UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of May 2023

 

Commission file number: 001-38423

 

 

 

SUNLANDS TECHNOLOGY GROUP

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Building 4-6, Chaolai Science Park, No. 36

Chuangyuan Road, Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100012, the People’s Republic of China

+86-10-52413738


(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F            Form 40-F  

 

 

  

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
99.1   Press Release

 

 

 

Signature

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    Sunlands Technology Group
     
     
Date: May 25, 2023   By: /s/ Tongbo Liu
        Name:   Tongbo Liu
        Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Picture 4

 

Sunlands Technology Group Announces Unaudited

 

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

 

Q1 net revenues decreased by 7.6% year-over-year

Q1 gross billings (non-GAAP) decreased by 11.7% year-over-year

Q1 net income reached RMB180.1 million

 

BEIJING, May 25, 2023 -- Sunlands Technology Group (NYSE: STG) (“Sunlands” or the “Company”), a leader in China’s online post-secondary and professional education, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

 

First Quarter 2023 Financial and Operational Snapshots

 

·Net revenues were RMB566.9 million (US$82.5 million), representing a 7.6% decrease year-over-year.

 

·Gross billings (non-GAAP) were RMB345.1 million (US$50.2 million), representing a 11.7% decrease year-over-year.

 

·Gross profit was RMB498.7 million (US$72.6 million), representing a 3.5% decrease year-over-year.

 

·Net income was RMB180.1 million (US$26.2 million), as compared to RMB179.4 million in the first quarter of 2022.

 

·Net income margin, defined as net income as a percentage of net revenues, increased to 31.8% from 29.3% in the first quarter of 2022.

 

·New student enrollments1 were 143,179, representing a 22.2% increase year-over-year.

 

·As of March 31, 2023, the Company’s deferred revenue balance was RMB1,513.9 million (US$220.4 million).

 

 

 

1 New student enrollments for a given period refers to the total number of orders placed by students that newly enroll in at least one course during that period, including those students that enroll and then terminate their enrollment with us, excluding orders of our low-price courses. (In June 2019, we introduced low-price courses, including “mini courses” and “RMB1 courses,” to strengthen our competitiveness and improve customer experience. We offer such low-price courses mainly in the formats of recorded videos or short live streaming.)

 

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“As we reflect on the first quarter of 2023, we have witnessed a steadfast and consistent performance amid a challenging operating environment. Our first quarter net revenues remained steady, reaching RMB566.9 million, exceeding the high end of our guidance range. Our net income also experienced a slight year-over-year increase, reaching RMB180.1 million, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of sustained profitability for our company and setting a remarkable net income margin of 31.8%. We remain optimistic about our future prospects based on this encouraging start to the year,” said Mr. Tongbo Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Sunlands.

 

“Meanwhile, we have maintained a sharp focus on diversifying our course content, elevating the quality of our offerings, and optimizing student acquisition processes. These concerted efforts have yielded remarkable results, as evidenced by a substantial year-over-year increase of 22.2% in new student enrollments. Moving forward, we are committed to maintaining this positive trajectory and continuing our success employing our cost-saving and efficiency-enhancing business strategies to support long-term, sustainable growth,” concluded Mr. Liu.

 

Mr. Hangyu Li, Financial Controller of Sunlands, commented, “Throughout the quarter, we executed a range of strategic initiatives aimed at cultivating a highly efficient and streamlined organization. By reasonably managing our expenses, we successfully achieved a 7.3% year-over-year reduction in operating expenses. This focused approach to cost optimization has brought positive outcomes, as evidenced by the growth in our net income from RMB179.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 to RMB180.1 million in the current quarter. ”

 

“Looking ahead, we maintain a positive outlook on our long-term growth prospects. We will continue to expand our portfolio of online course offerings, optimize our cost structure, and deliver exceptional services to our students. These strategic measures will enable us to capture the emerging opportunities and consolidate our leadership position in the industry,” concluded Mr. Li.

 

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Financial Results for the first quarter of 2023

 

Net Revenues

 

In the first quarter of 2023, net revenues decreased by 7.6% to RMB566.9 million (US$82.5 million) from RMB613.3 million in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was mainly driven by the decline in gross billings over the recent quarters.

