Vipshop Reports Unaudited Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Financial Results

Conference Call to be Held at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on February 21, 2017

GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE: VIPS), a leading online discount retailer for brands in China ("Vipshop" or the "Company"), today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Highlights

• Total net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 36.5% to RMB18.98 billion (US$2.73 billion) over the prior year period. Total net revenue for the full year of 2016 increased by 40.8% to RMB56.59 billion (US$8.15 billion) over the prior year.
• The number of active customers^[1] for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 39% to 27.5 million. The number of active customers for the full year of 2016 increased by 42% to 52.1 million.
• Total orders^[2] for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 26% to 82.0 million. Total orders for the full year of 2016 increased by 40% to 269.8 million.
• Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 33.4% to RMB4.47 billion (US$643.4 million) from RMB3.35 billion in the prior year period. Gross profit for the full year of 2016 increased by 37.4% to RMB13.60 billion (US$1.96 billion) from RMB9.90 billion in the prior year.
• Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 51.7% to RMB767.8 million (US$110.6 million) from RMB506.2 million in the prior year period. Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the full year of 2016 increased by 28.1% to RMB2.04 billion (US$293.4 million) from RMB1.59 billion in the prior year.
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders^[3] for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 30.9% to RMB970.3 million (US$139.7 million) from RMB741.5 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the full year of 2016 increased by 30.4% to RMB2.87 billion (US$412.9 million) from RMB2.20 billion in the prior year.

"We are delighted to have delivered strong operational results with solid customer and market share gain in the year of 2016," said Mr. Eric Shen, chairman and chief executive officer of Vipshop. "We continued to focus on improving the customer experience across our platform through enhanced personalization and diverse merchandising. As such, we have added a number of high-quality and popular brands to our platform over the last few quarters and will continue to strengthen our merchandising capabilities going forward. Our robust results are a testament to the solid strength of our business model and we are confident that we can continue to maintain our market leadership going forward."

Mr. Donghao Yang, chief financial officer of Vipshop, further commented, "In the fourth quarter of 2016, we had strong free cash flow and delivered solid topline growth while maintaining steady margins. Importantly, we continued to expand our logistics and warehousing network by adding five local distribution centers to further improve the efficiency and speed of our fulfillment and distribution capabilities. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in areas that are crucial to the customer experience across our platform while balancing revenue growth and margins."

Recent Business Highlights

• Fitch rated Vipshop as BBB+, Moody's rated the Company as Baa1, and Standard & Poor's rated the Company as BBB. These solid investment grade ratings from all the "Big Three" global rating agencies are endorsements of the Company's business fundamentals, financial strengths, investment prospects, and future market potential.
• In January 2017, a Vipshop's subsidiary operating its Internet finance business completed its first tranche of Renminbi-denominated asset-backed securities ("ABS") of RMB300 million, which is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in China. The Company is currently preparing for future follow-on ABS offerings in China. These transactions represent an important milestone in the Company's plan to further grow this new business with external sources of funding.  
• Vipshop recently introduced local distribution centers in Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, Shenyang and Xi'an to cater to more standardized and high frequency purchased products for its cosmetics and baby maternity categories. The local distribution centers allow Vipshop to be closer to its customers, shorten delivery time and improve the efficiency of its distribution.
• With over 20,000 full time delivery staff and over 2,000 self-operated delivery stations, Vipshop is now able to deliver more than 90% of its orders through its last mile network. The Company's average delivery time for its in-house last-mile delivery capabilities has been reduced to less than 48 hours. In the fourth quarter of 2016, over 60% of Vipshop's returns were collected by the Company's full time delivery staff, which represents a significant increase from 30% at the beginning of 2016.
• Vipshop and Tencent Qzone co-released a report based upon both companies' big data analytics, which focuses on emerging fashion color trends and identifies fashion preferences for China's younger generation. The insights were reflected in designer Chi Zhang's new collection, which was presented in New York Fashion Week in February 2017. The collection will also be available exclusively on the Vipshop platform in the second half of 2017. This is the first season of a series of cross-industry collaborations initiated by Vipshop.
• As of December 2016, the Company had ten overseas offices for its cross-border business to expand its global merchandising. Currently, Vipshop has leased seven overseas warehouses and is in the process of expanding its international warehouse space. 
• Vipshop added various popular international and domestic brands throughout 2016 including well-known brands like UGG, Tory Burch, Brooks Brothers, Belle and many others.
• In September 2016, Vipshop completed the acquisition of third-party payment license holder, Beifu, and during December, Beifu officially changed its corporate name to Zhejiang Vipshop Payment Services Co., Ltd., marking another important step in expanding the Company's ecosystem.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Results

REVENUE

Total net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 36.5% to RMB18.98 billion (US$2.73 billion) from RMB13.90 billion in the prior year period, primarily driven by the growth in the numbers of total active customers, repeat customers, and total orders.

