Leju Reports Third Quarter 2014 Results

BEIJING, November 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Leju Holdings Limited ("Leju" or the "Company") (NYSE: LEJU), a leading online-to-offline ("O2O") real estate services provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Third Quarter 2014 Financial Highlights

• Total revenues increased by 32% year-on-year to $128.3 million
  • Revenues from e-commerce services increased by 63% year-on-year to $84.2 million
  • Revenues from online advertising services increased by 4% year-on-year to $41.8 million
• Non-GAAP[1] income from operations increased by 28% year-on-year to $37.7 million
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to Leju shareholders increased by 12% year-on-year to $31.3 million or $0.23 per diluted American depositary share ("ADS")

First Nine Months 2014 Financial Highlights

• Total revenues increased by 55% year-on-year to $324.2 million
  • Revenues from e-commerce services increased by 118% year-on-year to $202.2 million
  • Revenues from online advertising services increased by 9% year-on-year to $111.2 million
• Non-GAAP income from operations increased by 75% year-on-year to $70.2 million
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to Leju shareholders increased by 69% year-on-year to $59.4 million, or $0.45 per diluted ADS

"We are pleased to deliver strong operating and financial results, especially in our e-commerce services business, despite extended soft market conditions during the third quarter," said Mr. Geoffrey He, Leju's chief executive officer. "Leju continued to focus on e-commerce services execution with the help of ongoing product innovations. In addition to further deepening our penetration of the e-commerce market during the third quarter, we were also able to construct an integrated mobile marketing eco-system leveraging all of our mobile resources. We received overwhelming responses from both mobile users and developer clients for our mobile market solutions and believe that the online and mobile resources at our disposal uniquely position Leju to be a leading product innovator in the real estate services area."

"The secondary market has experienced significant challenges this year, which has had a negative impact on our listing services revenue," Mr. He continued. "However, these market dynamics have afforded us an opportunity to expand our national network for listing services. We remain committed to building an online informational platform featuring authentic secondary housing information, and will continue to work with our partners in the secondary market to promote the long-term development of the industry through further innovations."

"We delivered another quarter of strong top line growth as a result of our increasing scale, brand awareness and product innovation," said Ms. Min Chen, Leju's chief financial officer. "We also maintained steady profitability and healthy operating cash flow due to our improved operating efficiency and solid execution."

Third Quarter 2014 Results

Total revenues were $128.3 million, an increase of 32% from $97.4 million for the same quarter of 2013, mainly driven by growth of revenues from e-commerce services.

Revenues from e-commerce services were $84.2 million, an increase of 63% from $51.7 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to a 51% increase in discount coupons redeemed[2], as a result of the expansion of the Company's e-commerce business through partnerships with property developers.

Revenues from online advertising services were $41.8 million, an increase of 4% from $40.0 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to revenue growth in both the Company's new home and home furnishing channels.

Revenues from listing services were $2.3 million, a decrease of 60% from $5.7 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to the slowdown in secondary home sales.

Cost of revenues was $12.9 million, a decrease of 20% from $16.1 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to decreased fees paid to third parties for services in connection with the Company's listing business and decreased amortization expenses of intangible assets as the Company's exclusive rights with Baidu were extended to March 2015 at no additional cost and the Company's advertising agency agreement with SINA was extended to March 2024 at no additional cost.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $84.6 million, an increase of 42% from $59.6 million for the same quarter of 2013, primarily due to increased marketing expenses related to the growth of the Company's e-commerce business, along with increased staff costs and bonuses resulting from increased headcount and improved profit.

Income from operations was $31.5 million in the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 44% from $21.9 million for the same quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP income from operations was $37.7 million, an increase of 28% from $29.5 million for the same quarter of 2013.

Net income was $26.4 million, an increase of 19% from $22.1 million for the same quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP net income was $32.0 million, an increase of 13% from $28.2 million for the same quarter of 2013.

Net income attributable to Leju shareholders was $25.7 million, or $0.19 per diluted ADS, an increase of 17% from $21.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted ADS, for the same quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Leju shareholders was $31.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted ADS, an increase of 12% from $28.0 million, or $0.23 per diluted ADS, for the same quarter of 2013.

First Nine Months 2014 Results

Total revenues were $324.2 million, an increase of 55% from $209.1 million for the same period of 2013, mainly driven by growth of revenues from e-commerce services.

Revenues from e-commerce services were $202.2 million, an increase of 118% from $92.7 million for the same period of 2013, primarily due to an 88% increase in discount coupons redeemed, as a result of the expansion of the Company's e-commerce business through partnerships with property developers.

Revenues from online advertising services were $111.2 million, an increase of 9% from $102.2 million for the same period of 2013, primarily due to revenue growth in both the Company's new home and home furnishing channels.

Revenues from listing services were $10.8 million, a decrease of 24% from $14.1 million for the same period of 2013, primarily due to the slowdown in secondary home sales.

