GlobeNewswire Inc | Nov 19, 2020 04:00AM EST

November 19, 2020

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huize Holding Limited, (Huize, the Company or we) (NASDAQ: HUIZ), a leading independent online insurance product and service platform in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2020.

ThirdQuarter 2020 Operational and Financial Highlights:

-- Total Gross Written Premiums (GWP) facilitated on our platform increased by 41.2% to a record quarterly high of RMB779.0 million, compared to RMB551.8 million in the third quarter of 2019. -- Total operating revenue increased by 22.9% to a record quarterly high of RMB348.5 million (US$51.3 million), compared to RMB283.6 million in the third quarter of 2019. -- GWP of long-term life and health insurance products accounted for approximately 92.9% of total GWP facilitated, compared to 87.5% in the third quarter of 2019. -- Cumulative number of insurance clients served was approximately 6.7 million, and cumulative number of insured clients was approximately 56.0 million as of September 30, 2020. -- Net profit was RMB14.7 million (US$2.2 million). Non-GAAP net profit1 was RMB20.4 million (US$3.0 million).

1Non-GAAP net profit is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information, please see the section of Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure Statement and the table captioned Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results set forth at the end of this press release.

Mr. Cunjun Ma, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Huize, commented, As China gradually recovers from the COVID-19 epidemic, the year-over-year growth rate of per capita disposable income in China reversed from negative to positive in the third quarter of 2020. At the same time, we continued to observe a steady increase of peoples insurance awareness, as well as increasing adoption of online purchase of insurance products by consumers. In line with this trend and the ongoing revitalization of the broader economy, we achieved robust year-over-year growth and record highs for both total GWP facilitated and total operating revenue in the third quarter. Moreover, we continued to deliver solid execution through the third quarter and generated positive cash flow from operations, achieving a net profit of RMB14.7 million and a non-GAAP net profit of RMB20.4 million. Such solid financial results further demonstrates the viability of our business model and our strategic focus on developing first-rate digital capabilities in providing quality long-term insurance solutions to our users.

We also continued to gain recognition for our industry leadership during the third quarter. In September, we were included in Huruns China Digital Insurance Agencies 2020 list, wherein we were ranked fourth in terms of market performance and innovation capabilities. Moreover, in September, our critical illness insurance product, Darwin 3, won the Popular Health Insurance Product of 2020 award, marking the sixth time that our Darwin critical illness series of insurance products has won such an industry award.

Looking ahead, as many of the insurance clients we have served come from families in first and second tier cities with high customer lifetime value potential, we will be rolling out offline service centers in select first and second tier cities in order to better serve their differentiated demands for higher-quality products and premium insurance services.

Over the next three years, we will take the opportunity to invest in a comprehensive strategic upgrade for the core Huize platform as we evolve into the post-COVID era where consumers demand further innovation in insurance products and digital transformation of the insurance purchase and service experience, by targeting to build an insurance product and service cloud platform incorporating core technologies such as cloud computing, big data analytics and artificial intelligence. We envisage the upgraded platform will accelerate the integration of online and offline channels, further empower upstream and downstream partners in our ecosystem with data and technology, and ultimately enable the industry as a whole to reach insurance clients in all scenarios and provide them with a fuller range of personalized insurance products and services throughout their entire life cycle more efficiently.

Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Total operating revenue

Total operating revenue in the third quarter of 2020 increased by RMB64.9 million, or 22.9%, to RMB348.5 million (US$51.3 million) from RMB283.6 million in the same period of 2019. The increase in total operating revenue was primarily driven by an increase in brokerage income, which increased by 23.6% year over year to RMB346.8 million (US$51.1 million) in the third quarter of 2020. The increase in brokerage income was primarily driven by the 41.2% increase in total GWP facilitated, which amounted to RMB779.0 million during the third quarter of 2020, of which first year premiums accounted for RMB358.1 million and renewal premiums accounted for RMB420.9 million.

Total operating costs

Cost of revenue in the third quarter of 2020 increased by RMB45.4 million, or 24.0%, to RMB234.7 million (US$34.6 million) from RMB189.3 million in the same period of 2019, which was primarily attributable to increased service fees paid to user traffic channels.