The number of active customers for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 39% to 27.5 million from 19.8 million in the prior year period. The number of total orders for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 26% to 82.0 million from 64.9 million in the prior year period.

GROSS PROFIT

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 33.4% to RMB4.47 billion (US$643.4 million) from RMB3.35 billion in the prior year period. Gross margin was 23.5% as compared with 24.1% in the prior year period. The Company expects its gross margin to remain stable as it balances its promotional activities and sales with its marketing expenses.

OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSES

Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 were RMB3.66 billion (US$527.4 million), as compared with RMB2.72 billion in the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenue, total operating expenses decreased to 19.3% from 19.6% in the prior year period.

• Fulfillment expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 were RMB1.65 billion (US$237.2 million), as compared with RMB1.26 billion in the prior year period, primarily reflecting the increase in sales volume and number of orders fulfilled. As a percentage of total net revenue, fulfillment expenses decreased to 8.7% from 9.1% in the prior year period, primarily reflecting the scale effect associated with the growth in total net revenue and improved fulfillment efficiency.
• Marketing expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 were RMB920.0 million (US$132.5 million), as compared with RMB714.5 million in the prior year period, reflecting the Company's strategy to drive long-term growth through sustainable investments to strengthen its brand awareness, attract new users and expand market share. As a percentage of total net revenue, marketing expenses decreased to 4.8% from 5.1% in the prior year period, primarily attributable to the Company's strategic balance between promotional activities and sales with its broader marketing efforts.  
• Technology and content expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 were RMB470.9 million (US$67.8 million), as compared with RMB321.6 million in the prior year period, reflecting the Company's continued efforts to invest in human capital, advanced technologies such as data analytics as well as new business opportunities including the Internet finance unit. As a percentage of total net revenue, technology and content expenses were 2.5% as compared with 2.3% in the prior year period.
• General and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 were RMB624.1 million (US$89.9 million), as compared with RMB421.4 million in the prior year period, primarily due to the build-out of the Internet finance team. As a percentage of total net revenue, general and administrative expenses were 3.3% as compared with 3.0% in the prior year period.

Income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 17.1% to RMB938.9 million (US$135.2 million) from RMB801.8 million in the prior year period. Operating margin was 4.9% as compared with 5.8% in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP income from operations^[4], which excludes share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from a business acquisition, increased by 20.0% to RMB1.16 billion (US$166.9 million) from RMB965.6 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP operating income margin^[5] was 6.1% as compared with 6.9% in the prior year period.

NET INCOME

Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders increased by 51.7% to RMB767.8 million (US$110.6 million) from RMB506.2 million in the prior year period. Net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders increased to 4.0% from 3.6% in the prior year period. Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS^[6] increased to RMB1.26(US$0.18) from RMB0.84 in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, impairment loss of investments, and amortization of intangible assets resulting from a business acquisition and equity method investments, increased by 30.9% to RMB970.3 million (US$139.7 million) from RMB741.5 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders^[7] was 5.1% as compared with 5.3% in the prior year period. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS^[8] increased to RMB1.58(US$0.23) from RMB1.22 in the prior year period.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, the Company's weighted average number of ADSs used in computing diluted income per ADS was 626,846,985.

BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB4.11 billion (US$591.9 million) and held-to-maturity securities of RMB671.8 million (US$96.8 million).

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, operating cash was RMB0.80 billion, and free cash flow[9], a non-GAAP measurement of liquidity, was as follows:

Full Year 2016 Financial Results

Total net revenues increased by 40.8% year over year for the full year of 2016 to RMB56.59 billion (US$8.15 billion) from RMB40.20 billion in the prior year, primarily driven by growth in the number of new active customers, total active customers, and total orders.

The number of active customers for the full year of 2016 increased by 42% to 52.1 million from 36.6 million in the prior year. The number of total orders for the full year of 2016 increased by 40% to 269.8 million from 193.1 million in the prior year.

Gross profit increased by 37.4% to RMB13.60 billion (US$1.96 billion) for the full year of 2016 from RMB9.90 billion in the prior year. Gross margin was 24.0% as compared with 24.6% in the prior year.

Income from operations for the full year of 2016 increased by 30.8% to RMB2.71 billion (US$390.0 million) from RMB2.07 billion in the prior year. Operating margin was 4.8% as compared with 5.2% in the prior year.

