Tag: financial

RLX Technology Sees Boost in Revenue and Income

Photo: RLX Technology
RLX Technology reported net revenues of RMB551.6 million ($76.4 million) in the first quarter of 2024, up from RMB188.9 million in the same period of 2023. Gross margin was 25.9 percent, compared with 24.2 percent in the 2023 period. U.S. GAAP net income reached RMB132.6 million, compared with U.S. GAAP net loss of RMB56.3 million in the same period of 2023.
“We started 2024 with a steady first quarter,” said Ying (Kate) Wang, co-founder, chairperson and CEO of RLX Technology in a statement. “Our international business is developing positively as we refine our regional strategies. Despite challenges posed by regulatory changes across various regions, we continue to identify opportunities and leverage our core strengths to prudently enter potential markets.
“Domestically, we are encouraged by the positive impact of China’s recent regulatory crackdown on illegal products, but much progress remains to be made. We remain committed to collaborating with regulators and advocating for a well-regulated and healthy e-vapor industry. As a trusted e-vapor brand for adult smokers, we are dedicated to optimizing our product portfolio with premium, compliant, and innovative products that meet our users’ needs and drive growth in this evolving industry.”
The first quarter marked RLX Technology’s fifth consecutive quarter of sequential revenue growth, according to Chief Financial Officer Chao Lu. “With our resilient business model, effective regional strategies, and consistent strong execution, we are confident of sustaining this growth trajectory and delivering sustainable value to our stakeholders,” he said.
ADS[2] were RMB0.166 (US$0.023) and RMB0.159 (US$0.022), respectively, in the first quarter of 2024, compared with non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS of RMB0.139 and RMB0.136, respectively, in the same period of 2023.
May 17, 2024
Price set at $7 per Share for Ispire Technology IPO
Credit: IQoncept
Ispire Technology Inc. announced that it has priced its initial public offering of 2,700,000 shares of its common stock offered at a price to the public of $7.00 per share.
In addition, the company also granted the Underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 405,000 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, according to a press release.
The shares began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market on April 4, under the ticker symbol “ISPR.”
The initial public offering is expected to close on April 6, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Proceeds from the offering will be used for:
Approximately 35 percent to develop manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States;
Approximately 25 percent for research and development activities, which include efforts to develop new products and new vaping technology;
Approximately 20 percent for the marketing and promotion of the Company’s branded products; and
The balance of approximately 20 percent for general administration and working capital.
US Tiger Securities, Inc. is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering. TFI Securities and Futures Limited and Prime Number Capital, LLC are acting as underwriters for the offering.
In addition, 1,750,000 shares of common stock may be offered by two selling stockholders pursuant to the prospectus.
These shares may be sold from time to time by the selling stockholders, who have not engaged any underwriter in connection any sales they may make. The company will not receive any proceeds from sales by the selling stockholders.
Last year, Shenzhen-based Aspire Global, parent to Ispire, applied to U.S. regulators to withdraw its New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing application.
April 5, 2023
Cannabis Vape Hardware Firm Greentank Gets $16.5 Million

Credit: VetKit
Vape hardware manufacturer Greentank Technologies closed a Series B financing round worth $16.5 million with an unspecified “strategic investor group” that includes Canadian cannabis producer Organigram Holdings.
The funding will be used to launch new vape technology, which Greentank CEO Dustin Koffler said in a statement “moves away from the traditional ceramic and wicked coil systems commonly used in most vaporizer products today.”
The technology “is expected to launch later this year and serve multiple markets beyond cannabis,” Toronto-based Greentank said in a Friday news release, according to MJ Biz Daily.
The $16.5 million funding round includes a $14.5 million equity investment from the investment group, plus $2 million in debt financing from existing shareholders.
The terms of the debt financing were not disclosed.
In a statement, Greentank said its new vape technology “will expand its reach beyond cannabis to serve the broader vape category including nicotine, e-liquids, pharmaceuticals and more.”
April 4, 2023
Net Sales Down 6.8% at Turning Point Brands

