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ZKH Group Limited Announces Second Quarter 2024 Unaudited Financial Results

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SHANGHAI, Aug. 22, 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 second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Operational and Financial Highlights

in thousand RMB, except for number of
customers, percentage and basis points (“bps”)

Second Quarter

2023

2024

Change

GMV[1]

2,608,851

2,754,591

5.6 %

GMV by Platform

    ZKH Platform

2,375,584

2,479,915

4.4 %

    GBB Platform

233,267

274,676

17.8 %

GMV by Business Model

    Product Sales (1P)

1,995,108

2,185,351

9.5 %

    Marketplace (3P)

613,743

569,240

-7.3 %

Number of Customers[2]

38,980

48,766

25.1 %

    ZKH Platform

28,909

34,360

18.9 %

    GBB Platform

10,071

14,406

43.0 %

Net Revenues[3]

2,073,453

2,249,996

8.5 %

Gross Profit

335,071

382,991

14.3 %

    % of Net Revenues

16.2 %

17.0 %

86.2bps

Operating Loss

(123,093)

(71,213)

-42.1 %

    % of Net Revenues

-5.9 %

-3.2 %

277.2bps

Non-GAAP EBITDA[4]

(107,851)

(47,068)

-56.4 %

    % of Net Revenues

-5.2 %

-2.1 %

311.0bps

Net Loss

(129,580)

(66,289)

-48.8 %

    % of Net Revenues

-6.2 %

-2.9 %

330.3bps

Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Loss[5]

(129,498)

(34,857)

-73.1 %

    % of Net Revenues

-6.2 %

-1.5 %

469.6bps

Mr. Eric Long Chen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZKH, stated, “Bolstered by our leadership position in the MRO industry, we achieved solid performance in the second quarter of 2024, driving further profitability improvement despite macroeconomic headwinds. Specifically, we continued to invest in strengthening our supply chain capabilities, enabling us to offer better value-for-money product offerings. Concurrently, we enhanced our customer coverage and service capabilities by optimizing the sales team structure to foster closer customer engagement. In parallel, we redoubled our efforts to advance our digitalization and artificial intelligence capabilities by promoting digital and intelligent applications across various business areas. Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our commitment to doing what is right for the long-term success of our business. Our unique value proposition of providing digitalized and one-stop MRO procurement solutions to our customers serves as the foundation for our continued growth. Leveraging this strong market positioning, we are well-poised to seize the vast opportunities in the MRO market and deliver sustainable revenue growth.”

Mr. Max Chun Chiu Lai, Chief Financial Officer of ZKH, added, “We are pleased with the solid growth in the second quarter, with GMV and net revenue increasing by 5.6% and 8.5% year over year, respectively. This performance was underpinned by a 25.1% year-over-year increase in customer numbers and continued strong demand in the MRO market. While delivering continued topline growth, our profitability strengthened further with an improvement in the gross margin and a narrowing of the net loss. Our gross profit increased by 14.3% with gross margin expanding by 86.2 basis points year over year and adjusted net loss narrowed by 73.1%, with a corresponding margin improvement of 469.6 basis points year over year, marking our ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement. Moving forward, we will continue our share repurchase program initiated earlier this year and remain focused on sustaining growth and delivering long-term value to all our stakeholders.”

[1] GMV is the total transaction value of orders placed on the Company’s platform and shipped to customers, excluding taxes, net of the returned amount.

[2] Customers are customers that transacted with the Company during the period of time, which mainly include enterprise customers in various industries.

[3] The proportion of GMV generated by the marketplace model was 23.5% and 20.7% for the second quarter of 2023 and 2024, respectively.

[4] Non-GAAP EBITDA is defined as net loss before interest expenses, income tax expenses/(benefits) and depreciation and amortization expenses.

[5] Non-GAAP adjusted net loss is defined as net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net Revenues. Net revenues were RMB2,250.0 million (US$309.6 million), representing an increase of 8.5% from RMB2,073.5 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the strong increase in customer numbers and continued growth in MRO market demand.

 in thousand RMB, except for percentage    

Second Quarter

2023

2024

Change

Net Revenues

2,073,453

2,249,996

8.5 %

    Net Product Revenues

1,986,555

2,163,721

8.9 %

         From ZKH Platform

1,756,114

1,893,447

7.8 %

         From GBB Platform

230,441

270,274

17.3 %

    Net Service Revenues

69,865

69,161

-1.0 %

    Other Revenues

17,033

17,114

0.5 %

Net Product Revenues. Net product revenues were RMB2,163.7 million (US$297.7 million), representing an increase of 8.9% from RMB1,986.6 million in the same period of 2023. The increase was mainly due to higher net product revenues generated from both the ZKH and GBB platforms, primarily driven by the strong increase in customer numbers.

