UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of May 2019

 


 

Commission File Number: 001-38696

 


 

NIU TECHNOLOGIES

 

No. 10 Wangjing Street, Building A, 11/F

Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102

People’s Republic of China

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F     x          Form 40-F     o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o

 

 

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

NIU TECHNOLOGIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

:

/s/ Hardy Peng Zhang

 

 

Name

:

Hardy Peng Zhang

 

 

Title

:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Date: May 14, 2019

 

2


 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit 99.1—Press Release

 

3


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Niu Technologies Announces First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

 

— First Quarter Total volume of e-scooter sales up 75.7% year over year

 

— First Quarter Revenues of RMB 355.2 million, up 105.5% year over year

 

— First Quarter net income of RMB 12.0 million, up RMB 73.9 million year over year

 

BEIJING, China, May 13, 2019 — Niu Technologies (“Niu”, or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: NIU), the world’s leading provider of smart urban mobility solutions, today announced its financial results for the first quarter 2019.

 

First Quarter 2019 Financial Highlights

 

·                  Revenues were RMB 355.2 million, an increase of 105.5% year over year

·                  Gross margin was 21.3%, compared with 12.7% in the first quarter of 2018

·                  Net income was RMB 12.0 million, compared with net loss of RMB 61.9 million in the first quarter of 2018

·                  Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)1 was RMB 14.6 million, compared with adjusted net loss of RMB 12.5 million in the first quarter of 2018

 

First Quarter 2019 Operating Highlights

 

·                  The number of e-scooters sold reached 66,284, up 75.7% year over year

·                  Franchised stores in China reached 881, an increase of 121 or 16% since December 31, 2018

·                  Overseas sales network expanded to 23 distributors covering 28 countries

·                  NIU entered into a definitive Development Collaboration Agreement with Volkswagen Group in Germany regarding the joint development of Micro-mobility solutions

 

Dr. Yan Li, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented: “Our business momentum continued in the first quarter.  Sales volume grew 76% and revenues grew 106%.  Gross margin increased significantly to 21.3%, a result of cost reduction and favorable changes in product and revenue mix.  We achieved net income of RMB 12 million, a milestone for the Company that demonstrates our ability to grow profitably.”

 

Dr. Li continued, “We are committed to providing high-quality products to our customers.  In April, we launched two all-new e-scooter models, the U+ and US, together with our new lifestyle brand category, Niu Aero bicycles.  Meanwhile, we are expanding our global presence.  In March, we attended the Seoul Motor Show and saw the potential for robust demand in South Korea.  In April, we made our first shipment of scooters to the U.S.  We are excited by our business prospects and look forward to continued growth in the quarters ahead.”

 


1  Adjusted net income/loss (non-GAAP) is defined as net income/loss excluding share-based compensation expenses and change in fair value of a convertible loan.

 


 

First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

 

Revenues were RMB 355.2 million, an increase of 105.5% year over year, due to increased sales volume of 75.7% and increased revenues per e-scooter of 17.0%.

 

·                  E-scooter sales represented 87.5% of revenues, while accessories, spare parts sales and service revenues represented 12.5% of revenues.

·                  Higher e-scooter sales volume was mainly driven by the expanded sales network and higher demand on certain products ahead of the implementation of the new national standards. After the new national standards for electric bicycles became effective on April 15, 2019, certain existing models could no longer be sold in the category of electric bicycles. We accommodated some demand for these models during the first quarter.

·                  Increased revenues per e-scooter was mainly driven by higher sales price of NGT model, a larger proportion of high-end model sales in the N and M series, and higher sales volume in accessories and spare parts.

·                  China represented 81.2% of total e-scooter revenue, while overseas markets represented 18.8% of total e-scooter revenue, compared with 18.5% in the first quarter of 2018.

 

Cost of revenues were RMB 279.5 million, an increase of 85.3% year over year, mainly due to higher e-scooter sales volume. The cost per e-scooter, defined as cost of revenues divided by the number of e-scooters sold in a specified period, was RMB 4,217, up 5.5% from RMB 3,998 in the first quarter 2018 as a result of product mix change.

