| Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Significant Accounting Policies
a) Basis of presentation The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Significant accounting policies followed by the Group in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements are summarized below.
b) Principles of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries and VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Subsidiaries are those entities in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power, has the power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors, or to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors, or has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders. A consolidated VIE is an entity in which the Company’s subsidiary, through contractual arrangements, has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, bears the risks of and enjoys the rewards normally associated with ownership of the entity, and therefore the Company’s subsidiary is the primary beneficiary of the entity. All transactions and balances among the Company, its subsidiaries and VIEs have been eliminated upon consolidation.
c) Use of estimates The preparation of the Group’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with the U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities at the balance sheet date and reported revenues and expenses during the reported periods in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates include, but are not limited to, determination of the average playing period for paying players, and assessment for the impairment of long-term investments accounted for using the measurement alternative.
d) Functional currency and foreign currency translation The Group uses Renminbi (“RMB”) as its reporting currency. The functional currency of the Company and its overseas subsidiaries incorporated in the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong is United States dollars (“US$”). The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries incorporated in Japan is Japanese yen. The functional currency of the Group’s PRC entities is RMB. In the consolidated financial statements, the financial information of the Company and other entities located outside of the PRC have been translated into RMB. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates on the balance sheet date, equity amounts are translated at historical exchange rates, and revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average rate for the year. Translation adjustments are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments, and are shown as a component of other comprehensive income/(loss) on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Foreign currency transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet dates. Net gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange transactions are included in exchange gains/(losses) on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
e) Convenience Translation Translations of balances on the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and consolidated statements of cash flows from RMB into US$ as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB 6.5250, representing the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on December 31, 2020. No representation is made that the RMB amounts represent or could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on December 31, 2020, or at any other rate.
f) Fair value measurements Financial instruments Accounting guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Group considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. Accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Accounting guidance establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
a. Level 1 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
b. Level 2 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical asset or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.
c. Level 3 applies to asset or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. The Group’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, time deposits, accounts receivable, amount due from/to related parties, short-term investments, and accounts payable of which the carrying values approximate their fair values. Please see Note 22 for additional information.
g) Cash and cash equivalents and time deposits Cash and cash equivalents mainly represent cash on hand, demand deposits placed with large reputable banks in the United States of America and China, and highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and with original maturities from the date of purchase with terms of three months or less. As of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, there were cash on hand and demand deposits with terms of and less than three months denominated in U.S. dollars amounting to approximately US$481.6 million, US$670.1 million and US$582.2 million, respectively (equivalent to approximately RMB3,305.3 million, RMB4,674.6 million and RMB 3,798.5 million, respectively). As of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Group had cash held in accounts managed by online payment platforms such as Alipay and Paypal in connection with the collection of online service fees for a total amount of RMB10.8 million, RMB26.8 million and RMB42.0 million, respectively, which have been classified as cash and cash equivalents on the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Group had approximately RMB 377.8 million, RMB1,596.0 million and RMB2,144.5 million cash and cash equivalents held by its PRC subsidiaries and VIEs, representing 11%, 32% and 46% of total cash and cash equivalents of the Group, respectively. Time deposits represent deposits placed with banks with original maturities more than three months but less than one year. As of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, there were time deposits denominated in U.S. dollars amounting to approximately US$109.2 million, US$264.4 million and US$721.1 million, respectively (equivalent to approximately RMB749.4 million, RMB1,844.6 million and RMB 4,705.1million, respectively). The Group had no other lien arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020. As of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Group had no restricted cash balance.
