业绩增速骤降、屡次被罚，“家族企业”老乡鸡四年五闯IPO

Core Viewpoint - LXJ International Holdings Limited, the parent company of Anhui Laoxiangji Catering Co., Ltd., is attempting to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange again after a failed attempt earlier this year, amid declining performance metrics and food safety issues [1][3]. Group 1: Company Performance - Laoxiangji's revenue and net profit growth have slowed in recent years, with total revenues of RMB 4.53 billion, RMB 5.65 billion, and RMB 6.29 billion from 2022 to 2024, showing year-on-year growth rates of 58.38%, 24.8%, and 11.27% respectively [7][9]. - The company's net profit for the same period was RMB 252 million, RMB 375 million, and RMB 409 million, with growth rates of 86.67%, 48.81%, and 9.07%, indicating a decline in growth to below double digits by 2024 [8][9]. - Laoxiangji's gross profit margin fluctuated from 20.3% in 2022 to 23.3% in 2023, then down to 22.8% in 2024, which is significantly lower than its competitor Xiaocaiyuan, which maintained a gross margin above 66% [9][10]. Group 2: Business Strategy and Expansion - The updated prospectus outlines that the funds raised from the IPO will be used for enhancing supply chain integration, expanding the store network, improving IT capabilities, and increasing brand promotion [3]. - Laoxiangji has shifted its business model to include franchising, with the number of franchise stores increasing from 118 to 653, while the number of directly operated stores decreased from 1,007 to 911 [7][8]. Group 3: Food Safety Issues - Laoxiangji has faced multiple administrative penalties for food safety violations, with 13 stores receiving 13 penalties between 2022 and 2024 due to issues such as using expired ingredients and failing to meet hygiene standards [12]. - The company reported a total of 857 complaints related to food freshness, service quality, and other issues, prompting it to enhance internal control measures to mitigate risks [12][16].