ZKH Group Limited Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Unaudited Financial Results

SHANGHAI, March 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZKH Group Limited ("ZKH" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZKH), a leading maintenance, repair and operations ("MRO") procurement service platform in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Operational and Financial Highlights

Mr. Eric Long Chen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZKH, stated, "Despite a challenging macro environment, we ended 2023 with solid growth, an improved gross margin, reduced losses, and, importantly, profitability in the fourth quarter, demonstrating the resilience and continued growth of the MRO industry and our strong execution to drive our business forward. We have invested and strengthened our advantages in (i) product capabilities through product category expansion and product line extension, (ii) client coverage and servicing capabilities by optimizing sales team's structure, and (iii) digitalization and artificial intelligence capabilities by integrating our industry know-how, data assets, and IT talents. As we look ahead to 2024, brimming with both challenges and opportunities, we will continue to invest, refine, and optimize our operations to propel long-term growth. In addition, we are aiming to officially launch our overseas business in the United States in the second half of 2024."

Mr. Max Chun Chiu Lai, Chief Financial Officer of ZKH, added, "We are delighted with our fourth quarter operational and financial performance, which enabled us to finish 2023 on a strong note, especially as we mark our first quarter as a public company. Powered by our growth from both the ZKH Platform and the GBB Platform, our full-year GMV increased by 18.2% year over year, compared with an increase of 9.2% in 2022. Concurrently, we demonstrated a clear path to profitability, with gross margin improving by 80.8 basis points in 2023 while operating loss margin and adjusted net loss margin narrowing by 366.5 and 476.5 basis points in the fourth quarter, respectively, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement. Notably, we achieved profitability in the fourth quarter of 2023, with an adjusted net profit of RMB27.5 million, resulting in a year-over-year decrease of RMB338.6 million in our full-year adjusted net loss."

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Net Revenues. Net revenues were RMB2,444.0 million (US$344.2 million), representing an increase of 8.2% from RMB2,259.8 million in the same period of 2022, with increases in all categories of net revenues primarily due to continued growth in MRO market demand.

• Net Product Revenues. Net product revenues were RMB2,325.0 million (US$327.5 million), representing an increase of 6.2% from RMB2,189.0 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was mainly attributable to higher revenues generated from the ZKH platform and the GBB platform, primarily driven by increased customer numbers.
  
  
• Net Service Revenues. Net service revenues were RMB98.6 million (US$13.9 million), an increase of 73.1% from RMB56.9 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to the growth of the marketplace model on the ZKH platform.
  
  
• Other Revenues. Other revenues were RMB20.4 million (US$2.9 million), an increase of 47.2% from RMB13.9 million in the same period of 2022, mainly attributable to higher revenues generated from the Company's warehousing and logistic services.

Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues was RMB2,026.8 million (US$285.5 million), representing an increase of 7.6% from RMB1,883.5 million in the same period of 2022, in line with the growth of the Company's product sales model.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin. Gross profit was RMB417.2 million (US$58.8 million), an increase of 10.9% from RMB376.3 million in the same period of 2022. Gross margin was 17.1%, compared with 16.7% in the same period of 2022. The increase was driven by the significant growth of the marketplace model on the ZKH platform. The lower gross margin on product sales was due to the impact of inventory write-downs.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses were RMB423.9 million (US$59.7 million), a decrease of 8.9% from RMB465.3 million in the same period of 2022. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 17.3%, compared with 20.6% in the same period of 2022, demonstrating the Company's improved operating efficiency and leverage.

• Fulfillment Expenses. Fulfillment expenses were RMB107.8 million (US$15.2 million), an increase of 9.8% from RMB98.2 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to higher employee benefit costs. Fulfillment expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 4.4%, compared with 4.3% in the same period of 2022.
  
  
• Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses were RMB170.0 million (US$23.9 million), an increase of 3.2% from RMB164.7 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to increased travel as well as marketing and promotion expenses as business travel and marketing and promotion activities resumed after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 7.0%, compared with 7.3% in the same period of 2022.
  
  
• Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses were RMB37.8 million (US$5.3 million), a decrease of 36.4% from RMB59.5 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower employee benefit costs as a result of a reduced average research and development headcount. Research and development expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 1.5%, compared with 2.6% in the same period of 2022.
  
  
• General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were RMB108.2 million (US$15.2 million), a decrease of 24.2% from RMB142.8 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower employee benefit costs as a result of a reduced average headcount. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 4.4%, compared with 6.3% in the same period of 2022.

Loss from Operations. Loss from operations was RMB6.8 million (US$1.0 million), compared with RMB89.1 million in the same period of 2022. Operating loss margin was 0.3%, compared with 3.9% in the same period of 2022.

