Sinocat(688737)2024-03-29 16:00Financial Performance - Revenue in 2023 increased by 245.07% to RMB 1.544 billion compared to 2022[24] - Net profit attributable to shareholders in 2023 was RMB 42.32 million, a significant improvement from a loss of RMB 87.27 million in 2022[24] - Revenue for 2023 reached 1,544,081,894.61 RMB, a significant increase of 245.07% year-over-year[35] - Net profit attributable to shareholders was 42,318,630.74 RMB, achieving a turnaround from loss to profit[35] - Revenue for Q1 2023 was 265,265,859.02 RMB, Q2 was 419,765,144.52 RMB, Q3 was 438,677,400.94 RMB, and Q4 was 420,373,490.13 RMB[27] - Net profit attributable to shareholders for Q1 was 6,185,549.45 RMB, Q2 was 14,420,906.27 RMB, Q3 was 12,239,684.97 RMB, and Q4 was 9,472,490.05 RMB[27] - Revenue for the reporting period reached RMB 1,544,081,894.61, a significant increase of 245.07% year-over-year, driven by the surge in China's commercial vehicle market, particularly the natural gas heavy-duty truck market, and the implementation of new emission regulations[96][97] - Main business revenue increased by 248.02% to RMB 1,540,991,149.29, with main business costs rising by 222.88% to RMB 1,357,828,048.72[100][102] - Domestic sales accounted for 99.77% of main business revenue, totaling RMB 1,537,429,729.69[104] - Direct sales to vehicle manufacturers contributed 97.51% of main business revenue, amounting to RMB 1,502,560,644.04[104] - Industrial catalyst revenue surged by 1,213.39% to RMB 8,374,181.07, with a gross margin of 41.21%[102] - Revenue from hydrogen-related products increased by 4,797.28% to RMB 533,110.44, with a gross margin of 28.53%[102] - Chemical raw materials and chemical products manufacturing segment revenue increased by 248.02% year-on-year to 154,099.11 million RMB, with a gross margin increase of 6.86 percentage points[137] Profit Distribution and Share Repurchase - The company implemented a share repurchase of RMB 22,001,516.08, accounting for 51.99% of the distributable profit for the reporting period[5] - No cash dividends, stock dividends, or capital reserve to share capital conversion will be distributed for the 2023 fiscal year[5] - The company is in a growth stage with significant capital expenditure plans, influencing the decision against profit distribution[5] - The total cash dividend amount for 2023 was RMB 22,001,516.08, accounting for 51.99% of the net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders[192] - The company did not propose a cash dividend plan for 2023 due to significant capital expenditure arrangements and growth stage, with unallocated profits to be used for project construction[189] R&D and Innovation - R&D expenditure as a percentage of revenue decreased by 15.11 percentage points to 5.63% in 2023[26] - R&D investment intensity exceeded 5%, with R&D personnel accounting for 33.5% of the workforce[36] - The company obtained 189 patent authorizations, with over 70 new patents added in the year[36] - The company has 199 R&D personnel, including 93 engineers, with most being self-trained, forming a high-quality talent team[37] - R&D is primarily self-driven, supplemented by industry-academia collaboration, focusing on key catalytic materials and technology development[46] - The company's R&D is divided into platform technology research and product development stages, focusing on catalyst technology routes and core product solutions based on downstream engine and vehicle manufacturers' needs[47] - In 2023, the company applied for 59 domestic patents, including 28 invention patents, and obtained 73 domestic patent authorizations, including 36 invention patents[63] - The company has accumulated a total of 261 domestic and international patent applications, including 173 domestic invention patents and 13 European and American invention patents[63] - The company's cumulative number of domestic invention patents granted reached 115, with 7 European and American invention patents granted[64] - Total R&D investment decreased by 6.51% to 869.65 million yuan compared to the previous year's 927.88 million yuan[66] - R&D investment as a percentage of revenue dropped by 15.11 percentage points to 5.63% from 20.74%[66] - The company has a strong technical advantage in environmental catalysts, having mastered key technologies such as high-performance rare earth oxygen storage materials and advanced coating techniques[81] - The company has developed a low-precious-metal and cost-effective catalyst for hybrid vehicle exhaust purification, which has been verified and delivered in bulk to mainstream domestic automakers[57] - The company's high-performance rare earth oxygen storage material technology has significantly improved the thermal stability and performance of the materials, with no phase separation observed after 1,000°C/10h aging[58] - The company's high-temperature high-surface-area material technology has enhanced the stability and surface