PresentationLadies and gentlemen, the program is about to begin. At this time, it is my pleasure to turn the program over to your host, Joanna Gajuk. Thank you.And today with us, we have Jeff Shaner, CEO; Matt Buckhalter, who's the CFO; and Debbie Stewart, Principal Accounting Officer. So I'll first turn it over to the team, and then we'll go into Q&A. [Operator Instructions].Good afternoon, everyone. Thanks so much for joining the second day of our Home Care Conference. And it's my pleasure now to host thi ...

Core Viewpoint - The family care industry is undergoing a transformation driven by consumer demand for service quality and stricter regulatory policies, with a focus on establishing a trust mechanism and protecting consumer rights [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Challenges and Regulatory Changes - Long-standing issues in the family care industry, such as prepaid disputes and inconsistent service quality, have become more pronounced, necessitating a shift from optional to mandatory fund supervision [1][2]. - The introduction of regulations, such as the Supreme Court's interpretation on prepaid consumption disputes effective May 2025, aims to clarify the rights and obligations of consumers and operators, enhancing the accountability of service providers [2][3]. - The need for effective fund supervision has led to the consideration of banking regulatory mechanisms as a viable solution to ensure consumer fund safety [2][3]. Group 2: Company Initiatives and Innovations - Saint Bella Group, recognized as the largest full-cycle family care group in Asia and China, has proactively responded to industry trends by partnering with China Merchants Bank to launch a fund supervision account, enhancing consumer rights protection [3][4]. - The fund supervision account ensures that consumer prepaid funds are held in a regulated state until services are rendered, thereby increasing transparency and safeguarding consumer investments [3][4]. Group 3: Impact on Consumer Trust and Market Dynamics - The banking-level supervision model not only secures consumer funds but also positively influences company development by enhancing consumer trust and brand reputation [4][5]. - As the industry shifts from price competition to value competition, factors such as fund safety and credit assurance are becoming critical competitive dimensions [5][6]. - The collaboration between financial institutions and the family care industry is expected to foster a healthier market environment, encouraging high-quality service providers to thrive [6].

Core Insights - Unilever reported a 3.5% year-on-year decline in revenue for the first nine months of 2025, totaling €44.8 billion, with all five business segments experiencing a downturn [2] - The company is undergoing significant transformation efforts, including divesting over 20 non-core beauty and personal care brands, as it faces market challenges from changing consumer habits [2] - The ice cream business spin-off is expected to be completed in Q4 2025, with the CEO expressing confidence in improved operating profit margins for the second half of the year [2] Financial Performance - Revenue declines were noted across all business segments, with household care experiencing the largest drop at 5.3%, followed by ice cream at 4.2%, and beauty & health and food segments both around 3% [5] - Despite the overall revenue decline, underlying sales growth of approximately 3.9% was achieved, with beauty & health leading at 5.1% growth [5] - The Asia-Pacific and Africa regions showed a 6.8% increase in underlying sales, with China returning to growth, contrasting with earlier declines [5] Market Strategy - Unilever's growth in China is attributed to targeted marketing strategies and a premium product mix, although the market is still recovering [2][5] - The company is focusing on high-end markets and e-commerce, with significant reforms in its distribution system and adjustments to core brand operations [6] - Local innovation is becoming a key strategy, with R&D efforts being localized to better meet consumer demands in China [8][10] Consumer Trends - Chinese consumers are increasingly demanding more effective and clinically validated products, driving industry upgrades [9] - The skincare market in China is noted to have significant growth potential, with a penetration rate of only 66% [3]

