Core Viewpoint - The successful IPO application of Xi'an Yiswei Materials Technology Co., Ltd. marks a significant event in the A-share capital market, being the first unprofitable company to pass the review under the new policies, igniting market interest in hard technology financing [2][4] Group 1: Company Overview - Xi'an Yiswei Materials specializes in 12-inch silicon wafer production, ranking first in mainland China and sixth globally, with a market share of approximately 7% [3] - The company has accumulated over 10 billion yuan in financing, attracting nearly 60 venture capital and private equity institutions, with a pre-IPO valuation of 24 billion yuan [4] Group 2: Financial Performance - The company reported cumulative losses of 1.728 billion yuan from 2022 to 2024, with losses increasing each year [6] - Operating cash flow has been negative, with a total outflow of nearly 3.5 billion yuan over three years, indicating a reliance on external financing [6] Group 3: Product Structure and Challenges - Nearly 50% of the company's revenue comes from low-margin testing wafers, while high-value products account for only 16.75% of revenue, significantly lower than competitors [7] - The company faces technological gaps compared to international peers, with its products not yet applied in the most advanced chip processes [7] Group 4: Market Outlook and Risks - The company's profitability forecast for 2027 is based on optimistic assumptions, while industry experts predict continued downward pressure on silicon wafer prices [8] - The company must navigate intense competition and optimize its product structure to achieve profitability and reduce reliance on external financing [8]

Core Viewpoint - Xi'an Yiswei Material Technology Co., Ltd. (Xi'an Yicai) is set to undergo a review for its IPO on August 14, marking it as the first unprofitable company to apply for listing on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board since the introduction of the "Eight Articles of Sci-Tech Innovation Board" [1]. The company has rapidly grown to become the largest producer of 12-inch silicon wafers in mainland China, leveraging the restructuring of the global semiconductor supply chain and the domestic push for self-sufficiency [1]. Group 1: Industry Context - Silicon wafers are the core raw material in the semiconductor industry, accounting for approximately 30% of wafer manufacturing costs. The trend is towards larger wafer sizes, with 12-inch wafers now representing over 70% of global wafer shipment area [2]. The demand for 12-inch wafers is expected to exceed 10 million pieces per month globally by 2026, with mainland China's demand surpassing 3 million pieces per month [2]. - The global 12-inch silicon wafer market is dominated by five major players, with their combined shipment expected to account for about 80% of the market by 2024. Domestic self-sufficiency is currently below 30%, particularly in the mid-to-high-end 12-inch wafer segment, which restricts the healthy development of the domestic semiconductor supply chain [4]. Group 2: Company Development - Xi'an Yicai was established to address the critical pain points in integrated circuit development, focusing on the R&D of 12-inch silicon wafers. The company successfully delivered its first batch of products in 2019, with Wang Dongsheng, former chairman of BOE Technology Group, joining as a leader, bringing strategic vision and industry resources [4][5]. - Under Wang Dongsheng's leadership, Xi'an Yicai has built two factories with a total capacity of 710,000 pieces per month, accounting for 7% of global 12-inch wafer capacity, ranking first in mainland China and sixth globally [5]. Group 3: Technological Advancements - Xi'an Yicai has established a comprehensive core technology system covering key processes such as crystal pulling, shaping, polishing, cleaning, and epitaxy. The company has accumulated significant intellectual property and has achieved substantial progress in defect control and other critical metrics, allowing it to compete with international giants [6][7]. - The company has successfully mass-produced products for advanced applications, including NAND Flash and DRAM chips, and is actively developing high-performance chips for artificial intelligence applications [7]. Group 4: Financial Performance - Xi'an Yicai's revenue has shown consistent growth, with the proportion of higher-margin products increasing significantly from 8.59% in 2021 to 56.10% in 2024. The company has also developed high-end test wafers that contribute 21.17% of its revenue in 2024 [8][10]. - The company's annual shipment volume grew from 2.3462 million pieces in 2022 to 6.2546 million pieces in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 63%. Revenue increased from 1.055 billion yuan in 2022 to 2.121 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting a compound growth rate of 41.83% [11]. Group 5: Future Outlook - Xi'an Yicai plans to raise 4.9 billion yuan through its IPO to fund the construction of a second factory, which is expected to reach a capacity of 500,000 pieces per month by 2026, bringing total capacity to 1.2 million pieces per month [17][18]. - The company aims to achieve profitability by 2027, with expectations of narrowing losses in the coming years as production ramps up and product certifications are completed [12][14].

Core Viewpoint - The IPO journey of Xi'an Yicai has transformed into a high-stakes game of capital and risk, with significant financial challenges and control issues looming over the company [2][24]. Group 1: Control Issues - Xi'an Yicai, founded in March 2019 by Wang Dongsheng, has a complex shareholder structure that raises control risks, with the largest shareholder holding only 12.73% of shares [4][5]. - Liu Yiqian, through Guohua Life, holds a veto power in key investment platforms, allowing potential interference in major decisions despite being behind the scenes [5][6]. - The dilution of voting rights post-IPO could exacerbate control instability, as the combined control of Wang Dongsheng and his associates is below the 30% safety line [4][5]. Group 2: Financial Challenges - The company reported cumulative losses of 1.727 billion yuan over three years, with total debt soaring to 7.007 billion yuan in 2024, a 60% year-on-year increase [2][13]. - Revenue growth from 1.055 billion yuan in 2022 to 2.121 billion yuan in 2024 (CAGR of 41.83%) contrasts sharply with deepening net losses, which expanded from -412 million yuan to -738 million yuan [13][14]. - The debt-to-asset ratio has risen significantly, indicating deteriorating asset quality, with total liabilities reaching 5.113 billion yuan in 2024 [14][15]. Group 3: R&D and Operational Issues - The company claims to hold 1,635 patents, but about 50% of its 235 R&D personnel are classified as "part-time," raising concerns about the effectiveness of its R&D efforts [9][10]. - The production line's heavy investment has led to a depreciation expense of 931 million yuan in 2024, which constitutes 46.7% of operating costs, further squeezing R&D budgets [10][11]. - The company faces a significant cash flow challenge, with capital expenditures of 2.09 billion yuan against a net cash flow from operating activities of 815 million yuan [17]. Group 4: Industry Challenges - Xi'an Yicai's expansion plan aims to increase production capacity from 650,000 wafers per month in 2024 to 1.2 million by 2026, but faces headwinds from declining prices and potential overcapacity [19][20]. - Product prices have dropped nearly 30% from 479.89 yuan to 361.58 yuan between 2022 and 2024, with further declines expected [19][20]. - The company relies heavily on a few major customers, with over 60% of revenue coming from the top five clients, creating a risk of revenue volatility [22][23]. Group 5: Regulatory Scrutiny - The company has triggered 17 financial risk warning indicators, prompting regulatory inquiries into control stability, profitability forecasts, and R&D authenticity [24][26]. - The regulatory body has raised concerns about the reliability of the company's profit forecasts and the stability of its major customer relationships [24][26]. - The upcoming IPO review will serve as a critical test for the company's ability to navigate these challenges and the broader implications for unprofitable firms seeking to go public [24][26].