Turning Point Brands reported consolidated net sales of $103.4 billion the fourth quarter of 2022, down 1.8 percent from the comparable 2021 quarter. Gross profit decreased 1.5 percent to $49.6 million. Net sales for the Zig-Zag and Stoker products increased 0.9 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively, while sales of new-generation products declined by 11.1 percent.
For the full year, consolidated net sales decreased by 6.8 percent to $415 million. Gross profit was down 5.6 percent to $205 million. Net sales for Zig-Zag and Stoker’s products increased 7.9 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, while sales of new generation declined by 35.2 percent
“The fourth quarter operating results finished in-line with our expectations with solid execution across our segments,” said TPB President and CEO Graham Purdy in a statement.
“The Zig-Zag segment grew during the quarter despite the impact of a previously disclosed pull-forward in the prior quarter, benefitting from continued market share gains and the contribution from a full quarter of CLIPPER lighters. We are pleased with the ongoing roll-out and strong channel receptivity to the world’s No. 1 reusable lighter. Stoker’s MST experienced strong share gains as consumer trade-downs to value accelerated, consistent with the current inflationary and economic backdrop.
“The challenging regulatory environment continues to negatively affect the NewGen segment which was down materially vs. 2021, but with declines moderating in the back half of the year. In addition to returning capital to our shareholders through share repurchases, we opportunistically purchased $10 million notional of our convertible notes during the fourth quarter while maintaining a strong cash balance.
”Over the last few months since taking on the CEO role, my primary objective has been to re-direct our focus and energy towards driving organic long-term growth. This starts with allocating resources to products, initiatives, and channels best positioned towards this goal. Our organization is now better aligned towards capitalizing on the opportunities in front of us and we look forward to delivering against our long-term plans going forward.”
February 25, 2023
Turning Point Brands Posts Third-Quarter Results
Turning Point Brands reported net sales of $109.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, up 5.5 percent over that of the previous year’s third quarter. Gross profit increased 12.3 percent to $54.3 million and net income increased 49.3 percent to $13.4 million.
“Our third quarter performance fell within our expectations with sales growth of 11 percent in our core business despite facing the headwind of Covid-related consumption and other benefits we experienced in the prior year period,” said TPB President and CEO Larry Wexler in a statement.
“Zig-Zag had another robust quarter driven by our strategic initiatives and growth within our Canadian business. Stoker’s saw double-digit growth in our Moist Snuff Tobacco (MST) business which drove growth in the overall segment. Regarding capital deployment, we continued to repurchase our shares during the quarter and today announced an increased share repurchase authorization. We also maintain a strong balance sheet to pursue a healthy pipeline of investment opportunities. Overall, we remain optimistic about the growth prospects in our core business.”
NewGen Products gross profit increased 22.4 percent to $13.5 million for the quarter. The segment gross margin expanded 760 basis points to 36.2 percent with the improvement partially driven by industry pricing pressure ahead of the PMTA submission deadline in the previous year comparable period.
Wexler said he was encouraged by the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations recent decision to reconsider and place back into review the premarket tobacco product application for TPB’s proprietary vapor products, which the agency had earlier rejected.
“I am confident that we submitted a robust application and look forward to engaging with the FDA in its review,” he said. “We continue to believe that robust regulatory oversight is a positive for the industry and we believe we are favorably positioned to leverage our strong regulatory and logistics capabilities to capitalize on an attractive long-term opportunity.”
October 27, 2021
Smok Parent, IVP Technology, Considering Hong Kong IPO
Smok is one the most well-known and respected hardware manufacturers in the vaping industry. Now, Shenzhen IVPS Technology, the firm behind the brand Smok, is considering an initial public offering to raise at least $500 million in Hong Kong as soon as next year, people with knowledge of the matter said.
According to a Bloomberg report, the company is working with a consultant in preparation for a potential share sale, said sources who asked not to be identified as the information is private. The offering could raise between $500 million and $1 billion. Deliberations are at an early stage and details of the potential offering such as timing and size may change, the people said. IVPS didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Smoore International Holding’s stock (HK: 6969), parent to the Vaporesso, FEELM and CCELL brands, grew by nearly 150 percent on its opening day of trading on the Hong Kong Exchange. However, after China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed a draft regulation in March that would apply the same rules for the conventional tobacco industry to the e-cigarette sector, shares of several Chinese e-cigarette companies plunged and Smoore shares are down about 40 percent this year.
While rising regulatory scrutiny of the vaping industry could impact investor appetite for listings in the sector, according to the article. IVPS could be less affected because it makes the device rather than the e-cigarette liquid, one of the sources said. However, Smoore also produces hardware and shares still fell after the Chinese government’s regulatory announcement.
August 23, 2021
VPR Brands Reports ‘Turnaround’ in Second Quarter

