Core Viewpoint - Modern Dairy Holdings Limited is acquiring approximately 1.28% of China Shengmu Organic Milk Limited for HKD 37.52 million, which will increase its shareholding to over 30%, triggering a mandatory offer to acquire the remaining shares at HKD 0.35 per share, totaling approximately HKD 2.016 billion [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition will enable Modern Dairy and its concerted parties (Mengniu) to exceed a 30% shareholding in China Shengmu, triggering a mandatory offer for the remaining shares [1] - The estimated annual raw milk production after the acquisition will exceed 4 million tons, positioning the combined entity among the top global dairy farming enterprises [1] - The scale advantage from the acquisition is expected to enhance bargaining power in bulk material procurement, effectively reducing unit costs and solidifying cost leadership [1] Group 2: Product and Market Impact - Post-acquisition, the proportion of Modern Dairy's specialty milk (including organic milk) is projected to increase from 8% to over 20%, strengthening its high-end product line [1] - The integration of China Shengmu's organic milk business is anticipated to provide diverse and distinctive raw milk supply to customers, enhancing overall product quality and competitiveness in high-value product segments [1][2] Group 3: Strategic and ESG Considerations - The acquisition reflects a strategic move by dairy giants in response to dual pressures of consumer upgrades and cost challenges, marking a critical choice at a recovery point in the industry [2] - Modern Dairy aims to leverage China Shengmu's unique "desert organic cycle" model to establish a differentiated competitive advantage and improve its ESG profile, attracting a broader base of long-term investors [2] - This acquisition signifies a shift in the Chinese dairy industry from "price competition" to "value competition," with an emphasis on industry consolidation and product structure upgrades [2]

Core Viewpoint - Modern Dairy Holdings Limited is acquiring approximately 1.28% of China Shengmu Organic Milk Limited for HKD 37.52 million, which will trigger a mandatory conditional cash offer for the remaining shares at HKD 0.35 per share, totaling approximately HKD 2.016 billion [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition will increase Modern Dairy's and its concerted parties' shareholding from 29.99% to over 30%, triggering a mandatory cash offer under Hong Kong's takeover regulations [1]. - Modern Dairy has signed a voting rights agreement with Start Great, granting it control over approximately 20.87 billion shares (24.90%) of China Shengmu [1]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - The acquisition price of HKD 0.35 represents a premium of approximately 14.75% over the last closing price of HKD 0.305 [2]. - Post-acquisition, the combined herd size will exceed 610,000 heads, with an estimated annual raw milk production surpassing 4 million tons, positioning the company among the top global dairy farming enterprises [2]. - The integration is expected to enhance bargaining power in bulk material procurement, effectively reducing unit costs and solidifying a cost leadership position [2]. Group 3: Product and Market Impact - The merger will optimize the product mix, increasing the share of specialty milk (including organic milk) from 8% to over 20%, thereby strengthening Modern Dairy's high-end product line [2]. - The acquisition will also integrate China Shengmu's organic milk business, providing diverse and distinctive raw milk supply, with organic milk typically priced higher than premium milk, enhancing overall product quality and competitiveness in high-value segments [2]. - China Shengmu's unique "Desert Organic Cycle" model combines desert reclamation with organic dairy farming, serving as a global example of sustainable development, which Modern Dairy aims to leverage to establish a differentiated competitive advantage and improve its ESG profile [2]. Group 4: Industry Context - The acquisition reflects a strategic move by dairy giants in response to dual pressures of consumer upgrades and cost challenges, marking a critical choice during the industry's recovery phase [3]. - By integrating the advantages of large-scale farming and organic milk sourcing, Modern Dairy is expected to reshape the organic milk market landscape, while China Shengmu will leverage capital for "second growth" [3]. - This acquisition signifies a shift in the Chinese dairy industry from "price competition" to "value competition," with increasing industry concentration and product structure upgrades becoming the main theme [3].