 

Gross margin was 21.3%, up substantially from 12.7% in the same period of 2018, mainly due to lower raw material costs, higher retail prices, favorable changes in product mix and a greater proportion of revenue from accessories and spare parts.

 

Operating expenses were RMB 64.8 million, an increase of 35.0% from the same period of 2018. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenues was 18.2%, compared with 27.8% in the first quarter of 2018.

 

·                  Selling and marketing expenses were RMB 29.8 million (including RMB 0.7 million of share-based compensation), an increase of 54.8% from RMB 19.3 million in the first quarter of 2018. The increase was mainly due to the increases in staff cost of RMB 4.0 million, depreciation and amortization expense of RMB 1.7 million, and advertising and promotion expense of RMB 1.4 million, which resulted from the growth in e-scooter sales volume, the opening of new franchised stores and an increased number of sales staffs. Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues was 8.4% compared with 11.1% in the first quarter of 2018.

·                  Research and development expenses were RMB 14.3 million (including RMB 0.4 million of share-based compensation), an increase of 41.7% from RMB 10.1 million in the first quarter of 2018, mainly driven by the increases in staff cost of RMB 3.3 million and design expense of RMB 3.6 million, which was partially offset by the decrease of share-based compensation expenses of RMB 2.8 million. The share-based compensation was lower due to the full vesting of certain founders’ restricted ordinary shares in 2018. Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues was 4.0%, compared with 5.9% in the first quarter of 2018.

·                  General and administrative expenses were RMB 20.7 million (including RMB 1.5 million of share-based compensation), an increase of 10.9% from RMB 18.6 million in the first quarter of 2018, mainly due to increase in staff cost of RMB 5.4 million, professional fees of RMB 3.9 million, travelling and other expenses of RMB 2.4 million, as a result of increased number of staffs and engagement of professional firms to meet the regulatory requirements as a public company. The higher expenses were partially offset by decreases of share-based compensation expense of RMB 9.6 million due to the full vesting of certain founders’ restricted ordinary shares. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues was 5.8%, compared with 10.8% in the first quarter of 2018.

 


 

Operating expenses excluding share-based compensation was RMB 62.2 million, increased by 87.5% year over year, and represented 17.5% of revenues, compared with 19.2% in the first quarter of 2018.

 

·                  Selling and marketing expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 29.1 million, an increase of 55.1% year over year, and represented 8.2% of revenues, compared with 10.9% in the first quarter of 2018

·                  Research and development expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 13.9 million, an increase of 103.2% year over year, and represented 3.9% of revenues, compared with 4.0% in the first quarter of 2018

·                  General and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation were RMB 19.2 million, an increase of 153.2% year over year, and represented 5.4% of revenues, compared with 4.4% in the first quarter of 2018

 

Change in fair value of a convertible loan was nil, compared to a loss of RMB 34.5 million associated with change in fair value of a convertible loan in the same period of 2018.

 

Share-based compensation was RMB 2.6 million, a decrease of RMB 12.3 million compared to RMB 14.9 million in the same period of last year mainly because certain founders’ restricted ordinary shares have been fully vested during 2018.

 

Net income was RMB 12.0 million, an improvement of RMB 73.9 million compared with a net loss of RMB 61.9 million in the first quarter of 2018.

 

Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) was RMB 14.6 million, compared with an adjusted net loss of RMB 12.5 million in the first quarter of 2018. The adjusted net income margin2 was 4.1%, compared with an adjusted net loss margin of 7.2% in the same period of 2018.

 

Basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB 0.161 (US$ 0.024) and RMB 0.157 (US$ 0.023) respectively.

 

Balance Sheet

 

As of March 31, 2019, the Company had cash, term deposit and short-term investments of RMB 694.1 million in aggregate. The Company had restricted cash of RMB 205.1 million and short-term bank borrowings of RMB 208.5 million.

 

Business Outlook

 

Because certain distributors advanced their purchase in the first quarter ahead of the implementation of the new national standard in April, NIU expects revenues of second quarter to be in the range of RMB 580 million to RMB 660 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 50.9% to 71.8%. The revenue for the first half of 2019 will be in the range of RMB 935 million to RMB 1,015 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 67.9% to 82.2%.