area of alumina materials, with high surface area and large pore volume maintained after 1,100°C/10h aging[59] - The company's high-dispersion and high-stability precious metal technology has reduced the amount of precious metals used while improving catalyst performance[60] - The company has developed an advanced coating technology, including a dual-airflow rotary spray granulation process, to ensure precise control of catalyst loading and uniformity[61] Business Operations and Market Position - The company has multiple subsidiaries, including Zhongzi Future Energy and Zhongzi New Materials, indicating a diversified business structure[14] - The company operates in the environmental catalyst sector, competing with global giants like BASF, Johnson Matthey, and Umicore[14] - The significant revenue growth was driven by the explosive growth in China's commercial vehicle market, particularly natural gas heavy trucks, and the full implementation of emission regulations[26] - The company achieved batch supply to major passenger vehicle customers, contributing to revenue growth[26] - The company's new business progressed steadily, further boosting revenue[26] - The company's main products for internal combustion engine exhaust purification catalysts saw substantial revenue growth[26] - The company focuses on new materials and new energy, specializing in mobile pollution source (vehicles, non-road machinery, ships, etc.) tail gas treatment catalysts[40] - Main products include internal combustion engine exhaust purification catalysts, energy storage and power batteries, hydrogen fuel cell catalysts, and industrial VOCs catalysts[41] - The company adopts a "production-based procurement" model, ensuring long-term stable supply of raw materials such as precious metals, carriers, and rare earth materials[42] - Production follows an "order-based production" model, with advanced process control and material traceability systems[43] - Sales are primarily direct to engine and vehicle manufacturers, with pricing models including "future point pricing" and "past period average pricing"[44] - The company employs a combination of "cost-plus" and "market bidding" pricing models for catalyst coatings[46] - The company operates in the "C26 Chemical Raw Materials and Chemical Products Manufacturing" industry, specifically in "Rare Earth Catalytic Material Manufacturing"[50] - The company is part of the "Advanced Non-ferrous Metal Materials" field under the Shanghai Stock Exchange's STAR Market guidelines[50] - The company is a national specialized and innovative "little giant" enterprise and a national technological innovation demonstration enterprise, leading in the field of environmental catalysts in China[55] - The company has undertaken 12 major national research projects, including the "863 Plan" and the National Key R&D Program, related to exhaust gas treatment catalysts and hydrogen fuel cell catalysts[55] - The company has expanded its product portfolio to include light commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles, achieving significant breakthroughs in the automotive after-treatment market[81] - The company has entered the hydrogen fuel cell catalyst and energy storage battery sectors, with hydrogen fuel cell catalysts achieving kilogram-level batch production capacity[81] - The company faces competition from global environmental catalyst giants like BASF, Johnson Matthey, and Umicore, which dominate the market share[91] - The company maintains long-term partnerships with engine manufacturers due to high switching costs and collaborative R&D requirements[82] - The company operates multiple national and provincial-level technology innovation platforms, including a national enterprise technology center and postdoctoral research workstation[82] - The domestic environmental catalyst market is accelerating its localization process, with domestic manufacturers narrowing the technology gap with foreign giants[140] - The company plans to accelerate the R&D and industrialization of solid-state batteries and sodium-ion batteries, leveraging its technical advantages and industrialization system[146] - The company aims to increase R&D investment, focusing on product line planning, technology libraries, and application technology libraries, while fostering innovation through a combination of independent R&D and collaborative efforts[147] - In the field of hydrogen fuel cell catalysts, the company will leverage its participation in national key R&D projects to enhance batch delivery capabilities for strategic value customers[148] - The company will accelerate the construction of key projects, including the automotive aftertreatment device intelligent manufacturing industrial park and the R&D capability construction project for catalysts meeting China VI b and above emission standards[148] - The company plans to deepen strategic cooperation with key customers in the energy storage