h) Receivables, net Prior to January 1, 2020, the Group monitors the collection of its receivables and records allowance for specifically identified non-recoverable Starting from January 1, 2020, the Group adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial The Group’s accounts receivable and other receivables recorded in prepayments and other current assets are within the scope of ASC Topic 326. Accounts receivable consist primarily of receivables from advertising customers, and receivables from distribution channels. To estimate expected credit losses, the Group has identified the relevant risk characteristics of its customers and the related receivables and other receivables which include size, type of the services or the products the Group provides, or a combination of these characteristics. Receivables with similar risk characteristics have been grouped into pools. For each pool, the Group considers the past collection experience, current economic conditions, future economic conditions (external data and macroeconomic factors) and changes in the Group’s customer collection trends. This is assessed at each quarter based on the Group’s specific facts and circumstances. No significant impact of changes in the assumptions since adoption. The Group recorded a provision for current expected credit loss. The following table sets out movements of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020:
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018 2019 2020
RMB in thousands
Beginning balance prior to ASC 326 — — 17,696
Impact of adoption to ASC 326 — — 17,900
Beginning balance 4,516 14,420 35,596
Provisions 10,904 9,396 99,165
Write-offs (1,000 ) (6,120 ) (13,758 )
Ending balance 14,420 17,696 121,003
i) Inventories, net Inventories, mainly represent products for the Group’s e-commerce
j) Property and equipment, net Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment, if any. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally three years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the remaining lease term. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment is the difference between the net sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant assets and is recognized on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
k) Intangible assets, net Intangible assets acquired through business acquisitions are recognized as assets separate from goodwill if they satisfy either the “contractual-legal” or “separability” criterion. Purchased intangible assets are initially recognized and measured at fair value. Major identifiable intangible assets that have determinable lives continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method as follows:
Licensed copyrights of content shorter of the licensed period or projected useful life of the content, mainly vary from 1 to 8 years
License rights of mobile games shorter of the licensed period or projected useful life of mobile games, mainly vary from 1 to 3 years
Intellectual property and others 1 - If expectations of the usefulness of the content are revised downward, the unamortized cost is written down to the estimated net realizable value. A write-down from unamortized cost to a lower estimated net realizable value establishes a new cost basis.
l) Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired entity as a result of the Company’s acquisitions of interests in its subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs. Goodwill is not depreciated or amortized but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, and between annual tests when an event or circumstances change occurs that indicate the asset might be impaired. Under ASC 350-20-35, The Group applies the quantitative impairment test, which consists of a two-step two-step On January 1, 2020, the Group adopted ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment Application of a goodwill impairment test requires significant management judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units, and determining the fair value of each reporting unit. The estimated fair value of reporting unit is determined using either an income approach or a market approach, when appropriate. The judgment in estimating the fair value of reporting units includes estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount rates and making other assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value for each reporting unit. The Group as a whole is determined to be one reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing. The Group applied the quantitative assessment and performed the goodwill impairment test by quantitatively comparing the fair values of the reporting unit to its carrying amounts . The Group determines the fair value of the reporting unit based on its quoted stock price
m) Impairment of long-lived assets other than goodwill Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances (such as a significant adverse change to market conditions that will impact the future use of the assets) indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be fully recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than the Group had originally estimated. When these events occur, the Group evaluates the impairment for the long-lived assets by comparing the carrying value of the assets to an estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the assets, the Group recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying value of the assets over the fair value of the assets.
n) Research and development expenses Research and development expenses mainly consist of payroll-related expenses incurred for the innovation of video function, development and enhancement to the Group’s websites and platforms of applications and development of online games. For internal use software, the Group expenses all costs incurred for the preliminary project stage and post implementation-operation stage of development, and costs associated with repair or maintenance of the existing platforms. Costs incurred in the application development stage are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life. Since the amount of the Group’s research and development expenses qualifying for capitalization has been immaterial, as a result, all development costs incurred for development of internal used software have been expensed as incurred. For external use software, costs incurred for development of external use software have not been capitalized since the inception of the Group, because the period after the date technical feasibility is reached and the time when the software is marketed is short historically, and the amount of costs qualifying for capitalization has been immaterial.
o) Sales and marketing expenses Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of marketing and promotional expenses, salaries and other compensation-related expenses to the Group’s sales and marketing personnel. Marketing and promotional expenses consist primarily of costs for the promotion of corporate image and product marketing. The Group expenses all marketing and promotion costs as incurred and classifies these costs under sales and marketing expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the marketing and promotional expenses were RMB436.5 million, RMB934.7 million and RMB3,006.0 million, respectively.
p) General and administrative expenses General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other compensation-related expenses to the Group’s general and administrative personnel, professional fees, rental expenses and allowance for doubtful accounts.
