Core Viewpoint - 52TOYS, claiming to be China's third-largest IP toy company, is seeking to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange amid ongoing financial losses and structural risks, aiming to capitalize on the booming "trendy toy" market [1][7] Financial Performance - The company has reported increasing net losses over the years, with losses of RMB 1.71 million, RMB 71.93 million, and RMB 122 million from 2022 to 2024, totaling approximately RMB 200 million [2] - Despite a reported adjusted net profit of RMB 19.1 million in 2023 and RMB 32.01 million in 2024, the profit margins remain thin, raising concerns about sustainable profitability [2] Revenue Sources - Licensed IP products contributed RMB 406 million in revenue in 2024, accounting for 64.5% of total revenue, with the popular IP "Crayon Shin-chan" generating over RMB 600 million in GMV from 2022 to 2024 [3] - The company faces significant pressure as key IP contracts, including "Crayon Shin-chan" and "Tom and Jerry," are set to expire in 2027, posing risks of high renewal costs and potential loss of IP [3] Operational Challenges - 52TOYS has a high inventory turnover period of 115 days in 2024, exceeding the industry average, indicating potential inventory backlog and cash flow management challenges [3] - The company is embroiled in over 500 legal disputes, primarily related to intellectual property infringement and contract disputes, which could impact governance and compliance post-IPO [3][4] Product Quality and Supply Chain Issues - There have been multiple consumer complaints regarding product quality, including defects in blind box toys and plush products, linked to supply chain management issues [4] - The company relies heavily on distributors for sales, with over 60% of revenue coming from this channel, and faces potential risks from high return rates exceeding 40% [4] Market Strategy and Risks - The company's product strategy has been criticized for targeting a younger demographic, which may conflict with regulatory policies on sales to minors, potentially affecting sales and profitability [6] - Although overseas revenue has grown significantly from RMB 35.37 million in 2022 to RMB 147 million in 2024, it still represents only about 20% of total revenue, indicating that the company is in the early stages of international expansion [6] Conclusion - The path to IPO for 52TOYS is fraught with challenges, including reliance on licensed IP, quality control issues, legal risks, and the need for a more robust operational strategy to gain investor confidence in a competitive market [7]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese collectible toy company 52TOYS has submitted its IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to capitalize on the booming market for IP-based toys and collectibles [1][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - 52TOYS, founded in 2015, has established itself as the third-largest player in the domestic collectible toy market, with a revenue of approximately 6 billion RMB [6][11]. - The company has undergone several funding rounds, raising 1 billion RMB in 2018 and 4 billion RMB in 2021, demonstrating steady growth despite challenges such as the pandemic [6][7]. Group 2: Financial Performance - 52TOYS reported revenues of approximately 4.6 billion RMB, 4.8 billion RMB, and 6.3 billion RMB for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of about 16.7% [7][8]. - The company has faced losses for three consecutive years, with a projected loss exceeding 1 billion RMB in 2024, but expects adjusted profits of 19.1 million RMB and 32.1 million RMB in 2023 and 2024, respectively [8][25]. Group 3: Market Position and Competition - As of May 27, 2023, 52TOYS has an estimated valuation of approximately 1.87 billion RMB based on a recent investment from Wanda Film, which holds a 7% stake in the company [5][3]. - The market capitalization of leading competitors, such as Pop Mart and Blok, is significantly higher, with Pop Mart valued at 313.17 billion HKD and Blok at 38.46 billion HKD [5][25]. Group 4: IP Strategy - 52TOYS generates a substantial portion of its revenue from licensed IPs, with the proportion of revenue from licensed IPs increasing from 50.2% in 2022 to 64.5% in 2024 [14][11]. - The company has developed over 30 proprietary IPs and collaborates with 85 experienced designers and 40 artists to enhance its product offerings [16][11]. Group 5: Future Plans - 52TOYS aims to expand its retail presence significantly, planning to establish over 100 self-operated stores in China and internationally within the next three to five years [26][25]. - The company is also focusing on increasing its overseas market revenue, which has grown from 7.6% in 2022 to 23.4% in 2024 [26][25].