GlobeNewswire Inc | Sep 29, 2020 06:00PM EDT

September 29, 2020

BEIJING, Sept. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 9F Inc. (9F or the Company) (NASDAQ: JFU), a leading digital financial account platform integrating and personalizing financial services in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first half ended June 30, 2020.

First Half2020 Operational Highlights

-- Loan origination volume1 was RMB3.4 billion (US$484.6 million) in the first half of 2020, representing a decrease of 90.4% from RMB35.7 billion in the second half of 2019. Loans funded by institutional funding partners2 accounted for 76.7% of total loan origination volume in the first half of 2020, representing a decrease of 3.0% over the second half of 2019.

-- Number of registered users3 was 110.7 million as of June 30, 2020, representing an increase of 9.1% from 101.4 million as of December 31, 2019. -- Number of active borrowers4 was 0.4 million in the first half of 2020, representing a decrease of 84.4% from 2.4 million in the second half of 2019. -- Outstanding loan balance5 was RMB59.8 billion (US$8.5 billion) as of June 30, 2020, representing a decrease of 21.4% from RMB76.0 billion as of December 31, 2019.

First Half2020 Financial Highlights

-- Total net revenues were RMB848.4 million (US$120.1 million), representing a decrease of 61.0% from RMB2,174.4 million in the second half of 2019. -- Net loss was RMB744.6 million (US$105.4 million), down 73.9% from RMB2,852.6 million in the second half of 2019. -- Adjustednet loss6 was RMB454.3 million (US$64.3 million). -- Cash and cash equivalents and term deposits were RMB3,685.3 million (US$521.6 million) as of June 30, 2020, The Company believes this to be sufficient to meet its operational needs and weather the challenges ahead.

Recent Developments and Plans for the Companys Business

As previously disclosed, the Companys business, financial conditions and results of operations have been and are likely to continue to be materially and adversely affected by the global outbreak of COVID-19 and a number of measures taken by government authorities to contain the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, the outbreak of COVID-19 may have long-term impacts on our operations given the suspension of business activities across various sections in China may result in a rise in unemployment, which in turn may weaken the debt repayment ability of borrowers for loans under our Online Lending Information Intermediary Services and our direct lending program. In addition, the Companys business growth and results of operation have been and are likely to continue to be adversely affected by the tightened regulatory environment in China, especially the newly promulgated Decisions of the Supreme People's Court to Amend the Provisions on Several Issues concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (the Decisions) with respect to, among other things, the upper limit of interest rate applicable to private loans between individuals, entities or other organizations that are not licensed financial institutions. Any adjustments or modification to the cap on the annualized total borrowing costs of newly originated loans charged to borrowers as requested by the Decisions or other similar rules may subject the Companys business and future growth to uncertainty.

To address the abovementioned negative impacts brought by recent market and regulatory environments, the Company is contemplating certain adjustments to its business, including (i) divesting certain businesses with respect to its loan products not funded by licensed institutional funding partners and working with licensed entities to properly manage the remaining portion of such loan products to mitigate the potential negative impact on the Companys business under the current regulatory environment, especially the Decisions, (ii) focusing on the Companys technology enabling collaboration with financial institution partners to better benefit both parties from the Companys technology service capabilities and partnership network, and (iii) actively developing and promoting the Companys products and service offerings that cover e-commerce, online-offline consumption and multi-layered wealth management, as well as its international business operations.

For the previously announced two legal actions between the Companys affiliates and PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited Guangdong Branch (PICC), both actions still remain at the preliminary stage, and it is not possible at this stage to ascertain the outcome of either of the lawsuits. If the Company does not prevail in either of the lawsuits completely or in part, or fails to reach a favorable settlement with PICC, the Companys results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and prospects may be materially and adversely affected. The Company intends to update its shareholders if and when further information with respect to such legal actions is available.

First Half 2020 Financial Results

Total net revenues decreased by 61.0% from RMB2,174.4 million in the second half of 2019, primarily due to the decreases in net revenues generated from loan facilitation services which in turn resulted from the decline in loan origination volume.

