ATRenew Inc. Reports Unaudited First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

SHANGHAI, May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ATRenew Inc. ("ATRenew" or the "Company") (NYSE: RERE), a leading technology-driven pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. 

First Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Total net revenues grew by 30.2% to RMB2,871.8 million (US$418.2 million) from RMB2,206.5 million in the first quarter of 2022.
• Loss from operations was RMB67.6 million (US$9.8 million), compared to RMB134.8 million in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted income from operations (non-GAAP)¹ was RMB44.4 million (US$6.5 million), compared to RMB3.9 million in the first quarter of 2022.
• Number of consumer products transacted² was 7.9 million, compared to 8.4 million in the first quarter of 2022.

Mr. Kerry Xuefeng Chen, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of ATRenew, commented, "We are delighted to announce that our year-over-year topline growth exceeded 30% as we recorded revenues of RMB2,871.8 million. As business, offline retail, and logistics began to normalize, consumer mindset of AHS Recycle as the go-to brand for recycling drove a rebound in our 1P orders. Bolstered by our deep roots in pre-owned consumer electronics, we continued to build the competitive moat formed by our storefront-based fulfillment network and intelligent supply chain. At the same time, we further explored a variety of new recycling categories and maintained our focus on benefitting users through supply chain efficiency optimizations. Looking ahead, we will strive to improve the accessibility of our hassle-free recycling services while executing on our long-term mission 'to give a second life to all idle goods'. We remain committed to promoting the development of circular consumption and creating greater social and commercial value."

Mr. Rex Chen, Chief Financial Officer of ATRenew, added, "We continued to make progress on our path to profitability during the first quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP operating income reached a new record of RMB44.4 million, representing an adjusted operating margin of 1.5%. We have benefitted from our automated quality inspection system, which has further enhanced our efficiency. Through the integration of industry-leading AI and big data algorithms, we have realized disassembly-free X-ray product testing and achieved optimal pricing of pre-owned electronics, helping us successfully manage quality inspection errors and minimize return losses. As a result, non-GAAP fulfillment expense as a percentage of total revenues was reduced to 9.1% compared to 12.8% in the same period of 2022. Going forward, we will continue to optimize cost efficiency and demonstrate our value to steadily grow our profits, and we remain committed to rewarding our shareholders through our share repurchase program."

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

REVENUE

Total net revenues increased by 30.2% to RMB2,871.8 million (US$418.2 million) from RMB2,206.5 million in the same period of 2022.

• Net product revenues increased by 34.9% to RMB2,575.2 million (US$375.0 million) from RMB1,908.9 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in the sales of pre-owned consumer electronics both through the Company's online and offline channels.
• Net service revenues were RMB296.6 million (US$43.2 million), compared to RMB297.6 million in the same period of 2022, representing a decrease of 0.3%. This was primarily due to the lessened consignment business of Paipai Marketplace as the Company pivoted its strategic focus, which was partially offset by an increase in the service revenue generated from PJT Marketplace.

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

Operating costs and expenses were RMB2,941.4 million (US$428.3 million), compared to RMB2,352.5 million in the same period of 2022, representing an increase of 25.0%.

• Merchandise costs were RMB2,252.1 million (US$327.9 million), compared to RMB1,640.0 million in the same period of 2022, representing an increase of 37.3%. This was primarily due to the growth in product sales.
• Fulfillment expenses decreased by 10.1% to RMB266.4 million (US$38.8 million) from RMB296.2 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to (i) a decrease in operation center related expenses as the Company optimized its store and operation station networks, (ii) a decrease in share-based compensation expenses, and (iii) a decrease in logistics expenses benefiting from the reduction of unit cost.
• Selling and marketing expenses decreased by 2.9% to RMB299.0 million (US$43.5 million) from RMB307.8 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in share-based compensation expenses, which was partially offset by the increases in marketing expenses and office related expenses mainly composed of travelling expenses in relation to business development.
• General and administrative expenses were RMB76.4 million (US$11.1 million), compared to RMB45.0 million in the same period of 2022, representing an increase of 69.8%, primarily due to an increase in professional service and consulting fees.
• Technology and content expenses decreased by 25.4% to RMB47.4 million (US$6.9 million) from RMB63.5 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to the changes in technological personnel cost relating to platforms as the Company's platforms matured.

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

Loss from operations was RMB67.6 million (US$9.8 million), compared to RMB134.8 million in the same period of 2022.

Adjusted income from operations (non-GAAP)¹ was RMB44.4 million (US$6.5 million), compared to RMB3.9 million in the same period of 2022.

NET LOSS

Net loss was RMB50.0 million (US$7.3 million), compared to RMB161.4 million in the same period of 2022. Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)¹ was RMB50.1 million (US$7.3 million), compared to adjusted net loss of RMB35.8 million in the same period of 2022.

BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS PER ORDINARY SHARE

Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share were RMB0.31 (US$0.04), compared to RMB0.99 in the same period of 2022.

Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ordinary share (non-GAAP)¹ were RMB0.31 (US$0.04) and RMB0.30 (US$0.04), compared to negative RMB0.22 in the same period of 2022.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH, SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS AND FUNDS RECEIVABLE FROM THIRD PARTY PAYMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS

Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and funds receivable from third party payment service providers were RMB2,502.7 million (US$364.4 million) as of March 31, 2023, as compared to RMB2,802.1 million as of December 31, 2022.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2023, the Company currently expects its total revenues to be between RMB2,850.0 million and RMB2,950.0 million. This forecast only reflects the Company's current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change.

Recent Development

On December 9, 2022, ATRenew announced an extension of the Company's existing share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$100 million of its shares for another twelve-month period starting from December 28, 2022, with all other terms remain unchanged. During the first quarter 2023, the Company repurchased 1,426,490 American depositary shares ("ADSs") in the open market at an average price of US$2.91 per ADS, with a total cash consideration of US$4.1 million. As of March 31, 2023, the Company repurchased a total of 9,975,463 ADSs for approximately US$38.0 million under this share repurchase program.

On February 10, 2023, ATRenew announced that Ms. Shuangxi Wu had been appointed as a new member of the Company's board of directors, effective immediately, to fill in the vacancy arising from the resignation of Mr. Yanzhong Yao.

Conference Call Information

The Company's management will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 08:00 A.M. Eastern Time (or 08:00 P.M. Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers:

The replay will be accessible through May 30, 2023 by dialing the following numbers:

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at ir.atrenew.com.

About ATRenew Inc.

Headquartered in Shanghai, ATRenew Inc. operates a leading technology-driven pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform in China under the brand ATRenew. Since its inception in 2011, ATRenew has been on a mission to give a second life to all idle goods, addressing the environmental impact of pre-owned consumer electronics by facilitating recycling and trade-in services, and distributing the devices to prolong their lifecycle. ATRenew's open platform integrates C2B, B2B, and B2C capabilities to empower its online and offline services. Through its end-to-end coverage of the entire value chain and its proprietary inspection, grading, and pricing technologies, ATRenew sets the standard for China's pre-owned consumer electronics industry.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of March 31, 2023.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company also uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its business. For example, the Company uses adjusted income from operations, adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted net (loss) income per ordinary share as supplemental measures to review and assess its financial and operating performance. 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 U.S. GAAP. Adjusted income from operations is loss from operations excluding the impact of the impairment loss of deferred cost, intangible assets and goodwill, share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets and deferred cost resulting from assets and business acquisitions. Adjusted net (loss) income is net loss excluding the impact of the impairment loss of deferred cost, intangible assets and goodwill, share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets and deferred cost resulting from assets and business acquisitions and tax effects of impairment loss of deferred cost and intangible assets and amortization of intangible assets and deferred cost resulting from assets and business acquisitions. Adjusted net (loss) income per ordinary share is adjusted net (loss) income attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of shares used in calculating net loss per ordinary share.

The Company presents non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by the Company's management to evaluate the Company's financial and operating performance and formulate business plans. The Company believes that adjusted income from operations and adjusted net (loss) income help identify underlying trends in the Company's business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that are included in loss from operations and net loss. The Company also believes that the use of non-GAAP financial measures facilitates investors' assessment of the Company's operating performance. The Company believes that adjusted income from operations and adjusted net (loss) income provide useful information about the Company's operating results, enhance the overall understanding of the Company's past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the Company's management in its financial and operational decision making.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. One of the key limitations of using non-GAAP financial measures is that they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect the Company's operations. The impairment loss of deferred cost, intangible assets and goodwill, share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets and deferred cost resulting from assets and business acquisitions and tax effects of impairment loss of deferred cost and intangible assets and amortization of intangible assets and deferred cost resulting from assets and business acquisitions have been and may continue to be incurred in the Company's business and is not reflected in the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures. Further, the non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP measures used by other companies, including peer companies, potentially limiting the comparability of their financial results to the Company's. In light of the foregoing limitations, the non-GAAP financial measures for the period should not be considered in isolation from or as an alternative to loss from operations, net loss, and net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per share, or other financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measures, which should be considered when evaluating the Company's performance. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, please see the section of the accompanying tables titled, "Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results."

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to 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, quotations in this announcement, contain forward-looking statements. ATRenew may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), 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 ATRenew'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: ATRenew's strategies; ATRenew's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; ATRenew's ability to maintain its relationship with major strategic investors; its ability to facilitate pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and provide relevant services; its ability to maintain and enhance the recognition and reputation of its brand; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in ATRenew's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and ATRenew does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

In China:

ATRenew Inc.
Investor Relations
Email: ir@atrenew.com

In the United States:

ICR LLC.
Email: atrenew@icrinc.com
Tel: +1-212-537-0461