Revenue and Financial Performance - Revenue increased by 3.8% to 259.9millionin2023comparedto250.4 million in 2022[2] - Total revenue for 2023 was 259.855million,comparedto250.360 million in 2022[14] - Total revenue for 2023 reached 259.855million,upfrom250.360 million in 2022[18][19] - The company's revenue increased by 3.8% YoY, from USD 250.4 million in 2022 to USD 259.9 million in 2023[69] - Total revenue increased from 250.36millionin2022to259.86 million in 2023, with the U.S. contributing 70.8% (183.79million)andChinacontributing19.049.45 million)[72] - Revenue from the top 5 customers decreased by 12.2% from 49.0millionin2022to43.0 million in 2023, accounting for 16.5% of total revenue[72] - Revenue from the top 10 customers decreased by 5.4% from 63.3millionin2022to59.9 million in 2023, accounting for 23.0% of total revenue[73] - North America contributed 199.065milliontorevenuein2023,whileChinacontributed60.790 million[18] - North American revenue grew by 1.4% YoY to USD 199.1 million, while China revenue increased by 17.5% YoY to CNY 428.9 million (USD 60.8 million)[70] - Revenue from drug discovery decreased to 33.456millionin2023from46.596 million in 2022[14] - Revenue from drug development increased to 95.132millionin2023from85.922 million in 2022[14] - Revenue from pharmaceutical product development decreased to 7.615millionin2023from10.948 million in 2022[14] - Revenue from laboratory testing increased to 123.652millionin2023from106.894 million in 2022[14] - Laboratory testing services generated the highest revenue at 123.652millionin2023[18]−LaboratorytestingservicescontributedthelargestshareofrevenueatUSD123.7millionin2023,upfromUSD106.9millionin2022[71]ProfitabilityandMargins−Grossprofitdecreasedby12.178.4 million with a gross margin of 30.2% in 2023, down from 35.6% in 2022[2] - EBITDA declined by 18.2% to 57.2millionwithanEBITDAmarginof22.063.2 million with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 24.3% in 2023, down from 29.3% in 2022[2] - Net profit dropped significantly by 58.7% to 10.7millionin2023from25.9 million in 2022[2] - Adjusted net profit decreased by 33.7% to 24.0millionwithanadjustednetprofitmarginof9.20.0053 in 2023 from 0.0126in2022[2]−AdjustedbasicEPSdecreasedby33.00.0118 in 2023 from 0.0176in2022[2]−Pre−taxprofitdecreasedto14.577 million in 2023 from 36.096millionin2022[18][19]−Grossprofitdecreasedby12.189.2 million in 2022 to 78.4millionin2023,withgrossmargindecliningfrom35.625.9 million in 2022 to 10.7millionin2023,withnetprofitmargindecliningfrom10.336.2 million in 2022 to 24.0millionin2023,withadjustednetprofitmargindecliningfrom14.469.9 million in 2022 to 57.2millionin2023,withEBITDAmargindecliningfrom27.973.2 million in 2022 to 63.2millionin2023,withadjustedEBITDAmargindecliningfrom29.30.0126 in 2022 to 0.0053in2023,anddilutedearningspersharedecreasedby57.70.0123 in 2022 to 0.0052in2023[87]−Adjustedbasicearningspersharedecreasedby33.00.0176 in 2022 to 0.0118in2023,andadjusteddilutedearningspersharedecreasedby32.90.0173 in 2022 to 0.0116in2023[87]CostsandExpenses−Servicecostsincreasedto181.461 million in 2023 from 161.166 million in 2022[18][19] - R&D expenses increased by 55.5% to 6.0 million in 2023 compared to 3.9 million in 2022[4] - R&D expenses rose to 6.038 million in 2023, compared to 3.884millionin2022[18][19]−Servicecostsincreasedby12.6161.2 million in 2022 to 181.5 million in 2023, driven by capacity expansion in North America and China[74] - R&D expenses increased by 53.8% from 3.9 million in 2022 to 6.0millionin2023,reflectingincreasedinvestmentinnewtechnologiesandplatforms[80]−Employeecostsroseto122.971 million in 2023, including 112.179millioninsalariesandbenefits[26]−EmployeecostsfortheyearendingDecember31,2023,were112.2 million, compared to 102.9millioninthepreviousyear[100]AssetsandLiabilities−Totalassetsincreasedto472.3 million in 2023 from 453.1millionin2022[6]−Non−currentassetsgrewto418.803 million in 2023, up from 368.004millionin2022[22]−Property,plant,andequipmentincreasedby8.4115.0 million in 2022 to 124.7 million in 2023, driven by R&D and manufacturing capacity expansion[89] - Goodwill increased by 23.3% from 149.2 million in 2022 to 