Viomi Technology Co., Ltd Enters Definitive Agreements to Divest Certain IoT@Home Businesses in an Effort to Strategically Focus on Home Water Solution Businesses

Rhea-AI Summary

Viomi Technology Co., (NASDAQ: VIOT) has announced a strategic divestment of certain IoT@Home businesses to focus on home water solution businesses. The company has entered into definitive agreements with its Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Mr. Xiaoping Chen, to sell these assets for RMB65 million in cash. The transaction involves terminating existing VIE arrangements and establishing new ones, resulting in Mr. Chen controlling Foshan Viomi and its subsidiaries.

A special committee of independent directors led the evaluation and negotiation, with Kroll serving as an independent financial advisor. The Board has approved the transaction, deeming it in the company's best interest. The deal is expected to close by the end of August 2024, subject to certain conditions. Post-transaction, Viomi will focus on its home water solution business, leveraging AI technology to enhance drinking water solutions for households.

Positive

• Strategic focus on home water solution businesses
• Cash influx of RMB65 million from the sale of IoT@Home portfolio
• Board approval and independent financial advisor's fairness opinion

Negative

• Divestment of certain IoT@Home businesses may reduce revenue streams
• Potential loss of market share in the broader IoT@Home market

Insights

Financial Analyst

Viomi Technology's decision to divest its IoT@Home portfolio signifies a strategic pivot to concentrate on its home water solution business. From a financial perspective, the RMB65 million transaction shows a calculated move to streamline operations and reallocate resources to a more focused product line. This divestment could potentially reduce operational complexity and concentrate efforts on the home water segment, which might offer higher growth opportunities.

Investors should note that divesting less profitable or non-core assets can enhance overall profitability. However, the long-term success of this strategy will largely depend on how effectively the company can leverage its AI technologies in the home water solutions market.

The involvement of an independent financial advisor, Kroll LLC, who issued a fairness opinion, adds credibility to the transaction. It suggests that the deal is financially sound and fair to the company, which can reassure investors about the integrity and financial prudence of this decision.

Market Research Analyst

Shifting to a focused strategy on home water solutions aligns with current market trends emphasizing sustainability and health. The rising consumer awareness around water quality and the increasing demand for smart home solutions could position Viomi Technology favorably in a niche but growing market.

By concentrating efforts on the home water solution segment, Viomi is capitalizing on a market with significant growth potential. The integration of AI technologies suggests that the company aims to differentiate itself through innovation, offering smarter and more efficient water solutions. This move could help Viomi build a strong brand presence and capture market share in this specialized field.

However, the success of this strategy will depend on the company's ability to innovate and meet consumer expectations in the home water solutions market, which can be competitive. Investors should keep an eye on product rollouts, adoption rates and consumer feedback to gauge the long-term viability of this pivot.

GUANGZHOU, China, July 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Viomi Technology Co., Ltd ("Viomi" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: VIOT) today announced that, to implement its "Focus" strategy for home water solution businesses, it has entered into definitive agreements with Mr. Xiaoping Chen, the Company's Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and CEO, and an  entity controlled by Mr. Chen, to divest the Company's businesses and assets involving certain IoT@Home portfolio products for a total consideration of RMB65 million in cash.

The sale of the IoT@Home portfolio products (excluding range hoods, gas stoves, and water heaters) (the "Divested Business") to Mr. Chen will be effected through termination, at closing, of the existing variable interest entity ("VIE") contractual arrangements between Yunmi Hulian Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. and Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd. ("Foshan Viomi"), which will result in Foshan Viomi's shareholder, Mr. Chen, fully controlling Foshan Viomi and its subsidiaries, including Foshan Xiaoxian Hulian Electric Appliances Technology Co. Ltd., Foshan Qutansuo Electric Technology Co., Ltd., Guangdong AI Touch Technology Co., Ltd., and Zhuawa Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. As part of a pre-closing reorganization, Zhumeng Hulian Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Interconnect Technology Co., Ltd. ("Guangzhou Interconnect") will enter into a new set of VIE contractual arrangements, as a result of which the Company will control Guangzhou Interconnect and consolidate its financial results.

Mr. Chen will pay the RMB65 million purchase price through Foshan Viomi in the form of a registered capital increase to Guangzhou Interconnect at closing.

The special committee of the board of directors of the Company ("the Board"), consisting of Ms. Jinling Zhang, Mr. Weijiang Wu, and Mr. Jun Li, each of whom is an independent and disinterested director of the Board, led the evaluation and negotiation of the transaction on behalf of the Company. Kroll LLC served as an independent financial advisor to the special committee and issued a fairness opinion. The Board, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the special committee, resolved that the proposed transaction is in the Company's best interest and is fair to the Company from a financial point of view and approved the transaction. The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of August 2024.

Once the transaction is completed, the Company will strategically focus on its home water solution business and related products, using AI technology to provide better drinking water solutions for household users.

About Viomi Technology

Viomi's mission is to redefine the future home via the concept of IoT @ Home.

Viomi has developed a unique IoT @ Home platform consisting of an ecosystem of innovative IoT-enabled smart home products, together with a suite of complementary consumable products and value-added businesses. This platform provides an attractive entry point into the consumer home, enabling consumers to intelligently interact with a broad portfolio of IoT products in an intuitive and human-like manner to make daily life more convenient, efficient and enjoyable, while allowing Viomi to grow its household user base and capture various additional scenario-driven consumption events in the home environment.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.viomi.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of 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. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Viomi's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Viomi may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), 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 Fourth parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's growth strategies; the cooperation with Xiaomi, the recognition of the Company's brand; trends and competition in global IoT-enabled smart home market; development and commercialization of new products, services and technologies; governmental policies and relevant regulatory environment relating to the Company's industry and/or aspects of the business operations and general economic conditions in China and around the globe, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Viomi Technology Co., Ltd
Claire Ji
E-mail: ir@viomi.com.cn

Piacente Financial Communications
Hui Fan
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: viomi@tpg-ir.com  

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: viomi@tpg-ir.com  

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SOURCE Viomi Technology Co., Ltd

FAQ

What is the value of Viomi's (VIOT) IoT@Home business divestment?

Viomi Technology Co., (NASDAQ: VIOT) is divesting certain IoT@Home businesses for RMB65 million in cash.

When is the expected closing date for Viomi's (VIOT) business divestment?

The transaction is expected to close by the end of August 2024, subject to certain closing conditions.

What will be Viomi's (VIOT) focus after the divestment?

After the divestment, Viomi will strategically focus on its home water solution business and related products, using AI technology to provide better drinking water solutions for household users.

Who is purchasing Viomi's (VIOT) IoT@Home businesses?

Mr. Xiaoping Chen, Viomi's Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and CEO, along with an entity controlled by him, is purchasing the IoT@Home businesses.