Core Insights - Unilever reported a 3.5% year-on-year decline in revenue for the first nine months of 2025, totaling €44.8 billion, with all five business segments experiencing a downturn [1] - The company is undergoing significant transformation efforts, including divestitures, layoffs, leadership changes, and business splits, to adapt to changing consumer habits and market challenges [1] - The ice cream business spin-off is expected to be completed in Q4 2025, with the CEO expressing confidence in improved operating profit margins for the year [1] Revenue Performance - All business segments reported revenue declines, with the largest drop in home care at 5.3%, followed by ice cream at 4.2%, and beauty & health and food segments down approximately 3% [3] - However, underlying sales (excluding acquisitions, disposals, and currency effects) showed a growth of about 3.9%, with beauty & health leading at 5.1% growth [3] Market Dynamics - The Chinese market has shown signs of recovery, with low single-digit growth attributed to targeted marketing strategies and a premium product mix [1][3] - The overall skincare market in China remains vast, with a penetration rate of only 66%, indicating significant growth potential [2] Strategic Initiatives - Unilever is focusing on a future-oriented brand portfolio that prioritizes high-end markets and e-commerce, with the U.S. and India identified as core growth markets [4] - The company is implementing localized innovation strategies, including the establishment of an AI-driven research platform to enhance product development [5][6] Leadership and Organizational Changes - A significant leadership overhaul has been initiated, with 25% of the leadership team being rotated to better respond to local market demands [7] - The CEO has emphasized higher performance expectations and clear accountability within the organization [7]

Core Insights - Unilever reported a 3.5% year-on-year decline in revenue for the first nine months of 2025, totaling €44.8 billion, with all five business segments experiencing a downturn [1][3] - The company is undergoing significant transformation efforts, including divesting over 20 non-core beauty and personal care brands, as it faces challenges from changing consumer habits and market dynamics [1][3] - The ice cream business is expected to be spun off by Q4 2025, with the CEO expressing confidence in improving operating profit margins for the year [1][3] Financial Performance - Revenue declines were noted across all business segments, with the largest drop in home care at 5.3%, followed by ice cream at 4.2%, and beauty & health and food segments around 3% [3] - However, underlying sales growth (excluding acquisitions, disposals, and currency effects) was approximately 3.9%, with beauty & health leading at 5.1% growth [3] - The Asia-Pacific and Africa regions showed a 6.8% increase in underlying sales, with Indonesia growing by 12.7% and China returning to growth [3] Market Strategy - Unilever's growth in China is attributed to targeted marketing strategies and a premium product mix, although the market is still recovering [1][3] - The company is focusing on high-end markets and e-commerce, with significant reforms in its distribution system and operations of key brands [4][5] - Local innovation is becoming a core feature of Unilever's strategy in China, with R&D efforts being localized to better meet consumer demands [5][6] Industry Trends - The Chinese skincare market is noted as the largest globally, with a penetration rate of only 66%, indicating substantial growth potential [2] - The emphasis on AI and local R&D is seen as crucial for adapting to the fast-evolving consumer preferences in China [5][6] - The competitive landscape is shifting as multinational companies adapt their strategies to local market needs, with Unilever's leadership changes aimed at enhancing responsiveness [6]

Core Insights - Unilever reported a 3.5% decline in revenue for the first nine months of 2025, totaling €44.8 billion, with all five business segments experiencing a downturn [1] - The company is undergoing significant transformation efforts, including divesting over 20 non-core beauty and personal care brands, and plans to complete the spin-off of its ice cream business by Q4 2025 [1][3] - CEO Fernando Fernandez expressed confidence in improving operating profit margins, projecting at least 18.5% for the second half of 2025, and 19.5% excluding the ice cream business [1] Business Performance - All business segments saw revenue declines, with home care experiencing the largest drop at 5.3%, followed by ice cream at 4.2%, and beauty & health and food segments down approximately 3% [3] - However, underlying sales (excluding acquisitions, disposals, and currency effects) showed a growth of about 3.9%, with beauty & health leading at 5.1% growth [3] - The Asia-Pacific and Africa regions reported a 6.8% increase in underlying sales, with Indonesia growing by 12.7% and China returning to growth [3] Market Strategy - Unilever is focusing on high-end markets and e-commerce, particularly in the U.S. and India, while acknowledging challenges in the Chinese market due to intense competition and aging brands [4] - The company has implemented targeted interventions in China, such as expanding product offerings and enhancing brand promotion [3][4] Innovation and Localization - Unilever is shifting its localization strategy, emphasizing R&D capabilities in China, with the launch of the "AI for Science" innovation platform [6] - The Shanghai R&D center is one of six global centers, contributing to both local and global market needs [6] - The company aims to respond more quickly to local demands by rotating 25% of its leadership team under Fernandez's direction [8]

Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating for the company, Saint Bella, as it is expected to have over 20% upside potential based on its valuation compared to peers [2][5]. Core Insights - Saint Bella is positioned as a leading brand in high-end postpartum services, expanding its offerings to cover the entire family service lifecycle from pregnancy to elder care [4][5]. - The company has demonstrated strong revenue growth, with a CAGR of 30% from 2022 to 2024, and is projected to continue this trend with significant increases in adjusted net profit [4][26]. - The family care industry in China is expected to grow significantly, with the market size projected to increase from CNY 392.8 billion in 2019 to CNY 711.3 billion by 2024, reflecting a CAGR of 12.6% [43][44]. Summary by Sections Company Overview - Founded in 2017, Saint Bella has expanded from high-end postpartum services to a comprehensive family care model, including brands like Xiao Bella and Ai Yu [4][16]. - The company has established a stable ownership structure, with the founder holding approximately 35.7% of the shares, ensuring consistent management and strategic direction [19][21]. Financial Performance - Revenue for 2022-2024 was CNY 4.72 billion, CNY 5.60 billion, and CNY 7.99 billion, with a projected revenue of CNY 10.58 billion in 2025 [26][30]. - Adjusted net profit is expected to rise from CNY 0.21 billion in 2024 to CNY 1.17 billion by 2025, indicating a strong recovery and growth trajectory [4][5]. Market Dynamics - The family care industry is characterized by a fragmented market with potential for consolidation, as consumer preferences shift towards established brands [4][49]. - The report highlights the increasing demand for postpartum care driven by changing societal norms and supportive government policies, which are expected to sustain industry growth [49][43]. Competitive Advantages - Saint Bella has developed four core advantages: strong brand recognition, a replicable business model, extensive service offerings, and international expansion strategies [4][5]. - The company is leveraging its brand equity and operational expertise to capture market share in both domestic and international markets [4][5]. Future Outlook - The company plans to expand its service offerings and increase the number of centers, projecting a total of 188 centers by 2027 [6][30]. - The family care market is anticipated to continue its robust growth, with significant opportunities in postpartum care and elder care services [43][44].