183.9millionin2023,primarilyduetotheacquisitionofNucro−Technics[90]−Tradeandotherreceivablesandprepaymentsincreasedby6.457.6 million in 2022 to 61.3millionin2023,reflectingbusinessgrowth[91]−Unbilledrevenueincreasedby6.217.7 million in 2022 to 18.8millionin2023,drivenbybusinessgrowth[92]−Bankbalancesandcashdecreasedfrom87.4 million in 2022 to 53.2millionin2023,duetopaymentsforproperty,plant,andequipmentandsubsidiaryacquisitions[93]−Totalbankborrowingsincreasedfrom48.9 million in 2022 to 81.4millionin2023,with56.4 million in USD and 25.0millioninRMB[96]−Theasset−liabilityratioincreasedfrom8.2193.2 million from its IPO for planned purposes, including capacity expansion (20%), potential acquisitions (40%), and working capital (10%)[102] - The company repurchased 15,848,000 shares in 2023 for a total consideration of HK33,009,920,reflectingconfidenceinitsbusinessoutlook[105]RegulatoryComplianceandQualityAssurance−Thecompany′squalityassuranceteamensurescompliancewithprotocols,SOPs,andregulatorycodes,safeguardingsubjectsafetyanddataintegrity[61]−Thecompany′sfacilitiesintheUSandCanadahaveundergoneinspectionsbyFDA,DEA,CNSC,PHAC,CLIA/CAP,DOH,AAALAC,andUSDAwithoutanysignificantadversefindings[62]−Thecompany′sfacilitiesinChinahavebeeninspectedbyNMPAwithoutanysignificantadversefindings[62]−ThecompanyhasimplementedSOPsandhigh−qualityanimalcareprogramstoensurehumanetreatmentofanimalsincompliancewithrelevantlawsandregulations[63]−Thecompanyhasnotreceivedanynon−compliancereportsfromUSDAandFDAregardinganimalwelfareduringthereportingperiod[63]−Thecompany′sChicagofacilitysuccessfullycompletedAAALACaccreditation,USDAinspections,andFDAinspections,receivingpositivefeedback[52]MarketandCustomerEngagement−Thecompany′sglobalbusinessdevelopmentteamstrategicallyoperatesintheUS,China,andCanada,focusingonexpandingservicesacrossallstagesofdrugdevelopment[64]−Themarketingteamdrivescustomerengagementthroughdigitalmarketing,conferences,andhigh−profilepublications,aimingtoincreasedemandforthecompany′sserviceportfolio[65]−FrontageLabsreceivedmultipleawardsin2023,includingrecognitionasatop20CROenterpriseinChinaatthe2023HealthcareIndustryHigh−QualityDevelopmentConference[66]FinancialReportingandGovernance−Thecompany′sAnnualGeneralMeeting(AGM)willbeheldonMay28,2024,withsharetransferregistrationsuspendedfromMay23toMay28,2024[104]−Thecompany′sAuditandRiskManagementCommitteereviewedandapprovedtheauditedfinancialstatements,confirmingcompliancewithapplicableaccountingstandards[109]−Thecompany′sauditor,BDOLimited,comparedthepreliminaryfinancialdatawiththeauditedfinancialstatementsandfoundthemtobeconsistent[110]−FrontageLabs′2023annualreportandperformanceannouncementwerepublishedontheHKEXwebsiteandthecompany′sofficialwebsite[111]−Thecompany′sboardofdirectorsincludesexecutiveandnon−executivedirectors,withDr.LiSongservingasanexecutivedirector[119]OperationalandServiceCapabilities−Thecompanyhassuccessfullymanagedmulti−centerBEstudies,providingcomprehensivesupportincludingprotocoldevelopment,projectsupervision,clinicalandmedicalmonitoring,datamanagement,statisticalanalysis,pharmacokineticevaluation,andtimelyreportsubmission[58]−Thecompanyhassecuredmultipleintegratedservicecontractscoveringdrugchemistry,APIdevelopment,pharmacodynamics,drugmetabolismandpharmacokinetics,safetyandtoxicology,CMCformulationdevelopment,andbioanalysis[58]−Thecompanyhasestablished12facilitiesinNorthAmericaand11facilitiesinChinaasofDecember31,2023[60]−Thecompany′sserviceportfoliocoversdrugdiscoverytolate−stageapproval,includingleadcompoundquantification,formulationdevelopment,GLPtoxicologystudies,andcommercialproductrelease[114]−FrontageLabshassubsidiariesinShanghaiandSuzhou,establishedin2005and2014respectively,focusingonpharmaceuticaltechnology[115]−Thecompany′smajorshareholdersincludeHangzhouTigermedandHongKongTigermed,bothlistedontheShenzhenandHongKongstockexchanges[115]−FrontageLabsadoptedthe2021ShareAwardPlan,granting22,950,500sharestoselectedparticipants[112]−ThecompanyoperatesundertheInternationalFinancialReportingStandards(IFRS)andislistedontheHongKongStockExchange[115]−FrontageLabs′subsidiariesincludeBRIBiopharmaceuticalResearch,Inc.,registeredinCanadain2003[112]−Thecompany′ssharesaredenominatedinUSDwithaparvalueof0.00001 per share[118]