Net Service Revenues. Net service revenues were RMB69.2 million (US$9.5 million), a decrease of 1.0% from RMB69.9 million in the same period of 2023, primarily due to lower proportion of GMV generated by the marketplace model on the ZKH platform.

Other Revenues. Other revenues were RMB17.1 million (US$2.4 million), compared with RMB17.0 million in the same period of 2023.

Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues was RMB1,867.0 million (US$256.9 million), representing an increase of 7.4% from RMB1,738.4 million in the same period of 2023, which was lower than the growth in product revenues, mainly attributable to the payoff of the Company’s measures to reduce the overall product procurement costs.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin. Gross profit was RMB383.0 million (US$52.7 million), an increase of 14.3% from RMB335.1 million in the same period of 2023. Gross margin was 17.0%, compared with 16.2% in the same period of 2023. The increase in gross margin was driven by higher gross margin of product sales model (1P) and increased take-rate of marketplace model (3P) on the ZKH platform, partially offset by lower gross margin of the GBB platform.

in thousand RMB, except for percentage and
basis points (“bps”)

Second Quarter

2023

2024

Change

Gross Profit

335,071

382,991

14.3 %

    % of Net Revenues

16.2 %

17.0 %

86.2bps

    Under Product Sales (1P)

        ZKH Platform

240,896

294,022

22.1 %

           % of Net Product Revenues from ZKH Platform

13.7 %

15.5 %

181.1bps

        GBB Platform

13,565

15,133

11.6 %

            % of Net Product Revenues from GBB Platform

5.9 %

5.6 %

-28.7bps

    Under Marketplace (3P)[6]

69,865

69,161

-1.0 %

        % of Net Service Revenues

100.0 %

100.0 %

    Others

10,745

4,675

-56.5 %

        % of Other Revenues

63.1 %

27.3 %

-3,576.7bps

[6] Take rate of marketplace model was 12.2% and 11.4% for the second quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Take rate of market place model represents gross profit from marketplace model divided by GMV from marketplace model.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses were RMB454.2 million (US$62.5 million), a decrease of 0.9% from RMB458.2 million in the same period of 2023. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 20.2%, compared with 22.1% in the same period of 2023, demonstrating the Company’s improved operational efficiency.

Fulfillment Expenses. Fulfillment expenses were RMB99.1 million (US$13.6 million), a decrease of 7.1% from RMB106.7 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower employee benefit costs and warehouse rental costs, partially offset by higher distribution expenses. Fulfillment expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 4.4%, compared with 5.1% in the same period of 2023.

Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses were RMB157.7 million (US$21.7 million), a decrease of 6.5% from RMB168.6 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower travel expenses and employee benefit costs. Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 7.0%, compared with 8.1% in the same period of 2023.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses were RMB38.4 million (US$5.3 million), a decrease of 16.4% from RMB46.0 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower employee benefit costs. Research and development expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 1.7%, compared with 2.2% in the same period of 2023.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were RMB159.0 million (US$21.9 million), an increase of 16.1% from RMB136.9 million in the same period of 2023. The increase was primarily attributable to higher share-based compensation expenses, partially offset by the decrease in employee benefit costs. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 7.1%, compared with 6.6% in the same period of 2023.

Loss from Operations. Loss from operations was RMB71.2 million (US$9.8 million), compared with RMB123.1 million in the same period of 2023. Operating loss margin was 3.2%, compared with 5.9% in the same period of 2023.

Non-GAAP EBITDA. Non-GAAP EBITDA was negative RMB47.1 million (US$6.5 million), compared with negative RMB107.9 million in the same period of 2023. Non-GAAP EBITDA margin was negative 2.1%, compared with negative 5.2% in the same period of 2023.

Net Loss. Net loss was RMB66.3 million (US$9.1 million), compared with RMB129.6 million in the same period of 2023. Net loss margin was 2.9%, compared with 6.2% in the same period of 2023.

Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Loss. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss was RMB34.9 million (US$4.8 million), compared with RMB129.5 million in the same period of 2023. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss margin was 1.5%, compared with 6.2% in the same period of 2023.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss per ADS[7] and Non-GAAP Adjusted Basic and Diluted Net Loss per ADS[8]. Basic and diluted net loss per ADS were RMB0.40 (US$0.06), compared with RMB14.52 in the same period of 2023. Non-GAAP adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS were RMB0.21 (US$0.03), compared with RMB3.43 in the same period of 2023.

[7] ADSs are American depositary shares, each of which represents thirty-five (35) Class A ordinary shares of the Company.

[8] Non-GAAP adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is calculated by dividing non-GAAP net loss attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ADSs.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB2.04 billion (US$280.8 million), compared with RMB2.12 billion as of December 31, 2023.

