessories, spare parts and services revenues divided by the total number of e-scooters sold in a specific period
4 Adjusted net income/loss margin is defined as adjusted net income/loss (non-GAAP) as a percentage of the revenues


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