RLX Technology Announces Unaudited First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

BEIJING, May 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RLX Technology Inc. ("RLX Technology" or the "Company") (NYSE: RLX), a leading branded e-vapor company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

• Net revenues were RMB188.9 million (US$27.5 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB1,714.5 million in the same period of 2022.
• Gross margin was 24.2% in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 38.3% in the same period of 2022.
• U.S. GAAP net loss was RMB56.3 million (US$8.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with U.S. GAAP net income of RMB687.1 million in the same period of 2022.
• Non-GAAP net income^[1] was RMB183.6 million (US$26.7 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB361.8 million in the same period of 2022.

"In the first quarter of 2023, our focus remained on optimizing our product offerings under the new regulatory framework," said Ms. Ying (Kate) Wang, Co-founder, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and CEO of RLX Technology. "While we strive to develop diversified, new, approved products that cater to users' various demands, the prevalence of illegal products has posed near-term challenges to our sales and disrupted the recovery pace of the industry as a whole. The increasing efforts put forth by the regulators to crack down on illegal products have been encouraging, and we are hopeful that these will be effective in supporting the creation of fair and orderly market conditions, prompting a return to sustainable growth for law-abiding companies such as RLX Technology. If illegal products can be pushed out of the market, we believe adult users will gradually adapt to products that meet national standards. As a trusted e-vapor brand for adult smokers, we remain committed to providing compliant, superior products that meet our users' needs as we continue exploring growth opportunities in the evolving industry."

"We experienced an incredibly challenging first quarter as illegal-flavored products caused users' slow shift to products that meet the national standards and drove our total revenues down to RMB188.9 million. Our gross margin declined as we incurred the full effect of the new excise tax in the first quarter," said Mr. Chao Lu, Chief Financial Officer of RLX Technology. "We are pleased that market conditions have improved, following the regulators' strict actions to combat illegal products since March 2023. As a result, our sales are showing signs of recovery. Looking ahead, we will continue improving our operational efficiency and believe our profitability will gradually recover. Our resilient business model and solid cash position will support us as we navigate the market dynamics, enabling us to deliver sustainable value to our stakeholders as the industry regains momentum."

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Net revenues were RMB188.9 million (US$27.5 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB1,714.5 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to the discontinuation of our older products and the negative impact of illegal-flavored products in the market, which led to users' slower-than-expected adoption of our new products that comply with national standards.

Gross profit was RMB45.7 million (US$6.7 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB657.0 million in the same period of 2022.

Gross margin was 24.2% in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 38.3% in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to the imposition of a 36% excise tax which came into effect on November 1, 2022.

Operating expenses were RMB418.9 million (US$61.0 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB33.6 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily due to the change of RMB240.0 million (US$34.9 million) in share-based compensation expenses in the first quarter of 2023, compared with positive RMB325.2 million in the same period of 2022. The change in share-based compensation expenses consisted of (i) RMB24.0 million (US$3.5 million) recognized in selling expenses, (ii) RMB201.3 million (US$29.3 million) recognized in general and administrative expenses, and (iii) RMB14.7 million (US$2.1 million) recognized in research and development expenses. The change in share-based compensation expenses was primarily due to the changes in the fair value of the share incentive awards that the Company granted to its employees affected by the fluctuations of the Company's share price.

Selling expenses were RMB85.8 million (US$12.5 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB75.9 million in the same period of 2022, mainly driven by the fluctuation of share-based compensation expenses.

General and administrative expenses were RMB256.5 million (US$37.4 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with positive RMB66.4 million in the same period of 2022, mainly driven by the fluctuation of share-based compensation expenses.

Research and development expenses were RMB76.7 million (US$11.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB24.0 million in the same period of 2022, mainly driven by the fluctuation of share-based compensation expenses.

Loss from operations was RMB373.2 million (US$54.3 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with an income from operations of RMB623.4 million in the same period of 2022.

Income tax benefit was RMB17.6 million (US$2.6 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with income tax expense of RMB112.6 million in the same period of 2022.

U.S. GAAP net loss was RMB56.3 million (US$8.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with U.S. GAAP net income of RMB687.1 million in the same period of 2022.

Non-GAAP net income was RMB183.6 million (US$26.7 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with RMB361.8 million in the same period of 2022.

U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net loss per American depositary share ("ADS") were RMB0.043 (US$0.006), in the first quarter of 2023, compared with U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS of RMB0.528 and RMB0.521, respectively, in the same period of 2022.

Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS^[2] were RMB0.139 (US$0.020) and RMB0.136 (US$0.020), respectively, in the first quarter of 2023, compared with non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS of RMB0.284 and RMB0.281, respectively, in the same period of 2022.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term bank deposits, net, short-term investments, long-term bank deposits, net and long-term investment securities, net of RMB15,369.2 million (US$2,237.9 million), compared with RMB15,733.7 million as of December 31, 2022. For the first quarter that ended March 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was RMB230.7 million (US$33.6 million).

Conference Call

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on May 17, 2023 (8:00 P.M. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on May 17, 2023).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

Participants should dial in 10 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "RLX Technology Inc." with the Participant Code as set forth above.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.relxtech.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call until May 24, 2023, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

About RLX Technology Inc.

RLX Technology Inc. (NYSE: RLX) is a leading branded e-vapor company in China. The Company leverages its strong in-house technology, product development capabilities, and in-depth insights into adult smokers' needs to develop superior e-vapor products.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.relxtech.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating its operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. Non-GAAP net income represents net income excluding share-based compensation expenses. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS is computed using Non-GAAP net income attributable to RLX Technology Inc. and the same number of ADSs used in U.S. GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS calculation.

The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by the management to evaluate its operating performance and formulate business plans. The Company believes that they help identify underlying trends in its business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that are included in net income. The Company also believes that the use of the non-GAAP measures facilitates investors' assessment of its operating performance, as they could provide useful information about its operating results, enhances the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the 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. They should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net income, basic and diluted net income per ADS or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of its operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review its historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures 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 our data. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on any single financial measure.

For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on March 31, 2023, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or U.S. dollar amounts referred could be converted into U.S. dollars 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 U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue" and similar statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company's strategic and operational plans, contain forward- looking statements. The Company 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 but not limited to statements about the Company'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: the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; trends and competition in China's e-vapor market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; PRC governmental policies, laws and regulations relating to the Company's industry, and general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is current as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

In China:

RLX Technology Inc.
Head of Capital Markets
Sam Tsang
Email: ir@relxtech.com 

The Piacente Group, Inc.
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: RLX@tpg-ir.com 

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: RLX@tpg-ir.com

^{[1] Non-GAAP net income is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information on the Company's non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.
[2] Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information on the Company's non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.}