Cango Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2019 Unaudited Financial Results and Issues Notice of Annual General Meeting

SHANGHAI, Nov. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cango, Inc. (NYSE: CANG) ("Cango" or the "Company"), a leading automotive transaction service platform in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2019.

Third Quarter 2019 Financial and Operational Highlights

• Total revenues in the third quarter of 2019 were RMB351.3 million (US$49.1 million), representing a year-over-year increase of 23.2% and outperforming the high end of the Company's guidance by 8.1%.
• After-market services facilitation revenues in the third quarter of 2019 were RMB40.7 million (US$5.7 million), continuing to serve as an important driver for the Company's revenue growth.
• Income from operations in the third quarter of 2019 increased by 17.8% to RMB89.7 million (US$12.6 million) from RMB76.2 million in the corresponding period of 2018.
• Net income in the third quarter of 2019 increased by 14.9% to RMB122.1 million (US$17.1million) from RMB106.3 million in the corresponding period of 2018. Non-GAAP net income in the third quarter of 2019 increased by 21.5% to RMB146.0 million (US$20.4 million) from RMB120.2 million in the corresponding period of 2018.
• The amount of financing transactions the Company facilitated in the third quarter of 2019 totaled RMB5,769.4 million (US$807.2 million). The total outstanding balance of financing transactions the Company facilitated was RMB36,500.5 million (US$5,106.6 million) as of September 30, 2019.
• M1+ and M3+ overdue ratios for all financing transactions that remained outstanding and were facilitated by the Company were 0.85% and 0.33%, respectively, as of September 30, 2019, as compared to 0.72% and 0.30%, respectively, as of June 30, 2019.
• The number of dealers covered by the Company continued to grow sequentially, reaching 49,396 as of September 30, 2019, compared to 48,367 as of June 30, 2019.

Mr. Jiayuan Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Cango, commented, "In the face of adverse market conditions and industry-wide challenges, we remained focused on executing our growth strategies in the third quarter. Accordingly, we further expanded our dealership coverage, optimized our service offerings, and leveraged our industry partnerships to deliver a robust financial performance. In particular, we continued to hone our core competencies in the auto financing market through our auto loan facilitation services. Our burgeoning dealership network and highly efficient direct coverage model also enabled us to enhance the operating capacities of our partnered dealers, further improving both our service quality and efficiency in turn.

Additionally, we focused on accelerating the development of our after-market services, which have become an integral component of our long-term growth strategy. Going forward, we expect the near-term headwinds and macroeconomic slowdown to persist throughout the first half of 2020. Nonetheless, we are confident in the strength of the foundation we have built through our leadership in the auto financing market as well as strategic partnerships with some of China's largest financial institutions and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)."

Mr. Yongyi Zhang, Chief Financial Officer of Cango, stated, "In the face of difficult macroeconomic conditions and the contraction of China's auto market, we maintained our strong growth momentum to deliver solid financial results in the third quarter of 2019. Our total revenues increased by 23.2% year over year to RMB351.3 million in the third quarter. Our after-market services facilitation business continued to serve as an important growth engine, contributing RMB40.7 million or 11.6% of our total revenues in the third quarter. More importantly, we also expanded our profitability as a result of the increased economies of scale as well as the successful implementation of our cost control initiatives. Our income from operations and net income increased, by 17.8% and 14.9% to RMB89.7 million and RMB122.1 million, respectively, in the third quarter of 2019. Going forward, we plan to continue investing in the expansion of our geographic footprint, refinement of our service offerings, and development of cutting-edge technology. We will forge ahead and strengthen our ties with additional financial institutions and OEMs, further propelling our growth trajectory in spite of the challenging macroeconomic situation."

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

REVENUES

Total revenues in the third quarter of 2019 were RMB351.3 million (US$49.1 million), representing a 23.2% increase from RMB285.2 million in the corresponding period of 2018. Revenues from after-market services facilitation in the third quarter of 2019 were RMB40.7 million (US$5.7 million), compared to RMB39.0 million in the same period of last year.

OPERATING COST AND EXPENSES

Total operating cost and expenses in the third quarter of 2019 were RMB261.6 million (US$36.6 million), compared to RMB209.0 million in the corresponding period of 2018.

• Cost of revenue in the third quarter of 2019 increased by 10.5% to RMB125.4 million (US$17.5 million) from RMB113.5 million in the corresponding period of 2018. As a percentage of total revenues, cost of revenue decreased to 35.7% in the third quarter of 2019 from 39.8% in the corresponding period of 2018. As a result, the Company's gross profit margin expanded to 64.3% in the third quarter of 2019 from 60.2% in the corresponding period of 2018, further demonstrating the increased economies of scale as well as the effectiveness of the Company's cost control initiatives.
• Sales and marketing expenses in the third quarter of 2019 decreased by 1.9% to RMB47.6 million (US$6.7 million) from RMB48.5 million in the corresponding period of 2018. As a percentage of total revenues, sales and marketing expenses decreased to 13.5% in the third quarter of 2019 from 17.0% in the corresponding period of 2018. The decrease was a result of the Company's efforts to maintain stable sales and marketing expenses while growing its revenues concurrently.
• General and administrative expenses were RMB52.3 million (US$7.3 million), or 14.9% of total revenues, in the third quarter of 2019, compared to RMB40.7 million, or 14.3% of total revenues, in the corresponding period of 2018. The increase was mainly due to higher share-based compensation expenses in the third quarter of 2019.
• Research and development expenses in the third quarter of 2019 increased to RMB13.2 million (US$1.8 million) from RMB10.8 million in the corresponding period of 2018. The increase was a result of increased investments in the Company's research and development projects as it grew its total revenues. As a percentage of total revenues, research and development expenses remained stable at 3.8% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the corresponding period of 2018.