Total operating costs in the third quarter of 2020 increased by RMB45.5 million, or 24.0%, to RMB235.3 million (US$34.7 million) from RMB189.8 million in the same period of 2019, primarily attributable to the increase in cost of revenue.

Operating expenses

Selling expenses in the third quarter of 2020 increased by RMB17.7 million, or 43.9%, to RMB57.9 million (US$8.5 million) from RMB40.2 million in the same period of 2019. This increase was primarily attributable to increased advertising and marketing expenses, an increase in personnel costs as the Company increased its headcount, and, to a lesser extent, an increase in share-based compensation expenses.

General and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2020 decreased by RMB0.1 million, or 0.6%, to RMB30.5 million (US$4.5 million) from RMB30.6 million in the same period of 2019. This decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease in share-based compensation expenses, which amounted to RMB2.8 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to RMB10.5 million in the same period of 2019. Excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2020 increased by 37.1% year over year, primarily due to an increase in general and administrative headcount.

Research and development expenses in the third quarter of 2020 increased by RMB3.4 million, or 41.7%, to RMB11.5 million (US$1.7 million) from RMB8.1 million in the same period of 2019, primarily attributable to an increase in the number of R&D personnel.

Net profit and Non-GAAP net profit for the period

Net profit in the third quarter of 2020 was RMB14.7 million (US$2.2 million), compared to a net profit of RMB16.1 million in the third quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP net profit in the third quarter of 2020 was RMB20.4 million (US$3.0 million), compared to RMB29.7 million in the third quarter of 2019.

Cash and cash equivalents

As of September 30, 2020, the combined balance of the Companys cash and cash equivalents amounted to RMB446.1 million (US$65.7 million), compared to RMB88.1 million as of December 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to the cash proceeds raised from the Companys initial public offering in February 2020.

Business Outlook

Based on the Companys preliminary assessment of the current market conditions, the Company currently expects total operating revenue for the fourth quarter of 2020 to be in the range of RMB330 million to RMB350 million. This forecast reflects the Companys current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change as a result of various market uncertainties, including those related to the continued outbreak of COVID-19 globally.

Share Repurchase Program

As of September 30, 2020, the Company had purchased an aggregate of 6,647 ADSs for a total amount of approximately US$0.04 million, under its share repurchase program pursuant to which the Company has been authorized to repurchase up to US$10 million ADSs by April 15, 2021, as previously announced on April 15, 2020.

Conference Call

The Companys management team will hold a Direct Event conference call on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at 7:00 A.M. Eastern Time (or 8:00 P.M. Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. Details for the conference call are as follows:

Event Title: Huize Holding Limited Third Quarter 2020 Earnings Conference CallConference ID: #3687648Registration http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/3687648Link:

All participants must use the link provided above to complete the online registration process in advance of the conference call. Upon registering, each participant will receive a set of participant dial-in numbers, the Direct Event passcode, and a unique access PIN, which can be used to join the conference call.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible through November 27, 2020, by dialing the following numbers:

International: +61-2-8199-0299Mainland China Toll Free: 400-632-2162United States Toll Free: +1-855-452-5696Hong Kong, China Toll Free: 800-963-117

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Companys investor relations website at ir.huize.com.

About Huize Holding LimitedHuize Holding Limited is a leading independent online insurance product and service platform in China. Targeting the younger generation, Huize is dedicated to serving its insurance clients for their life-long insurance needs. Leveraging its online platform, Huize offers a wide variety of insurance products with a focus on long-term life and health insurance products, and empowers its insurer partners to reach a large fragmented client base in the insurance retail market efficiently and enhance their insurance sales. Huize provides insurance clients with digitalized insurance experience and services, including suitable product recommendations, consulting service, intelligent underwriting and assistance in claim application and settlement, which significantly improve transaction experience.

