Fang Announces First Quarter 2020 Unaudited Financial Results and Change in Board of Directors

BEIJING, June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fang Holdings Limited (NYSE: SFUN) ("Fang" or the "Company"), a leading real estate Internet portal in China, today announced (i) its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, and (ii) a change in board of directors (the "Board").

First Quarter 2020 Highlights

    --  Total revenues were $38.3 million, an increase of 9.4% from $35.0
        million in the corresponding period of 2019.
    --  Operating income from continuing operations was $2.7 million, compared
        to an operating loss from continuing operations of $11.8 million in the
        corresponding period of 2019.
    --  Net loss from continuing operations was $39.1 million, compared to a net
        income from continuing operations of $5.1 million in the corresponding
        period of 2019.

"During the COVID-19 global pandemic, Fang achieved positive operating income in the first quarter of 2020," commented Mr. Jian Liu, CEO of Fang. "Our leads generation services remain a strong growth contributor to our core business. For the coming quarters we look forward to continuing our focus on new initiatives such as live broadcastings, online exhibitions and VR livestreams to better service our customers."

First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Revenues

Fang reported total revenues of $38.3 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 9.4% from $35.0 million in the corresponding period of 2019.

    --  Revenue from marketing services was $17.3 million in the first quarter
        of 2020, an increase of 30.3% from $13.3 million in the corresponding
        period of 2019, mainly due to the increase in aggregate market demand.
    --  Revenue from listing services was $10.2 million in the first quarter of
        2020, a decrease of 16.0% from $12.2 million in the corresponding period
        of 2019, mainly due to the decrease in the number of paying customers.
    --  Revenue from leads generation services was $7.5 million in the first
        quarter of 2020, an increase of 88.6% from $4.0 million in the
        corresponding period of 2019, mainly due to an increased acceptance and
        popularity of our leads generation services.
    --  Revenue from financial services was $1.7 million in the first quarter of
        2020, a decrease of 50.7% from $3.5 million in the corresponding period
        of 2019, mainly due to the decrease in average loan receivable balance.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue was $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of 35.9% from $8.4 million in the corresponding period of 2019, primarily due to the decline in sales and the optimization in cost structure.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $32.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of 17.0% from $38.7 million in the corresponding period of 2019.

    --  Selling expenses were $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2020, a
        decrease of 16.9% from $16.3 million in the corresponding period of
        2019, mainly due to the decrease in staff related costs.
    --  General and administrative expenses were $18.6 million in the first
        quarter of 2020, a decrease of 17.1% from $22.4 million in the
        corresponding period of 2019, mainly due to the decrease in staff
        related costs.

Operating Income/(Loss) from Continuing Operations

Operating income from continuing operations was $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to operating loss from continuing operations of $11.8 million in the corresponding period of 2019.

Change in Fair Value of Securities

Change in fair value of securities for the first quarter of 2020 was a loss of $42.6 million, compared to a gain of $32.0 million in the corresponding period of 2019, mainly due to the fluctuation in market price of investments in equity securities.

Income Tax Benefits/Expenses

Income tax benefits were $2.5 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to an expense of $11.1 million in the corresponding period of 2019.

Net (Loss)/income from continuing operations

Net loss from continuing operations was $39.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to a net income from continuing operations of $5.1 million in the corresponding period of 2019.

Business Outlook

Based on current operations and market conditions, Fang's management predicts a positive net income for the year of 2020, which represents management's current and preliminary view and is subject to change.

Recent Developments

Change in Board of Directors

Ms. Hong Qin, an independent director of the Board, has resigned from the Board for personal reason, effective from June 5, 2020. Ms. Qin's resignation did not result from any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies or practices. Fang thanks Ms. Qin for her efforts and contributions to the Company.

Fang has appointed Mr. Charles Changming Yan as an independent director of the Board, a member of the audit committee and the compensation committee of the Board, and a member and the chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee of the Board, effective from June 5, 2020. Upon the effectiveness of Ms. Qin's resignation and Mr. Yan's appointment, the Board will consist of five directors, including three independent directors.

Mr. Yan founded Cada Resource International Limited, a company engaged in high-tech development and mineral resource industry, and has been its president since 1996. Mr.Yan also serves as the President of Tsinghua University Alumni Association (Hong Kong). He was the vice chairman of the Western Returned Scholars Association of China from 2008 to 2013. Mr.Yan had been awarded as one of the top ten overseas returned entrepreneurs in China in 2002. Mr. Yan received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Tsinghua University in engineering and a master's degree from University of Ottawa in engineering.