-- Loan facilitation services revenue in the first half of 2020 were RMB227.8 million (US$32.2 million), representing a decrease of 85.5% from RMB1,572.1 million in the second half of 2019. The decrease in net revenues from loan facilitation services was primarily due to a decrease in loan origination volume which was affected by COVID-19 and our dispute with PICC. -- Post-origination services revenue were RMB530.2 million (US$75.0 million) in the first half of 2020, representing an increase of 17.5% from RMB451.2 million in the second half of 2019, primarily due to an increasing portion of service revenue allocated to post-origination services in the first half of 2020 and the slightly increased outstanding loan balance which resulted in the Company providing more post-origination services. -- Other revenues were RMB90.4 million (US$12.8 million) in the first half of 2020, representing a decrease of 40.2% from RMB151.2 million in the second half of 2019 as the referral revenue of the Company decreased due to the epidemic of COVID-19.

Sales and marketing expenses were RMB174.2 million (US$24.7 million) in the first half of 2020, representing a decrease of 88.3% from RMB1,494.7 million in the second half of 2019. The reason for such decrease is that the the volume of loan origination was reduced due to COVID-19, so the Company reduced its efforts in marketing promotion accordingly.

Origination and servicing expenses were RMB634.5 million (US$89.8 million) in the first half of 2020, representing a decrease of 30.2% from RMB909.4 million in the second half of 2019, primarily due to the decreases of third-party loan collection expense, credit assessment expense and payment processing expense.

General and administrative expenses were RMB550.7 million (US$78.0 million) in the first half of 2020, representing a decrease of 24.2% from RMB726.9 million in the second half of 2019, primarily due to a decrease in share-based compensation expenses, and the Company also has implemented significant cost control such as headcount reductions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

Operating loss was RMB706.6 million (US$100.0 million) in the first half of 2020, compared with operating loss of RMB3,105.1 million in the second half of 2019.

Interest income was RMB63.9 million (US$9.0 million) in the first half of 2020, compared with RMB87.0 million in the second half of 2019.

Income tax expense was RMB17.9 million (US$2.5 million) in the first half of 2020, compared with income tax benefit of RMB305.1 million in the second half of 2019.

Net loss was RMB744.6 million (US$105.4 million) in the first half of 2020, compared with net loss of RMB2,852.6 million in the second half of 2019.

Adjusted net loss was RMB454.3 million (US$64.3 million) in the first half of 2020, compared with RMB2,411.4 million in the second half of 2019.

As of June 30, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and term deposits of RMB3,685.3 million (US$521.6 million).

About 9F Inc.9F Inc. is a leading digital financial account platform integrating and personalizing financial services in China with the footprint expanding overseas. The Company provides a comprehensive range of financial products and services across loan product, online wealth management products, and payment facilitation, all integrated under a single digital financial account.

For more information, please visit http://ir.9fgroup.com/

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses adjusted net income (loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating its operating results and as a supplemental measure to review and assess its financial and operational performance. The Company believes that adjusted net income (loss) provides useful information about its core operating results, enhances the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metric used by the Companys management in its financial and operational decision-making. The Company also believes that adjusted net income (loss), which excludes the effect of share-based compensation expenses, impairment loss of investments, impairment of goodwill, impairment loss of intangible asset and tax effect of adjustments, helps identify underlying trends in its business and help the Companys management formulate business plans.

Adjusted net income (loss) is not defined under U.S. GAAP and is not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing the Companys operating performance, cash flows or liquidity, investors should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for net income (loss), cash flows provided by operating activities or other consolidated statements of operation and cash flow data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Other companies, including peer companies in the industry, may calculate this non-GAAP measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as a comparative measure. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, which should be considered when evaluating the Companys performance. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP results set forth at the end of this press release.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.0651 to US$1.00, the rate in effect as of June 30, 2020 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as will, expects, anticipates, future, intends, plans, believes, estimates, target, confident and similar statements. Such statements are based upon managements current expectations and current market, regulatory and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Companys control. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties as to the Companys ability to attract and retain borrowers and investors on its marketplace, its ability to increase volume of loans facilitated through the Companys marketplace, its ability to introduce new loan products and platform enhancements, its ability to compete effectively, laws, regulations and governmental policies relating to the online consumer finance industry in China, general economic conditions in China, and the Companys ability to meet the standards necessary to maintain listing of its ADSs on the Nasdaq, including its ability to cure any non-compliance with the Nasdaqs continued listing criteria. 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 is as of the date of this press release, and 9F Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media enquiries, please contact:

