EX-99.1 2 d79094dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

LAIX Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2020 Unaudited Financial Results

SHANGHAI, November 26, 2020 – LAIX Inc. (“LAIX” or the “Company”) (NYSE: LAIX), an artificial intelligence (AI) company in China that creates and delivers products and services to popularize English learning, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Third Quarter 2020 Financial and Operating Highlights

 

   

Gross billings1 for the third quarter of 2020 were RMB257.1 million (US$37.9 million), a 16.1% decrease from RMB306.2 million for the previous quarter and a 6.6% decrease from RMB275.4 million for the same quarter last year.

 

   

Net revenues for the third quarter of 2020 were RMB239.4 million (US$35.3 million), a 11.1% decrease from RMB269.4 million for the previous quarter and an 8.6% decrease from RMB262.1 million for the same quarter last year.

 

   

Gross margin for the third quarter of 2020 was 72.9%, compared with 71.9% for the previous quarter and 72.6% for the same quarter last year.

 

   

Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were RMB185.5 million (US$27.3 million), a 7.6% decrease from RMB200.7 million for the previous quarter and a 35.9% decrease from RMB289.2 million for the same quarter last year.

 

   

Net loss for the third quarter of 2020 was RMB70.6 million (US$10.4 million), compared with RMB92.5 million for the previous quarter and RMB214.1 million for the same quarter last year.

 

   

Operating cash outflow for the third quarter of 2020 was RMB53.1 million (US$7.8 million), compared with RMB66.4 million for the previous quarter and RMB119.5 million for the same quarter last year.

 

   

Approximately 0.5 million paying users purchased the Company’s courses and services for the third quarter of 2020, compared with approximately 0.5 million paying users for the previous quarter and approximately 0.9 million paying users for the same quarter last year.

 

1 

“Gross billings” for a certain period refer to the total amount of cash received from the sale of course packages in that period net of the total amount of cash refunds paid to users in the same period.


Management Comments

Dr. Yi Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LAIX, commented, “Total net revenues in the quarter were RMB239.4 million, in line with our guidance. Gross profit margin further grew to 72.9% from 71.9% in the previous quarter. With the adjustments we made since the second quarter of 2020, we have seen a constant flow of positive effects on our streamlined operations. That could be seen in our net loss, which was further narrowed to RMB70.6 million, a 23.6% improvement quarter-over-quarter.

“Our primary focus area remains on the optimization of our product mix and improving the learning experience. By continually upgrading our content offering, we hope to drive further improvement in conversion and retention rates. We are also committed to expanding our technological advantages to lead the AI-powered English learning market. With our newly developed AI teacher ‘Alix,’ we are making English learning more interactive, efficient and convenient by leveraging our proprietary technology. Looking ahead, we aim to further execute on our growth initiatives, bring our value proposition to the market and maximize long-term value to all our stakeholders,” concluded Dr. Wang.

Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Net revenues for the third quarter of 2020 were RMB239.4 million (US$35.3 million), a 11.1% decrease from RMB269.4 million for the previous quarter and an 8.6% decrease from RMB262.1 million for the same quarter last year. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in gross billings caused by the Company’s stringent cost control in user acquisition expenditures.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues for the third quarter of 2020 was RMB65.0 million (US$9.6 million), a 14.1% decrease from RMB75.6 million for the previous quarter and a 9.6% decrease from RMB71.8 million for the same quarter last year. The quarter-over-quarter change was primarily due to efficiency optimization in personnel management and cost control in IT service.


Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2020 was RMB174.5 million (US$25.7 million), a 10.0% decrease from RMB193.8 million for the previous quarter and an 8.3% decrease from RMB190.3 million for the same quarter last year.

Gross margin for the third quarter of 2020 was 72.9%, compared with 71.9% for the previous quarter and 72.6% for the same quarter last year.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were RMB252.1 million (US$37.1 million), a 13.0% decrease from RMB289.7 million for the previous quarter and a 37.7% decrease from RMB404.8 million for the same quarter last year. The changes were primarily due to stringent cost control in user acquisition expenditures and the optimization of the organizational structure.

Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were RMB185.5 million (US$27.3 million), a 7.6% decrease from RMB200.7 million for the previous quarter and a 35.9% decrease from RMB289.2 million for the same quarter last year. The changes were primarily due to the Company’s stringent cost control in user acquisition expenditures.

Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were RMB45.8 million (US$6.8 million), a 5.5% decrease from RMB48.5 million for the previous quarter and a 20.6% decrease from RMB57.7 million for the same quarter last year. The changes were primarily due to the efficiency optimization in personnel management.

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were RMB20.8 million (US$3.1million), a 48.7% decrease from RMB40.5 million for the previous quarter, primarily due to a one-off impairment loss on leasehold improvement in the previous quarter. General and administrative expenses also decreased by 64.1% from RMB57.9 million for the same quarter last year, primarily due to the efficiency optimization in personnel management.

Loss from Operations

Loss from operations for the third quarter of 2020 was RMB77.6 million (US$11.4 million), compared with RMB95.9 million for the previous quarter and RMB214.5 million for the same quarter last year.


Adjusted EBITDA2

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2020 was a loss of RMB55.6 million (US$8.2 million), compared with an adjusted EBITDA loss of RMB77.8 million for the previous quarter and an adjusted EBITDA loss of RMB203.6 million for the same quarter last year.

Foreign exchange related (losses) / gains, net

Foreign exchange gain was RMB3.0 million (US$0.4 million) in the third quarter of 2020, compared with a foreign exchange gain of RMB0.1 million for the previous quarter and a foreign exchange loss of RMB2.6 million for the same quarter last year.

Net Loss

Net loss for the third quarter of 2020 was RMB70.6 million (US$10.4 million), compared with RMB92.5 million for the previous quarter and RMB214.1 million for the same quarter last year.

Adjusted net loss3 for the third quarter of 2020 was RMB61.4 million (US$9.0 million), compared with RMB85.3 million for the previous quarter and RMB209.7 million for the same quarter last year.

Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the third quarter of 2020 was RMB1.43 (US$0.21), compared with RMB1.87 for the previous quarter and RMB4.33 for the same quarter last year.

 

2 

“Adjusted EBITDA” is a non-GAAP measure, which represents EBITDA before share-based compensation expenses. EBITDA represents net loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. See “Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” at the end of this press release.

3 

“Adjusted net loss” is a non-GAAP measure, which excludes share-based compensation expenses. See “Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” at the end of this press release.


Balance Sheet & Cashflows

As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments totaled RMB327.2 million (US$48.2 million), compared with RMB390.3 million as of June 30, 2020 and RMB552.6 million as of December 31, 2019.

Net cash used in operating activities was RMB53.1 million (US$7.8 million) and RMB119.5 million for the three months period ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Our liquidity to meet our future working capital is based on our ability to attract new users, enhance user engagement and retention by offering higher quality and diversified courses while closely controlling the content costs, and optimizing traffic acquisition strategy to efficiently control and reduce these user related costs. We will continue to further preserve liquidity and manage cash flows by reducing discretionary expenditure including promotion expenses and general and administrative expenses. Our liquidity is also based on our ability to obtain capital financing from equity or debt investors. Currently, we believe that we have sufficient cash to fund operations for at least the next 12 months.

As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s deferred revenue and long-term deferred revenue totaled RMB823.4 million (US$121.3 million), compared with RMB828.8 million as of June 30, 2020 and RMB696.0 million as of December 31, 2019.

Outlook

For the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company currently expects:

 

   

Net revenues to be between RMB210.0 million to RMB230.0 million, which would represent a decrease of approximately 9.2% to 0.6% from RMB231.4 million for the same quarter last year;

This forecast reflects the Company’s current and preliminary view on the current business situation and market conditions, which is subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company’s management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on November 26, 2020 (9:00 AM Beijing/Hong Kong time on November 27, 2020).


Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

 

United States (toll free):    +1-877-396-2308
International:    +1-647-689-5527
Mainland China:    400-048-6136 or 400-043-3098
Hong Kong:    +852-5803-0358
Conference ID:    5312108

Participants should dial-in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time to be connected to the call.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.laix.com/investors.

About LAIX Inc.

LAIX Inc. (“LAIX” or the “Company”) is an artificial intelligence (AI) company in China that creates and delivers products and services to popularize English learning. Its proprietary AI teacher utilizes cutting-edge deep learning and adaptive learning technologies, big data, well-established education pedagogies and the mobile internet. LAIX believes its innovative approach fundamentally transforms learning. LAIX provides its products and services on demand via its mobile apps, primarily its flagship “English Liulishuo” mobile app launched in 2013. On the Company’s platform, AI technologies are seamlessly integrated with diverse learning content incorporating well-established language learning pedagogies, gamified features and strong social elements to deliver an engaging, adaptive learning experience. LAIX provides a variety of courses inspired by a broad range of topics and culture themes to make English learning more interesting and is committed to offering a fun, interactive learning environment to motivate and engage its users.

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

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes.


We believe that adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that we include in loss from operations and net loss. We believe that adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss provide useful information about our results of operations, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to loss from operations, net 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 measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss 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 our data. 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 Renminbi to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.7896 to US$1.00, the rate in effect as of September 30, 2020 published by the Federal Reserve Board.

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 “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. Among other things, the Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as LAIX’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. LAIX 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 LAIX’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: LAIX’s goals and strategies; LAIX’s future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the education market; LAIX’s ability to monetize the user base; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China; the potential impact of the COVID-19 to LAIX’s business operations and the economy in China and elsewhere generally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.


For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

LAIX Inc.

Harry He

Investor Relations

Email: ir@laix.com

The Piacente Group Investor Relations

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

Email: liulishuo@tpg-ir.com

Emilie Wu

Tel: +86-21-6039-8363

Email: liulishuo@tpg-ir.com

Source: LAIX Inc.


LAIX INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amount in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and US dollars (“US$”))

 

     As of     As of  
     December 31, 2019     September 30, 2020  
     RMB     RMB     US$  

ASSETS

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

     281,166       161,408       23,773  

Restricted cash

     1,816       397       58  

Short-term investments

     269,643       165,402       24,361  

Accounts receivable, net

     7,360       5,650       832  

Prepayments and other current assets

     86,787       65,896       9,705  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     646,772       398,753       58,729  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current assets:

      

Property and equipment, net

     71,637       41,311       6,084  

Investment in equity fund

     5,919       5,960       878  

Intangible assets, net

     15,541       14,058       2,071  

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

     155,525       88,656       13,058  

Other non-current assets

     8,447       7,203       1,061  

Deferred tax assets

     15,336       15,336       2,259  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-current assets

     272,405       172,524       25,411  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

     919,177       571,277       84,140  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

      

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

     137,684       89,527       13,186  

Deferred revenue

     695,971       778,894       114,719  

Salary and welfare payable

     153,969       132,314       19,488  

Tax payable

     74,340       76,158       11,217  

Operating lease liability, current

     37,009       21,705       3,197  

Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities

     15,444       15,786       2,324  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,114,417       1,114,384       164,131  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities:

      

Deferred revenue, non-current

     —         44,553       6,562  

Operating lease liability, non-current

     117,124       70,835       10,433  

Other non-current liabilities

     12,441       11,848       1,744  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-current liabilities

     129,565       127,236       18,739  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,243,982       1,241,620       182,870  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

      

Class A Ordinary shares

     208       211       31  

Class B Ordinary shares

     121       121       18  

Subscriptions Receivable from shareholders

     (122     (198     (29

Treasury Stock

     (10,730     (15,327     (2,257

Additional paid-in capital

     1,167,884       1,193,874       175,839  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     29,483       22,770       3,354  

Accumulated deficit

     (1,511,649     (1,871,794     (275,686
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     (324,805     (670,343     (98,730
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

     919,177       571,277       84,140  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