and power battery sector, expanding both domestic and international markets[148] - The company will focus on developing high-performance, cost-effective products in the field of exhaust gas treatment catalysts, aiming to increase market share and accelerate domestic substitution[145] - The company will strengthen its sales and technical service integration team in the industrial catalyst sector, aiming to establish a robust business model and build a strong industry brand[148] - The company will utilize its national enterprise technology center and national technological innovation demonstration enterprise platform to enhance technological innovation capabilities[147] - The company will focus on customer-centric strategies, emphasizing cost control and quality management to ensure sustained and effective growth in performance[147] - The company is advancing its digital information construction, focusing on optimizing the MES system and achieving efficient synchronization with the ERP system[149] Environmental and Safety Performance - The company achieved zero deaths, zero serious injuries, and zero pollution incidents in 2023[36] - The company invested RMB 481.29 million in environmental protection during the reporting period[198] - The company is a key pollutant discharge unit in Chengdu, with pollutants including wastewater and exhaust gases such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, VOCs, ammonia, and COD[199] - The company installed organic waste gas purification systems, ammonia treatment systems, and nitrogen oxide waste gas treatment systems to ensure emissions are below national and local standards[200] - The company completed the renovation of waste gas treatment facilities at the Gunan Street factory in 2023, addressing safety hazards and pipeline blockages[200] - The company established a high-ammonia wastewater evaporation system and sewage treatment station to treat production and domestic wastewater[200] - The company conducted 2 annual tests, 4 supervision tests, and 11 rainwater tests in 2023, with all results meeting standards[200] - The company's MVR evaporation system for wastewater was put into operation, with all test results meeting standards under full production conditions[200] Corporate Governance and Leadership - The company has established a comprehensive governance structure with clear responsibilities and independent operations among the shareholders' meeting, board of directors, and management[152] - The company held five temporary shareholders' meetings in 2023, all of which passed all proposals without any rejections[152] - The company's chairman, Chen Qizhang, holds 39,008,704 shares, an increase of 11,145,344 shares due to capital reserve conversion[156] - The company's general manager, Li Yun, holds 672,000 shares, an increase of 192,000 shares due to capital reserve conversion[156] - The company's vice general manager, Chen Cuirong, holds 2,896,437 shares, an increase of 827,553 shares due to capital reserve conversion[156] - The company's independent directors, Cao Qilin and Liao Dong, each received a pre-tax remuneration of 100,000 yuan[156] - The company's board of directors has five specialized committees providing professional advice for major decisions[152] - The company continues to optimize its budget management system to enhance the autonomous operational management capabilities of business lines[149] - The company is strengthening its employer brand and increasing cooperation with universities to ensure a steady supply of talent[149] - Total capital reserve transfer to share capital amounted to 13,197,297 shares, increasing the total shares from 33,006,244 to 46,203,541[159] - The company's total equity reached 783.00 million, reflecting a significant increase in shareholder value[159] - Key personnel such as Wang Yun, Vice President and core technical personnel, hold significant equity stakes, with Wang Yun holding 45.57 million shares[158] - The company has a strong focus on core technical personnel, with multiple individuals holding substantial equity stakes, such as Li Dacheng with 30.09 million shares[159] - The company's leadership team, including directors and senior management, holds a combined equity of over 783.00 million shares, indicating strong alignment with shareholder interests[159] - The company has implemented a capital reserve transfer to share capital strategy, increasing the total shares by 13,197,297[159] - The company's core technical personnel, such as Wang Jinfeng, hold significant equity stakes, with Wang Jinfeng holding 30.74 million shares[159] - The company's leadership team, including directors and senior management, holds a combined equity of over 783.00 million shares, indicating strong alignment with shareholder interests[159] - Li Yun has served as the Director and General Manager of Zhongzi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. since December 2018[161] - Chen