q) Leases Prior to 2019, the Group accounted for leases under ASC 840, Leases. Leases where substantially all the rewards and risks of ownership of assets remain with the lessor are accounted for as operating leases. Rental expense is recognized from the date of initial possession of the leased property on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Certain lease agreements contain rent holidays, which are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease renewal periods are considered on a lease-by-lease On January 1, 2019, the Group adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) right-of-use The Group elected to apply practical expedients permitted under the transition method that allow the Group to use the beginning of the period of adoption as the date of initial application, to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for leases with a term of twelve months or less, to not separate non-lease Right-of-use As a result of the adoption, the Group recognized approximately RMB235.7 million of right-of-use The Group leases office space and staff quarters under non-cancelable 2025
December 31, 2020
RMB in thousands
2021 156,869
2022 171,923
2023 106,253
2024 43,575
2025 and thereafter 17,813
Total future lease payments 496,433
Impact of discounting remaining lease payments (42,642 )
Total lease liabilities 453,791
Rent expense under operating leases was RMB55.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Operating lease cost for the year s
For the Year Ended December 31,
2019 2020
RMB in thousands
Cash payments for operating leases 67,535 107,772
Right-of-use 96,692 260,867
Future lease payments under leases as of December 31, 2018 were as follows:
Operating Leases*
RMB in thousands
2019 65,400
2020 72,230
2021 73,054
2022 69,681
Beyond 2022 19,544
* Amounts are based on ASC 840, Leases , Leases
r) Share-based compensation Share based compensation expenses arise from share-based awards, including share options for the purchase of the Company’s ordinary shares. The Group accounts for share-based awards granted to employees in accordance with ASC 718 Compensation - Stock Compensation 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting 2018-07, non-employees For share options for the purchase of ordinary shares granted to employees determined to be equity classified awards, the related share-based compensation expenses are recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on their grant date fair values which are calculated using the binomial option pricing model. The determination of the fair value is affected by the share price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables, including the expected share price volatility, risk-free interest rates and expected dividends. For share options granted with service conditions only, share-based compensation expenses are recorded net of estimated forfeitures using straight-line method during the requisite service period, such that expenses are recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to ultimately vest. For share options granted with service condition and the occurrence of an IPO as performance condition, share-based compensation expenses are recorded net of estimated forfeitures using graded-vesting method during the requisite service period. Cumulative share-based compensation expenses for the options that have satisfied the service condition, amounting to RMB28.9 million, were recorded upon the completion of the IPO in 2018.
s) Employee benefits PRC Contribution Plan Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to the employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the PRC subsidiaries and VIEs of the Group make contributions to the government for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government. The Group has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made.
t) Investments Short-term investments Short-term investments primarily include money market funds, financial products with variable interest rates referenced to performance of underlying assets issued by commercial banks or other financial institutions and publicly traded companies with the intention to be sold within twelve months. In accordance with ASC 825, Financial Instruments For the investments in publicly traded companies, the Group carries the investments at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Changes in the fair value of these investments are reflected on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as “Investment income, net”. Long-term investments, net The Group’s long-term investments primarily consist of equity investments accounted for using the measurement alternative, equity investments accounted for using the equity method and other investments accounted for at fair value. Equity investments accounted for using the measurement alternative For those investments over which the Group does not have significant influence and without readily determinable fair value, the Group records them at cost, less impairment, and plus or minus subsequent adjustments for observable price changes, in accordance with Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities The adoption did not have a significant impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Management regularly evaluates the impairment of these investments based on performance and financial position of the investee as well as other evidence of market value. Such evaluation includes, but is not limited to, reviewing the investee’s cash position, recent financing, projected and historical financial performance, cash flow forecasts and financing needs. An impairment loss recognized equals to the excess of the investment cost over its fair value at the end of each reporting period for which the assessment is made. The fair value would then become the new cost basis of investment. Equity investments accounted for using the equity method The Group applies the equity method of accounting to account for equity investments and limited partnership in a private equity fund, according to ASC 323 Investment—Equity Method and Joint Ventures Investments accounted for at fair value In accordance with ASC 825, Financial Instruments
u) Taxation Income taxes Current income taxes are provided on the basis of income/(loss) for financial reporting purposes, adjusted for income and expense items which are not assessable or deductible for income tax purposes, in accordance with the regulations of the relevant tax jurisdictions. Deferred income taxes are provided using the assets and liabilities method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The tax base of an asset or liability is the amount attributed to that asset or liability for tax purposes. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss in the period of change. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more-likely-than-not Uncertain tax positions In order to assess uncertain tax positions, the Group applies a more-likely-than-not two-step two-step more-likely-than-not
