mF International Limited announces first six months of fiscal year 2024 financial results

HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - mF International Limited (the "Company" or "mF International") (Nasdaq: MFI), a Hong Kong-based experienced financial trading solution provider, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

Mr. Chi Weng Tam, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "Despite facing certain revenue challenges, we have demonstrated resilience and adaptability in our business model. Our growth in subscriptions, hosting, support, maintenance, and white-label services reflects the increasing reliance of clients on our trading platforms and the demand for flexible solutions that meet varied needs. This highlights our efforts in retaining customers and diversifying our service offerings in a challenging environment. Additionally, we continue to make substantial investments to expand our business. In May 2024, we entered into two business development and marketing consulting agreements totaling US$1.6 million with consultants in China and Malaysia, which we believe may enable future growth. With the support from these professional consulting services, we are confident in our ability to adapt, explore new opportunities, and generate additional revenue in the years ahead. Moving forward, we are committed to enhancing our technological offerings, expanding our customer base in new regions, and investing strategically in our talent and infrastructure. We believe these steps will strengthen our market position and provide a robust foundation for sustainable growth and improved financial performance. We remain confident in our robust business strategy and our resilient, diversified service portfolio, which we expect may ultimately lead to the delivery of long-term value to our shareholders."

First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Highlights

• Revenue was HK$12.5 million (US$1.6 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to HK$14.2 million for the same period last year.
• Gross profit was HK$5.3 million (US$0.7 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to HK$7.3 million for the same period last year.
• Net loss was HK$5.5 million (US$0.7 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to net income of HK$2.2 million for the same period last year.
• Basic and diluted loss per share was HK$0.45 (US$0.06) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of HK$0.19 for the same period last year.

First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

Revenue

Revenue was HK$12.5 million (US$1.6 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which decreased by 11.9% from HK$14.2 million for the same period last year, primarily because of a plunge in revenue from initial set up, installation and customization services, liquidity service and quotes/news/package subscription services, partially offset by an increase in subscriptions, hosting, support and maintenance services, and white label service.

• Revenue from initial set up, installation and customization services was HK$1.1 million (US$0.1 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which decreased by 69.8% from HK$3.7 million for the same period last year. The decrease was mainly due to the decreased demand for customization services.
• Revenue from subscriptions was HK$5.4 million (US$0.7 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which increased by 7.3% from HK$5.0 million for the same period last year. The increase in subscription revenue represented an increase in the access right to the Company's trading platforms granted to those customers to whom it had delivered the initial set up or customization of the trading platforms in the prior year.
• Revenue from hosting, support and maintenance services was HK$2.3 million (US$0.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which increased by 17.7% from HK$2.0 million for the same period last year. The increase in this revenue stream aligned with the increment in licensing revenue.
• Revenue from liquidity services was HK$1.0 million (US$0.1 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which decreased by 20.4% from HK$1.2 million for the same period last year. The decrease was mainly due to a lower transaction volume.
• Revenue from white label services was HK$1.5 million (US$0.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which increased by 55.6% from HK$1.0 million for the same period last year. The increase was mainly due to the growth in the number of customers in this revenue stream.
• Revenue from quotes/news/package subscription services was HK$1.2 million (US$0.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which decreased by 10.4% from HK$1.3 million for the same period last year. The decrease was driven by the type of data feed service package subscribed by the customers. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company's customers subscribed to the basic data feed service instead of premium service package.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue was HK$7.2 million (US$0.9 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which increased by 4.2% from HK$6.9 million for the same period last year, which was mainly driven by a spike in employee compensation and benefits by HK$0.9 million, partially offset by a reduction in amortization of intangible assets by HK$0.6 million.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was HK$5.3 million (US$0.7 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which decreased by 27.2% from HK$7.3 million for the same period last year.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were HK$11.6 million (US$1.5 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, increased by 147.0% from HK$4.7 million for the same period last year.

• Selling and marketing expenses were HK$0.9 million (US$0.1 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to HK$0.08 million for the same period last year, mainly because the Company contracted two consultants to assist it in exploring new customers and planning its business strategy, and marketing and promotional activities.
• Research and development expenses were HK$0.1 million (US$0.01 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, from nil for the same period last year, as the Company intends to expand its software development team's software development capacity to continue to improve existing functions and develop new functions.
• General and administrative expenses were HK$10.6 million (US$1.4 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to HK$4.6 million for the same period last year, because of a surge in employee compensation and benefits of HK$1.8 million, insurance expense of HK$0.4 million, legal and professional fees of HK$3.7 million and travel expenses by HK$0.1 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company offered an appreciation bonus and compensation increase to its executives and staff. The Company also incurred additional insurance coverage cost for its directors and executives as well as audit fees, legal fees, transfer agent fees, investor relations, printing, and advisory fees subsequent to the completion of its initial public offering. Its travel expenses also increased during the six months ended June 30, 2024 as its executives travelled for conferences and business meetings.

Total Other Expense

Total other expenses, net was HK$0.1 million (US$0.02 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to HK$0.2 million for the same period last year.

Net Income (Loss)

Net loss was HK$5.5 million (US$0.7 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to net income of HK$2.2 million for the same period last year.

Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic and diluted loss per share was HK$0.45 (US$0.06) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of HK$0.19 for the same period last year.

Financial Condition

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had cash and restricted cash of HK$32.8 million (US$4.2 million), compared to HK$6.8 million as of June 30, 2023.

Net cash used in operating activities was HK$17.7 million (US$2.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of HK$3.9 million for the same period last year.

Net cash used in investing activity was HK$3.7 million (US$0.5 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to HK$2.1 million for the same period last year.

Net cash provided by financing activities was HK$47.5 million (US$6.1 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to net cash used in financing activities of HK$7.0 million for the same period last year.

Exchange Rate Information

Translations of amounts from HK$ into US$ as of and for the years ended June 30, 2024 are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the noon buying rate of US$1=HK$7.8083, which was the foreign exchange rate on June 28, 2024, as published in H.10 statistical release of the United States Federal Reserve Board in its weekly release on July 1, 2024.