LU Lufax Holding Ltd

SHANGHAI, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lufax Holding Ltd ("Lufax" or the "Company") (NYSE: LU and HKEX: 6623), a leading financial services enabler for small business owners in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 & First Half 2024 Financial Highlights

• Total income was RMB5,976 million (US$822 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB9,270 million in the same period of 2023.
• Net loss was RMB730 million (US$100 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to net profit of RMB1,004 million in the same period of 2023.

Second Quarter 2024 Operational Highlights

• Total outstanding balance of loans was RMB235.2 billion as of June 30, 2024 compared to RMB426.4 billion as of June 30, 2023, representing a decrease of 44.8%, among which the outstanding balance of consumer finance loans was RMB42.0 billion as of June 30, 2024, compared to RMB32.8 billion as of June 30, 2023, representing an increase of 27.9%.
• Total new loans enabled were RMB45.2 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB53.5 billion in the same period of 2023, representing a decrease of 15.5%, among which new consumer finance loans were RMB22.1 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB17.9 billion in the same period of 2023, representing an increase of 23.6%.
• Cumulative number of borrowers increased by 17.4% to approximately 23.2 million as of June 30, 2024 from approximately 19.7 million as of June 30, 2023.
• As of June 30, 2024, including the consumer finance subsidiary, the Company bore risk on 56.7% of its outstanding balance, up from 27.5% as of June 30, 2023. Credit enhancement partners bore risk on the other 42.2% of the outstanding balance, among which Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd. accounted for a majority.
• As of June 30, 2024, excluding the consumer finance subsidiary, the Company bore risk on 49.9% of its outstanding balance, up from 22.4% as of June 30, 2023.
• For the second quarter of 2024, the Company's retail credit enablement business take rate^[1] based on loan balance was 9.3%, as compared to 7.0% for the second quarter of 2023.
• C-M3 flow rate^[2] for the total loans the Company had enabled, excluding the consumer finance subsidiary, was 0.9% in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 1.0% in the first quarter of 2024. Flow rates for the general unsecured loans and secured loans the Company had enabled were 0.9% and 0.7% respectively in the second quarter of 2024, as compared to 1.0% and 0.7% respectively in the first quarter of 2024.
• Days past due ("DPD") 30+ delinquency rate^[3] for the total loans the Company had enabled, excluding the consumer finance subsidiary, was 5.4% as of June 30, 2024, as compared to 6.6% as of March 31, 2024. DPD 30+ delinquency rate for general unsecured loans was 5.8% as of June 30, 2024, as compared to 7.4% as of March 31, 2024. DPD 30+ delinquency rate for secured loans was 4.1% as of June 30, 2024, as compared to 4.5% as of March 31, 2024.
• DPD 90+ delinquency rate^[4] for total loans enabled, excluding the consumer finance subsidiary, was 3.4% as of June 30, 2024, as compared to 4.4% as of March 31, 2024. DPD 90+ delinquency rate for general unsecured loans was 3.7% as of June 30, 2024, as compared to 5.0% as of March 31, 2024. DPD 90+ delinquency rate for secured loans was 2.5% as of June 30, 2024, as compared to 2.6% as of March 31, 2024.
• As of June 30, 2024, the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio^[5] for consumer finance loans was 1.4% as compared to 1.6% as of March 31, 2024.

Mr. YongSuk Cho, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lufax, commented, "During the second quarter, our focus on quality over quantity yielded notable improvements of asset quality across both our Puhui and consumer finance portfolios. Loan quality trended higher within both segments, demonstrating the efficacy of our strategic approach. As our Puhui loan balance increasingly represents loans enabled under the 100% guarantee model, we anticipate the ongoing shift will drive further enhancements to our take rate going forward. Furthermore, as we continue to execute our strategy of obtaining and utilizing strong licenses to bolster our business, we expect our licenses will help us improve our funding costs, product diversity, and capital management efficiency. Looking ahead, we will seek to deepen our synergies with Ping An Group, leveraging their brand reputation, technological resources, and extensive network to strengthen our market position. These initiatives, combined with our direct sales force and ongoing emphasis on operational caution, uniquely position us to support China's small and micro enterprise economy. We are encouraged by our progress to date, and remain committed to drive persistent, high-quality growth for our customers and our shareholders."

Mr. Gregory Gibb, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Lufax, commented, "Our ongoing emphasis on operational refinements helped us strengthen our business during the second quarter. Our disciplined approach to credit standards led to enhancements in asset quality, with the C-M3 flow rate of Puhui loans improving to 0.9% and the NPL ratio for consumer finance loans decreasing to 1.4%. Meanwhile, the implementation of our 100% guarantee model for Puhui loans has positively impacted the take rate on our outstanding balance, which reached 9.3% this quarter. Our consumer finance segment also continued to grow, with a 23.6% year-over-year increase in new loan sales, representing 49% of total new loan sales in the quarter. Our prudent approach and ongoing operational refinements will be key as we pursue sustainable future growth."

Mr. Alston Peiqing Zhu, Chief Financial Officer of Lufax, commented, "During the second quarter, our leverage remained low, and our two main operating entities have maintained their strong capital positions. Our guarantee subsidiary's leverage ratio is stable at 2.4x, still comfortably below the 10x regulatory limit. At the same time, our consumer finance company has a healthy 14.7% capital adequacy ratio, surpassing the 10.5% regulatory requirement. Amidst a complex economic environment, we are seeing positive trends in asset quality and notable growth in consumer finance. We remain steadfast in our disciplined approach, aiming to construct a resilient platform for enduring success and shareholder value creation."