Net cash generated from operating activities was RMB122.1 million (US$16.8 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared with net cash used in operating activities of RMB236.2 million in the same period of 2023.

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 RMB7.2672 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of June 28, 2024, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Company makes no representation that any RMB or US$ 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 Thursday, August 22, 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 second quarter of 2024.

United States (toll free):

+1-888-317-6003

International:

+1-412-317-6061

Mainland China (toll free):

400-120-6115

Hong Kong (toll free):

800-963-976

Hong Kong:

+852-5808-1995

Access Code:

7845776

The replay will be accessible through August 29, 2024, by dialing the following numbers:

United States:

+1-877-344-7529

International:

+1-412-317-0088

Replay Access Code:

2271132

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. 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 and ZKH’s strategic and operational plans 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

 

ZKH GROUP LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(All amounts in thousands, except share, ADS, per share and per ADS data)

As of
December 31,

As of
June 30,

2023

2024

RMB

RMB

US$

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

1,090,621

1,308,972

180,121

Restricted cash 

159,751

150,305

20,683

Short-term investments

874,210

581,203

79,976

Accounts receivable (net of allowance
   for credit losses of RMB107,032 and
   RMB127,007 as of December 31,
   2023 and June 30, 2024,
   respectively)

3,639,794

3,398,738

467,682

Notes receivable

352,997

274,726

37,804

Inventories 

668,984

672,534

92,544

Prepayments and other current assets

168,117

182,692

25,138

Total current assets

6,954,474

6,569,170

903,948

Non-current assets:

Property and equipment, net

145,288

173,586

23,886

Land use right

11,033

10,920

1,503

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

224,930

196,811

27,082

Intangible assets, net

20,096

17,918

2,466

Goodwill

30,807

30,807

4,239

Total non-current assets

432,154

430,042

59,176

Total assets

7,386,628

6,999,212

963,124

Liabilities

Current liabilities:

Short-term borrowings

585,000

591,000

81,324

Accounts and notes payable

2,883,370

2,599,001

357,634

Operating lease liabilities

91,230

86,940

11,963

Advance from customers

19,907

19,095

2,628

Accrued expenses and other current
   liabilities

448,225

362,294

49,854

Total current liabilities

4,027,732

3,658,330

503,403

Non-current liabilities:

Long-term borrowings

19,813

2,726

Non-current operating lease liabilities

146,970

122,024

16,791

Other non-current liabilities

507

441

61

Total non-current liabilities

147,477

142,278

19,578

Total liabilities

4,175,209

3,800,608

522,981

ZKH Group Limited shareholders’
        equity:

Ordinary shares (USD0.0000001 par value;
   500,000,000,000 and 500,000,000,000 shares
   authorized; 5,621,490,964 and 5,652,210,884 shares
   issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023
   and June 30, 2024, respectively)

4

4

1

Additional paid-in capital

8,139,349

8,274,123

1,138,557

Statutory reserves

6,013

6,013

827

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(25,154)

(12,683)

(1,745)

Accumulated deficit

(4,908,793)

(5,065,983)

(697,102)

Treasury stock

(2,870)

(395)

Total ZKH Group Limited
       shareholders’ equity

3,211,419

3,198,604

440,143

Non-controlling interests

Total shareholders’ equity

3,211,419

3,198,604

440,143

Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit

7,386,628

6,999,212

963,124

 

ZKH GROUP LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(All amounts in thousands, except share, ADS, per share and per ADS data)

For the three months ended

For the six months ended

June 30, 2023

June 30, 2024

June 30, 2023

June 30, 2024

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

Net revenues

Net product revenues

1,986,555

2,163,721

297,738

3,853,214

3,938,740

541,989

Net service revenues

69,865

69,161

9,517

128,933

135,815

18,689

Other revenues

17,033

17,114

2,355

30,066

35,850

4,933

Total net revenues

2,073,453

2,249,996

309,610

4,012,213

4,110,405

565,611

Cost of revenues

(1,738,382)

(1,867,005)

(256,908)

(3,346,344)

(3,393,338)

(466,939)

Operating expenses

Fulfillment

(106,674)

(99,097)

(13,636)

(217,582)

(196,445)

(27,032)

Sales and marketing

(168,620)

(157,689)

(21,699)

(348,496)

(321,802)

(44,281)

Research and development   

(45,977)

(38,431)

(5,288)

(93,718)

(78,267)

(10,770)

General and administrative

(136,893)

(158,987)

(21,877)

(276,584)

(321,380)

(44,223)

Loss from operations

(123,093)

(71,213)

(9,798)

(270,511)

(200,827)

(27,634)

Interest and investment income

17,606

14,446

1,988

29,417

32,500

4,472

Interest expense

(4,507)

(5,522)

(760)

(7,600)

(11,217)

(1,544)

Others, net

(19,537)