Photo: snowing12
VPR Brands, a supplier of vaporizers, reported revenues of $1.7 million for the second quarter of 2021, up from $1.2 million in the comparable 2020 quarter.
The increase was a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which hampered sales significantly in 2020 and increased direct on-line sales in 2021.
Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021, were $457,895, compared to $372,652 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in expenses is primarily due to increased sales activity in 2021.
Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021, was $2.96 million, compared with $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2020.
Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021, were $995,798, compared to $849,476 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in expenses is primarily due to increased sales activity in 2021.
Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2021, was $163,135 compared to a net loss of $471,944 for the six months ended June 30, 2020.
Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2021, was $264,786 compared to a net loss of $50,354 for the three months ended June 30, 2020.
“The company has finally put the pandemic and other extenuating circumstances behind us and is back on track,” said Kevin Frija, CEO of VPR Brands, in a statement. “The numbers, which show a tremendous turnaround from last year, speak for themselves as our team is focused on maintaining not only steady growth but most importantly profitability.”
August 23, 2021
Supreme’s 88Vape Sales Jump 36 Percent Amid Lockdown
The parent company behind the 88Vape brand, Supreme, announced revenues rose 36 percent as U.K. smokers attempted to quit smoking combustible cigarettes during Covid-19 lockdowns. The company’s total revenue was up 33 per cent at £122.3 million ($166 million) as of March 31, 2021. This is up from £92.3 million in same period of 2020.
Gross profits jumped to £33 million, which helped the company to slash its debt by 64 percent, ending the financial year with a just £7.6 million burden compared with £21.3 million in 2020, according to City A.M. The strongest sales growth was found in vaping and its sports nutrition and wellness branch, the company said in a statement.
Supreme’s partnership with convenience store chain McColl’s to supply shops with vaping products marked the company’s growth in the vaping sphere. The rollout of 88Vape products was completed in March 2021, adding an additional 1,180 retail convenience stores nationwide to Supreme’s portfolio.
“There are clear and very exciting opportunities that exist for our business, particularly in categories like sports nutrition and wellness and vaping, and I look forward to providing further updates in due course as we capitalise on these,” Supreme CEO Sandy Chadha said. “We have made a good start to the current financial year and look to the future with confidence.”
July 20, 2021
Smoore Makes Forbes 2021 Global 2000 List
Smoore International Holdings is the only vaping technology company to make the Forbes 2021 Global 2000 list. The list ranks the world’s largest 2000 public companies. Smoore’s placement on the list confirms the legitimacy of the entire industry as a fast-growing and better alternative to cigarettes, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.1% from 2021 to 2028, according to Grandview Research.
Recognition on the list is a reflection of the company’s performance throughout 2020 and growth in market share from 16.5 percent in 2019 to 18.9 percent. The parent company to the Vaporesso brand, Smoore has over 1000 technology patents and more employees in R&D than sales, leading the vaping industry since 2009, according to a press release.
“These cutting-edge innovations are then worked into marketable products by Smoore’s sub-brands including Vaporesso, FEELM Lab and CCELL to be distributed around the world,” the release states. “Also, Smoore is proactively promoting atomization technology to other industries around the world. Vaporesso has been setting new industry standards and further driving innovation in this emerging industry with many more to come.”
Taking a snapshot of the world of business, the Forbes Global 2000 list measures companies using four equally weighted metrics: assets, market value, sales, and profits. Under Smoore, Vaporesso is committed to helping its vast network of international partners abroad and, driven by a strong sense of social responsibility, launched a series of campaigns aimed at helping those most affected, according to the release.
“Under the umbrella of Vaporesso Care, these campaigns helped affected communities in Indonesia where Vaporesso donated over 70 million rupiah and France where Vaporesso worked with local partners to distribute food to needy people over Christmas,” according to the release.
July 6, 2021
22nd Century Restructures Panacea Investment

Photo: Mitch
22nd Century Group has signed a definitive agreement to restructure its strategic investment in Panacea Life Sciences in line with the ongoing development of 22nd Century’s strategic partnership network.
Under terms of the agreement, 22nd Century’s existing $7 million note in Panacea will be exchanged for ownership of Needle Rock Farms, located in a Colorado hemp/cannabis growing location and valued at $2.2 million. The company will also receive a new $4.3 million note and $500,000 in Panacea equity. The new note is backed by a mortgage on the Panacea Life Sciences operations building located in Golden, Colorado, appraised at $10.7 million. Panacea will retain certain farm assets under its own nameplate of PANA Organic Botanicals at Needle Rock.
Also under the agreement, $7 million in Panacea Life Sciences Series B Preferred Stock held by 22nd Century will be converted into 91 million shares of Exactus as part of a business combination transaction via share exchange with Panacea under which Panacea will become publicly traded. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to 22nd Century.
“This exchange is an exciting leap forward for 22nd Century as we advance our upstream value chain strategy to bring highly disruptive hemp and cannabis plant lines to market. It is also highly attractive to 22nd Century on a financial basis, creating immediate value, asset-backed future value and potential future liquidity from an existing investment,” said James A. Mish, CEO of 22nd Century Group, in a statement.
“Needle Rock Farms is a world-class farming operation in a prime growing location where we already have plants in the ground toward our goal of revenue recognition from our cannabis franchise in the second half of 2021. We will also retain access to Panacea’s extraction, purification and testing equipment located in Golden, Colorado, for the benefit of our customers.”
“Rapidly growing demand means that mass cultivation is quickly becoming the critical challenge in the cannabis industry. Most existing plant lines do not exhibit the stable genetics, predictable yield or specific composition of cannabinoids required to fully unlock the value of the cannabis industry,” said Mish. “22nd Century can provide the stable, predictable plant solutions required to achieve true commercial scale and do so in as little as two years versus 7 to 10 years through traditional processes.”
July 2, 2021