Qudian (QD) 6-K Qudian Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2022

Exhibit 99.1

Qudian Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2022

Unaudited Financial Results

XIAMEN, China, September 6, 2022/PRNewswire/ — Qudian Inc. (“Qudian” or “the Company” or “We”) (NYSE: QD), a consumer-oriented technology company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Second Quarter 2022 Operational Highlights:

• Number of outstanding borrowers^[1] from loan book business as of June 30, 2022 decreased by 6.7% to 2.4 million from 2.6 million as of March 31, 2022, as a result of the Company’s deployment of a conservative and prudent strategy

• Total outstanding loan balance from loan book business^[2] decreased by 54.4% to RMB0.7 billion as of June 30, 2022 from RMB1.5 billion as of March 31, 2022

• Amount of transactions from loan book business for this quarter decreased by 31.0% to RMB1.5 billion from the first quarter of 2022

• Weighted average loan tenure for our loan book business was 2.0 months for this quarter, compared to 2.3 months for the first quarter of 2022

^[1]  Outstanding borrowers are borrowers who have outstanding loans from the Company’s loan book business as of a particular date.

^[2]  Includes (i) off and on balance sheet loans directly or indirectly funded by our institutional funding partners or our own capital, net of cumulative write-offs and (ii) does not include auto loans from Dabai Auto business.

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights:

• Total revenues were RMB105.4 million (US$15.7 million), compared to RMB412.1 million for the same period of last year

• Net loss attributable to Qudian’s shareholders was RMB61.3 million (US$9.2 million), compared to an income of RMB269.9 million for the same period of last year, or net loss of RMB0.25 (US$0.04) per diluted ADS

• Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Qudian’s shareholders^[3] was RMB52.8 million (US$7.9 million), compared to non-GAAP net income attributable to Qudian’s shareholders of RMB282.5 million for the same period of last year, or Non-GAAP net loss of RMB0.21 (US$0.03) per diluted ADS

^[3]  For more information on this Non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned “Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this press release.

Recent Developments

Loan Book Business:

After careful evaluation, the Company has decided to cease new credit offerings as of September 6, 2022. As of August 31, the Company’s total outstanding loan balance from the loan book business was below RMB500 million, with an average loan tenure of approximately three months. The existing outstanding loans continue to generate revenue and will be collected in an orderly manner. As a result of this business adjustment, the Company expects its revenues to significantly decline in the coming quarters compared with the previous quarters.

QD Food Business

After assessing current market conditions, the Company has decided to streamline its QD Food business. With the streamlining in QD Food operations, the Company expects to incur employee severance costs, termination fees for business partners and inventory write offs, which may adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations.

The Company will continue to explore new business opportunities and protect long term value for its shareholders.

Second Quarter Financial Results

Total revenues were RMB105.4 million (US$15.7 million), representing a decrease of 74.4% from RMB412.1 million for the second quarter of 2021.

Financing income totaled RMB66.2 million (US$9.9 million), representing a decrease of 78.8% from RMB311.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, as a result of the decrease in the average on-balance sheet loan balance.

Loan facilitation income and other related income decreased by 47.6% to RMB6.6 million (US$1.0 million) from RMB12.6 million for the second quarter of 2021, as a result of the reduction in transaction volume of off-balance sheet loans during this quarter.

Transaction services fee and other related income decreased to RMB6.5 million (US$1.0 million) from RMB38.5 million for the second quarter of 2021, mainly as a result of the winding down of the transaction service business.

Sales income and others decreased to RMB8.8 million (US$1.3 million), which was mainly attributable to sales income generated by QD Food, from RMB23.7 million for the second quarter of 2021, which was mainly attributable to sales generated by the Wanlimu e-commerce platform. We have wound down the Wanlimu e-commerce platform.

Total operating costs and expenses increased to RMB135.9 million (US$20.3 million) from RMB89.3 million for the second quarter of 2021.

Cost of revenues decreased by 36.7% to RMB41.1 million (US$6.1 million) from RMB64.9 million for the second quarter of 2022, primarily due to the decrease in cost of goods sold as a result of the wind-down of the Wanlimu e-commerce platform, partially offset by the cost of goods sold relating to QD Food.