Non-GAAP EBITDA. Non-GAAP EBITDA was RMB43.3 million (US$6.1 million), compared with negative RMB56.7 million in the same period of 2022. Non-GAAP EBITDA margin was 1.8%, compared with negative 2.5% in the same period of 2022.

Net Profit/(Loss). Net profit was RMB20.2 million (US$2.8 million), compared with net loss of RMB83.5 million in the same period of 2022. Net profit margin was 0.8%, compared with net loss margin of 3.7% in the same period of 2022.

Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Profit/(Loss). Non-GAAP adjusted net profit was RMB27.5 million (US$3.9 million), compared with non-GAAP adjusted net loss of RMB82.2 million in the same period of 2022. Non-GAAP adjusted net profit margin was 1.1%, compared with non-GAAP adjusted net loss margin of 3.6% in the same period of 2022.

Basic and Diluted Net Profit/(Loss) per ADS^[5] and Non-GAAP Adjusted Basic and Diluted Net Profit/(Loss) per ADS^[6]. Basic and diluted net profit per ADS were RMB0.98 (US$0.14), compared with basic and diluted net loss per ADS of RMB4.22 in the same period of 2022. Non-GAAP adjusted basic and diluted net profit per ADS were RMB0.45 (US$0.06), compared with non-GAAP adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS of RMB2.17 in the same period of 2022.

Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Results

Net Revenues. Net revenues were RMB8,721.2 million (US$1,228.4 million), representing an increase of 4.9% from RMB8,315.2 million in 2022, with increases in all categories of net revenues primarily due to continued growth in MRO market demand.

• Net Product Revenues. Net product revenues were RMB8,341.6 million (US$1,174.9 million), representing an increase of 3.1% from RMB8,086.9 million in 2022. The increase was mainly attributable to higher revenues generated from the ZKH platform and the GBB platform, primarily driven by increased customer numbers.
  
  
• Net Service Revenues. Net service revenues were RMB307.4 million (US$43.3 million), an increase of 71.3% from RMB179.5 million in 2022, primarily due to the significant growth of the marketplace model on the ZKH platform.
  
  
• Other Revenues. Other revenues were RMB72.2 million (US$10.2 million), an increase of 47.8% from RMB48.8 million in 2022, mainly attributable to higher revenues generated from the Company's warehousing and logistic services.

Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues was RMB7,268.7 million (US$1,023.8 million), representing an increase of 3.9% from RMB6,997.6 million in 2022, in line with the growth of the Company's product sales model.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin. Gross profit was RMB1,452.4 million (US$204.6 million), an increase of 10.2% from RMB1,317.7 million in 2022. Gross margin was 16.7%, compared with 15.8% in 2022. The increase was driven by the significant growth of the marketplace model on the ZKH platform. The lower gross margin on product sales was due to the impact of inventory write-down.

Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses were RMB1,851.2 million (US$260.7 million), a decrease of 7.6% from RMB2,003.4 million in 2022. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue were 21.2%, compared with 24.1% in 2022, showing improved operating efficiency and leverage.

• Fulfillment Expenses. Fulfillment expenses were RMB439.0 million (US$61.8 million), a decrease of 6.1% from RMB467.4 million in 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to (i) the decrease in distribution expenses as the Company switched to more distribution service providers that can offer competitive rates and increased direct cooperation with local transportation fleets instead of relying on distribution service providers as intermediaries, and (ii) the decrease in rental expenses. Fulfillment expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 5.0%, compared with 5.6% in 2022.
  
  
• Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses were RMB700.8 million (US$98.7 million), an increase of 2.6% from RMB683.2 million in 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to increased travel as well as marketing and promotion expenses as business travel and marketing and promotion activities resumed after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, partially offset by lower employee benefit costs as a result of a reduced average sales and marketing headcount. Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 8.0%, compared with 8.2% in 2022.
  
  
• Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses were RMB175.9 million (US$24.8 million), a decrease of 26.9% from RMB240.5 million in 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower employee benefit costs as a result of a reduced average research and development headcount. Research and development expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 2.0%, compared with 2.9% in 2022.
  
  
• General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were RMB535.5 million (US$75.4 million), a decrease of 12.5% from RMB612.3 million in 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower employee benefit costs as a result of a reduced average headcount, partially offset by increased travel expenses. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 6.1%, compared with 7.4% in the same period of 2022.

Loss from Operations. Loss from operations was RMB398.7 million (US$56.2 million), compared with RMB685.7 million in 2022. Operating loss margin was 4.6%, compared with 8.2% in 2022.