 


2  Adjusted net income/loss margin is defined as adjusted net income/loss as a percentage of the revenues.

 


 

The above outlook is based on information available as of the date of this press release and reflects the Company’s current and preliminary expectation, which is subject to change.

 

Conference Call

 

The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. on May 13, 2019, Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. May 13, 2019 Beijing/Hong Kong time), to discuss its first quarter 2019 financial results and provide a corporate update.

 

Participants may access the call via below dial-in details:

 

United States

+1-866-519-4004

Hong Kong

+852-800-906-601

Mainland China

+86-400-620-8038

Other International

+65-6713-5090

Conference ID

8141818

 

 

A replay will be accessible through May 21, 2019, by dialing the following numbers

 

United States

+1-855-452-5696

Hong Kong

+852-800-963-117

Mainland China

+86-400-602-2065

Other International

+61-281-990-299

Replay Access Code

8141818

 

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available through the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.niu.com/.

 

About NIU

 

As the world’s leading provider of smart urban mobility solutions, NIU designs, manufactures and sells high-performance smart e-scooters. NIU has a streamlined product portfolio consisting of three series, N, M and U that address the needs of different segments of the modern urban resident, while being united through a common design language that emphasizes style, freedom and technology.  NIU has adopted an omnichannel retail model, integrating the offline and online channels, to sell its products and provide services. For more information, please visit www.niu.com.

 

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

To supplement NIU’s consolidated financial results presented in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), NIU uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted net income/loss, adjusted net income/loss margin and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS. 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.

 


 

NIU believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of its operating results. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to NIU’s historical performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude certain items that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant component in the Company’s results of operations. These non-GAAP financial measures presented here 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.

 

Adjusted net income/loss is defined as net income/loss excluding share-based compensation expenses and change in fair value of a convertible loan. Adjusted net income/loss margin is defined as adjusted net income/loss as a percentage of the revenues.

 

For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned “Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures.”

 

Exchange Rate

 

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the readers. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB6.7112 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of March 29, 2019, as set forth in the H.10 Statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

 


 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as NIU’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. NIU may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to 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 NIU’s beliefs, plans 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: NIU’s strategies; NIU’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; NIU’s ability to maintain and enhance its “NIU” brand; its ability to innovate and successfully launch new products and services; its ability to maintain and expand its offline distribution network; its ability to satisfy the mandated safety standards relating to e-scooters; its ability to secure supply of components and raw materials used in e-scooters; its ability to manufacture, launch and sell smart e-scooters meeting customer expectations; its ability to grow collaboration with operation partners; its ability to control costs associated with its operations; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in NIU’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and NIU does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

 

Investor Relations Contacts:

 

NIU

Investor Relations Manager

Jason Yang

E-mail: ir@niu.com

 

The Blueshirt Group

Gary Dvorchak, CFA

E-mail: gary@blueshirtgroup.com

 


 

NIU TECHNOLOGIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

As of
December 31,

 

As of March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

US$

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

569,059,591

 

490,172,614

 

73,037,998

 

Term deposit

 

27,452,663

 

134,669,636

 

20,066,402

 

Restricted cash-current

 

179,262,714

 

205,071,000

 

30,556,532

 

Short-term investments

 

120,241,425

 

69,213,580

 

10,313,145

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

54,424,845

 

81,462,030

 

12,138,221

 

Inventories

 

142,382,205

 

153,094,732

 

22,811,827

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

26,919,954

 

46,336,261

 

6,904,318

 

Total current assets

 

1,119,743,397

 

1,180,019,853

 

175,828,443

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

40,985,174

 

59,845,866

 

8,917,312

 

Intangible assets, net

 

7,717,754

 

9,016,984

 

1,343,573

 

Other non-current assets

 

16,805,474

 

14,708,292

 

2,191,604

 

Total non-current assets

 

65,508,402

 

83,571,142

 

12,452,489

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

1,185,251,799

 

1,263,590,995

 

188,280,932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term bank borrowings

 

179,978,003

 

208,461,336

 

31,061,708

 

Accounts payable

 

249,665,890

 

275,862,207

 

41,104,751

 

Advance from customers

 

20,505,861

 

44,845,236

 

6,682,149

 

Deferred revenue-current

 