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

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure Statement

In evaluating our business, we consider and use non-GAAP net profit/(loss) as a supplemental measure to review and assess our operating performance. The presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We define non-GAAP net profit/(loss) as net profit/(loss) excluding share-based compensation expenses and interest on convertible bond. Such adjustments have no impact on income tax because either the non-GAAP adjustments were recorded at entities located in tax free jurisdictions, such as the Cayman Islands or because the non-GAAP adjustments were recorded at operating entities located in the PRC for which the non-GAAP adjustments were not deductible for tax purposes.

We present the non-GAAP financial measure because it is used by our management to evaluate our operating performance and formulate business plans. Non-GAAP net profit/(loss) enables our management to assess our operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses and the interest on convertible bond. We also believe that the use of this non-GAAP financial measure facilitates investors assessment of our operating performance.

This non-GAAP financial measure is not defined under U.S. GAAP and is not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as an analytical tool. One of the key limitations of using adjusted net profit/(loss) is that it does not reflect all items of income and expense that affect our operations. Further, the non-GAAP financial measure may differ from the non-GAAP financial information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

The non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net profit/(loss) or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of our operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review the historical non-GAAP financial measure in light of the most directly comparable GAAP measure, as shown below. The non-GAAP financial measure presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measure presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting the usefulness of such measures when analyzing our data comparatively. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB6.7896 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on September 30, 2020 set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or U.S. dollars amounts referred could be converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Huizes beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as will, expects, anticipates, future, intends, plans, believes, estimates, confident and similar statements. Among other things, business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, contain forward-looking statements. Huize 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 releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Huizes goal and strategies; Huizes expansion plans; Huizes future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Huizes expectation regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its online insurance products; Huizes expectations regarding its relationship with insurer partners and insurance clients and other parties it collaborates with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing.

Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Huizes filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Huize does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Investor RelationsHarriet HuInvestor Relations Director+852 3180 9207investor@huize.com

Media Relationsmediacenter@huize.com

Huize Holding LimitedUnaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets(all amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)

As of As of September 30 December 31 2019 2020 RMB RMB USDAssets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 88,141 446,068 65,699 Restricted cash 161,186 255,807 37,676 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for 180,393 195,590 28,807 doubtful accountsInsurance premium receivables 2,329 2,051 302 Amounts due from related parties 280 169 25 Prepaid expense and other receivables 29,196 39,162 5,767 Total current assets 461,525 938,847 138,276 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment, net 8,006 8,511 1,254 Intangible assets, net 1,652 2,158 318 Deferred tax assets 64 194 29 Long-term investments 23,395 25,353 3,734 Other assets 14,163 1,862 274 Operating lease right-of-use assets - 10,517 1,549 Total non-current assets 47,280 48,595 7,158 Total assets 508,805 987,442 145,434 Current liabilities Short-term borrowings 36,880 72,000 10,604 Accounts payable 124,441 163,749 24,118 Insurance premium payables 125,587 115,659 17,035 Other payables and accrued expenses 30,211 20,260 2,984 Payroll and welfare payable 43,993 51,822 7,633 Income taxes payable 206 2,874 423 Operating lease liabilities - 7,854 1,157 Amounts due to related parties 465 - - Total current liabilities 361,783 434,218 63,954 Non-current liabilities Long-term borrowings - 40,000 5,891 Deferred tax liabilities 530 605 89 Operating lease liabilities - 2,742 404 Payroll and welfare payable - 5,335 786 Other non-current liabilities 518 - - Total non-current liabilities 1,048 48,682 7,170 Total liabilities 362,831 482,900 71,124 Mezzanine equity Series A redeemable preferred shares 84,072 - - Series B redeemable preferred shares 261,272 - - Series B+ redeemable preferred shares 81,654 - - Series B++ redeemable preferred shares 27,629 - - Total mezzanine equity 454,627 - - Shareholders? (deficit)/equity Common shares 33 - - Class A common shares - 62 9 Class B common shares - 10 1 Treasury stock - (319 ) (47 )Additional paid-in capital 64,882 879,310 129,508 Accumulated other comprehensive income 414 (9,208 ) (1,356 )Accumulated deficit (373,982 ) (365,313 ) (53,805 )Total shareholders? (deficit)/equity (308,653 ) 504,542 74,310 Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and 508,805 987,442 145,434 shareholders? equity

