GlobeNewswire Inc | Jun 10, 2021 05:00AM EDT

June 10, 2021

-- 30.7% year-over-year revenue growth--- 47.8% year-over-year total paying user growth--

BEIJING, June 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlueCity Holdings Limited (BlueCity or the Company) (Nasdaq: BLCT), a leading online LGBTQ platform, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

First Quarter 2021 Highlights

-- Total revenues reached RMB271.1 million (US$41.4 million), an increase of 30.7% from the same period in 2020. -- Net loss was RMB52.1 million (US$7.9 million), compared with net loss of RMB7.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. -- Adjusted Net Loss1 (Non-GAAP) was RMB42.5 million (US$6.5 million), compared with adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) of RMB7.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. -- Monthly active users (MAUs) of BlueCitys portfolio apps2 reached 8.3 million, an increase of 37.5% from the same period in 2020. -- Total paying users3 of BlueCitys portfolio apps reached 640 thousand, an increase of 47.8% compared with 433 thousand in the first quarter of 2020.

Mr. Baoli Ma, BlueCitys Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: 2021 is off to a great start for BlueCity, with our relentless focus on execution and product innovation bringing in solid topline growth and user engagement. In this quarter, our total MAUs of all apps grew by 37.5%, reaching 8.3 million and total paying users grew by 47.8% year over year to 640 thousand. The success of our portfolio strategy is also illustrated by our integration with Finka and Lesdo, with both brands reaching new record high MAU numbers. With the great potential for more monetization and user growth behind BlueCitys brands, we will continue to accelerate the development of each app with a focus on quality and improved monetization capability.

Mr. Ma continued: In addition to our strong organic growth this quarter, we obtained an internet hospital license for He Health in Mainland China in April 2021, laying a solid foundation to build a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment platform for mens health. This is another significant milestone for the Company as it presents a great opportunity to seize the underserved but rapidly growing health and wellness business. We believe we are well-positioned to benefit from this flourishing sector, and we are excited to launch Chinas first internet hospital with a focus on mens health for the brand's next stage of growth.

Mr. Junchen Sun, BlueCitys acting Chief Financial Officer commented: We are pleased with our strong operational and financial results this quarter. Total revenue grew 30.7% year over year to RMB271.1 million. Notably, our continuous efforts in diversifying the revenue streams have proven to be very rewarding this quarter, with 75.9% year over year growth from memberships services and a robust 297.7% year over year increase from He Health. These solid results again demonstrate our abilities in operational and strategic execution for driving up steady growth through monetization improvements.

First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Total Revenues

Total revenues were RMB271.1 million (US$41.4 million), representing an increase of 30.7% year-over-year.

Live streaming services. Revenues from live streaming services reached RMB219.9 million (US$33.6 million), representing an increase of 22.4% from the same period of 2020. The increase was primarily due to the increase in the average spending per paying user resulting from the Companys continuous efforts to enhance its live streaming services.

Membership services. Revenues from membership services reached RMB26.4 million (US$4.0 million), representing an increase of 75.9% from the same period of 2020. The increase was primarily due to the increase in the number of paying users as a result of the rapid development of the companys membership services offerings on the Companys portfolio apps.

Advertising services. Revenues from advertising services reached RMB12.0 million (US$1.8 million), representing an increase of 113.7% from the same period of 2020, as the Company continued to introduce new advertising and marketing solutions to attract more advertisers.

Merchandise sales. Revenues from merchandise sales of He Health reached RMB11.4 million (US$1.7 million), representing an increase of 297.7% from the same period of 2020. The increase was primarily due to the continuous expansion of the Companys health-related services.

Others. Revenues from other services decreased by 66.3% from RMB4.3 million in 2020 to RMB1.4 million (US$0.3 million) in 2021 mainly due to the decreased revenue from family planning services as the Company no longer provides these services since March 2021.

Total cost and expenses

-- Cost of revenues. The cost of revenues was RMB185.1 million (US$28.2 million), representing an increase of 33.0% year-over-year. The increase was primarily due to higher revenue-sharing costs along with the growth of live streaming services, the increased cost of products in connection with the growth of He Health merchandise sales, the increased staff cost as well as share-based compensation expenses. -- Selling and marketing expenses. Selling and marketing expenses were RMB65.3 million (US$10.0 million), representing an increase of 69.2% year-over-year. The increase was mainly due to the increased advertising and promotion expenses, the increased staff cost and share-based compensation expenses. -- Technology and development expenses. Technology and development expenses were RMB48.2 million (US$7.4 million), representing an increase of 59.1% year-over-year. The increase was mainly due to the increased staff cost in technology related department, the increase in content, server and bandwidth cost as well as share-based compensation expenses. -- General and administration expenses. General and administrative expenses were RMB25.2 million (US$3.8 million), representing an increase of 157.5% year-over-year. The increase was mainly due to the increased professional fees and staff cost, as well as share-based compensation expenses.

