CCG Cheche Group Inc

BEIJING, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheche Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CCG) ("Cheche", the "Company" or "we"), China's leading auto insurance technology platform, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Financial and Operational Highlights

• Net Revenues for the quarter increased 3.3% year-over-year to RMB850.5 million (US$121.2 million), while net revenues for the first nine months of 2024 increased 2.3% over the comparable prior year period to RMB2.5 billion (US$354.8 million). 
• Net Income for the quarter was RMB4.1 million (US$0.6 million), compared to a net loss of RMB55.4 million for the prior-year quarter, while net loss for the first nine months of 2024 decreased 60.2% to RMB50.8 million (US$7.2 million) over the prior-year period.
• Adjusted Net Income ⁽¹⁾ for the quarter was RMB2.6 million (US$0.4 million), compared to an adjusted net loss of RMB0.6 million for the prior-year quarter, while adjusted net loss for the first nine months of 2024 decreased 23.0% to RMB21.8 million (US$3.1 million), compared to the prior-year period.
• Total written premiums placed for the quarter increased 4.0% to RMB5.9 billion (US$0.8 billion) compared to the prior-year period, while total written premiums placed for the first nine months of 2024 increased 4.1% over the comparable prior-year period to RMB16.9 billion (US$2.4 billion).
• Total number of policies issued for the quarter increased 5.0% to 4.2 million from 4.0 million for the prior-year quarter, while the total number of policies issued over the first nine months of 2024 increased 11.9% over the comparable prior-year period to 12.2 million.
• Partnerships with New Energy Vehicle (NEV) companies ⁽²⁾ numbered 14 in the quarter and led to 292,000 embedded policies with corresponding written premium of RMB884.2 million (US$126.0 million), representing an increase of 149.6% and 121.6 % compared to the prior-year quarter, respectively. Embedded policies and corresponding written premium for the first nine months of 2024 reached 636,000 and RMB1.9 billion (US$273.2 million), respectively, representing growth of 144.6 % for policies embedded and 104.2% for written premium compared to the prior-year period.

Management Comments

"We are proud to announce that Cheche reported net income profitability for the first time on both a GAAP and adjusted net income basis. This quarter's milestone substantiates the merit of our business model and the growing conviction in our value proposition," said Lei Zhang, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Cheche Group. "We continue to work with both NEV manufacturers and insurers to leverage advanced data analysis, delivering tools that will reward responsible drivers, reduce fraud, and bring efficiencies to claims processing to support profitability, transparency, and affordability as the transition to automated mobility accelerates.

Mr. Zhang continued, "With China producing 48% more NEVs in September over the prior year, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, and NEV sales again surpassing traditional fuel car sales in the same month, our innovative platform will continue to meet the evolving insurance needs of car owners, manufacturers, and insurers."

Unaudited Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net Revenues were RMB850.5 million (US$121.2 million), representing a 3.3% year-over-year increase from the prior-year quarter. The growth was driven by increased insurance transactions conducted through Cheche's platform by referral and third-party platform partners.

Cost of Revenues increased 3.0% year-over-year to RMB808.1 million (US$115.2 million) from the prior-year quarter, consistent with the growth of business volume and net revenues.

Selling and Marketing Expenses decreased 53.6% to RMB18.1 million (US$2.6 million) from RMB39.0 million in the prior-year quarter, mainly due to the decrease in share-based compensation expenses and staff cost. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, selling and marketing expenses were RMB17.4 million (US$2.5 million), a decrease of 6.5% compared to the prior-year quarter.

General and Administrative Expenses decreased 41.3% to RMB20.4 million (US$2.9 million) from RMB34.8 million for the prior-year quarter, mainly due to the decrease in share-based compensation and professional service fees. Excluding share-based compensation and listing-related professional service fees, general and administrative expenses increased by RMB3.5 million from RMB15.0 million to RMB18.5 million (US$2.6 million), primarily due to the increase of post-listing professional service fees. 

Research and Development Expenses decreased 24.5% to RMB10.2 million (US$1.4 million) from RMB13.5 million in the prior-year quarter. The change was mainly due to decreased share-based compensation expenses, partially offset by the increase of staff costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, research and development expenses decreased 8.8% to RMB9.8 million (US$1.4 million) from RMB10.8 million in the prior-year quarter.

Total Cost and Operating Expenses decreased by 1.8% to RMB856.8 million (US$122.1 million) from RMB872.0 million in the prior-year quarter, mainly due to the increased cost of revenues and the decrease in share-based compensation expenses. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets related to the acquisition and listing-related professional service fees, total cost and operating expenses increased by 3.0% from the prior-year quarter.

Net Income for the quarter was RMB4.1 million (US$0.6 million), compared to a net loss of RMB55.4 million for the prior-year quarter. Excluding non-GAAP expenses, the Adjusted Net Income ⁽¹⁾ for the quarter was RMB2.6 million (US$0.4 million), due to the improvement of operating results and the positive impact from foreign exchange rates, compared to an adjusted net loss of RMB0.6 million for the prior-year quarter. 

Net Income attributable to Cheche's shareholders was RMB4.1 million (US$0.6 million), compared to a net loss attributable to Cheche's shareholders of RMB707.6 million for the prior-year quarter.

Adjusted Net Income attributable to Cheche's shareholders was RMB2.6 million (US$0.4 million), compared to an adjusted net loss attributable to Cheche's shareholders of RMB652.7 million for the prior-year quarter.

Net Income Per Share, basic and diluted, was RMB0.05 (US$0.01), compared to a net loss per share of RMB17.52, basic and diluted, for the prior-year quarter.