(3,934)

(541)

21,432

22,508

3,097

Loss before income tax 

(129,531)

(66,223)

(9,111)

(227,262)

(157,036)

(21,609)

Income tax expenses

(49)

(66)

(9)

(181)

(154)

(21)

Net loss

(129,580)

(66,289)

(9,120)

(227,443)

(157,190)

(21,630)

Less: net income attributable to non-
   controlling interests

(33)

238

Less: net income attributable to redeemable
   non-controlling interests

(7)

(193)

Net loss attributable to ZKH Group
      Limited

(129,540)

(66,289)

(9,120)

(227,488)

(157,190)

(21,630)

Accretion on preferred shares to
  redemption value

(419,425)

(475,803)

Net loss attributable to ZKH Group
      Limited’s ordinary shareholders

(548,965)

(66,289)

(9,120)

(703,291)

(157,190)

(21,630)

Net loss

(129,580)

(66,289)

(9,120)

(227,443)

(157,190)

(21,630)

Other comprehensive loss:

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(81,370)

(9,121)

(1,255)

(60,220)

(12,471)

(1,716)

Total comprehensive loss

(210,950)

(75,410)

(10,375)

(287,663)

(169,661)

(23,346)

Less: comprehensive income attributable
   to non-controlling interests

(33)

238

Less: comprehensive loss attributable to
   redeemable non-controlling interests

(7)

(193)

Comprehensive loss attributable to ZKH
      Group Limited

(210,910)

(75,410)

(10,375)

(287,708)

(169,661)

(23,346)

Accretion on Preferred Shares to 
   redemption value

(419,425)

(475,803)

Total comprehensive loss attributable to
     ZKH Group Limited’s ordinary
     shareholders

(630,335)

(75,410)

(10,375)

(763,511)

(169,661)

(23,346)

Net loss per ordinary share attributable
      to ordinary shareholders

Basic and diluted

(0.41)

(0.01)

(0.00)

(0.53)

(0.03)

(0.00)

Weighted average number of shares 

Basic and diluted

1,322,841,307

5,747,591,752

5,747,591,752

1,322,841,307

5,745,856,349

5,745,856,349

Net loss per ADS attributable to
      ordinary shareholders

Basic and diluted

(14.52)

(0.40)

(0.06)

(18.61)

(0.96)

(0.13)

Weighted average number of ADS (35
      Class A ordinary shares equal to 1
      ADS)

Basic and diluted

37,795,466

164,216,907

164,216,907

37,795,466

164,167,324

164,167,324

 

ZKH GROUP LIMITED

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

(All amounts in thousands, except share, ADS, per share and per ADS data)

For the three months ended 

For the six months ended 

June 30, 2023

June 30, 2024

June 30, 2023

June 30, 2024

 RMB

 RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

 Net loss

(129,580)

(66,289)

(9,120)

(227,443)

(157,190)

(21,630)

Income tax expenses

49

66

9

181

154

12

Interest expense

4,507

5,522

760

7,600

11,217

1,544

Depreciation and amortization expense

17,173

13,633

1,876

40,586

28,703

3,950

 Non-GAAP EBITDA

(107,851)

(47,068)

(6,475)

(179,076)

(117,116)

(16,124)

For the three months ended 

For the six months ended

June 30, 2023

June 30, 2024

June 30, 2023

June 30, 2024

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

Net loss

(129,580)

(66,289)

(9,120)

(227,443)

(157,190)

(21,630)

Add: 

Share-based compensation expenses

82

31,432

4,325

11,072

78,874

10,853

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss

(129,498)

(34,857)

(4,796)

(216,371)

(78,316)

(10,777)

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss
      attributable to ordinary shareholders
      per share

Basic and diluted

(0.10)

(0.01)

(0.00)

(0.16)

(0.01)

(0.00)

Weighted average number of ordinary
      shares

Basic and diluted

1,322,841,307

5,747,591,752

5,747,591,752

1,322,841,307

5,745,856,349

5,745,856,349

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss
      attributable to ordinary shareholders
      per ADS

Basic and diluted

(3.43)

(0.21)

(0.03)

(5.72)

(0.48)

(0.07)

Weighted average number of ADS (35
      Class A ordinary shares equal to 1  
      ADS)

Basic and diluted

37,795,466

164,216,907

164,216,907

37,795,466

164,167,324

164,167,324

 

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LG INSTAVIEW™ REFRIGERATOR SURPASSES 5.3 MILLION IN GLOBAL SALES

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Chosen by Customers Worldwide, LG’s Instaview Refrigerator Innovation Continues to Redefine the Kitchen Experience a Decade After Its Debut

News Summary

LG Electronics’ InstaView™ refrigerator celebrates the 10th anniversary of its 2016 launch by exceeding 5.3 million units in cumulative global sales.LG’s iconic “Knock Twice, See Inside” feature broke convention, offering a blend of user convenience, energy efficiency, and aesthetic value that set a new industry standard.LG InstaView refrigerators continue to gain traction worldwide, leading the refrigerator category in North America while seeing significant growth across Europe, Asia and Latin America.Over the past decade, LG InstaView refrigerator has won numerous prestigious design and innovation awards, including Red Dot, iF, IDEA and CES.

