Core Viewpoint - Miniso (09896.HK) plans to spin off its toy brand TOP TOY for an independent listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to better reflect TOP TOY's value and attract investors interested in the high-growth opportunities within the toy industry [1][2]. Company Overview - TOP TOY was incubated by Miniso in 2020, with Miniso holding approximately 86.9% of TOP TOY's issued share capital, making it the controlling shareholder [4]. - Unlike its competitor Pop Mart, which focuses on blind box products, TOP TOY offers a broader product range, including figurines, 3D models, and plush toys [4]. IP Strategy - TOP TOY's IP strategy relies heavily on a combination of licensed and proprietary IP, with licensed IP currently dominating. The company aims to creatively redevelop licensed IP to unlock new commercial potential [6]. - The company has increased its proprietary IP from 8 to 17 through acquisitions, while maintaining 43 licensed IPs, indicating room for growth in its overall IP portfolio [7]. Market Position and Growth - As of June 30, 2023, TOP TOY operated 293 stores globally, significantly fewer than Pop Mart's 571 stores. TOP TOY's registered membership exceeded 10 million, while Pop Mart added 13.04 million new members in the same period [8]. - TOP TOY's revenue for 2022, 2023, and 2024 is projected to be 679 million, 1.461 billion, and 1.909 billion RMB, respectively, with a notable increase in revenue in the first half of 2023 reaching 1.36 billion RMB [11][12]. Financial Performance - TOP TOY's gross margin for the first half of 2023 was 32.4%, significantly lower than Pop Mart's 70.3% and Blok's 48.4%, indicating limited pricing power due to a lack of strong proprietary IP [13]. - The company reported a net profit of 180 million RMB in the first half of 2023, following profits of 212 million RMB in 2022 and 294 million RMB in 2024 [12]. Industry Context - The Chinese toy market is projected to grow from 20.7 billion RMB in 2019 to 58.7 billion RMB by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.2% [10]. - Despite the rapid growth of TOP TOY, it faces challenges in IP development and profitability compared to established players like Pop Mart, which has demonstrated stronger growth through its successful IP and fan economy [14].