Sales and marketing expenses increased by 82.6% to RMB53.2 million (US$7.9 million) from RMB29.1 million for the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to the increase in marketing expenses related to QD Food.

General and administrative expenses decreased by 68.1% to RMB34.8 million (US$5.2 million) from RMB109.1 million for the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to the downsizing of the WLM Kids business.

Research and development expenses decreased by 52.1% to RMB18.8 million (US$2.8 million) from RMB39.2 million for the second quarter of 2021, as a result of the decrease in staff head count, which led to a corresponding decrease in staff salaries.

Provision for receivables and other assets was a reversal of RMB28.7 million (US$4.3 million) for the second quarter of 2022, mainly due to the decrease in past-due on-balance sheet outstanding principal receivables compared to the second quarter of 2021

Impairment loss from long-lived assets was RMB45.5 million (US$6.8 million) for this quarter, as a result of the downsizing of the WLM Kids business.

As of June 30, 2022, the total balance of outstanding principal and financing service fee receivables for on-balance sheet transactions for which any installment payment was more than 30 calendar days past due was RMB124.0 million (US$18.5 million), and the balance of allowance for principal and financing service fee receivables at the end of the period was RMB147.2 million (US$22.0 million), indicating M1+ Delinquency Coverage Ratio of 1.2x.

The following charts display the “vintage charge-off rate.” Total potential receivables at risk vintage charge-off rate refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated under the loan book business during a specified time period, the total potential outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 180 days up to twelve months after origination, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Delinquencies may increase or decrease after such 12-month period.

Current receivables at risk vintage charge-off rate refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated under the loan book business during a specified time period, the actual outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 180 days up to twelve months after origination, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Delinquencies may increase or decrease after such 12-month period.

Total potential receivables at risk M1+ delinquency rate by vintage refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated under the loan book business during a specified time period, the total potential outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 30 days up to twelve months after origination, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Delinquencies may increase or decrease after such 12-month period.

Current receivables at risk M1+ delinquency rate by vintage refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated under the loan book business during a specified time period, the actual outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 30 days up to twelve months after origination, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Delinquencies may increase or decrease after such 12-month period.

Loss from operations was RMB29.4 million (US$4.4 million), compared to income from operations of RMB327.2 million for the second quarter of 2021.

Net loss attributable to Qudian’s shareholders was RMB61.3 million (US$9.2 million), or net loss of RMB0.25 (US$0.04) per diluted ADS.

Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Qudian’s shareholders was RMB52.8 million (US$7.9 million), or Non-GAAP net loss of RMB0.21 (US$0.03) per diluted ADS.

Cash Flow

As of June 30, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB3,099.0 million (US$462.7 million) and restricted cash of RMB257.8 million (US$38.5 million). Restricted cash mainly represents security deposits held in designated bank accounts for the guarantee of on-and-off balance sheet transactions. Such restricted cash is not available to fund the general liquidity needs of the Company.

For the second quarter of 2022, net cash used in operating activities was RMB365.7 million (US$54.6 million), mainly due to the decrease in other current and non-current assets. Net cash provided by investing activities was RMB1,454.7 million (US$217.8 million), mainly due to the net proceeds from the redemption of short-term investments. Net cash used in financing activities was RMB227.3 million (US$33.9 million), mainly due to the repurchase of ordinary shares and convertible senior notes.

Update on Share Repurchase and Convertible Bond Repurchase

As of the date of this release, the Company has repurchased all of the convertible senior notes of US$345 million. The Company has cumulatively completed total share repurchases of approximately US$584.8 million.

About Qudian Inc.

Qudian Inc. (“Qudian”) is a consumer-oriented technology company in China. The Company historically focused on providing credit solutions to consumers. Qudian is exploring innovative consumer products and services to satisfy Chinese consumers’ fundamental and daily needs by leveraging its technology capabilities. In March 2022, it launched a ready-to-cook meal business catering to working-class consumers in China.

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

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use adjusted net income/loss, a Non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. We believe that adjusted net income/loss helps identify underlying trends in our business by excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges, and convertible bonds buyback income, which is non-cash and non-recurring. We believe that adjusted net income/loss provides useful information about our operating results, enhances the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.