Conference Call Information

Fang's management team will host a conference call on the same day at 8:00 AM U.S. ET (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time). The dial-in details for the live conference call are:


                 International Toll:      
            +65 67135600


                 Toll-Free/Local Toll:



     United States                      +1 877-440-9253 /+1
                                          631-460-7472



     Hong Kong                          +852 800-906-603 /+852
                                          3018-6773



     Mainland China                     +86 800-870-0075 /+86
                                          400-120-0948



     Direct Event Passcode            
     1383200#

Please register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, Direct Event passcode (1383200#) and unique registrant ID. Get prompted 10 min prior to the start of the conference. Enter the Direct Event Passcode above (1383200#), and your unique Registrant ID, followed by the pound or hash (#) sign to get into the call.

Direct Event online registration: http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/6379533

A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call from 11:00 AM ET on June 4, 2020 through 9:59 AM ET June 12, 2020. The dial-in details for the telephone replay are:


                   International Toll:   +61 2-8199-0299


                   Toll-Free/Local Toll:



     United States                      +1 855-452-5696 /+1
                                          646-254-3697



     Hong Kong                          +852 800-963-117 /+852
                                          3051-2780



     Mainland China                     +86 400-602-2065 /+86
                                          800-870-0206



     Conference ID:                                    6379533

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on Fang's website at http://ir.fang.com.

About Fang

Fang operates a leading real estate Internet portal in China in terms of the number of page views and visitors to its websites. Through its websites, Fang provides primarily marketing, listing, leads generation and financial services for China's fast-growing real estate and home furnishing and improvement sectors. Its user-friendly websites support active online communities and networks of users seeking information on, and other value-added services for, the real estate and home furnishing and improvement sectors in China. Fang currently maintains approximately 74 offices to focus on local market needs and its website and database contains real estate related content covering 665 cities in China. For more information about Fang, please visit http://ir.fang.com.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking 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," "is expected to," "anticipates," "aim," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "are likely to," "estimates," "may," "should" and similar expressions, and include, without limitation, statements regarding Fang's future financial performance, revenue guidance, growth and growth rates, market position and continued business transformation. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Fang's control, which may cause its actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the impact of Fang's business development strategies, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of current and future government policies affecting China's real estate market. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Fang's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fang does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.


                                                                                                    
              
                Fang Holdings Limited


                                                                                       
              
                Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


                                                                            
              
                (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data and per share data)





     
     ASSETS                                                                                                                                                                        March 31,   March 31,


                                                                                                                                                                                                     2020        2019



     
     Current assets:


                                                
              Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                107,018     105,282


                                                
              Restricted cash, current                                                                                                                 215,599     219,096


                                                
              Short-term investments                                                                                                                   181,303     194,720


                                                
              Accounts receivable, net                                                                                                                  75,379      66,379


                                                
              Funds receivable                                                                                                                           4,460       8,372


                                                
              Prepayment and other current assets                                                                                                       37,409      31,509


                                                
              Commitment deposits                                                                                                                          185         188


                                                
              Loans receivable, current                                                                                                                 60,922      60,490


                                                
              Amounts due from related parties                                                                                                             412         644



     
     Total current assets                                                                                                                                                                      682,687     686,680



     
     Non-current assets:


                                                
              Property and equipment, net                                                                                                              629,969     644,726


                                                
              Land use rights                                                                                                                           50,731      50,731


                                                
              Deferred tax assets                                                                                                                       12,109       6,570


                                                
              Deposits for non-current assets                                                                                                              482         618


                                                
              Restricted cash, non-current portion                                                                                                      41,409      42,452


                                                
              Long-term investments                                                                                                                    296,003     341,946


                                                
              Other non-current assets                                                                                                                  38,610      39,179



     
     Total non-current assets                                                                                                                                                                1,069,313   1,126,222



     
     Total assets                                                                                                                                                                            1,752,000   1,812,902





     
     LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY



     
     Current liabilities:


                                                
              Short-term bank borrowings                                                                                                               263,045     264,624


                                                
              Bond payable-short term                                                                                                                  101,777     102,779


                                                
              Deferred revenue                                                                                                                         140,690     134,143


                                                
              Accrued expenses and other liabilities                                                                                                   111,693     120,244


                                                
              Customers' refundable fees                                                                                                                 7,755       4,981


                                                
              Income tax payable                                                                                                                         4,272       4,207


                                                
              Amounts due to related parties                                                                                                             9,215       9,227



     
     Total current liabilities                                                                                                                                                                 638,447     640,205



     
     Non-current liabilities:


                                                
              Long-term bank borrowings                                                                                                                175,881     184,158


                                                
              Convertible senior notes                                                                                                                 168,773     168,929


                                                
              Deferred tax liabilities                                                                                                                  89,253      90,723


                                                
              Other non-current liabilities                                                                                                            138,179     138,435





     
     Total non-current liabilities                                                                                                                                                             572,086     582,245



     
     Total Liabilities                                                                                                                                                                       1,210,533   1,222,450