Cost of revenues was $36.8 million, a decrease of 26% from $49.9 million for the same period of 2013, primarily due to decreased fees paid to third parties for services in connection with the Company's listing business and decreased amortization expenses of intangible assets as the Company's exclusive rights with Baidu were extended to March 2015 at no additional cost and the Company's advertising agency agreement with SINA was extended to March 2024 at no additional cost.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $237.5 million, an increase of 68% from $141.3 million for the same period of 2013, primarily due to increased marketing expenses related to the growth of the Company's e-commerce business, along with increased staff costs and bonuses resulting from increased headcount and improved profit.

Income from operations was $52.0 million in the first nine months of 2014, an increase of 184% from $18.3 million for the same period of 2013. Non-GAAP income from operations was $70.2 million, an increase of 75% from $40.0 million for the same period of 2013.

Net income was $43.7 million, an increase of 142% from $18.1 million for the same period of 2013. Non-GAAP net income was $59.9 million, an increase of 68% from $35.7 million for the same period of 2013.

Net income attributable to Leju shareholders was $43.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted ADS, an increase of 143% from $17.8 million, or $0.15 per diluted ADS, for the same period of 2013. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Leju shareholders was $59.4 million, or $0.45 per diluted ADS, an increase of 69% from $35.2 million, or $0.29 per diluted ADS, for the same period of 2013.

Cash Flow

As of September 30, 2014, the Company's cash and cash equivalents balance was $263.4 million.

Third quarter 2014 net cash provided by operating activities was $40.2 million, mainly attributable to non-GAAP net income of $32.0 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $1.1 million, mainly comprised of a payment of $1.1 million for property and equipment. Net cash used in financing activities was $4.1 million, and mainly comprised of a payment of $4.1 million to acquire non-controlling interests.

Business Outlook

The Company revises its fiscal year 2014 total revenue guidance to $470 million to $490 million from the previous range of $500 million to $520 million, primarily as a result of the lower-than-expected listing services revenue. The revised revenue guidance represents an increase of approximately 40% to 46% from $335.4 million in 2013. This forecast reflects the Company's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

Leju's management will host an earnings conference call on November 19, 2014 at 7 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time).

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

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is "Leju earnings call."

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until November 26, 2014:

Additionally, a live and archived webcast will be available at http://ir.leju.com.

About Leju

Leju Holdings Limited ("Leju") (NYSE: LEJU) is a leading online-to-offline, or O2O, real estate services provider in China, offering real estate e-commerce, online advertising and online listing services. Leju's integrated online platform comprises various mobile applications along with local websites covering more than 250 cities, enhanced by complementary offline services to facilitate residential property transactions. In addition to the Company's own websites, Leju operates the real estate and home furnishing websites of leading internet companies such as SINA Corporation and Baidu Inc., and maintains a strategic partnership with Tencent Holdings Limited. For more information about Leju, please visit http://ir.leju.com.

Safe Harbor: Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains 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," "going forward," "outlook" and similar statements. Leju may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished with 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 statements about Leju's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained, either expressly or impliedly, in any of the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in China's real estate market; the highly regulated nature of, and government measures affecting, the real estate and internet industries in China; Leju's ability to compete successfully against current and future competitors; its ability to continue to develop and expand its content, service offerings and features, and to develop or incorporate the technologies that support them; its limited operating history and lack of experience as a stand-alone public company, given its recent carve-out from E-House and prior reliance on E-House for various corporate services; its reliance on SINA, Baidu and others with which it has developed, or may develop in the future, strategic partnerships; substantial revenue contribution from a limited number of real estate markets; complexities resulting from its ongoing relationships with E-House, due to E-House's controlling interest in Leju; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to the corporate structure, business and industry of Leju. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and the Company 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.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Leju's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), Leju uses in this press release the following non-GAAP financial measures: (1) income (loss) from operations, (2) net income (loss), (3) net income (loss) attributable to Leju shareholders, (4) net income (loss) attributable to Leju shareholders per basic ADS, and (5) net income (loss) attributable to Leju shareholders per diluted ADS, each of which excludes share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.

Leju believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information to investors regarding its operating performance by excluding share-based compensation expense, and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, which may not be indicative of Leju's operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to Leju's historical performance and assist its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, may continue to exist in Leju's business for the foreseeable future. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables provide more details on the reconciliation between non-GAAP financial measures and their most comparable GAAP financial measures.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

In China:

Ms. Melody Liu
Leju Holdings Limited
Phone: +86 (10) 5895-1062
E-mail: ir@leju.com

Mr. Derek Mitchell
Ogilvy Financial, Beijing
Phone: +86 (10) 8520-6139
E-mail: leju@ogilvy.com

In the United States:

Mr. Justin Knapp
Ogilvy Financial, U.S.
Phone: +1 (616) 551-9714
E-mail: leju@ogilvy.com