Cuirong has been the Director and Deputy General Manager of Zhongzi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. since December 2021[161] - Ma Renhu has been a Director of Zhongzi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. since June 2020[161] - Xi Shan served as a Director of Zhongzi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. from June 2020 to March 2023[161] - Cao Qilin has been an Independent Director of Zhongzi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. since June 2020[161] - Lu Dong has been an Independent Director of Zhongzi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. since June 2020[161] - Sun Wei has been an Independent Director of Zhongzi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. since April 2023[161] - Cai Hong has been a Supervisor of Zhongzi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. since December 2018[161] - The company has experienced significant leadership changes and promotions, with multiple executives transitioning to higher roles such as General Manager, Product Line Director, and Vice President since 2015[164] - Key personnel have been promoted to roles like Sales Director, Quality Director, and Technical Deputy Chief Engineer, indicating a focus on strengthening management and technical expertise[164] - The company has established new departments and roles, including the Hydrogen Energy R&D Center and the Energy Storage & Power Battery Division, reflecting a strategic shift towards new energy technologies[164] - Several executives have been promoted to roles like Manufacturing Director and Technology Center Deputy Director, suggesting an emphasis on operational and technological advancements[164] - The company has seen a consistent pattern of internal promotions, with employees moving from technical roles to managerial positions, indicating a strong internal talent development strategy[164] - The company received the resignation report of director Su Shan on March 20, 2023, due to personal reasons[165] - The company received the resignation report of senior executive Hu Shumei on April 7, 2023, due to personal reasons[165] - The company held the 12th interim meeting of the third board of directors on March 22, 2023, and the second interim shareholders' meeting of 2023 on April 7, 2023, approving the election of Wang Yun and Sun Wei as directors[165] - Chen Qizhang serves as the executive director of Sichuan Shengnuo Investment Management Co., Ltd. since November 2012[166] - Chen Qizhang is the executive partner of Sichuan Shengnuo Kaite Technology Service Partnership (Limited Partnership) since June 2020[166] - Chen Cui Rong serves as a director at Sichuan Shengnuo Investment Management Co., Ltd. since November 2012[166] - Chen Qizhang is the executive director and general manager of Zhongzi Changchun since September 2020[167] - Li Yun serves as a director at Zhongzi Guangming since August 2017[167] - Ma Renhu is the strategic investment director at Hanhai Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. since February 2022[167] - Sun Wei is a professor at the School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China since April 2023[167] - Total compensation for directors, supervisors, and senior management at the end of the reporting period was 523.78 million[170] - Total compensation for core technical personnel at the end of the reporting period was 229.92 million[170] - The company approved the 2023 senior management and director compensation plans during the 4th meeting of the 3rd Compensation and Assessment Committee on April 27, 2023[170] - The company elected new directors and independent directors, including Wang Yun and Sun Wei, during the reporting period[171] - The company approved a share repurchase plan and revisions to the Articles of Association during the 11th interim meeting of the 3rd Board of Directors on January 17, 2023[173] - The company approved the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary during the 12th interim meeting of the 3rd Board of Directors on March 22, 2023[173] - The company approved the 2022 annual report, 2023 financial budget, and 2023 director and senior management compensation plans during the 15th meeting of the 3rd Board of Directors on April 27, 2023[173] - The company approved the 2023 semi-annual report and the special report on the deposit and actual use of raised funds during the 17th meeting of the 3rd Board of Directors on August 24, 2023[174] - The company approved the 2023 third-quarter report during the 18th interim meeting of the 3rd Board of Directors on October 30, 2023[174] - The company approved the extension of some IPO fundraising projects during the 20th interim meeting of the 3rd Board of Directors on December 13, 2023[174] - The company held a total of 10 board meetings in 2023, with all directors attending either in person or via communication methods[176] - The Audit Committee held