 

Cost of Revenues

 

Cost of revenues decreased by 29.5% to RMB68.2 million (US$9.9 million) in the first quarter of 2023 from RMB96.7 million in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to declined compensation expenses related to headcount reduction of our cost of revenues personnel, including teachers and mentors.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit decreased by 3.5% to RMB498.7 million (US$72.6 million) in the first quarter of 2023 from RMB516.6 million in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Operating Expenses

 

In the first quarter of 2023, operating expenses were RMB320.7 million (US$46.7 million), representing a 7.3% decrease from RMB345.8 million in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Sales and marketing expenses decreased by 8.0% to RMB271.4 million (US$39.5 million) in the first quarter of 2023 from RMB295.0 million in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was mainly due to declined compensation expenses related to headcount reduction of our sales and marketing personnel.

 

General and administrative expenses increased by 3.1% to RMB39.6 million (US$5.8 million) in the first quarter of 2023 from RMB38.5 million in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Product development expenses decreased by 21.7% to RMB9.7 million (US$1.4 million) in the first quarter of 2023 from RMB12.4 million in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was mainly due to declined compensation expenses related to headcount reduction of our product development personnel.

 

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Other Income

 

Other income was RMB8.8 million (US$1.3 million) in the first quarter of 2023, as compared to RMB9.6 million in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Net Income

 

Net income for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB180.1 million (US$26.2 million), as compared to RMB179.4 million in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share

 

Basic and diluted net income per share was RMB26.00 (US$3.79) in the first quarter of 2023.

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments

 

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had RMB721.8 million (US$105.1 million) of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and RMB87.7 million (US$12.8 million) of short-term investments, as compared to RMB757.4 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and RMB70.5 million of short-term investments as of December 31, 2022.

 

Deferred Revenue

 

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had a deferred revenue balance of RMB1,513.9 million (US$220.4 million), as compared to RMB1,690.9 million as of December 31, 2022.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

Capital expenditures were incurred primarily in connection with information technology (“IT”) infrastructure equipment and leasehold improvements necessary to support the Company’s operations. Capital expenditures were RMB3.8 million (US$0.5 million) in the first quarter of 2023, as compared to RMB0.9 million in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Outlook

 

For the second quarter of 2023, Sunlands currently expects net revenues to be between RMB480 million to RMB500 million, which would represent a decrease of 9.9% to 13.5% year-over-year. The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects the Company’s current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to substantial uncertainty.

 

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Exchange Rate

 

The Company’s business is primarily conducted in China and all revenues are denominated in Renminbi (“RMB”). This announcement contains currency conversions of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to US$ are made at a rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate for March 31, 2023 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on March 31, 2023, or at any other rate.

 

Conference Call and Webcast

 

Sunlands’ management team will host a conference call at 7:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time, (7:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time) on May 25, 2023, following the quarterly results announcement.

 

For participants who wish to join the call, please access the link provided below to complete online registration 15 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Upon registration, participants will receive details for the conference call, including dial-in numbers, a personal PIN and an e-mail with detailed instructions to join the conference call.

 

Registration Link:

https://register.vevent.com/register/BI5970759641cd4787b2c465f949f47220 

 

Additionally, a live webcast and archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Sunlands' website at https://ir.sunlands.com/.

 

About Sunlands

 

Sunlands Technology Group (NYSE: STG) (“Sunlands” or the “Company”), formerly known as Sunlands Online Education Group, is the leader in China's online post-secondary and professional education. With a one to many live streaming platform, Sunlands offers various degree and diploma-oriented post-secondary courses as well as online professional courses and educational content, including various interest courses, to help students prepare for professional certification exams and attain professional skills. Students can access the Company's services either through PC or mobile applications. The Company's online platform

 

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cultivates a personalized, interactive learning environment by featuring a virtual learning community and a vast library of educational content offerings that adapt to the learning habits of its students. Sunlands offers a unique approach to education research and development that organizes subject content into Learning Outcome Trees, the Company's proprietary knowledge management system. Sunlands has a deep understanding of the educational needs of its prospective students and offers solutions that help them achieve their goals.

 

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

We use gross billings, EBITDA, non-GAAP operating cost and expense, non-GAAP income from operations and Non-GAAP net income per share, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes.

 

We define gross billings for a specific period as the total amount of cash received for the sale of course packages, net of the total amount of refunds paid in such period. Our management uses gross billings as a performance measurement because we generally bill our students for the entire course tuition at the time of sale of our course packages and recognize revenue proportionally over a period. EBITDA is defined as net income excluding depreciation and amortization, interest expense, interest income, and income tax expenses. We believe that gross billings and EBITDA provide valuable insight into the sales of our course packages and the performance of our business.