Operating loss

Operating loss was RMB52.7 million (US$8.0 million), compared with a loss of RMB10.4 million in the first quarter of 2020.

Income tax benefit

Income tax benefit were RMB402 thousand (US$61 thousand), compared with income tax benefit amounted to RMB385 thousand in the first quarter of 2020.

Net loss

Net loss was RMB52.1 million (US$7.9 million), compared with net loss of RMB7.6 million in the first quarter of 2020.

Adjusted net loss (Non-GAAP) 4

Adjusted net loss was RMB42.5 million (US$6.5 million) compared with adjusted net loss of RMB7.6 million in the first quarter of 2020.

Cash and cash equivalents and term deposits

As of March 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and term deposits of RMB526.7 million (US$80.4 million), compared to RMB611.8 million as of December 31, 2020.

Business Outlook

For the full year 2021, the Company expects total revenues to be between RMB1.41 billion to RMB1.46 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 37% to 42%. This forecast reflects the Companys current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change.

Conference Call

BlueCity's management team will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM on Thursday, June 10, 2021, U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM on June 10, 2021, Beijing/Hong Kong Time).

Please register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Conference access information will be provided upon registration.

Participant Online Registration http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/1558787

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers until June 18, 2021. To access the replay, please reference the conference ID 1558787.

Phone NumberInternational +61 2 8199-0299United States +1 (855) 452-5696Hong Kong +852 800963117Mainland China +86 4006322162 +86 8008700205

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the companys investors relations website at https://ir.blue-city.com/.

About BlueCity

BlueCity (NASDAQ: BLCT) is a world-leading online LGBTQ platform providing a full suite of services to foster connections and enhance the wellbeing of the LGBTQ community through its portfolio of brands. BlueCitys mobile app Blued enables users to conveniently and safely connect with each other, express themselves and access professional health-related services. Available in 13 languages, Blued connects users in about 170 countries and it is the largest online LGBTQ community in China, India, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. BlueCitys portfolio of brands also includes Finka, a leading gay social networking app for a younger generation in China, and LESDO, a leading lesbian social networking app in China.

Use of Non-GAAPFinancial Measures

The Company uses non-GAAP measures, such as adjusted net loss, in evaluating its operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying financial and business trends relating to its results of operations that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that the Company includes in net loss. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about the Companys results of operations, enhance the overall understanding of the Companys past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the Companys management in its financial and operational decision-making.

Each of the non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to its comparable GAAP measure or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of the Companys operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review the Companys most directly comparable GAAP measures in conjunction with the non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented 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 the Companys data. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

The Company mitigates these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP performance measures, all of which should be considered when evaluating the Companys performance.

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

Exchange Rate

This press release contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (USD) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to USD were made at the rate of RMB6.5518 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 31, 2021 in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or USD amounts referred to could be converted into USD 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, business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as BlueCitys strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. BlueCity 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 BlueCitys 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 Companys goals and strategies; the Companys ability to retain and increase the number of users, paying members and advertisers, and expand its product and service offerings; the Companys future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected changes in the Companys revenues, costs or expenditures; the Companys expectation regarding the use of proceeds from its IPO; competition in the Companys industry and its popularity within the LGBTQ population; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Companys industry; and the development and impacts of COVID-19. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Companys 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 the 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:

BlueCity Holdings Limited Ms. Lingling KongInvestor Relations DirectorPhone: +86 10-5876-9662Email: ir@blued.com

The Blueshirt GroupMs. Susie WangPhone: +86 138-1081-7475Email: susie@blueshirtgroup.com

In the United States:

The Blueshirt GroupMs. Julia QianPhone: +1 973-619-3227Email: Julia@blueshirtgroup.com