SEOUL, South Korea, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics’ (LG) InstaView™ refrigerator, which allows users to see inside without opening the door, has reached a major milestone on its 10th anniversary, surpassing 5.3 million units in cumulative global sales since its 2016 launch.

Trusted by Consumers Around the World

Since launching the LG InstaView refrigerator in 2016, LG has sold a remarkable 5.3 million units – equivalent to selling roughly one unit every minute.

LG InstaView refrigerator has seen strong customer demand globally, with North America representing its strongest market and accounting for about 30 percent of cumulative sales to date. In Europe, InstaView refrigerator has also been well received by consumers who place high value on energy efficiency, sustainability and food preservation performance. Sales are also steadily rising in Asia and Latin America, driven by growing demand for premium appliances.

An Innovation That Redefined the Refrigerator

InstaView redefined how consumers interact with their refrigerators by allowing them to see inside without opening the door. This feature allows users to check the fridge’s contents without opening the door and helps reduce unnecessary cold-air loss associated with frequent door opening. Over the past decade, its innovation has been recognized by international media and honored with numerous accolades from major global design and innovation awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, iF Design Award, IDEA, and the CES Innovation Award.

From Functional Benefit to Lifestyle Value

LG’s analysis of global customer reviews shows that consumer appreciation for the InstaView refrigerator and its eponymous feature has evolved over time, shifting from an initial focus on the functional benefits to the overall sense of satisfaction that it provides. While early feedback centered on the convenience of knocking twice to see inside and the reduction of cold air loss, more recent reviews increasingly highlight InstaView’s refined design and the enjoyment it brings to everyday kitchen use.

“For a decade now, LG InstaView refrigerator has stood as a testament to our leadership in the home appliance market and to our deep understanding of customers’ lifestyles,” said Baek Seung-tae, president of the LG Home Appliance Solution Company. “This milestone reflects our success in creating not just an innovative feature, but a more convenient and enjoyable kitchen experience. Building on our advanced AI, refrigeration and food preservation technologies, we will continue to lead the evolution of the kitchen experience with customer-centric innovations.”

About LG Electronics Home Appliance Solution Company

The LG Home Appliance Solution Company (HS) is a global leader in home appliances and AI home solutions. By leveraging industry-leading core technologies, the HS Company is committed to enhancing consumers’ quality of life and promoting sustainability. The company develops thoughtfully designed kitchen and living appliance solutions and has recently integrated LG’s Robot Business Division to incorporate advanced robot technologies into its home solutions. Together, these products offer enhanced convenience, exceptional performance, efficient operation and sustainable lifestyle solutions. For more news on LG, visit www.LG.com/global/newsroom/

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Alpha Ladder Hosts Globalization Forum, Debuts Proprietary AI Platform AgentX

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HONG KONG, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On 9 July, Alpha Ladder hosted a tech globalization forum at LEAP East 2026 in Hong Kong under the theme “Connecting Industrial Innovation, Unlocking New Global Growth Opportunities” — and used the occasion to officially unveil AgentX, its proprietary AI‑powered solution.

The session brought together more than a dozen distinguished speakers from sectors spanning artificial intelligence, embodied intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, enterprise services, and legal — all of whom shared first‑hand observations and practical experience navigating global expansion.

Paul Pang, Head of AI at Alpha Ladder, unveiled the Group’s new financial AI agent, AgentX, during the product launch. He observed that the rapid proliferation of AI agents has rendered traditional cross‑border financial delivery models ill‑suited to the evolving AI industry landscape. Conventional local plugin integrations carry significant risks, including code tampering, data leakage, and compromised asset security.

He also noted that expanding enterprises frequently face a persistent disconnect between their business tools and financial pipelines. Core operational systems — covering expense reimbursement, payroll, and account reconciliation — often operate in silos, isolated from cross‑border payment and treasury management frameworks. The resulting reliance on manual workflows leads to chronic inefficiency and inflated operating costs.

To tackle these industry pain points head‑on, Alpha Ladder introduced AgentX — a purpose‑built platform grounded in its proprietary AI‑native architecture. Powered by the Core Finance skill suite and the standardised MCP protocol, AgentX is compatible with all major large language models and enables AI agents to directly access Alpha Ladder’s full spectrum of cross‑border financial services.

