BRIGHT DAIRY(SH:600597) Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-09-30 10:30Core Viewpoint - The asset disposal by Bright Dairy is a necessary "stop-loss" reform under multiple pressures, aimed at alleviating financial strain while facing significant operational challenges [1][9]. Group 1: Asset Disposal Details - Bright Dairy's subsidiary, New Zealand Newlight Dairy, plans to sell its core assets in North Island to Abbott for $170 million (approximately 1.21 billion RMB) [1]. - The asset package includes a state-of-the-art Pokeno nutrition powder factory with an annual capacity of 40,000 tons, and the assets have a book value of NZD 282 million and an assessed value of NZD 285 million [1][3]. - The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, expected to be completed by April 2026, with uncertainties related to exchange rates and regulatory processes [1]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Challenges - Newlight Dairy has faced significant losses, with cumulative net losses of 758 million RMB from 2021 to 2024, prompting Bright Dairy to inject over 1.5 billion RMB to sustain operations [2]. - Asset impairments have further eroded profits, with Bright Dairy recognizing impairments of 541 million RMB related to Newlight from 2022 to 2024 [3]. - The North Island assets being sold are the core of the losses, with the Pokeno factory reporting an EBIT loss of NZD 20 million in FY2025 due to underutilization and declining raw milk prices [3][4]. Group 3: Market Position and Competitive Landscape - Bright Dairy's revenue has declined for three consecutive years since 2021, with a 1.9% drop in H1 2025 revenue to 12.472 billion RMB [4]. - The gap between Bright Dairy and competitors like Mengniu continues to widen, with Mengniu's H1 2025 revenue at 41.567 billion RMB, 3.3 times that of Bright Dairy [5]. - The loss of exclusive rights to produce infant formula for a key client, a2 Milk, has exacerbated the crisis, leading to increased production capacity underutilization [4]. Group 4: Strategic Implications and Future Outlook - The sale is expected to provide immediate financial relief, with anticipated net profit increases for Newlight in FY2026 and reduced interest expenses [6]. - However, the transaction only covers 27% of Newlight's debt, and regulatory hurdles could prolong financial pressures [6]. - The acquisition by Abbott may intensify competition in the high-end infant formula market, as Abbott seeks to leverage New Zealand's quality milk sources [6][7]. - The transaction reflects a broader reflection on overseas acquisitions in the Chinese dairy industry, contrasting with the successful strategies of competitors like Yili and Mengniu [7].