BlueCity HoldingsLimited

UNAUDITED CONDENSEDCONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As of December 31, As of March 31, 2021 2020 RMB RMB US$ ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash 439,492,788 415,614,132 63,435,107 equivalentsTerm deposits 172,257,360 111,054,970 16,950,299 Accounts receivable, 5,588,023 8,952,150 1,366,365 netInventories 6,853,202 6,665,832 1,017,405 Prepayments and other 58,629,416 79,625,664 12,153,250 current assetsTotal current assets 682,820,789 621,912,748 94,922,426 Non-current assets: Investment securities 50,000 50,000 7,631 Property and 11,445,548 12,463,015 1,902,228 equipment, netIntangible assets, 52,084,512 50,109,296 7,648,172 netGoodwill 196,002,568 195,327,673 29,812,826 Other non-current 2,426,128 2,426,128 370,300 assetsTotal non-current 262,008,756 260,376,112 39,741,157 assetsTOTAL ASSETS 944,829,545 882,288,860 134,663,583 LIABILITIES Current liabilities: Accounts payable 20,372,680 31,694,195 4,837,479 Deferred revenue 35,226,237 38,698,342 5,906,521 Income tax payable 2,122,765 2,228,810 340,183 Accrued expenses andother current 118,958,796 84,293,633 12,865,721 liabilitiesTotal current 176,680,478 156,914,980 23,949,904 liabilities Non-current liabilitiesDeferred income tax 10,954,883 10,461,079 1,596,673 liabilitiesTotal non-current 10.954.883 10,461,079 1,596,673 liabilitiesTotal liabilities 187,635,361 167,376,059 25,546,577 SHAREHOLDERS? EQUITY: Ordinary shares 12,018 12,018 1,834 Additional paid-in 2,188,870,625 2,196,927,800 335,316,676 capitalAccumulated other (107,514,737 ) (105,772,072 ) (16,143,971 )comprehensive lossAccumulated deficit (1,324,173,722 ) (1,376,254,945 ) (210,057,533 )Total shareholders' 757,194,184 714,912,801 109,117,006 equity TOTAL LIABILITIES AND 944,829,545 882,288,860 134,663,583 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

BlueCity HoldingsLimited

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVELOSS For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2021 RMB RMB US$Revenues 207,473,410 271,130,860 41,382,652 Cost and expenses: Cost of revenues (139,213,212 ) (185,088,240 ) (28,249,983 )Selling and (38,611,169 ) (65,347,729 ) (9,974,012 )marketing expensesTechnology and (30,282,538 ) (48,178,024 ) (7,353,403 )development expensesGeneral andadministrative (9,790,319 ) (25,209,424 ) (3,847,709 )expensesTotal cost and (217,897,238 ) (323,823,417 ) (49,425,107 )expensesOperating loss (10,423,828 ) (52,692,557 ) (8,042,455 )Change in fair value of (4,883 ) - - financial instrumentsInterest income 2,430,919 209,280 31,942 Loss before income (7,997,792 ) (52,483,277 ) (8,010,513 )taxesIncome tax benefit 384,714 402,054 61,366 Net loss (7,613,078 ) (52,081,223 ) (7,949,147 )Accretion and modificationof Redeemable Convertible (20,288,267 ) - - Preferred Shares toredemption valueNet loss available for (27,901,345 ) (52,081,223 ) (7,949,147 )distribution Net loss (7,613,078 ) (52,081,223 ) (7,949,147 )Other comprehensive lossUnrealized gain on anavailable-for-sale (350,387 ) - - investment, net of nilincome taxesForeign currencytranslation adjustment, (23,159,541 ) 1,742,665 265,982 net of nil income taxesComprehensive loss (31,123,006 ) (50,338,558 ) (7,683,165 )

BlueCity Holdings Limited

NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2021 RMB RMB US$Share-based compensation expenses included in: ?Cost of revenues - 855,034 130,504?Selling and marketing expenses - 2,703,655 412,658?Technology and development expenses - 1,358,971 207,419?General and administrative expenses - 3,139,515 479,184Total - 8,057,175 1,229,765 Amortization expense related to intangibleassets resulting from acquisitions included in:?Cost of revenues - 1,456,376 222,286?Selling and marketing expenses - 518,840 79,191Total - 1,975,216 301,477

UnauditedReconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2021 RMB RMB US$Net loss (7,613,078 ) (52,081,223 ) (7,949,147 )Add: Share-based compensation - 8,057,175 1,229,765 expensesAmortization expenserelated to intangible - 1,975,216 301,477 assets resulting fromacquisitionsIncome tax related tointangible assets - (493,804 ) (75,369 )resulting fromacquisitionsChanges in fair value of 4,883 - - financial instrumentsAdjusted net loss (7,608,195 ) (42,542,636 ) (6,493,274 )

_______________________

1 Adjusted Net Loss, a non-GAAP financial measure, represents net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, amortization expense related to intangible assets resulting from acquisitions, income tax related to intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and changes in fair value of financial instruments. For further information, please see Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results at the bottom of this release.2 BlueCitys portfolio apps include Blued, LESDO and Finka. We count MAUs of LESDO and Finka into our MAUs, starting from September 2020 and December 2020, respectively, without eliminating duplicates among our portfolio apps.3 Total paying users is to the total number of users who paid for virtual currency (which can be used to purchase and send virtual gifts in live streaming) and membership services. A user who makes payments for different services offered on the Companys platform using the same registered account is counted as one paying user.4 Adjusted net loss is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section of Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and the table captioned Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results set forth at the end of this press release.