LightInTheBox Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

SINGAPORE, March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LITB) ("LightInTheBox" or the "Company"), a cross-border e-commerce platform that delivers products directly to consumers around the world, today announced its unaudited and unreviewed financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Highlights

Mr. Jian He, Chief Executive Officer of LightInTheBox, commented, "We are pleased to end 2022 with a solid quarter. However, we took a one-off non-cash impairment charge on an equity investment of $56 million and an income tax credit of $13 million from the reversal of the unrecognized tax benefits on this equity investment, for a net impact of $43 million. The impairment charge was made due to the extreme and rapid deterioration of the operations of the investee in the last quarter of 2022, from the adverse change of market conditions. The impairment has no impact on our own business operations, which, as demonstrated by our operating performance, remain healthy and continue to grow."

"Despite multiple headwinds, including global inflation, economic uncertainty that made many consumers more cautious in their spending and pandemic-related supply disruptions, total revenues increased by 38% year-over-year to a record high of $156 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. This brought yearly revenue above $500 million, and apparel sales to approximately $400 million, for the first time in our history, and our year end cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash increased to $95 million. We also continued to improve gross margin from 46% a year ago to 55% in 2022. This remarkable performance was primarily due to our wide selection of value-for-money products, our quality customer base, which consists of a vital generation, middle class consumers 40-year-old and older who have higher disposal income, and our on-going R&D efforts to improve our efficiency. Going forward, we will continue to invest in R&D and optimize user experience. We will also continue to offer our target customers affordable, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and visually interesting clothing, that can bring happiness and vibrancy to their daily life. We are confident in our ability to navigate through challenging times, stand out in the competitive market, and deliver long term value to our shareholders." Added by Mr. He.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Total revenues increased by 38.2% year-over-year to $156.4 million from $113.2 million in the same quarter of 2021. Sales from apparel increased by 59.2% to $123.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $77.9 million in the same quarter of 2021. Revenues from apparel represented 79.3% of total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2022, and 68.8% in the same quarter of 2021.

Total cost of revenues was $72.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $59.8 million in the same quarter of 2021.

Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $84.4 million, compared with $53.4 million in the same quarter of 2021. Gross margin was 53.9% in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with 47.2% in the same quarter of 2021. The increase in gross margin was a result of the increase in apparel sales percentage from 68.8% to 79.3% that has higher margins.

Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2022 were $89.3 million, compared with $60.9 million in the same quarter of 2021.

• Fulfillment expenses in the fourth quarter of 2022 were $8.9 million, compared with $7.5 million in the same quarter of 2021. As a percentage of total revenues, fulfillment expenses were 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with 6.7% in the same quarter of 2021 and 5.9% in the third quarter of 2022.
• Selling and marketing expenses in the fourth quarter of 2022 were $72.3 million, compared with $41.1 million in the same quarter of 2021. As a percentage of total revenues, selling and marketing expenses were 46.2% for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with 36.3% in the same quarter of 2021 and 43.9% in the third quarter of 2022.
• G&A expenses in the fourth quarter of 2022 were $8.3 million, compared with $12.5 million in the same quarter of 2021. As a percentage of total revenues, G&A expenses were 5.3% for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with 11.1% in the same quarter of 2021 and 8.5% in the third quarter of 2022. Included in G&A expenses, R&D expenses in the fourth quarter of 2022 were $5.3 million, compared with $4.9 million in the same quarter of 2021 and $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2022.

Loss from operations was $4.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $7.5 million in the same quarter of 2021.

Other expense, net was $8 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with other income, net of $21.7 million in the same quarter of 2021. Included in other income / (expense), net, change in fair value on our equity investment was $nil for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $21.7 in the same quarter of 2021. The gain in fair value change on our equity investment, after respective income tax of $5 million, was $16.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2021.

Impairment loss on investment in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $56.1 million, compared with $nil in the same quarter of 2021. Impairment loss was made on our equity investment in Shenzhen Maikailai Technologies Co., Ltd ("Maikailai"). Maikailai is a live stream retailer that sells personal cleaning and beauty products, and household cleaning products, etc. The impairment charge was made due to the adverse change of market conditions, which caused the extreme and rapid deterioration of the operations of Maikailai in the last quarter of 2022 and are not expected to recover.

Income tax expense / (benefit) in the fourth quarter of 2022 was a benefit of $12.7 million, compared with $5.5 million of expense in the same quarter of 2021. The income tax benefit in the fourth quarter of 2022 was due to the reversal of the unrecognized tax benefits, and the income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2021 was accrued related to the fair value change on our equity investment.

Net loss was $48.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with net income of $8.7 million in the same quarter of 2021.

Net loss per American Depository Share ("ADS") was $0.43 in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with net income per ADS of $0.08 in the same quarter of 2021. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares. The diluted net loss per ADS in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $0.43 compared with the diluted net income per ADS of $0.07 in the same quarter of 2021.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company's basic weighted average number of ADSs used in computing the net income per ADS was 113,250,066.

Adjusted EBITDA was negative $3.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with income of $16.2 million in the same quarter of 2021.

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of $94.6 million, compared with $59.6 million as of December 31, 2021.

Full Year 2022 Financial Results

Total revenues increased by 12.9% year-over-year to $503.6 million from $446.1 million in 2021. Revenues from apparel increased by 45.7% to $399.5 million in 2022, compared with $274.2 million in 2021, representing 79.3% of total revenues for the full year of 2022, and 61.5% in 2021.

Total cost of revenues was $228.5 million for the full year of 2022, compared with $239.4 million in 2021.