Core Viewpoint - Saint Bella Limited has successfully diversified its service and product offerings, moving beyond traditional postpartum care centers to create a "second growth curve" through service extension and leveraging AI technology for cost reduction [1] Financial Performance - For the first half of 2025, Saint Bella reported revenue of 450 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 25.6%; gross profit of 169 million yuan, up 38.9%; and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 327 million yuan, marking a return to profitability [1] - Basic earnings per share were 17.31 yuan [1] Business Segments - Saint Bella operates three main business lines: postpartum care centers, home care services, and food products [2] - The postpartum care center business generated revenue of 387 million yuan, a 25.3% increase, driven by an increase in the number of centers and improved performance of existing centers [2] - Home care services achieved revenue of 39 million yuan, up 41.7%, while food product revenue was 24 million yuan, a 10.5% increase [2] Strategic Development - Since 2018, the company has pursued a multi-brand and globalization strategy, creating a pyramid matrix with flagship brand "Saint Bella" targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals, "Little Bella" aimed at young middle-class consumers, and "Ai Yu" focusing on psychological healing needs [3] - The company has expanded its service offerings to cover a full cycle from pregnancy to early childhood, enhancing customer loyalty and lifecycle value [3] Market Trends - The family care industry is projected to grow to 805.3 billion yuan by 2025, with postpartum care and recovery expected to reach 79.3 billion yuan, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 20.4% from 2025 to 2030 [4] - The growth is driven by supportive policies and changing consumer behaviors among new-generation women [4] Competitive Landscape - The focus for future competition will be on the ability to convert detailed postpartum care services into modular solutions for elderly care, while avoiding dilution of capabilities during business expansion [5] - The company plans to deepen its core market presence, enhance its brand, and develop top-tier nursing talent while upgrading its digital infrastructure [5]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [7][5]. Core Views - The company reported a strong performance in the first half of 2025, with revenue of 450 million RMB, a year-on-year increase of 25.6%, and an adjusted net profit of 38.78 million RMB, up 126.1% year-on-year [1][12]. - The company is benefiting from an effective entrusted management model, leading to accelerated expansion and a significant increase in the number of stores [2][1]. - New business segments, including postpartum recovery and home care services, are showing positive growth trends, contributing to the overall service matrix [1][3]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In 1H25, the company's revenue reached 450 million RMB, with a gross profit margin of 37.6%, up 3.6 percentage points year-on-year [12]. - The adjusted net profit for 1H25 was 38.78 million RMB, reflecting a significant turnaround from a loss in the previous year [12][1]. Business Expansion - The number of maternity centers increased to 113 by the end of 1H25, with a net addition of 36 centers compared to the end of 2024 [2][1]. - The company’s home care service revenue grew by 41.7% year-on-year, indicating strong demand and customer retention [3][12]. Profitability and Efficiency - The marketing expense ratio decreased to 12.0%, and the management expense ratio fell to 22.1%, contributing to improved profitability [4][1]. - The company plans to launch an AI Agent product in the second half of 2025, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency and profitability [4][1]. Future Outlook - The company forecasts adjusted net profits of 120.69 million RMB, 204.77 million RMB, and 306.16 million RMB for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively [5][10]. - The target price is set at 9.76 HKD, reflecting a premium valuation due to the company's growth potential and market position [5][7].

Core Viewpoint - Saint Bella achieved significant growth in revenue and profitability in the first half of 2025, marking its first comprehensive profit with a net profit exceeding 327 million RMB, reversing the loss from the previous year, and demonstrating the sustainability of its business model and leadership in the industry [1] Revenue and Profit Growth - In the first half of 2025, Saint Bella Group reported total revenue of 523 million RMB, a year-on-year increase of 35%, with group-level revenue at 450 million RMB, up 25.6% [2] - The entrusted management stores generated revenue of 73 million RMB, a remarkable growth of 160%, showcasing the effectiveness of its light asset model [2] - The overall gross margin improved from 34% to 37.6%, an increase of 3.6 percentage points, driven by strong performance in its core segments [2] Business Segment Performance - The core postpartum care business, supported by a network of 113 stores, achieved total revenue of 460 million RMB, a 36.5% increase, with self-operated centers contributing 387 million RMB, up 25.3% [3] - The family care service segment saw a significant revenue increase of 41.7%, maintaining a stable gross margin of 36.5% [3] - The health food segment, bolstered by the acquisition of Guanghetang, reported a revenue growth of 10.6% with a high gross margin of 72.4% [4] Technological and Operational Efficiency - Saint Bella implemented a SaaS+AI digital standard operating system, enhancing the standardization and precision of care processes [5] - Marketing expenses and management expenses decreased, with marketing expenses down by 0.6 percentage points and management expenses down by 4.4 percentage points, contributing to expanded profit margins [5] Future Outlook - The company plans to continue expanding its core market and accelerate the layout of postpartum care centers while strengthening its ecosystem in family care and health food sectors [6] - The health food market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.7% by 2030, presenting new growth opportunities for Saint Bella [4]