In China:9F Inc.E-mail: ir@9fbank.com.cn

Christensen

In ChinaMr. Eric YuanPhone: +86-10-5900-1548E-mail: Eyuan@christensenir.com

In USMs. Linda BergkampPhone: +1-480-614-3004Email: lbergkamp@christensenir.com

9F Inc.UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(All amounts in thousands, except for number of shares and per share data, orotherwise noted) December31 June 30 June 30 2019 2020 2020 RMB RMB USD Assets Cash and cash 4,684,003 3,651,788 516,877 equivalentsRestricted cash 125,437 262,730 37,187 term deposit 24,000 33,558 4,750 Accounts receivable 280,995 307,657 43,546 Other receivable 117,340 225,347 31,896 loan receivables 778,480 415,825 58,856 Amount due from 50,000 47,955 6,788 related partyPrepaid expenses 1,137,787 802,357 113,566 and other assetsContract assets 24,824 33,088 4,683 Long-term 775,644 1,162,288 164,511 investmentOperating lease 121,791 88,624 12,544 right-of-use assetsProperty, equipment 110,376 97,282 13,769 and software, netGoodwill 72,224 22,137 3,133 Intangible asset 73,476 52,070 7,370 Deferred tax assets 503,987 513,932 72,743 Total assets 8,880,364 7,716,638 1,092,219 ?? Liabilities Deferred revenue 788,906 432,517 61,219 Payroll and welfare 41,646 19,649 2,781 payableTaxes payable 320,350 268,545 38,010 Accrued expensesand other 1,229,110 1,087,333 153,902 liabilitiesOperating lease 125,407 102,784 14,548 liabilitiesAmount due to 29,902 23,302 3,298 related partyDeferred tax 17,215 13,227 1,872 liabilityTotal liabilities 2,552,536 1,947,357 275,630 ?? Shareholder's equityOrdinary shares - - -Class A ordinary 1 1 shares -Class B ordinary 1 1 shares -Additional paid-in 5,241,296 5,448,305 771,158 capitalStatutory reserves 459,029 466,377 66,011 Retained earnings 488,236 (305,003 ) (43,170 ) Accumulated othercomprehensive 92,220 116,141 16,439 incomeTotal 9FInc.shareholders? 6,280,783 5,725,822 810,438 ??equityNon-controlling 47,045 43,459 6,151 interestTotal shareholders? 6,327,828 5,769,281 816,589 ??equity TOTAL LIABILITIES,MEZZANINE EQUITY 8,880,364 7,716,638 1,092,219 ??AND SHAREHOLERS?EQUITY