Non-GAAP EBITDA. Non-GAAP EBITDA was negative RMB211.9 million (US$29.8 million), compared with negative RMB561.3 million in 2022. Non-GAAP EBITDA margin was negative 2.4%, compared with negative 6.8% in 2022.

Net Loss. Net loss was RMB304.9 million (US$42.9 million), compared with RMB731.1 million in 2022. Net loss margin was 3.5%, compared with 8.8% in 2022.

Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Loss. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss was RMB287.5 million (US$40.5 million), compared with RMB626.1 million in 2022. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss margin was 3.3%, compared with 7.5% in 2022.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss per ADS and Non-GAAP Adjusted Basic and Diluted Net Loss per ADS. Basic and diluted net loss per ADS were RMB22.08 (US$3.11), compared with RMB32.88 in 2022. Non-GAAP adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS were RMB6.58 (US$0.93), compared with RMB16.54 in 2022.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB2.12 billion (US$299.2 million), compared with RMB2.01 billion as of December 31, 2022.

Net cash used in operating activities was RMB59.3 million (US$8.4 million) in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with net cash generated from operating activities of RMB31.8 million in the same period of 2022. Net cash used in operating activities was RMB567.9 million (US$80.0 million) in 2023, compared with RMB504.2 million in 2022.

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains translations of certain Renminbi ("RMB") amounts into U.S. dollars ("US$") at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at a rate of RMB7.0999 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of December 29, 2023, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Company makes no representation that any RMB or US$ amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all.

Conference Call Information

The Company's management will hold a conference call on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time or 8:00 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023.

The replay will be accessible through March 26, 2024, by dialing the following numbers:

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.zkh.com.

About ZKH Group Limited

ZKH Group Limited (NYSE: ZKH) is a leading MRO procurement service platform in China, dedicated to propelling the MRO industry's digital transformation to drive cost reduction and efficiency improvement industry-wide. Leveraging its outstanding product selection and recommendation capabilities, ZKH provides digitalized, one-stop MRO procurement solutions that enable its customers to transparently and efficiently access a wide selection of quality products at competitive prices. The Company also facilitates timely and reliable product delivery with professional fulfillment services. By catering specifically to the needs of MRO suppliers and customers through its unmatched digital infrastructure, the Company empowers all participants in the value chain to achieve more.

For more information, please visit: https://ir.zkh.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP adjusted net profit/(loss), non-GAAP adjusted net profit/(loss) per ADS, basic and diluted, and non-GAAP EBITDA. The non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from or construed as alternatives to their most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Investors are encouraged to review the historical non-GAAP financial measures in reconciliation to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

The Company defines non-GAAP adjusted net profit/(loss) for a specific period as net profit/(loss) in the same period excluding share-based compensation expenses and interest expense due to the issuance of Series F Convertible Notes, which have been fully converted into Series F preferred shares without payment of interests. The Company defines non-GAAP EBITDA as profit/(loss) before interest expenses, income tax expenses/(benefits) and depreciation and amortization expenses. Non-GAAP adjusted net profit/(loss) per ADS is calculated by dividing adjusted net profit/(loss) attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the periods and then multiplied by 35.

The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by the management to evaluate the Company's operating performance and formulate business plans. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that are included in net profit/(loss) and certain expenses that are not expected to result in future cash payments or that are non-recurring in nature. The Company also believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures facilitates investors' assessment of its operating performance, 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 financial and operational decision making.

The non-GAAP financial measures have material limitations as analytical metrics and may not be calculated in the same manner by all companies. The Company's non-GAAP financial measures do not include all income and expense items that affect the Company's operations. They may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider the non-GAAP financial measures as substitutes for, or superior to, their most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

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

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made 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 "may," "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aim," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue," and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release, ZKH's strategic and operational plans and statements under the "Business Outlook" section, contain forward-looking statements. ZKH 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 release 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 ZKH'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: ZKH's mission, goals and strategies; ZKH's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected changes in its revenues, expenses or expenditures; the expected growth of the MRO procurement service industry in China and globally; changes in customer or product mix; ZKH's expectations regarding the prospects of its business model and the demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; ZKH's expectations regarding its relationships with customers, suppliers, and service providers on its platform; competition in the Company's industry; government policies and regulations relating to ZKH's industry; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; the outcome of any current and future legal or administrative proceedings; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in ZKH's filings with the SEC. All information provided herein is as of the date of this announcement, and ZKH undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

ZKH Group Limited
IR Department
E-mail: IR@zkh.com

Piacente Financial Communications
Hui Fan
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: zkh@thepiacentegroup.com

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: zkh@thepiacentegroup.com