LAIX INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(Amount in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and US dollars (“US$”)

except for number of shares and per share data)

 

    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September     June 30     September 30     September 30     September 30  
    30 2019     2020     2020     2019     2020  
    RMB     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     RMB     US$  

Net revenues

    262,092       269,405       239,426       35,264       791,823       737,169       108,573  

Cost of revenues

    (71,825     (75,646     (64,960     (9,568     (196,380     (219,405     (32,315
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    190,267       193,759       174,466       25,696       595,443       517,764       76,258  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

             

Sales and marketing expenses

    (289,184     (200,726     (185,487     (27,319     (702,546     (650,953     (95,875

Research and development expenses

    (57,723     (48,482     (45,828     (6,750     (160,684     (153,529     (22,612

General and administrative expenses

    (57,893     (40,461     (20,772     (3,059     (105,835     (83,372     (12,279
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    (404,800     (289,669     (252,087     (37,128     (969,065     (887,854     (130,766
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other operating income

    —         25       —         —         —         43       6  

Loss from Operations

    (214,533     (95,885     (77,621     (11,432     (373,622     (370,047     (54,502
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income/(expenses):

             

Interest income

    376       366       85       13       1,438       1,134       167  

Foreign exchange related (losses)/gains, net

    (2,605     140       2,993       441       (3,617     814       120  

Change in fair value of short-term investment

    1,767       806       653       96       5,705       1,976       291  

Other income, net

    1,108       2,098       3,282       483       1,150       6,062       893  

Loss before income taxes expenses

    (213,887     (92,475     (70,608     (10,399     (368,946     (360,061     (53,031
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax expenses

    (209     (28     (27     (4     (265     (84     (12
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    (214,096     (92,503     (70,635     (10,403     (369,211     (360,145     (53,043
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to LAIX Inc.’s ordinary shareholders

    (214,096     (92,503     (70,635     (10,403     (369,211     (360,145     (53,043
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


LAIX INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(Amount in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and US dollars (“US$”)

except for number of shares and per share data)

 

    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30     June 30     September 30     September 30     September 30  
    2019     2020     2020     2019     2020  
    RMB     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     RMB     US$  

Net loss

    (214,096     (92,503     (70,635     (10,403     (369,211     (360,145     (53,043

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

             

—Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of nil tax

    19,543       (385     (13,104     (1,930     20,378       (6,713     (989
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    (194,553     (92,888     (83,739     (12,333     (348,833     (366,858     (54,032
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per Class A and Class B ordinary shares

             

—Basic and Diluted

    (4.33     (1.87     (1.43     (0.21     (7.55     (7.29     (1.07

Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares used in per share calculation

             

—Basic and Diluted

    49,471,118       49,337,462       49,465,337       49,465,337       48,875,574       49,387,980       49,387,980  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


LAIX INC.

Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results

(Amount in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and US dollars(“US$”)

except for percentage data)

 

    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,
2019
    June 30,
2020
    September 30,
2020
    September 30,
2019
   

September 30,

2020

 
    RMB     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     RMB     US$  

Net loss

    (214,096     (92,503     (70,635     (10,403     (369,211     (360,145     (53,043

Add:

             

Share-based compensation expenses

    4,391       7,241       9,260       1,364       23,450       24,275       3,575  

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of Intangible assets

    6,186       7,781       5,853       862       13,625       20,981       3,090  

Amortization of prepaid interest expense and service fees to loan companies

    49       —         —         —         301       —         —    

Income tax expenses

    209       28       27       4       265       84       12  

Subtract:

             

Interest income

    (376     (366     (85     (13     (1,438     (1,134     (167
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

    (203,637     (77,819     (55,580     (8,186     (333,008     (315,939     (46,533
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    (214,096     (92,503     (70,635     (10,403     (369,211     (360,145     (53,043

Add back:

             

Share-based compensation expenses

    4,391       7,241       9,260       1,364       23,450       24,275       3,575  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted net loss

    (209,705     (85,262     (61,375     (9,039     (345,761     (335,870     (49,468