Huize Holding LimitedUnaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (all amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)

For the Three Months Ended September 30, For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2020 2019 2020 RMB RMB USD RMB RMB USDOperating revenueBrokerage 280,563 346,773 51,074 728,517 828,639 122,045 incomeOther income 3,027 1,677 247 6,539 3,509 517 Total operating 283,590 348,450 51,321 735,056 832,148 122,562 revenueOperating costs and expensesCost of revenue (189,306 ) (234,658 ) (34,561 ) (469,618 ) (522,303 ) (76,927 )Other cost (499 ) (649 ) (96 ) (1,314 ) (2,184 ) (322 )Total operating (189,805 ) (235,307 ) (34,657 ) (470,932 ) (524,487 ) (77,249 )costsSelling (40,201 ) (57,857 ) (8,521 ) (102,850 ) (158,929 ) (23,408 )expensesGeneral andadministrative (30,649 ) (30,475 ) (4,488 ) (127,284 ) (112,938 ) (16,634 )expensesResearch anddevelopment (8,101 ) (11,478 ) (1,691 ) (22,006 ) (33,292 ) (4,903 )expensesTotal operatingcosts and (268,756 ) (335,117 ) (49,357 ) (723,072 ) (829,646 ) (122,194 )expensesOperating 14,834 13,333 1,964 11,984 2,502 368 income Other income Interest (3 ) (193 ) (28 ) (265 ) (812 ) (120 )expensesUnrealizedexchange (loss) (4 ) - - 365 (38 ) (6 )/incomeInvestment 675 137 20 675 137 20 incomeOthers, net 901 3,278 483 10,220 9,261 1,365 Profit beforeincome tax, andshare of income 16,403 16,555 2,439 22,979 11,050 1,627 of equitymethod investeeIncome tax (232 ) (1,794 ) (264 ) (376 ) (2,613 ) (385 )expenseShare of (loss)/income of (67 ) (67 ) (10 ) (90 ) 232 34 equity methodinvestee Net profit 16,104 14,694 2,165 22,513 8,669 1,276 Net (loss)/profitattributable to (25 ) - - 66 - - non-controllinginterestsNet profitattributable to 16,129 14,694 2,165 22,447 8,669 1,276 Huize HoldingLimitedRedeemablepreferredshares (7,868 ) - - (22,976 ) (4,274 ) (629 )redemptionvalue accretionAllocation toredeemable (7,981 ) - - (11,157 ) 1,074 158 preferredsharesNet profit/(loss)attributable to 280 14,694 2,165 (11,686 ) 5,469 805 commonshareholders Net profit 16,104 14,694 2,165 22,513 8,669 1,276 Foreigncurrencytranslation 112 (13,117 ) (1,932 ) 116 (9,622 ) (1,417 )adjustment, netof taxComprehensive 16,216 1,577 233 22,629 (953 ) (141 )income/(loss) Comprehensive (loss)/incomeattributable to (7 ) - - 87 - - non- controllinginterestsComprehensive income/(loss)attributable to 16,223 1,577 233 22,542 (953 ) (141 )Huize HoldingLimited

Weightedaveragenumber ofcommon shares usedin computingnet profitper shareBasic 459,501,183 1,021,608,313 1,021,608,313 459,501,183 943,959,644 943,959,644Diluted 459,501,183 1,029,852,116 1,029,852,116 459,501,183 951,064,828 951,064,828Net income/(loss) pershare attributableto commonshareholdersBasic 0.00 0.01 0.00 (0.03 ) 0.01 0.00Diluted 0.00 0.01 0.00 (0.03 ) 0.01 0.00

Huize Holding LimitedUnaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results(all amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)

For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2019 2020 2019 2020 RMB RMB USD RMB RMB USDNet profit 16,104 14,694 2,165 22,513 8,669 1,276Share-basedcompensation 13,567 5,719 842 81,341 48,045 7,076expensesNon-GAAP net profit 29,671 20,413 3,007 103,854 56,714 8,352