9F Inc.UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(Amounts in thousands, except for number of shares and per share data, orotherwise noted) Six Months Ended, 2019/6/30 2019/12/31 2020/6/30 2020/6/30 RMB RMB RMB USDNet revenue: Loan facilitation 1,905,840 1,572,057 227,792 32,242 servicesPost-origination services 153,510 451,222 530,232 75,049 Others 191,181 151,153 90,406 12,796 Total net revenue 2,250,531 2,174,432 848,430 120,087 Operating costs and expenses:Sales and marketing (848,775 ) (1,494,653 ) (174,243 ) (24,662 )Origination and servicing (228,047 ) (909,404 ) (634,521 ) (89,811 )General and (428,886 ) (726,861 ) (550,734 ) (77,951 )administrativeProvision for doubtfulcontract assets and - (2,148,638 ) (195,564 ) (27,680 )receivablesTotal operating costs and (1,505,708 ) (5,279,556 ) (1,555,062 ) (220,104 )expenses Interest income 138,684 87,067 63,869 9,040 Impairment loss of - (154,898 ) (30,322 ) (4,292 )investmentsImpairment loss of - - (50,291 ) (7,118 )goodwillImpairment loss of - - (17,220 ) (2,437 )intangible assetGain recognized onremeasurement ofpreviously held equity 16,272 - - - interest inacquireeOther income, net (2,592 ) 55,444 19,612 2,776 Income (loss) beforeincome tax expense and 897,187 ) (720,984 ) (102,048 )share of profit in (3,117,511equity method investmentsIncome tax benefit (130,536 ) 305,133 (17,874 ) (2,530 )(expense)Loss in equity method (67,683 ) (40,235 ) (5,741 ) (813 )investmentsNet income (loss) 698,968 (2,852,613 ) (744,599 ) (105,391 )?? ?? ?? ??Net income (loss)attributed to the (2,490 ) (3,441 ) 3,586 508 non-controlling interestshareholdersNet income (loss) 696,478 (2,856,054 ) (741,013 ) (104,883 )attributable to 9F Inc. Change in redemption (8,541 ) (2,170 ) - - value of preferred sharesNet income (loss)attributable to ordinary 687,937 (2,858,224 ) (741,013 ) (104,883 )shareholders Net income (loss) per ?? ?? ??ordinary share:Basic 367.67 (15.34 ) (3.80 ) (1.00 )Diluted 320.54 (15.34 ) (3.80 ) (1.00 )Weighted average numberof ordinary shares usedin computing net ?? ?? ??income (loss) perordinary shareBasic 1,626,728 186,238,446 195,191,000 195,191,000 Diluted 1,865,921 186,238,446 195,191,000 195,191,000

9F Inc.UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME /(LOSS)(Amounts in thousands, except for number of shares and per share data, orotherwise noted) Six Months Ended, 2019/6/30 2019/12/31 2020/6/30 2020/6/30 RMB RMB RMB USD ?? ?? ?? Net income (loss) 698,968 (2,852,613 ) (744,599 ) (105,391 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) Foreign currency translation (2,681 ) 14,807 24,021 3,400 adjustment, net of tax of nilUnrealized gains on available forsale investments, net of tax of 999 (1,098 ) (100 ) (14 ) nilTotal comprehensive income (loss) 697,286 (2,838,904 ) (720,678 ) (102,005 ) Total comprehensive income (loss)attributable to the (2,490 ) (3,441 ) 3,586 508 non-controllinginterest shareholdersTotal comprehensive income (loss) 694,796 (2,842,345 ) (717,092 ) (101,497 ) attributable to 9F Inc.

9F Inc.Reconciliations of GAAP And Non-GAAP Results(Amounts in thousands, except for number of shares and per share data, orotherwise noted) Six Months Ended, 2019/6/30 2019/12/31 2020/6/30 2020/6/30 RMB RMB RMB USD ?? ?? ?? Net income (loss) 698,968 (2,852,613 ) (744,599 ) (105,391 ) Add: Share-based compensation 67,903 285,248 207,008 29,300 Impairment loss of - 154,898 30,322 4,292 investmentsImpairment of goodwill - 6,191 50,291 7,118 Impairment loss of - - 17,220 2,437 intangible assetLess: Tax effect of adjustments - 5,146 14,546 2,059 Adjusted net income (loss 766,871 (2,411,422 ) (454,304 ) (64,303 ) )

1 Loan origination volume refers to the total amount of loans originated to the Companys borrowers, including the loan origination volume funded by individual investors and institutional funding partners.

2 Institutional funding partners refers to banks and other institutions which have partnered with the Company on its direct lending program to fund loans originated to the Companys borrowers.

3 Registered users as of a certain point of time refers to the accumulative number of users who have registered their digital accounts with the Company (identified by registered mobile phone numbers) as of a certain point of time.

4 Active borrowers refers to, for a specified period, borrowers who made at least one borrowing transaction with the Company during that period.

5 Outstanding loan balance as of a certain point of time refers to the total balance of outstanding principal of all the loan products, including revolving loan products, non-revolving loan products and loan products under the Companys direct lending program as of a certain point of time. Outstanding loan balance for loans funded by institutional funding partners, regardless of its nature of revolving or non-revolving loan products, are counted towards outstanding loan balance under the Companys direct lending program.

6 Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, please see the section of Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and the table captioned Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results set forth at the end of this press release.