Adjusted Net Income Per Share, basic and diluted, was RMB0.03 (US$0.00), compared to an adjusted net loss per share of RMB16.16, basic and diluted, for the prior-year quarter.

3Q24 and Subsequent Business Highlights

• On September 3, 2024, Cheche announced a partnership with Shanghai Jidu Automobile Company Limited ("JI YUE") to further diversify its partner network with leaders in the NEV industry. Cheche successfully launched a system for JI YUE, creating channels for online and offline purchasing of auto and non-auto insurance products. The system is integrated into Cheche's core platform and is equipped with resources to grow and strengthen JI YUE's sales channels and enhance account settlement capabilities, among other functionalities.
• On September 12, 2024, Cheche announced a partnership with Laoyou Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd. ("Laoyou Insurance"), a wholly controlled subsidiary of Great Wall Motor Company Limited ("GWM"), a top ten Chinese auto manufacturer. Cheche's insurance solutions and mature transaction system have been gradually rolled out with GWM's newly established direct-sales network in more than 20 cities nationwide. Cheche plans to develop a comprehensive insurance solution tailored for traditional automakers within one to two years.
• On October 1, 2024, Cheche announced a strategic partnership with The Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Company (China) Limited ("TMNCH"), as Cheche continues to broaden its collaborations with insurance companies in China. Leveraging each other's strengths, the two companies are working to develop specialized insurance products, services, and sales strategies. Cheche's agreement with TMNCH is two pronged. This collaboration will enhance Cheche's insurance service capabilities while offering increased scale for traditional automotive companies and pave the way for future partnerships with Japanese automotive companies.

Balance Sheet 

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had RMB194.6 million (US$27.7 million) in total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Business Outlook

Cheche is affirming its full-year 2024 outlook:

• Net Revenues are expected to range from RMB3.5 billion to RMB3.7 billion, representing an increase of 6.1% to 12.1%, compared to the full year of 2023.
• Total written premiums placed are expected to range from RMB24.5 billion to RMB26.5 billion, representing an increase of 8.4% to 17.3%, compared to the full year of 2023.

Conference Call

Cheche will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its third quarter 2024 results today at 8:00 a.m. EST. This earnings release and a related investor deck will be available prior to the event in the "Quarterly Results" section under "Financials," while the live webcast will be available in the "Events" section under the "News & Events" header on the investor relations website at ir.chechegroup.com.

The dial-in numbers for the conference call will be as follows:

• Participant (toll-free): 1-888-346-8982
• Participant (international): 1-412-902-4272
• Hong Kong LT:  852-301-84992
• Hong Kong Toll Free:  800-905945
• China Toll-Free:  4001-201203

Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled start time and request Cheche's third quarter earnings call.

A webcast replay will be available for one year following the call.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the reader's convenience. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB7.0176 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on September 30, 2024, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or U.S. dollar amounts referenced could be converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

About Cheche Group Inc.

Established in 2014 and headquartered in Beijing, China, Cheche is a leading auto insurance technology platform with a nationwide network of around 108 branches licensed to distribute insurance policies across 25 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. Capitalizing on its leading position in auto insurance transaction services, Cheche has evolved into a comprehensive, data-driven technology platform that offers a full suite of services and products for digital insurance transactions and insurance SaaS solutions in China. Learn more at https://www.chechegroup.com/en.

Cheche Group Inc.:

IR@chechegroup.com

Crocker Coulson
crocker.coulson@aummedia.org
(646) 652-7185

Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

Cheche has provided non-GAAP financial measures in this press release that have not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States.

Cheche uses adjusted cost of revenues, adjusted selling and marketing expenses, adjusted general and administrative expenses, adjusted research and development expenses, adjusted total cost and operating expenses, adjusted net loss/income, and adjusted net loss/income per share, which are non-GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. 

Cheche defines adjusted total cost and operating expenses as total cost and operating expenses adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets related to the acquisition of Cheche Insurance Sales & Services Co., Ltd. (previously named Fanhua Times Sales and Service Co., Ltd), listing-related professional service fees and dispute resolution expenses, representing expenses Cheche incurred in a dispute with a certain security holder. Cheche defines adjusted net loss/income as net loss/income adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, and changes in fair value of amounts due to a related party related to the acquisition of Cheche Insurance Sales & Services Co., Ltd. (previously named Fanhua Times Sales and Service Co., Ltd), change in fair value of warrants, listing related professional service fees and dispute resolution expenses. Adjusted net loss/income per share, basic and diluted, is calculated as adjusted net loss/income divided by weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding.

Cheche believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business that could otherwise be distorted by the impact of share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets related to acquisition, and change in fair value of amounts due to a related party associated with the acquisition of Cheche Insurance Sales & Services Co., Ltd. (previously named Fanhua Times Sales and Service Co., Ltd), change in fair value of warrants, and listing related professional service fees and dispute resolution expenses. Cheche believes that such non-GAAP financial measures also provide useful information about its operating results, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in its financial and operational decision-making.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP nor presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. They should not be considered in isolation or construed as alternatives to net loss /income or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of Cheche's operating performance. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures 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 the Company's data. Cheche encourages investors and others to review the Company's financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Investors are encouraged to compare the historical non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Cheche mitigates these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP performance measures, all of which should be considered when evaluating its performance.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements regarding projections, estimations, and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and expectations, the Company's ability to scale and grow its business, the Company's advantages and expected growth, and its ability to source and retain talent, as applicable. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the Company's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, activity levels, performance, or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. 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. Although the Company believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, the Company cautions you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of the Company as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Cheche Group Inc.