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 analytical tools, and when assessing our operating performance, cash flows or our liquidity, investors should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for net loss /income, cash flows provided by operating activities or other consolidated statements of operation and cash flow data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

We mitigate these limitations by reconciling the Non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating our performance.

For more information on this Non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned “Unaudited Reconciliation 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 (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB6.6981 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on June 30, 2022 in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Statement Regarding Preliminary Unaudited Financial Information

The unaudited financial information set out in this earnings release is preliminary and subject to potential adjustments. Adjustments to the consolidated financial statements may be identified when audit work has been performed for the Company’s year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited financial information.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States 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 expectation of its collection efficiency and delinquency, contain forward-looking statements. Qudian may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to 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 Qudian’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: Qudian’s goal and strategies; Qudian’s expansion plans; Qudian’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Qudian’s expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products; Qudian’s expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with customers, business partners and other parties it collaborates with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Qudian’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 Qudian does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Qudian Inc.

Tel: +86-592-596-8208

E-mail: ir@qudian.com

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Jenny Cai

Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677

E-mail: qudian@tpg-ir.com

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: qudian@tpg-ir.com

QUDIAN INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

	Three months ended June 30,
(In thousands except for number	2021			2022
of shares and per-share data)	(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)
	RMB			RMB			US$
Revenues:
Financing income		311,755			66,231			9,888
Sales commission fee		9,081			95			14
Sales income and others		23,655			8,753			1,307
Penalty fee		16,569			17,297			2,582
Loan facilitation income and other related income		12,565			6,589			984
Transaction services fee and other related income		38,462			6,481			968
Total revenues		412,087			105,446			15,743
Operating cost and expenses:
Cost of revenues		(64,890	)		(41,083	)		(6,134	)
Sales and marketing		(29,140	)		(53,211	)		(7,944	)
General and administrative		(109,112	)		(34,828	)		(5,200	)
Research and development		(39,204	)		(18,774	)		(2,803	)
Changes in guarantee liabilities and risk assurance liabilities(1)		55,624			28,839			4,306
Provision for receivables and other assets		97,385			28,657			4,278
Impairment loss from long-lived assets		—			(45,536	)		(6,798	)
Total operating cost and expenses		(89,337	)		(135,936	)		(20,295	)
Other operating income		4,482			1,129			169
(Loss)/Income from operations		327,232			(29,361	)		(4,383	)
Interest and investment income, net		17,713			4,646			694
Loss from equity method investments		—			(241	)		(36	)
Loss on derivative instruments		—			(34,671	)		(5,176	)
Foreign exchange gain, net		319			798			119
Other income		85			9,569			1,428
Other expenses		(750	)		(4,974	)		(743	)
Net (loss)/income before income taxes		344,599			(54,234	)		(8,097	)
Income tax expenses		(75,457	)		(7,081	)		(1,057	)
Net (loss)/income		269,142			(61,315	)		(9,154	)
Net (loss)/profit attributable to non-controlling interest shareholders		(805	)		—			—
Net (loss)/income attributable to Qudian Inc.’s shareholders		269,947			(61,315	)		(9,154	)
(Loss)/Earnings per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares:
Basic		1.07			(0.25	)		(0.04	)
Diluted		1.03			(0.25	)		(0.04	)
(Loss)/Earnings per ADS (1 Class A ordinary share equals 1 ADSs):
Basic		1.07			(0.25	)		(0.04	)
Diluted		1.03			(0.25	)		(0.04	)
Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares outstanding:
Basic		253,370,503			248,458,980			248,458,980
Diluted		266,973,780			253,530,688			253,530,688
Other comprehensive (loss)/gain:
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(7,087	)		6,489			969
Total comprehensive (loss)/income		262,055			(54,826	)		(8,185	)
Less: total comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest shareholders		(805	)		—			—
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Qudian Inc.’s shareholders		262,860			(54,826	)		(8,185	)

Note:

(1): The amount includes the change in fair value of the guarantee liabilities accounted in accordance with ASC 815,“Derivative”, and the change in risk assurance liabilities accounted in accordance with ASC 450, “Contingencies” and ASC 460, “Guarantees”.