The platform is further equipped with VisionX, an intelligent risk control engine that performs cross‑verification across multiple data sources to significantly sharpen the detection of on‑chain risks. A built‑in regulatory sandbox ensures full segregation of transactions and data within compliance boundaries, effectively closing critical security gaps that have long plagued the industry.

Beyond its core risk and compliance capabilities, AgentX offers extensive ecosystem adaptability, enabling rapid integration with vertical use cases such as travel reimbursement, global payroll, and asset management — creating a unified, closed‑loop framework that bridges business operations and finance. Through its open ecosystem model, AgentX empowers small and mid‑sized enterprises expanding globally by tearing down the silos between operational workflows and cross‑border financial services. In doing so, it delivers one‑stop, intelligent cross‑border financial services and drives comprehensive AI‑driven transformation across globalising industries.

Yao Yuan, Vice President of AgiBot for MENA, Turkey, and Asia Pacific, remarked that 2026 marks the year AgiBot transitions from R&D to commercial deployment. Having spent the previous three years honing its products and technology while consolidating its position in the domestic market, the company is now scaling up commercial operations and accelerating its global expansion.

He articulated three core pillars underpinning AgiBot’s global strategy. First, the company is moving to seize the critical window for mass industrial adoption as the embodied intelligence sector enters a new growth cycle. Second, humanoid robots are emerging as a key enabler of industrial upgrading and national digital transformation strategies across economies. Third, overseas deployment, data accumulation, and localized delivery are creating a valuable feedback loop — one that feeds back into domestic R&D and forms a closed loop connecting global technology development with commercial execution.

Luo Yi, General Manager of 51Aes South China (a subsidiary of 51World), shared that the company was officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 30 December 2025 under the ticker 6651.HK. Guided by its vision to digitally replicate the Earth’s 510 million square kilometres, 51World is committed to building a seamless bridge between the digital and physical worlds.

As the industry enters a new era of Physical AI, physically accurate digital simulation environments have become a fundamental prerequisite for large‑scale training of embodied intelligent systems. Leveraging three core pillars — global spatial foundation models, simulation training platforms, and synthetic data pipelines — the company has built a complete, closed-loop technology system. Its commercial portfolio comprises three flagship offerings: the 51Aes digital twin platform, the 51Sim synthetic data and simulation platform, and the 51Earth digital earth platform.

As the core engine powering Physical AI, 51Sim delivers high‑fidelity simulation training environments and robust synthetic data generation capabilities for embodied intelligence sectors including autonomous driving, smart equipment, and robotics. It enables efficient training and validation of AI systems within virtual environments and currently serves over 100 enterprise clients across autonomous mobility and embodied intelligence verticals. Looking ahead, the company will continue to deepen the integration of AI with the real economy, unlocking greater technological value and industrial impact across broader global markets.

Xu Leyang, Co‑founder of Seekee, observed that vast segments of the global population have yet to gain meaningful access to AI. With “everyday users” at the heart of its mission, Seekee is building accessible, consumer‑facing AI products tailored for the world’s two billion ordinary people.

The team has strategically focused on Latin America — an underserved blue‑ocean market largely overlooked by major tech players. Few leading global large language models have dedicated meaningful R&D or localisation efforts to Spanish and Portuguese, the region’s dominant languages. By capitalising on the region’s distinctive linguistic landscape, local user behaviour patterns, and a proprietary repository of region‑specific language data amassed over time, Seekee has built a competitive moat that is difficult to replicate.

According to Sensor Tower, a mobile analytics platform, Seekee ranked eighth globally in the 2025 generative AI app download charts. Within Latin America, its brand recognition is on par with ChatGPT. Launched just over a year ago, the platform has already amassed tens of millions of monthly active users and demonstrated strong user retention.

Wu Xin, Partner and Global Head of AI Applications at BorderX Lab, delivered a presentation themed “Power of Agent Plus.” Drawing on real‑world deployments within the fashion and luxury sectors, he explained that AI agents are fundamentally reshaping traditional cross‑border industries and unlocking significant efficiency gains across the entire value chain.

E‑commerce, he noted, is undergoing a paradigm shift. Competition has moved beyond capturing user attention to precisely identifying consumer intent, with AI agents emerging as a critical instrument for surfacing latent global consumption demand. Powered by proprietary technology and data infrastructure, BorderX Lab has built a global consumer network that is helping redefine how Chinese cross‑border consumer tech reaches the world.

He further observed that agent‑enabled payments will form the bedrock of agent‑driven e‑commerce, and expressed optimism about jointly exploring blue‑ocean opportunities with Alpha Ladder.

Yang Mingyuan, Senior Investment & Financing Manager at QCraft, observed that among the broader Physical AI landscape, autonomous driving stands out as the first segment to achieve mass production at scale, sustainable commercial profitability, and rapid real‑world deployment.