v) Revenue recognition On January 1, 2018, the Group adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The Group identifies its contracts with customers and all performance obligations within those contracts. The Group then determines the transaction price and allocates the transaction price to the performance obligations within the Group’s contracts with customers, recognizing revenue when, or as, the Group satisfies its performance obligations. The adoption of ASC 606 did not significantly change (1) the timing and pattern of revenue recognition for all of the Group’s revenue streams, and (2) the presentation of revenue as gross versus net. Therefore, the adoption of ASC 606 did not have a significant impact on the Group’s financial position, results of operations, equity, cash flows or any adjustment on the Group’s consolidated financial statements as of the adoption date and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Group’s revenue recognition policies effective upon the adoption of ASC 606 are as follows: Mobile game services Exclusively distributed mobile games For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Group primarily generates revenues from the sale of in-game . In accordance with ASC 606, the Group evaluates the contracts with its customers and determines that the Group has a single combined performance obligation which is to make the game and the ongoing game related services available to the paying players. The transaction price, which is the amount paid for in-game in-game point-in-time in-game The Group has estimated the average playing period of the paying players for each game, usually between three to eight months. The Group considers the average period that players typically play the games and other game player behavior patterns, as well as various other factors to arrive at the best estimates for the estimated playing period of the paying players. To compute the estimated average playing period for paying players, the Group considers the initial purchase date as the starting point of a paying player’s lifespan. The Group tracks populations of paying players who made their initial purchases during the interval period (the “Cohort”) and tracks each Cohort to understand the subsequent churn rate of the paying players of each Cohort, i.e. the number of paying players from each Cohort who left subsequent to their initial purchases. To determine the ending point of a paying player’s lifespan beyond the date for which observable data are available, the Group extrapolates the actual observed churn rate to arrive at an estimated weighted average playing lifespan for paying players of the selected games. If a new game is launched and only a limited period of paying player data is available, then the Group considers other qualitative factors, such as the playing patterns for paying players for other games with similar characteristics with the new game, including paying player type and purchasing frequency. While the Group believes its estimates to be reasonable based on available game player information, the Group may revise such estimates based on new information indicating a change in the game player behavior patterns and any adjustments are applied prospectively. In accordance with ASC 606-10-55-39, in-game in-game Proceeds earned from selling in-game Jointly operated mobile game distribution services The Group is also offering distribution services for mobile games developed by the third-party game developers. In accordance with ASC 606, the Group evaluates the contracts with the third-party game developers and identifies the performance obligations as distributing games and providing payment solution and market promotion service to the game developers. Accordingly, the Group earns service revenue by distributing them to the game players. In accordance with ASC 606-10-55-39, pre-determined Valued added services (“VAS”) The Group offers premium membership subscription, live broadcasting and other video, audio and comic content to the customers. The Group offers premium membership sub scription non-refundable The Group operates and maintains live broadcasting channel whereby users can enjoy live performances provided by the hosts and interact with the hosts. Most of the hosts host the performance on their own. The Group creates and sells virtual items to users so that the users present them simultaneously to hosts to show their support. The virtual items sold by the Group comprise of either (i) consumable items or (ii) time-based items, such as privilege titles etc. Revenues derived from the sale of virtual items are recorded on a gross basis as the Group acts as the principal to fulfill all obligations related to the sale of virtual items in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-39. point-in-time Under the arrangements with the hosts, the Group shares with them a portion of the revenues derived from the sales of virtual items. The portion paid to hosts is recognized as “Cost of revenues” on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Advertising services The Group provides various advertising formats, mainly include but not limited to advertisements appearing on the app opening page, banner text-links, logos, buttons and rich media, performance-based advertising and native advertisements which are customized according to advertisers’ needs. The Group determines each format of advertisements which is a distinct performance obligation. Consideration is allocated to each performance obligation based on its standalone selling price. The Group recognizes revenue on a pro-rata Sales incentives to customers The Group provides various sales incentives to its customers, including cash incentives in the form of commissions to certain third-party advertising agencies and noncash incentives such as discounts and advertising services provided free of charge in certain bundled arrangements, which are negotiated on a contract by contract basis with customers. The Group accounts for these incentives granted to customers as variable consideration in accordance with ASC 606. The amount of variable consideration is measured based on the most likely amount of incentive to be provided to customers. E-commerce E-commerce e-commerce E-commerce 606-10-55-39, 606-10-32-25. Net revenues presented on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss are net of sales discount and sales tax. Other Estimates and Judgment s The Group estimates revenue of mobile game, VAS from the third-party payment processors in the current period when reasonable estimates of these amounts can be made. The processors provide reliable interim preliminary reporting within a reasonable time frame following the end of each month and the Group maintains records of sales data, both of which allow the Group to make reasonable estimates of revenue and therefore to recognize revenue during the reporting period. Determination of the appropriate amount of revenue recognized involves judgments and estimates that the Group believes are reasonable, but actual results may differ from the Group’s estimates. When the Group receives the final reports, to the extent not received within a reasonable time frame following the end of each month, the Group records any differences between estimated revenue and actual revenue in the reporting period when the Group determines the actual amounts. The revenue on the final revenue report have not differed significantly from the reported revenue for the periods presented. Contract balances Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. Accounts receivable represent amounts invoiced, and revenue recognized prior to |