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

Income from operations was RMB89.7 million (US$12.6 million) in the third quarter of 2019, representing a year-over-year increase of 17.8% from RMB76.2 million in the corresponding period of 2018.

NET INCOME

Net income was RMB122.1 million (US$17.1 million) in the third quarter of 2019, representing a year-over-year increase of 14.9% from RMB106.3 million in the corresponding period of 2018. Non-GAAP adjusted net income increased by 21.5% to RMB146.0 million (US$20.4 million) from RMB120.2 million in the corresponding period of 2018. Non-GAAP adjusted net income excludes the impact of share-based compensation expenses. For further information, see "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure."

NET INCOME PER ADS

Basic and diluted net income per American Depositary Share (ADS) in the third quarter of 2019 were both RMB0.78 (US$0.11). Non-GAAP adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS in the third quarter of 2019 were both RMB0.94 (US$0.13). Each ADS represents two of the Company's Class A ordinary shares.

BALANCE SHEET

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB1,851.2 million (US$259.0 million), compared to RMB1,609.6 million as of June 30, 2019.

Business Outlook

For the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company expects total revenues to be between RMB380 million and RMB400 million. This forecast reflects the Company's current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

The Company will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders (the "AGM") at 18F, Building 2, Youyou Century Plaza, 428 Yang Gao Nan Lu, Shanghai, China, on December 23, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. Beijing Time. No proposal will be submitted to shareholders for approval at the AGM. Instead, the AGM will serve as an open forum for shareholders and holders of the Company's ADSs to discuss the Company's affairs with management. The chairman of the AGM will conduct and lead the AGM and may accept questions from shareholders at his sole and absolute discretion.

The board of directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on November 25, 2019 (Eastern Standard Time) as the record date (the "Record Date") for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and attend the AGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Holders of record of the ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, of the Company (the "Ordinary Shares"), at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to attend the AGM and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person.

The notice of the annual general meeting is available on the Company's website at ir.cangoonline.com. The Company filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") April 25, 2019, U.S. Eastern Time. The annual report can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at ir.cangoonline.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company will also provide a hard copy of its annual report containing its audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and American Depositary Share holders upon request.

Conference Call Information

The Company's management will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 14, 2019, at 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time or Friday, November 15, 2019, at 9:00 A.M. Beijing Time to discuss the financial results. Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers:

The replay will be accessible through November 21, 2019, 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 http://ir.cangoonline.com/.

About Cango, Inc.

Cango Inc. (NYSE: CANG) is a leading automotive transaction service platform in China connecting dealers, financial institutions, car buyers, and other industry participants. Founded in 2010 by a group of pioneers in China's automotive finance industry, the Company is headquartered in Shanghai and engages car buyers through a nationwide dealer network. The Company's services primarily consist of automotive financing facilitation, automotive transaction facilitation, and after-market services facilitation. By utilizing its competitive advantages in technology, data insights, and cloud-based infrastructure, Cango is able to connect its platform participants while bringing them a premium user experience. Cango's platform model puts it in a unique position to add value for its platform participants and business partners as the automotive and mobility markets in China continue to grow and evolve. For more information, please visit: www.cangoonline.com.

Definition of Overdue Ratios

The Company defines "M1+ overdue ratio" as (i) exposure at risk relating to financing transactions for which any installment payment is 30 to 179 calendar days past due as of a specified date, divided by (ii) exposure at risk relating to all financing transactions which remain outstanding as of such date, excluding amounts of outstanding principal that are 180 calendar days or more past due.

The Company defines "M3+ overdue ratio" as (i) exposure at risk relating to financing transactions for which any installment payment is 90 to 179 calendar days past due as of a specified date, divided by (ii) exposure at risk relating to all financing transactions which remain outstanding as of such date, excluding amounts of outstanding principal that are 180 calendar days or more past due.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In evaluating the business, the Company considers and uses Non-GAAP adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, as a supplemental measure to review and assess its operating performance. The presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure 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. The Company defines Non-GAAP adjusted net income as net income excluding share-based compensation expenses. The Company presents the non-GAAP financial measure because it is used by the management to evaluate the operating performance and formulate business plans. Non-GAAP adjusted net income enables the management to assess the Company's operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges. The Company also believes that the use of the non-GAAP measure facilitates investors' assessment of its operating performance.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income is not defined under U.S. GAAP and is not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as analytical tools. One of the key limitations of using Non-GAAP adjusted net income is that it does not reflect all items of expense that affect the Company's operations. Share-based compensation expenses have been and may continue to be incurred in the business and are not reflected in the presentation of Non-GAAP adjusted net income. Further, the non-GAAP measure may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating the Company's performance. The Company encourages you to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Reconciliations of Cango's non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure are included at the end of this press release.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars ("US$") at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB7.1477 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on September 30, 2019, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ 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 announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the "Business Outlook" section and quotations from management in this announcement, contain forward-looking statements. Cango may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to 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 Cango's beliefs 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: Cango's goal and strategies; Cango's expansion plans; Cango's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Cango's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its solutions and services; Cango's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with dealers, financial institutions, car buyers and other platform participants; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Cango's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Cango does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

Caesar Cao
Cango Inc.
Tel: +86 21 3183 5088 ext.5521
Email: ir@cangoonline.com 

Jack Wang
ICR Inc.
Tel: +1 (646) 405-5056
Email: ir@cangoonline.com 

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