QUDIAN INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

	As of March 31, 2022		As of June 30, 2022
(In thousands except for number
of shares and per-share data)	(Unaudited)		(Unaudited)		(Unaudited)
	RMB		RMB		US$
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		2,245,403		3,098,964		462,663
Restricted cash		229,130		257,792		38,487
Derivative instruments-assets		11,289		8,665		1,294
Short-term investments		6,036,136		5,070,080		756,943
Short-term loan principal and financing service fee receivables		1,319,751		556,095		83,023
Short-term finance lease receivables		11,875		5,602		836
Short-term contract assets		19,001		13,680		2,042
Other current assets		1,941,411		2,654,670		396,332
Total current assets		11,813,996		11,665,548		1,741,620
Non-current assets:
Long-term finance lease receivables		15		—		—
Operating lease right-of-use assets		271,545		553,161		82,585
Investment in equity method investee		119,038		119,777		17,882
Long-term investments		268,921		249,257		37,213
Property and equipment, net		643,734		696,128		103,929
Intangible assets		11,070		11,232		1,677
Long-term contract assets		1		—		—
Deferred tax assets, net		51,706		35,831		5,349
Other non-current assets		430,551		426,713		63,707
Total non-current assets		1,796,581		2,092,099		312,342
TOTAL ASSETS		13,610,577		13,757,647		2,053,962

QUDIAN INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

	As of March 31, 2022			As of June 30, 2022
(In thousands except for number
of shares and per-share data)	(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)
	RMB			RMB			US$
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings and interest payables		—			120,000			17,916
Short-term lease liabilities		38,640			65,686			9,807
Convertible senior notes-short term		—			133,962			20,000
Derivative instruments-liability		—			77,377			11,552
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		387,372			527,450			78,746
Guarantee liabilities and risk assurance liabilities(2)		658			275			42
Income tax payable		115,016			47,396			7,076
Total current liabilities		541,686			972,146			145,139
Non-current liabilities:
Deferred tax liabilities, net		85,495			90,795			13,555
Convertible senior notes		300,312			—			—
Long-term lease liabilities		160,679			388,474			57,998
Long-term borrowings and interest payables		145,312			25,312			3,779
Other non-current liabilities		629			—			—
Total non-current liabilities		692,427			504,581			75,332
Total liabilities		1,234,113			1,476,727			220,471
Shareholders’ equity:
Class A Ordinary shares		132			132			20
Class B Ordinary shares		44			44			7
Treasury shares		(351,436	)		(390,271	)		(58,266	)
Additional paid-in capital		4,019,352			4,027,471			601,286
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(60,047	)		(53,559	)		(7,996	)
Non-controlling interests		6,765			—			—
Retained earnings		8,761,654			8,697,103			1,298,440
Total shareholders’ equity		12,376,464			12,280,920			1,833,491
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		13,610,577			13,757,647			2,053,962

Note:

(2) The amount includes the balance of the guarantee liabilities accounted in accordance with ASC 815,“Derivative”, and the balance of risk assurance liabilities accounted in accordance with ASC 450, “Contingencies” and ASC 460, “Guarantees”.

QUDIAN INC.

Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP And Non-GAAP Results

	Three months ended June 30,
	2021		2022
(In thousands except for number	(Unaudited)		(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)
of shares and per-share data)	RMB		RMB			US$
Total net (loss)/income attributable to Qudian Inc.’s shareholders		269,947		(61,315	)		(9,154	)
Add: Share-based compensation expenses		12,505		8,672			1,295
Less: Convertible bonds buyback income		—		196			29
Non-GAAP net (loss)/income attributable to Qudian Inc.’s shareholders		282,452		(52,839	)		(7,888	)
Non-GAAP net (loss)/income per share—basic		1.11		(0.21	)		(0.03	)
Non-GAAP net (loss)/income per share—diluted		1.07		(0.21	)		(0.03	)
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic		253,370,503		248,458,980			248,458,980
Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted		266,973,780		253,530,688			253,530,688