Core Viewpoint - Aux Electric Co., Ltd. (AUX) is preparing for an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange after several previous attempts to go public, facing challenges such as slowing growth, high debt levels, and governance issues related to concentrated ownership and related-party transactions [1][3][22]. Company Overview - AUX was established in 1994 and is a specialized air conditioning provider, integrating design, R&D, production, sales, and service [4]. - According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, AUX is the fifth largest air conditioning company globally by sales volume, with a market share of 7.1% in 2024 [4]. Financial Performance - AUX's revenue from 2022 to 2024 was reported as follows: 195.28 billion RMB, 248.32 billion RMB, and 297.59 billion RMB, with year-on-year growth rates of 27.2% and 19.8% for 2023 and 2024, respectively [7]. - Net profit for the same period was 14.42 billion RMB, 24.87 billion RMB, and 29.1 billion RMB, with growth rates of 72.5% and 17.0% for 2023 and 2024 [7]. - The company's gross profit margins were relatively low, at 21.3%, 21.8%, and 21.0% from 2022 to 2024, compared to competitors like Gree and Midea [9]. Debt and Governance - AUX's debt levels are high, with asset-liability ratios of 88.3%, 78.8%, 84.1%, and 82.5% from 2022 to 2025 [11]. - The ownership structure is highly concentrated, with AUX Holdings controlling 96.36% of the voting rights, raising concerns about governance and potential conflicts of interest [12][15]. Market Position and Competition - AUX's revenue sources are heavily reliant on air conditioning, with 98.2% of revenue coming from this segment, indicating a lack of diversification [9]. - The company faces significant competition from Gree, which has previously accused AUX of producing substandard products, highlighting ongoing legal disputes and competitive tensions [17][18]. International Expansion - AUX's overseas revenue accounted for 57.1% in Q1 2025, with efforts to expand into markets like Thailand and Japan [19]. - However, over 80% of its international revenue comes from ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) business, which limits brand value and profitability [20]. IPO Significance - The upcoming IPO represents a critical opportunity for AUX to address its financial challenges and improve its market position, but it must navigate issues related to growth slowdown, low profit margins, and governance risks [22].

Compensation - The highest salary among executives in Huizhou listed companies is held by Zhao Jun, Senior Vice President of TCL Technology, with an annual salary of 16.1729 million yuan, surpassing the salary of the company's chairman and CEO, Li Dongsheng, by 4.39 million yuan [1][3] - In 2024, several executives saw significant salary increases, with the largest increase being for Pan Wenshu, Chairman of Derui Lithium Battery, whose salary nearly doubled from 2.3759 million yuan to 4.6064 million yuan [4] - 17 out of 20 companies reported that their highest executive salaries exceeded 1 million yuan [2][3] Employee Education - Among the 20 listed companies, four have employee counts exceeding 10,000, with TCL Technology leading at 71,067 employees, while Renxin New Materials has the fewest at only 156 employees [5] - Companies such as Yuxin Co., Jiu Lian Technology, and Desai Xiwai have over half of their employees holding a bachelor's degree or higher [6] R&D Investment - 13 out of the 20 listed companies have R&D investments exceeding 100 million yuan, with 16 companies having R&D personnel accounting for over 10% of their workforce [7] - Companies like Jinjia Medical and Liyuanheng have R&D investment ratios exceeding 10% of their revenue, while seven companies reported R&D investments below 100 million yuan [7] - Desai Xiwai aims to leverage opportunities in automotive intelligence for sustainable development, with significant growth in its core business and expanding customer base [7]

Core Insights - In 2024, companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) are projected to exceed 1 trillion yuan in research and development (R&D) investment, accounting for nearly 40% of the national R&D expenditure [1] - The total R&D investment from main board entities is approximately 920 billion yuan, showing continuous growth and doubling over the past five years [1] - A total of 723 companies have invested over 100 million yuan in R&D, with 831 companies maintaining an increase in their R&D spending [1]