 

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, their most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measures to their respective most directly comparable GAAP measure has been provided in the tables included below. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measures to their respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. As gross billings, EBITDA, operating cost and expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, general and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, sales and marketing expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, product development expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP net income exclude share-based compensation expenses, and basic and diluted net income per share excluding

 

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share-based compensation expenses have material limitations as an analytical metric and may not be calculated in the same manner by all companies, it may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider gross billings and EBITDA as a substitute for, or superior to, their respective most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the “safe harbor” provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Sunlands may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Sunlands' beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: Sunlands' goals and strategies; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its brand and services; its ability to retain and increase student enrollments; its ability to offer new courses and educational content; its ability to improve teaching quality and students’ learning results; its ability to improve sales and marketing efficiency and effectiveness; its ability to engage, train and retain new faculty members; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; its ability to maintain and improve technology infrastructure necessary to operate its business; competition in the online education industry in China; relevant government policies and regulations relating to Sunlands’ corporate structure, business and industry; and general economic and business condition in China Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Sunlands' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this

 

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press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Sunlands does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

 

For investor and media enquiries, please contact:

 

Sunlands Technology Group

Investor Relations

Email: sl-ir@sunlands.com

 

SOURCE: Sunlands Technology Group

 

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UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

   As of December 31,  As of March 31,
   2022  2023
   RMB  RMB  US$
ASSETS         
Current assets               
     Cash and cash equivalents   753,642    718,265    104,587 
     Restricted cash   3,762    3,574    520 
     Short-term investments   70,542    87,666    12,765 
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets   98,272    106,173    15,460 
     Deferred costs, current   42,886    30,183    4,395 
Total current assets   969,104    945,861    137,727 
Non-current assets               
     Property and equipment, net   813,783    806,564    117,445 
     Intangible assets, net   1,509    1,184    172 
     Right-of-use assets   274,643    275,736    40,150 
     Deferred costs, non-current   78,839    76,793    11,182 
     Long-term investments   73,513    62,558    9,109 
     Deferred tax assets   26,799    21,919    3,192 
     Other non-current assets   37,880    34,971    5,092 
Total non-current assets   1,306,966    1,279,725    186,342 
TOTAL ASSETS   2,276,070    2,225,586    324,069 
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT               
                
LIABILITIES               
Current liabilities               
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses               
        and other current liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to               
        Sunlands Technology Group of RMB191,172 and RMB193,699 as of               
        December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively)   436,339    392,510    57,152 
Deferred revenue, current (including deferred revenue, current of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Sunlands Technology Group of RMB374,208 and RMB356,198 as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively)   986,086    811,735    118,198 
Lease liabilities, current portion (including lease liabilities, current portion of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Sunlands Technology Group of RMB17,065 and RMB28,671 as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively)   17,065    29,038    4,228 
Long-term debt, current portion   38,654    38,654    5,628 
Total current liabilities   1,478,144    1,271,937    185,206 

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UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS-continued
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

   As of December 31,  As of March 31,
   2022  2023
   RMB  RMB  US$
Non-current liabilities               
Deferred revenue, non-current (including deferred revenue, non-current               
of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Sunlands Technology Group of               
RMB251,080 and RMB236,434 as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023,               
respectively)   704,860    702,161    102,243 
Lease liabilities, non-current portion (including lease liabilities, non-current portion               
of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Sunlands Technology Group of               
RMB316,844 and RMB305,283 as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023,               
respectively)   316,844    308,485    44,919 
Deferred tax liabilities (including deferred tax liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Sunlands Technology Group of RMB1,122 and RMB1,023 as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively)   5,984    5,169    753 
 Other non-current liabilities (including other non-current liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Sunlands Technology Group of RMB1,063 and RMB1,063 as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively)   6,770    6,770    986 
Long-term debt, non-current portion   143,319    133,655    19,462 
Total non-current liabilities   1,177,777    1,156,240    168,363 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   2,655,921    2,428,177    353,569 
                
SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT               
    Class A ordinary shares (par value of US$0.00005, 796,062,195 shares               
authorized; 2,982,516 and 3,131,807 shares issued as of December 31, 2022               
and March 31, 2023, respectively; 2,618,698 and 2,767,989 shares               
outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively)   1    1    - 
    Class B ordinary shares (par value of US$0.00005, 826,389 shares               
authorized; 826,389 and 826,389 shares issued and outstanding               
as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively)   -    -    - 
Class C ordinary shares (par value of US$0.00005, 203,111,416 shares               
authorized; 3,481,353 and 3,332,062 shares issued and outstanding               
as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively)   1    1    - 
    Treasury stock   -    -    - 
    Accumulated deficit   (2,812,114)   (2,632,008)   (383,250)
    Additional paid-in capital   2,309,740    2,309,740    336,324 
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   127,885    125,558    18,283 
Total Sunlands Technology Group shareholders’ deficit   (374,487)   (196,708)   (28,643)
Non-controlling interest   (5,364)   (5,883)   (857)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT   (379,851)   (202,591)   (29,500)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT   2,276,070    2,225,586    324,069 