The company’s core competitive advantage lies in its unified, self‑developed technical foundation — one that underpins both its L2+ advanced driver assistance systems and its multi‑scenario L4 autonomous driving capabilities. This homologous architecture also serves as a strategic springboard for QCraft’s broader push into general Physical AI. Its fully in‑house toolchain and data platform form a formidable competitive moat, while the company’s “Autonomous Driving Super Factory” system standardises the entire model training and simulation testing lifecycle — covering the full data pipeline to enable continuous, high‑velocity iteration and optimisation of its algorithm models.

He Liang, Chief Financial Officer of Yidianyun, shared that the company — a leading domestic provider of office IT infrastructure — is now pivoting to become an office AI infrastructure enabler. Its mission is to lower the barrier to AI compute access for enterprises through remanufacturing technology and subscription‑based models.

Yidianyun has built a four‑tier business framework that underpins its cost and service advantages, with a strategic focus on edge‑side AI hardware across AI PCs, AI workstations, and AI servers. He noted that direct procurement of AI hardware entails substantial one‑off capital expenditure for small and medium‑sized enterprises. Subscription models, by contrast, significantly ease funding pressure and hedge against upfront investment risk — a key factor driving the rapid growth of its proprietary AI workstation business.

For overseas expansion, Yidianyun plans to launch pilot cross‑border operations from Hong Kong as its initial hub, with the potential to extend its reach to additional international markets in due course.

Liu Chenxin, Assistant to the Director of the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (NIBS), shared insights at the forum. With a strong track record in research commercialisation, NIBS has incubated a number of benchmark biopharma companies including Huahui Anjian, Vitaraylon, and Denovo Biotech. Drawing on years of translational experience, the institute has comprehensively upgraded its established commercialisation framework and officially launched BISON — a new innovation incubation hub designed to tackle the persistent high‑risk challenges inherent in biopharmaceutical investment through a unique translational model and commercial logic.

Unlike conventional technology‑driven incubation models, BISON places market demand at the core of its approach. It partners with leading tertiary hospitals to identify clinical pain points at the front end, while aligning with pharmaceutical companies at the back end to reverse‑engineer original drug pipelines based on industry needs. Looking ahead, BISON will continue to leverage its deep foundation in original research to incubate high‑value biopharmaceutical innovations, helping domestically developed first‑in‑class drugs reach global markets and supporting the international expansion of China’s biotech industry.

Lei Zhicheng, Deputy General Manager of Mango Finance Limited, observed that the institutional advantages of Hong Kong’s capital market, combined with deepening economic and trade ties with the Middle East, have opened up new channels for Chinese tech innovators to access global capital. Closely aligned with policy directions and enterprises’ internationalisation ambitions, Mango Finance is focused on listing incubation and cross‑border expansion services, fostering service synergies through close collaboration with a diverse network of professional partners.

As an established securities firm, the company is steadily expanding its digital finance footprint in step with regulatory developments. Lei expressed keen interest in establishing system‑level connectivity with Alpha Ladder, and leveraging AI and cutting‑edge digital technologies to accelerate the digital transformation and upgrade of traditional securities operations.

Kevin Chen, CEO of Boost Bank and Founder of Aicapay, observed that as the Belt and Road Initiative continues to gain momentum, emerging markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are undergoing rapid economic and industrial transformation. Combined with surging outbound investment and cross‑border trade from China, the cross‑border finance sector in these markets presents enormous growth potential.

Boost Bank specialises in building localised compliance frameworks. Backed by multi‑jurisdictional licences, on‑the‑ground risk control teams, and deep‑rooted local financial resources, the company has established a fully integrated, end‑to‑end cross‑border capital loop — delivering tailored, client‑specific solutions for enterprises expanding globally. Chen underscored the strong strategic complementarity between the two firms and signalled Boost Bank’s intent to join forces with Alpha Ladder in building a fintech service ecosystem that empowers Chinese companies to seize opportunities in emerging markets worldwide.

Yin Li, Partner at Shanghai Landi Law Firm, shared that the firm established its first overseas offices a decade ago, making it one of China’s early legal practices to focus on cross‑border corporate services. It provides Chinese enterprises with full‑spectrum legal support spanning overseas investment filing, intellectual property protection, and cross‑border capital repatriation.

Against a backdrop where overseas expansion has evolved from conventional trade to high‑value industrial globalisation — marked by the coordinated export of technology, production capacity, and capital — and given the strong alignment between Middle Eastern development agendas and the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese enterprises pursuing comprehensive deployment in the region have generated robust demand for localised legal services. This, he noted, is the key driver behind the firm’s intensified focus on the Middle East market.