Non-GAAP income from operations for the full year of 2016 increased by 32.4% to RMB3.49 billion (US$503.1 million) from RMB2.64 billion in the prior year. Non-GAAP operating income margin was 6.2% as compared with 6.6% in the prior year.

Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the full year of 2016 increased by 28.1% to RMB2.04 billion (US$293.4 million) from RMB1.59 billion in the prior year. Net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders was 3.6% as compared with 4.0% in the prior year. Net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS increased to RMB3.37(US$0.49) from RMB2.65 in the prior year.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders for the full year of 2016 increased by 30.4% to RMB2.87 billion (US$412.9 million) from RMB2.20 billion in the prior year. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders was 5.1% as compared with 5.5% in the prior year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS increased to RMB4.69(US$0.68) from RMB3.66 in the prior year.

For the full year ended December 31, 2016, the Company's weighted average number of ADSs used in computing diluted earnings per ADS was 629,085,915.

For the full year of 2016, net cash from operating activities was RMB2.83 billion (US$407.8 million).

Business Outlook

For the first quarter of 2017, the Company expects its total net revenue to be between RMB15.3 billion and RMB15.8 billion, representing a year-over-year growth rate of approximately 26% to 30%. These forecasts reflect the Company's current and preliminary view on the market and operational conditions, which is subject to change.

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains currency conversions of certain Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.9430 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate for December 31, 2016 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold a conference call on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 8:00 am Eastern Time or 9:00 pm Beijing Time to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the fourth quarter and full year 2016.

The replay will be accessible through March 1, 2017 by dialing the following numbers:                                    

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.vip.com.

About Vipshop Holdings Limited

Vipshop Holdings Limited is a leading online discount retailer for brands in China. Vipshop offers high quality and popular branded products to consumers throughout China at a significant discount to retail prices. Since it was founded in August 2008, the Company has rapidly built a sizeable and growing base of customers and brand partners. For more information, please visit www.vip.com.

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," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Vipshop's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Vipshop 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. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Vipshop'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: Vipshop's goals and strategies; Vipshop's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the online discount retail market in China; Vipshop's ability to attract customers and brand partners and further enhance its brand recognition; Vipshop's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of flash sales products and services; competition in the discount retail industry; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Vipshop's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Vipshop does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial information is prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), except that the consolidated statement of shareholders' equity, consolidated statements of cash flows, and the detailed notes required by Accounting Standards Codification 270 Interim Reporting ("ASC270"), have not been presented. Vipshop uses non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders, non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating income margin, non-GAAP net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders, and free cash flow, each of which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders is net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses, impairment loss of investments, and amortization of intangible assets resulting from a business acquisition and equity method investments. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders per diluted ADS is non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders divided by weighted average number of diluted ADS outstanding for computing diluted earnings per ADS. Non-GAAP income from operations is income from operations excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from a business acquisition. Non-GAAP operating income margin is non-GAAP income from operations as a percentage of total net revenue. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to Vipshop's shareholders is non-GAAP net income attributable to Vipshop's shareholders as a percentage of total net revenue. Free cash flow is the operating cash flow adding back the impact from Internet financing activities and less capital expenditures, which include purchase of property and equipment, purchase and deposits of land use rights, and purchase of other assets. The Company believes that separate analysis and exclusion of the non-cash impact of share-based compensation, impairment loss of investments and amortization of intangible assets adds clarity to the constituent parts of its performance. The Company reviews these non-GAAP financial measures together with GAAP financial measures to obtain a better understanding of its operating performance. It uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning, forecasting and measuring results against the forecast. The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures are useful supplemental information for investors and analysts to assess its operating performance without the effect of non-cash share-based compensation expenses, impairment loss of investments, and amortization of intangible assets. Free cash flow enables the Company to assess liquidity and cash flow, taking into account the impact from Internet financing activities and the financial resources needed for the expansion of fulfillment infrastructure and technology platform. Share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets have been and will continue to be significant recurring expenses in its business. However, the use of non-GAAP financial measures has material limitations as an analytical tool. One of the limitations of using non-GAAP financial measures is that they do not include all items that impact the Company's net income for the period. In addition, because non-GAAP financial measures are not measured in the same manner by all companies, they may not be comparable to other similar titled measures used by other companies. One of the key limitations of free cash flow is that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider non-GAAP financial measure in isolation from or as an alternative to the financial measure prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Vipshop Holdings Limited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" at the end of this release.

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SOURCE Vipshop Holdings Limited