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UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31,
   2022  2023
   RMB  RMB  US$
Net revenues   613,314    566,876    82,544 
Cost of revenues   (96,720)   (68,155)   (9,924)
Gross profit   516,594    498,721    72,620 
                
Operating expenses               
     Sales and marketing expenses   (294,997)   (271,414)   (39,521)
     Product development expenses   (12,355)   (9,680)   (1,410)
     General and administrative expenses   (38,460)   (39,640)   (5,772)
Total operating expenses   (345,812)   (320,734)   (46,703)
Income from operations   170,782    177,987    25,917 
Interest income   3,166    6,561    955 
Interest expense   (2,725)   (2,124)   (309)
Other income, net   9,592    8,798    1,281 
Impairment loss on long-term investments   (500)   -    - 
Income before income tax expenses and loss from equity method investments   180,315    191,222    27,844 
Income tax expenses   (691)   (7,731)   (1,126)
Loss from equity method investments   (213)   (3,384)   (493)
Net income   179,411    180,107    26,225 
                
Less: Net (loss)/income attributable to non-controlling interest   (1,227)   1    - 
Net income attributable to Sunlands Technology Group   180,638    180,106    26,225 
Net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of               
 Sunlands Technology Group:               
     Basic and diluted   27.16    26.00    3.79 
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income               
    per ordinary share:               
     Basic and diluted   6,650,244    6,926,440    6,926,440 

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UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Amounts in thousands)

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31,
   2022  2023
   RMB  RMB  US$
Net income   179,411    180,107    26,225 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect of nil:               
Change in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments   (2,619)   (2,327)   (339)
Total comprehensive income   176,792    177,780    25,886 
Less: comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to non-controlling
               
interest   (1,227)   1    - 
Comprehensive income attributable to Sunlands Technology               
Group   178,019    177,779    25,886 

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SUNLANDS TECHNOLOGY GROUP

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

(Amounts in thousands)

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31,
   2022  2023
   RMB  RMB
Net revenues   613,314    566,876 
Less: other revenues   (26,907)   (41,847)
Add: tax and surcharges   27,212    17,995 
Add: ending deferred revenue   2,170,948    1,513,896 
Add: ending refund liability   197,494    112,188 
Less: beginning deferred revenue   (2,348,179)   (1,690,946)
Less: beginning refund liability   (243,236)   (133,066)
Gross billings (non-GAAP)   390,646    345,096 
           
           
           
Net income   179,411    180,107 
Add: income tax expenses   691    7,731 
depreciation and amortization   9,887    7,590 
interest expense   2,725    2,124 
Less: interest income   (3,166)   (6,561)
EBITDA (non-GAAP)   189,548    190,991 

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SUNLANDS TECHNOLOGY GROUP

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31,
   2022  2023
   RMB  RMB
Cost of revenues   (96,720)   (68,155)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses in cost of revenues   (33)   - 
Non-GAAP cost of revenues   (96,687)   (68,155)
           
Sales and marketing expenses   (294,997)   (271,414)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses in sales and marketing expenses   (78)   - 
Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses   (294,919)   (271,414)
           
General and administrative expenses   (38,460)   (39,640)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses in general and administrative expenses   (257)   - 
Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses   (38,203)   (39,640)
           
Operating costs and expense   (442,532)   (388,889)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses   (368)   - 
Non-GAAP operating costs and expense   (442,164)   (388,889)
           
Income from operations   170,782    177,987 
Less: Share-based compensation expenses   (368)   - 
Non-GAAP income from operations   171,150    177,987 
           
Net income attributable to Sunlands Technology Group   180,638    180,106 
Less: Share-based compensation expenses   (368)   - 
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Sunlands Technology Group   181,006    180,106 
           
Net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of          
 Sunlands Technology Group:          
     Basic and diluted   27.16    26.00 
Non-GAAP net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of          
 Sunlands Technology Group:          
     Basic and diluted   27.22    26.00 
           
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income          
    per ordinary share:          
     Basic and diluted   6,650,244    6,926,440 
Weighted average shares used in calculating Non-GAAP net income          
    per ordinary share:          
     Basic and diluted   6,650,244    6,926,440 

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