Yin emphasised that proactive compliance is the core moat for enterprises going global. Businesses must conduct thorough assessments of local regulatory and legal frameworks before entering overseas markets. Leveraging its “on‑the‑ground global presence” model — with coordinated teams across China and multiple international jurisdictions — the firm conducts advance due diligence to identify and mitigate legal risks inherent in cross‑border operations.

About Alpha Ladder:

Alpha Ladder is a Singapore-regulated fintech group focused on developing a world-leading, one-stop, fully compliant financial infrastructure — delivering secure, efficient cross-border financial solutions for enterprises going global. The Group holds core licences issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), covering securities, futures, fund management, custody, RWA asset exchange, and Major Payment Institution (MPI). We also maintain regulatory approvals in Canada, and are actively expanding our footprint across key global financial hubs including Switzerland, Dubai, and Hong Kong, building a globally compliant regulatory network. By leveraging AI to reshape compliance, risk management, and treasury operations, Alpha Ladder empowers enterprises to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and achieve sustainable global growth.

For more information, please visit our official website: www.alphaladder.hk

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SOURCE Alpha Ladder

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UOB Asset Management Highlights Global Resilience Despite Heightened Uncertainty

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SINGAPORE, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) has released its 3Q 2026 Quarterly Investment Strategy, highlighting the global economy’s resilience in the face of persistent headwinds, including inflation, tariffs, geopolitical tensions and energy market volatility.

Despite repeated challenges over the past 18 months, economic activity has remained robust. Corporate earnings have held up across major regions, labour markets have remained resilient, and continued investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is providing a powerful tailwind for growth.

While uncertainty remains elevated, the global economy’s resilience has reinforced confidence that the current expansion remains durable, even as risks continue to evolve.

On interest rates, UOBAM’s base case is that the US Federal Reserve is more likely to remain on an extended pause than embark on a new rate-hiking cycle. Although inflation remains sticky and recent geopolitical developments have raised upside risks, the firm continues to see evidence of moderating underlying inflation pressures, particularly in housing and wages.

Within equities, UOBAM remains positive on Asia and has upgraded Onshore China to overweight from underweight. Despite strong market gains, Asia continues to trade at a valuation discount to global equities, even as earnings growth has accelerated. UOBAM believes this combination of strong earnings momentum and attractive valuations presents a compelling opportunity for investors. In China, improving industrial profits and continued growth in higher-value sectors have strengthened the investment case for selected areas of the market, particularly those linked to AI, semiconductors, energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

Anthony Raza, Head of UOBAM Multi-Asset Strategy, said, “The key story for investors is that the global economy has repeatedly withstood shocks without derailing growth. Despite a more uncertain backdrop, we continue to see attractive opportunities in Asia, where strong earnings growth is supported by compelling valuations, and we maintain gold as a preferred allocation as investors navigate an increasingly complex environment.”

In its asset allocation strategy, UOBAM remains overweight equities, diversified across fixed income and underweight cash. The firm continues to favour the United States and Asia within equities, while retaining a positive outlook on gold. Supported by strong central bank demand and its role as a safe-haven asset during periods of uncertainty, gold remains an important source of portfolio diversification.

For deeper insights across equities, fixed income, currencies and commodities, read the full 3Q 2026 Investment Strategy: https://uobam.com.sg/qis3q26

About UOB Asset Management

UOB Asset Management Ltd (UOBAM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Overseas Bank Limited. Established in 1986, UOBAM has 40 years of experience in managing collective investment schemes and discretionary funds in Singapore, making us among the largest unit trust managers by assets under management. As of 30 June 2026, we manage 63 unit trusts in Singapore and together with our subsidiaries, oversee S$44.3 billion in clients’ assets.

Headquartered in Singapore, UOBAM has a strong presence across Asia, with business and investment offices in Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Our network includes UOB Islamic Asset Management Sdn Bhd in Malaysia, a joint venture with Ping An Fund Management Company Limited (China) and strategic alliances with partners such as Wellington Management Singapore.

UOBAM is one of the region’s most awarded asset managers, with over 380 awards won. In 2025, we were recognised as the Best Regional Asset Management Company by the Asia Asset Management and previously named Best Asset Management House in Asia – 20 Years in 2023. Our digital innovation has also earned top honours, including Best Digital Wealth Management in Asia[1] and Best Robo Advisory Initiative[2] for four consecutive years as of 2025.

As a leader in sustainable investing, UOBAM was awarded Best application of ESG in ASEAN[3] (2023) and has received multiple sustainability accolades in Indonesia and Thailand. Our artificial intelligence capabilities were also recognised with the Most Innovative Application of Artificial Intelligence (ASEAN) for three consecutive years[4].

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[1] Awarded by Asia Asset Management

[2] Awarded by The Digital Banker for the Global Retail Banking Innovations Award

[3] Awarded by Asia Asset Management

[4] As of 2026, by Asia Asset Management

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