Gross profit for the full year of 2022 was $275.1 million, compared with $206.7 million in 2021. Gross margin was 54.6% for the full year of 2022, compared with 46.3% in 2021. The increase in gross margin was a result of the increase in apparel sales percentage from 61.5% to 79.3% that has higher margins.

Total operating expenses for the full year of 2022 were $289.3 million, compared with $222.8 million in 2021.

• Fulfillment expenses for the full year of 2022 were $30.6 million, compared with $29.6 million in 2021. As a percentage of total revenues, fulfillment expenses were 6.1% for the full year 2022, compared with 6.6% in 2021.
• Selling and marketing expenses for the full year of 2022 were $222.6 million, compared with $154.2 million in 2021. As a percentage of total revenues, selling and marketing expenses were 44.2% for the full year 2022, compared with 34.6% in 2021.
• G&A expenses for the full year of 2022 were $36.3 million, compared with $39.7 million in 2021. As a percentage of total revenues, G&A expenses were 7.2% for the full year of 2022, compared with 8.9% in 2021. Included in G&A expenses, R&D expenses for the full year of 2022 were $19.4 million, compared with $20.3 million in 2022.

Loss from operations was $14.2 million for the full year of 2022, compared with $16.1 million in 2021.

Other income, net was $1.0 million for the full year of 2022, compared with $39.3 million in 2021. Included in other income, net, change in fair value on our equity investment was $0.8 million for the full year of 2022, compared with $38.8 million in 2021. The gain in fair value change on our equity investment, after respective income tax of $nil, was $0.8 million for the full year of 2022, compared with $29.5 million after respective income tax of $9.3 million in 2021.

Impairment loss on investment for the full year of 2022 was $56.1 million, compared with $nil in 2021. Impairment loss was made as the operations of Maikailai unexpectedly and suddenly deteriorated materially in the fourth quarter of 2022 due to adverse change of market conditions and are not expected to recover.

Income tax expense / (benefit) in the full year of 2022 was a benefit of $12.7 million, compared with $9.8 million of expense in full year of 2021. The income tax benefit in 2022 was made as a result of the reversal of the unrecognized tax benefits, and the income tax expense in 2021 was accrued related to the fair value change on our equity investment.

Net loss was $56.6 million for the full year of 2022, compared with net income of $13.5 million in 2021.

Net loss per American Depository Share ("ADS") was $0.50 for the full year of 2022, compared with net income per ADS of $0.12 in 2021. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares. The diluted net loss per ADS the full year of 2022 was $0.50, compared with the diluted net income per ADS of $0.12 in 2021.

For the full year of 2022, the Company's basic weighted average number of ADSs used in computing the net loss per ADS was 113,124,300.

Adjusted EBITDA was negative $9.5 million for the full year of 2022, compared with income of $27.9 million in 2021.

The financial statements for the full year ended December 31, 2022 herein the press release have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's independent registered accounting firm. The audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 to be disclosed in the Company's Form 20-F may have discrepancies with the above-mentioned unaudited and unreviewed financial statements.

Business Outlook

For the first quarter of 2023, based on current information available to the Company and business seasonality, the Company expects net revenues to be between $135 million and $145 million, which would represent an increase of between 44% and 54% compared with the first quarter of 2022.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In evaluating the business, the Company considers and uses non-GAAP measure, Adjusted EBITDA, as supplemental measure to review and assess 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The Company's non-GAAP financial measure excludes share-based compensation expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, impairment loss on investment, interest income, interest expenses and income tax expense.

The Company presents the non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by management to evaluate operating performance and formulate business plans. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measure help identify underlying trends in its business. The Company also believes that the non-GAAP financial measure could provide further information about the Company's results of operations, and enhance the overall understanding of the Company's past performance and future prospects.

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. The Company's non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect all items of income and expenses that affect the Company's operations and do not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Further, these non-GAAP measures 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 measures to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating performance. The Company encourages you to review the Company's financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

For more information on the non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned "Unaudited and unreviewed Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Result" set forth at the end of this press release.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the results at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on March 20, 2023 (8:00 p.m. Beijing Time on the same day).

Preregistration Information

Participants can register for the conference call by navigating to https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10029578-8rdicp.html. Once preregistration has been completed, participants will receive dial-in numbers, an event passcode, and a unique registrant ID.

To join the conference, simply dial the number in the calendar invite you receive after preregistering, enter the event passcode followed by your unique registrant ID, and you will be joined to the conference instantly.

A telephone replay will be available two hours after the conclusion of the conference call through March 27, 2023. The dial-in details are:

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website at http://ir.lightinthebox.com.

About LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd.

LightInTheBox is a cross-border e-commerce platform that delivers products directly to consumers around the world. The Company offers customers a convenient way to shop for a wide selection of products at attractive prices through its www.lightinthebox.com, www.miniinthebox.com, www.ezbuy.sg and other websites and mobile applications, which are available in 20 major languages and cover more than 140 countries.

For more information, please visit www.lightinthebox.com.

Investor Relations Contact

Christensen
Ms. Xiaoyan Su
Tel: +86 (10) 5900 1548
Email: ir@lightinthebox.com

OR
Christensen
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Tel: +1-480-614-3004
Email: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement 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," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," "targets" and similar statements. Among other things, statements that are not historical facts, including statements about LightInTheBox's beliefs and expectations, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as LightInTheBox's strategic and operational plans, are or contain forward-looking statements.

LightInTheBox may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to fourth parties. 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: LightInTheBox's goals and strategies; LightInTheBox's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the global online retail market; LightInTheBox's ability to attract customers and further enhance customer experience and product offerings; LightInTheBox's ability to strengthen its supply chain efficiency and optimize its logistics network; LightInTheBox's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products; competition; fluctuations in 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 LightInTheBox'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 LightInTheBox does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.