User Base and Engagement - As of December 31, 2023, the total number of registered users reached 210 million, with 42 million users having a credit line, and over 85% of these users are aged between 23 and 40 years old [420]. - The cumulative active users reached 31.1 million in 2023, with around 40% of active users utilizing more than one product [420]. - The GMV per active user on the platform increased by 36.6% compared to 2022, excluding technology empowerment SaaS products [429]. - The GMV generated by existing active users increased by 30.9% year-over-year in 2023 [431]. - Total GMV increased by 20.5% in 2023, with e-commerce GMV per active user rising by 14.7% year-over-year [432]. Financial Performance and Funding - The company raised approximately US$108.4 million in net proceeds from its initial public offering on December 21, 2017 [404]. - The company issued and sold convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of US$300 million in September 2019, which were paid in full by April 2024 [405]. - The outstanding balance of funds from institutional funding partners rose from RMB100.6 billion to RMB125.6 billion (US$17.7 billion) from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2023 [433]. Product Offerings and Market Focus - The company offers unsecured credit products with amounts ranging from RMB3,000 to RMB200,000, with interest rates starting as low as 10% [424]. - The company strategically focuses on serving young consumers aged 23 to 40, who are expected to become the primary consumption driver in the Chinese economy [412]. - Tech-empowerment services generated approximately 24% of total loan originations in 2023 [415]. Risk Management and Security - The new customer risk management system led to a 35% increase in credit approval rates and a 10% reduction in risk for new customer loans [439]. - The integration of deep learning into risk models improved identification performance by over 30% [439]. - The company issued over 75.5 million anti-fraud alerts and intercepted 210 million data security threats in 2023 [448]. Intellectual Property - The company has registered 193 patents in China and applied for 205 additional patents [459]. - The company holds 208 software copyrights and 19 copyrights for artworks with the PRC National Copyright Administration [597]. - The company has 491 registered trademarks, including key brands such as lexin.com and lexinfintech.com [597]. Regulatory Environment - The PRC Foreign Investment Law, effective January 2020, replaces previous laws and establishes a unified legal framework for foreign investment in China [464]. - The 2021 Negative List reduces restrictions on foreign investment, expanding the scope of permitted industries while maintaining limitations on value-added telecommunications services [464]. - Foreign investors in value-added telecommunications enterprises are limited to a maximum of 50% ownership, except for certain e-commerce businesses which can be 100% foreign-owned [467]. - The implementation of the Foreign Investment Security Review Mechanism began on January 18, 2021, focusing on investments in sectors related to state security [465]. Consumer Protection and Compliance - The Circular 141 outlines requirements for "cash loan" businesses, including annualized borrowing costs and strict eligibility assessments for borrowers [476]. - Violations of the Circular 141 can lead to severe penalties, including suspension of operations and revocation of licenses [478]. - The People's Bank of China requires all loan products to prominently display annualized interest rates, ensuring transparency for consumers [491]. - The PRC Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law allows consumers to return goods purchased online within seven days without stating a reason, with platform operators required to monitor compliance [583]. Labor and Employment Regulations - Employers are required to contribute to various social security funds, including basic pension insurance and unemployment insurance, as mandated by the Social Insurance Law of the PRC [601]. - Employers must complete social security registration within 30 days of incorporation, with penalties for non-compliance ranging from one to three times the amount of payable social security premiums [601]. - The Labor Law requires employers to establish a system for occupational safety and health, ensuring employee protection and reducing work-related hazards [599]. Data Security and Cybersecurity - The Data Security Law, effective from September 1, 2021, mandates data processing to be conducted in a legitimate manner and introduces a data classification system [533]. - The Cybersecurity Law requires network operators to safeguard network security and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of network data [532]. - The PIPL mandates that personal information processing must have a clear purpose and be limited to necessary data collection [541]. Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Regulations - The PRC Anti-money Laundering Law, effective January 2007, outlines obligations for financial and non-financial institutions, including client identification and transaction reporting [559]. - The People's Bank of China released measures in April 2021 requiring financial institutions to enhance internal controls and risk management for anti-money laundering [563].
Lexin(LX) - 2023 Q4 - Annual Report