Core Insights - The article discusses the ongoing challenges faced by Huolala, a logistics platform founded by Zhou Shengfu, as it attempts to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange after multiple failed attempts [1][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Huolala, founded in 2013, has become a leading logistics trading platform in China, with projections indicating it will be the largest global closed-loop GTV logistics platform by mid-2025 [3]. - The company has submitted its IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange six times but has not yet received the necessary approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission [3][4]. Group 2: Regulatory Challenges - The regulatory environment has become more stringent following the scrutiny of Didi in 2021, which has impacted Huolala's ability to secure the required approvals for its IPO [3][4]. - Since 2021, Huolala has faced 18 public reprimands related to issues such as driver rights and illegal passenger transport, indicating increased regulatory focus on compliance and antitrust measures [4][11]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Huolala's revenue has grown from $1.036 billion in 2022 to an estimated $1.593 billion in 2024, with a 31.9% year-on-year increase in the first half of 2025, reaching $945 million [7][10]. - Despite revenue growth, the company's profitability has been inconsistent, with net profit fluctuating significantly due to non-recurring items, such as a $606 million gain from the fair value change of redeemable convertible preferred shares in 2023 [9][12]. Group 4: Business Model and Challenges - The company's revenue heavily relies on its freight platform services, which account for over half of its income, but the monetization rate has declined from 10.3% in 2023 to an expected 9.2% in 2025 [9][10]. - Huolala's overall gross margin has decreased from 61.2% in 2023 to 52.3% in the first half of 2025, indicating pressure on profitability [11]. Group 5: Funding and Valuation - Since 2014, Huolala has raised a total of $2.662 billion across 11 funding rounds, with notable investors including Sequoia China and Tencent [12]. - The fair value of Huolala's redeemable convertible preferred shares has increased from $4.673 billion in 2023 to $4.738 billion in the first half of 2025, contributing to high liabilities on its balance sheet [12][14]. - As of mid-2025, Huolala's current liabilities reached approximately $5.46 billion, leading to a debt ratio of about 164%, indicating a state of insolvency [14].

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint The news highlights the recent activities in the IPO market, including new listings, applications for IPOs, and financial data of companies preparing for public offerings. It emphasizes the performance of newly listed companies and their market potential. Group 1: New Listings - Shanghai Stock Exchange had no new listings, while Shenzhen Stock Exchange's ChiNext saw one company, Shihang New Energy, listed on April 2, with a first-day increase of 244.49% and a market value of approximately 12.4 billion yuan [3][4]. - Jiangsu Hongxin was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 31, with a closing price of 2.51 HKD per share, a slight increase from its issue price of 2.50 HKD, resulting in a market value of about 540 million HKD [10][34]. Group 2: IPO Applications - No companies submitted IPO applications on the Shanghai or Shenzhen stock exchanges during the period [6]. - Seven companies submitted IPO applications on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, including: - Lens Technology, a leading provider of precision manufacturing solutions for smart terminals [16]. - Jiaxin International, focused on tungsten mining in Kazakhstan, with significant resources and production capabilities [20][21]. - Shangdingxin, a fabless power semiconductor supplier [24][25]. - Wenda Technology, providing smart city solutions and property services [26][28]. - Dongpeng Beverage, a leading functional beverage company in China, with a market share increase from 15.0% in 2021 to 26.3% in 2024 [31]. - Lalamove, a logistics platform with a significant market share in China [35][36]. - Xin Hehua, a major supplier of traditional Chinese medicine products [38][39]. Group 3: Financial Data - Shihang New Energy reported a revenue increase of 154.15% from its issue price [3]. - Lens Technology projected revenues of 46.6 billion yuan, 54.3 billion yuan, and 69.8 billion yuan for 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, with net profits increasing by 20.72% and 20.88% in 2023 and 2024 [18]. - Jiaxin International has not generated revenue yet, with projected net losses of 94.45 million HKD, 80.13 million HKD, and 177 million HKD for 2022, 2023, and 2024 [22]. - Dongpeng Beverage's revenues are expected to grow from 8.5 billion yuan in 2022 to 15.8 billion yuan in 2024, with net profits increasing significantly [32]. - Lalamove's revenues are projected to rise from 1.036 billion USD in 2022 to 1.593 billion USD in 2024, with adjusted net profits turning positive in 2024 [36].

Core Viewpoint - HuoLaLa is preparing for its IPO, showcasing its strong market position and financial growth, but faces significant competition and internal compliance risks [1][4][5]. Group 1: Business Overview - HuoLaLa is a leading technology-enabled logistics platform operating in over 400 cities across 11 major markets globally [1]. - As of June 2023, HuoLaLa has expanded its services to 360 cities in mainland China, with 900,000 active drivers and 10.5 million active users [2]. - The company has achieved the highest order completion rate and active merchant count in the global logistics market [2][3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - HuoLaLa's global Gross Transaction Value (GTV) increased from $7.307 billion in 2022 to $11.137 billion in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.5% [4]. - The number of completed orders surged from 428 million in 2022 to 779 million in 2024, with a CAGR of 35.0% [4]. - Revenue grew from $1.036 billion in 2022 to $1.593 billion in 2024, achieving a CAGR of 24.0% [4]. - The company transitioned from an adjusted loss of $12.1 million in 2022 to adjusted profits of $390.6 million in 2023 and $500.8 million in 2024 [4]. Group 3: Market Challenges - The logistics industry is highly competitive, with HuoLaLa facing challenges from various logistics platforms and large tech companies developing their own logistics solutions [4][5]. - Continuous innovation and service optimization are crucial for maintaining market share and profitability [5]. Group 4: Internal Risks - HuoLaLa has faced compliance risks related to the use of passenger vehicles in freight services, which could impact its reputation and operations [6]. - The company employs a dual-class voting structure that may not align the interests of all shareholders, potentially affecting investor confidence [7][8]. Group 5: Data Security Concerns - As HuoLaLa's operations become increasingly digital, it faces challenges related to data privacy and cybersecurity, which could significantly impact its business and financial performance [9].