12,666,330

 

13,629,057

 

2,030,793

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

134,184,026

 

130,829,930

 

19,494,268

 

Total current liabilities

 

597,000,110

 

673,627,766

 

100,373,669

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warranty-non current

 

17,609,842

 

16,173,789

 

2,409,970

 

Deferred revenue-non current

 

234,801

 

383,181

 

57,096

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

17,844,643

 

16,556,970

 

2,467,066

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

614,844,753

 

690,184,736

 

102,840,735

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A ordinary shares

 

83,120

 

83,120

 

12,385

 

Class B ordinary shares

 

12,839

 

12,839

 

1,913

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,717,483,548

 

1,720,122,258

 

256,306,213

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(22,786,922

)

(34,408,629

)

(5,127,046

)

Accumulated deficit

 

(1,124,385,539

)

(1,112,403,329

)

(165,753,268

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

570,407,046

 

573,406,259

 

85,440,197

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

1,185,251,799

 

1,263,590,995

 

188,280,932

 

 


 

NIU TECHNOLOGIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

US$

 

Revenues

 

172,822,924

 

355,219,700

 

52,929,387

 

Cost of revenues(a)

 

(150,847,182

)

(279,547,894

)

(41,653,936

)

Gross profit

 

21,975,742

 

75,671,806

 

11,275,451

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and marketing expenses(a)

 

(19,260,806

)

(29,822,193

)

(4,443,645

)

Research and development expenses(a)

 

(10,117,070

)

(14,332,580

)

(2,135,621

)

General and administrative expenses(a)

 

(18,622,625

)

(20,658,720

)

(3,078,245

)

Operating (loss)/income

 

(26,024,759

)

10,858,313

 

1,617,940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in fair value of a convertible loan

 

(34,499,858

)

 

 

Interest expense

 

(1,922,303

)

(2,407,633

)

(358,749

)

Interest income

 

371,620

 

4,125,349

 

614,696

 

Investment income

 

476,150

 

517,836

 

77,160

 

Foreign currency exchange losses

 

(1,368,249

)

(2,365,616

)

(352,488

)

Government grants

 

1,084,400

 

1,247,000

 

185,809

 

(Loss)/income before income taxes

 

(61,882,999

)

11,975,249

 

1,784,368

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

6,961

 

1,037

 

Net (loss)/income

 

(61,882,999

)

11,982,210

 

1,785,405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(losses)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

7,119,259

 

(11,586,902

)

(1,726,502

)

Unrealized/(reclassification) of gain on available for sale securities, net

 

(144,665

)

(34,805

)

(5,186

)

Comprehensive (loss)/income

 

(54,908,405

)

360,503

 

53,717

 

Net (loss)/income per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Basic

 

(1.853

)

0.081

 

0.012

 

—Diluted

 

(1.853

)

0.078

 

0.012

 

Net income per ADS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Basic

 

 

0.161

 

0.024

 

—Diluted

 

 

0.157

 

0.023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computing net (loss)/income per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Basic

 

33,396,210

 

148,674,058

 

148,674,058

 

—Diluted

 

33,396,210

 

153,094,498

 

153,094,498

 

Weighted average number of ADS outstanding used in computing net income per ADS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Basic

 

 

74,337,029

 

74,337,029

 

—Diluted

 

 

76,547,249

 

76,547,249

 

 


Note:

(a) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

US$

 

Cost of revenues

 

60,162

 

62,724

 

9,346

 

Selling and marketing expenses

 

487,046

 

698,743

 

104,116

 

Research and development expenses

 

3,273,007

 

424,915

 

63,314

 

General and administrative expenses

 

11,038,621

 

1,452,328

 

216,404

 

Total share-based compensation

 

14,858,836

 

2,638,710

 

393,180

 

 


 

NIU TECHNOLOGIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

 

 

RMB

 

RMB

 

US$

 

Net (loss)/income

 

(61,882,999

)

11,982,210

 

1,785,405

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation

 

14,858,836

 

2,638,710

 

393,180

 

Change in fair value of a convertible loan

 

34,499,858

 

 

 

Adjusted net (loss)/income

 

(12,524,305

)

14,620,920

 

2,178,585