林清轩股东扎堆出逃 高端国货美妆的资本对赌局【IPO观察】

Core Viewpoint - Lin Qingxuan, a high-end domestic beauty brand, faces challenges in its IPO journey due to regulatory issues regarding its product claims and high sales expenses despite a high gross margin of 82.5% from its Camellia Oil product [1][2][5]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Lin Qingxuan's Camellia Oil, priced over 500 RMB, contributed 4.48 billion RMB in revenue in 2024, accounting for 37% of total revenue, with a gross margin of 82.5%, significantly higher than competitors like Proya (64.5%) and Pechoin (75.8%) [2][4]. - The company's sales expenses were 5.09 billion RMB, 4.87 billion RMB, and 6.88 billion RMB from 2022 to 2024, representing 73.66%, 60.37%, and 56.86% of revenue, respectively, which remains high compared to Proya's 47.88% and Shanghai Jahwa's 46.69% [2][3]. - Lin Qingxuan's net profit margin was only 15.4% in 2024, indicating profitability challenges despite high gross margins [2]. Group 2: Market Position and Expansion - Lin Qingxuan's store count increased from 366 to 506 between 2022 and 2024, with significant growth in new first-tier and second-tier cities, while online sales grew from 45.2% to 59.1% of total revenue [3][4]. - The brand holds a 1.4% market share in the high-end skincare segment, ranking 13th among top brands, and a 2.2% share in the anti-wrinkle market, placing it in the top ten [4][6]. Group 3: Regulatory and Competitive Challenges - The company faced regulatory scrutiny, receiving fines for false advertising regarding its anti-aging claims, with a total of over 200 complaints related to product efficacy and refund issues [1][4][6]. - Lin Qingxuan's pricing strategy is challenged by competitors like Proya and Winona, which offer lower-priced products, and the brand's online sales face increasing costs and lower margins compared to offline sales [4][6]. Group 4: Investment and Valuation - Lin Qingxuan's valuation dropped from 31.75 billion RMB in 2021 to 15.59 billion RMB in 2024, reflecting broader market trends and internal issues, with significant share reductions by early investors [5][6]. - The company has multiple agreements that could pressure its management to buy back shares if it fails to go public by the end of 2026, indicating potential financial strain [6][7].