     
     Equity:


                                                
              Class A ordinary shares, par value Hong Kong Dollar ("HK$") 1 per share,                                                                   9,244       9,244
                                                600,000,000 shares authorized for Class A and Class B in aggregate, issued
                                                shares as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020: 71,775,686 and
                                                71,775,686; outstanding shares as of December 31, 2019 and March 31,
                                                2020: 65,403,527 and 65,403,527


                                                
              Class B ordinary shares, par value HK$1 per share, 600,000,000 shares                                                                      3,124       3,124
                                                authorized for Class A and Class B in aggregate, and 24,336,650 shares and
                                                24,336,650 shares issued and outstanding as at December 31, 2019 and March
                                                                                                                                                                         31, 2020, respectively


                                                
              Treasury stock                                                                                                                          -123,216    -123,216


                                                
              Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                               534,100     528,620


                                                
              Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                                    -113,760     -98,371


                                                
              Retained earnings                                                                                                                        231,283     270,358



     
     Total Fang Holdings Limited shareholders' equity                                                                                                                                          540,775     589,759


                                                
              Non controlling interests                                                                                                                    692         693



     
     Total equity                                                                                                                                                                              541,467     590,452



     
     TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                                                                                                                            1,752,000   1,812,902


                                                                                                                            
              Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income[1]


                                                                                                                       
              
                (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data and per share data)




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Three months ended


                                                                                                                      March 31,                                                                                              March 31,


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2020           2019





              
                Revenues:


                                                                                             
              Marketing services                                                                                                      17,288         13,263


                                                                                             
              Listing services                                                                                                        10,216         12,159


                                                                                             
              Leads generation services                                                                                                7,518          3,986


                                                                                             
              Value-added services                                                                                                     1,416          1,002


                                                                                             
              Financial services                                                                                                       1,726          3,499


                                                                                             
              E-commerce services                                                                                                        109          1,081



              
                Total revenues                                                                                                                                                                                    38,273         34,990





              
                Cost of revenues:


                                                                                             
              Cost of services                                                                                                        -5,407         -8,438



              
                Total cost of revenues                                                                                                                                                                            -5,407         -8,438





              
                Gross profit                                                                                                                                                                                      32,866         26,552





              
                Operating expenses and income:


                                                                                             
              Selling expenses                                                                                                       -13,561        -16,319


                                                                                             
              General and administrative expenses                                                                                    -18,556        -22,393


                                                                                             
              Other income                                                                                                             1,914            387





              
                Operating income/(loss) from continuing operations                                                                                                                                                 2,663        -11,773


                                                                                             
              Foreign exchange gain/(loss)                                                                                             1,716           -262


                                                                                             
              Interest income                                                                                                          3,923          1,689


                                                                                             
              Interest expense                                                                                                        -8,461         -6,045


                                                                                             
              Investment income, net                                                                                                     822              5


                                                                                             
              Realized gain on sale of available-for-sale securities                                                                                   298


                                                                                             
              Change in fair value of securities                                                                                     -42,634         32,049


                                                                                             
              Government grants                                                                                                          369            235


                                                                                             
              Other non-operating loss



              
                Income (Loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests from continuing                                                                                                                   -41,602         16,196
    operations





              
                Income tax benefits


                                                                                             
              Income tax benefits                                                                                                      2,527        -11,119



              
                Net income from continuing operations, net of income taxes                                                                                                                                       -39,075          5,077





              Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes                                                                                                                                                          8,323



              
                Net (loss)/income                                                                                                                                                                                -39,075         13,400


                                                                                             
              Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests



              
                Net income attributable to Fang Holdings Limited shareholders


                                                          
              
                -39,075                                                                                                                           13,400



              
                Earnings per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares and per ADS:


                                                                                             
               Basic                                                                                                                   -0.41           0.15


                                                                                             
               Diluted                                                                                                                 -0.41           0.14



              
                 Earnings from continuing operations per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares and per ADS:


                                                                                             
               Basic                                                                                                                   -0.41           0.06


                                                                                             
               Diluted                                                                                                                 -0.41           0.05



              
                 Earnings from discontinued operations per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares and per ADS:


                                                                                             
               Basic                                                                                                                                  0.09


                                                                                             
               Diluted                                                                                                                                0.09

________________________

([1]) Impact of the Separation of China Index Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: CIH) ("CIH") on the Company's Financial Statements: The separation of CIH represents a strategic shift of Fang and has a major effect on Fang's results of operations, the business operated by CIH has been reclassified as discontinued operations. For the periods presented in this press release, the assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations are presented separately on the consolidated balance sheets, and the results of the discontinued operations, less applicable income taxes, are reported as a separate component of income, which is income from discontinued operations, on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

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SOURCE Fang Holdings Limited