Second Quarter 2024 & First Half 2024 Financial Results

TOTAL INCOME

Total income was RMB5,976 million (US$822 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB9,270 million in the same period of 2023, representing a decrease of 36%.

• Technology platform-based income was RMB1,999 million (US$275 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB4,076 million in the same period of 2023, representing a decrease of 51.0%, due to 1) the decrease of retail credit service fees due to the decrease in loan balance and 2) the decrease of referral and other technology platform-based income due to the Company's exit from the Lujintong^[6] business that it had previously conducted.
• Net interest income was RMB2,716 million (US$374 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB3,367 million in the same period of 2023, representing a decrease of 19.3%, mainly due to the decrease in loan balance, partially offset by the increase of net interest income from the Company's consumer finance business.
• Guarantee income was RMB850 million (US$117 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB1,149 million in the same period of 2023, representing a decrease of 26.0%, primarily due to the decrease in loan balance and a lower average fee rate.
• Other income was RMB318 million (US$44 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to other income of RMB310 million in the same period of 2023. The increase was mainly due to the increased account management fees driven by improved collection performance.
• Investment income was RMB94 million (US$13 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB370 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increased losses associated with certain investment assets.

---------------------------

TOTAL EXPENSES

Total expenses decreased by 20% to RMB6,341 million (US$873 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB7,957 million in the same period of 2023. This decrease was mainly due to the decrease in sales and marketing expenses by 46% to RMB1,372 million (US$189 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB2,540 million in the same period of 2023. Total expenses excluding credit impairment losses, finance costs and other (gains)/losses decreased by 30% to RMB3,485 million (US$480 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB4,954 million in the same period of 2023.

• Sales and marketing expenses decreased by 46.0% to RMB1,372 million (US$189 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB2,540 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was mainly due to 1) the decreased loan-related expenses as a result of the decrease in loan balance and 2) decreased retention expenses and referral expenses from platform service attributable to the Company's exit from the Lujintong business that it had previously conducted.
• General and administrative expenses increased by 3.5% to RMB511 million (US$70 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB493 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increased investment in newly acquired businesses.
• Operation and servicing expenses decreased by 15.8% to RMB1,327 million (US$183 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB1,576 million in the same period of 2023, due to the Company's expense control measures and decrease of loan balance, partially offset by increased commission associated with improved collection performance.
• Technology and analytics expenses decreased by 20.0% to RMB275 million (US$38 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB344 million in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the Company's expense control measures.
• Credit impairment losses decreased by 14.6% to RMB2,560 million (US$352 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB2,998 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the decrease in actual losses of loans as a result of the improvement of credit performance, partially offset by the upfront provision from loans under the 100% guarantee model.
• Finance costs decreased by 90.2% to RMB13 million (US$2 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB136 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the decrease of interest expenses as a result of repayment of C-Round Convertible Promissory Notes and other debts, partially offset by the decrease of interest income from bank deposits.
• Other losses were RMB282 million (US$39 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to other gains of RMB130 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increase of foreign exchange losses and losses associated with certain risk assets.

NET LOSS

Net loss was RMB730 million (US$100 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to a net profit of RMB1,004 million in the same period of 2023, as a result of the aforementioned factors.

LOSS PER ADS

Basic and diluted loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") were both RMB1.38 (US$0.19) in the second quarter of 2024. Each one ADS represents two ordinary shares.

BALANCE SHEET

The Company had RMB37,114 million (US$5,107 million) in cash at bank as of June 30, 2024, as compared to RMB39,599 million as of December 31, 2023. Net assets of the Company amounted to RMB82,676 million (US$11,377 million) as of June 30, 2024, as compared to RMB93,684 million as of December 31, 2023.

SEMI-ANNUAL DIVIDEND

In light of the net loss recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2024, the board of directors of the Company has determined that no semi-annual dividend shall be paid at this time.

Conference Call Information

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 9:00 P.M. U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (9:00 A.M. Beijing Time on Thursday, August 22, 2024) to discuss the financial results. For participants who wish to join the call, please complete online registration using the link provided below in advance of the conference call. Upon registering, each participant will receive a set of participant dial-in numbers, the event passcode, and a unique access PIN, which can be used to join the conference call.

Registration Link: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10191825/fd49d1bf63

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

The replay will be accessible through August 28, 2024, by dialing the following numbers:

About Lufax

Lufax is a leading financial services enabler for small business owners in China. The Company offers financing products designed principally to address the needs of small business owners. In doing so, the Company has established relationships with 85 financial institutions in China as funding partners, many of which have worked with the Company for over three years.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.2672 to US$1.00, the rate in effect as of June 30, 2024, as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

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. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Lufax' s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Lufax has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends, which involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Lufax' s goals and strategies; Lufax' s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in Lufax' s income, expenses or expenditures; expected growth of the retail credit enablement; Lufax' s expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its services; Lufax's expectations regarding its relationship with borrowers, platform investors, funding sources, product providers and other business partners; general economic and business conditions; and government policies and regulations relating to the industry Lufax operates in. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Lufax's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Lufax does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact
Lufax Holding Ltd
Email: Investor_Relations@lu.com

ICR, LLC
Robin Yang
Tel: +1 (646) 308-0546
Email: lufax.ir@icrinc.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lufax-reports-second-quarter-2024-financial-results-302227333.html

SOURCE Lufax Holding Ltd