Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise of Dahon Technology Co., Ltd. (大行科工) as a leading player in the global folding bicycle market, highlighting its upcoming IPO and the challenges it faces, including management aging, reliance on distributors, and increasing inventory levels [1][26]. Company Overview - Dahon Technology, founded by 83-year-old Han Dewei, is a prominent manufacturer of folding bicycles, with a significant market share in both China and globally [2][6]. - The company plans to go public after submitting its updated IPO prospectus in July 2023, following an initial submission in January that became invalid [1][6]. Market Position - By 2024, Dahon is projected to hold a 6.2% share of the global folding bicycle market, ranking second after the UK brand BROMPTON, which has a higher average retail price of 18,000 RMB per unit compared to Dahon's 3,000 RMB [6][7]. - In China, Dahon leads the market with a 36.5% share in retail revenue, amounting to approximately 639 million RMB [7][10]. Financial Performance - Dahon's revenue has shown consistent growth, with figures of 254.2 million RMB in 2022, 300.2 million RMB in 2023, and projected 450.7 million RMB in 2024 [12][13]. - Net profits also increased from 31.4 million RMB in 2022 to 52.3 million RMB in 2024 [12][13]. Sales Channels - Over 60% of Dahon's revenue comes from sales to distributors, indicating a heavy reliance on this channel [15][19]. - The company is attempting to increase its direct sales, with online sales growing from 5.6% in 2022 to 22.2% in 2024, while offline direct sales have decreased [19][15]. Production and Supply Chain - Dahon faces challenges with over 60% of its products being produced by OEM suppliers, which has led to rising production costs [21][22]. - The company has seen a significant increase in inventory, with levels rising from 57.7 million RMB in 2022 to 150 million RMB by May 2025, indicating potential production and sales imbalances [24][26]. Management and Governance - The average age of Dahon's management team exceeds 61 years, raising concerns about strategic continuity [10][26]. - The company has distributed substantial dividends in recent years while also facing issues with unpaid employee social security contributions [10][26].