Summary of Modern Dairy's Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Modern Dairy - **Industry**: Dairy Farming Key Points and Arguments Industry and Company Performance - As of June 2025, the dairy herd size was 472,000 heads, a decrease of 19,000 heads from the end of 2024, but the proportion of lactating cows increased to 54.1% [2][5] - Raw milk production reached 1.66 million tons in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 14.6% [2][5] - The average yield per cow in traditional agriculture was 13.2 tons, up 1.5% year-on-year [2][5] - Revenue for the first half of 2025 was RMB 6.073 billion, with cash EBITDA at RMB 1.477 billion, a slight decrease of 2.5% year-on-year [3][31] Cost Management and Financials - Feed costs decreased by 11.4% year-on-year to RMB 1.79 per kilogram, while other cash costs fell by 6.8% to RMB 0.4 per kilogram [2][5] - The gross margin for raw milk remained around 30% [2][5] - Operating cash flow increased by 23% year-on-year to over RMB 400 million [6] - Capital expenditures decreased by over 16% to approximately RMB 1 billion [6] Market Outlook - The company anticipates continued pressure in the market for the fall and fourth quarter of 2025, with a potential market turning point in 2026 [4][9] - The dairy herd is expected to drop below 6 million heads in 2025, continuing to decline to about 5.8 million heads in the second half of the year [4][9] - The price of raw milk is projected to rise to RMB 3.3-3.5 per kilogram, with the company potentially reaching RMB 4 per kilogram [13] Specialty Milk and Product Development - The company operates five organic dairy farms with over 40,000 heads, and the proportion of specialty milk reached 8%, expected to exceed 10% by 2027 [6] - The company has secured 20%-30% of its soybean meal supply for the next year at a price lower by RMB 200-300 per ton compared to this year [4][23] Supply Chain and Import Dynamics - Domestic bulk powder prices are significantly lower than imported prices, leading to a decrease in import volumes [11] - The construction of new processing plants is expected to increase the demand for fresh milk [12] Challenges and Risks - The company faces challenges from heat stress affecting milk production and fluctuating market demands during peak seasons [7][8] - The elimination of dairy cows, particularly heifers, is a concern, with 210,000 heads culled in the first seven months of the year, impacting future supply [14][15] Future Projections - The company plans to maintain its herd size around 472,000 heads in the coming years, focusing on improving the proportion of lactating cows to enhance financial performance [20] - The expected yield per cow is projected to increase from 12.8 tons last year to over 13 tons this year [19] Conclusion - Modern Dairy is actively managing its herd size and costs while navigating market pressures and supply chain challenges. The focus on specialty milk and cost control measures positions the company for potential growth despite the current market volatility.

Summary of the Conference Call for YouRan Dairy (优然牧业) Industry Overview - **Accelerated Culling in Dairy Industry**: Due to rising beef prices, financially pressured farms are accelerating the culling of dairy cows. It is expected that production capacity will clear more rapidly in Q3, although the overall raw milk output will not be significantly affected [2][3]. - **Consumer Recovery Expectations**: The upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day are anticipated to stimulate consumption, with social raw milk prices already showing an increase, indicating marginal supply-demand improvement. A moderate recovery in milk prices is expected by the end of the year to early next year [2][3]. Company Performance - **Stable Raw Milk Business**: In early July, the decline in raw milk prices narrowed. The company’s unique milk products account for a high proportion, leading to stable gross margins. Raw milk business revenue achieved mid-double-digit growth, outperforming the industry average [2][7]. - **Revenue Growth**: Overall revenue in the first half of the year showed steady growth, primarily driven by the raw milk business. However, the solutions business faced pressure due to the breeding cycle, impacting overall performance [2][8]. - **Gross Margin Improvement**: In the first half of 2025, the gross margin for the raw milk business increased by over 1 percentage point year-on-year, benefiting from a larger decline in feed and sales costs compared to raw milk prices [2][9]. Production and Capacity - **Stable Annual Production**: The company expects its annual raw milk production and sales to remain stable, with over 2 million tons produced in the first half of the year. The full-year target is set at 4 million tons, with a slight single-digit growth in stock expected by year-end [2][12][13]. - **Biological Asset Value Improvement**: The rise in beef prices has increased income from culling cows, reducing fair value fluctuations of biological assets. A positive profit trend is anticipated for the second half of the year, with a decrease in capital expenditures [2][14][15]. Market Trends and Pricing - **Raw Milk Demand and Pricing**: The first half of the year saw a 2% year-on-year decline in dairy product output, indicating weak consumption. However, seasonal factors and holiday consumption are expected to improve trends in the second half [5][6]. - **Collaboration with Yili**: YouRan Dairy is the largest producer of specialty milk in the country, with pricing based on cost-plus and profit contribution, collaborating with Yili to set prices annually. The company expects to increase the proportion of raw milk supplied to Yili to over 40% in 2025 [11][20][21]. Strategic Outlook - **Diversification of Downstream Clients**: YouRan Dairy has a three-year long-term agreement with Yili, ensuring a supply ratio of no less than 70%. The company is also open to expanding its customer base beyond Yili, with existing clients including Guangming and Junlebao [22]. - **Impact of Industry Policies**: Government policies have been supportive of both upstream and downstream sectors, with measures to assist small and medium-sized farms and subsidies for downstream dairy companies [24]. - **Long-term Demand from Deep Processing**: The domestic deep processing capacity for raw milk is expected to significantly enhance demand for raw milk, particularly as the consumption structure shifts from liquid milk to processed products [25]. Financial Considerations - **Capital Expenditure Trends**: Capital expenditures are expected to decrease this year, primarily due to reduced costs associated with new farm constructions and biological asset management [17][18]. - **Profitability and Dividend Plans**: The company will consider dividend distribution based on overall cash flow, prioritizing debt repayment due to high leverage. Shareholder returns will be a focus when appropriate [19]. Competitive Positioning - **Differentiation in Raw Milk Business**: YouRan Dairy's specialty milk accounts for nearly 30% of its raw milk business, significantly higher than competitors. The company offers a diverse range of specialty milk products, maintaining stable pricing and margins [26].

Summary of Yuran Dairy's Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Yuran Dairy - **Year**: 2024 Key Financial Performance - **Total Revenue**: Increased by 7.5% to 21 billion CNY [3] - **Overall Gross Margin**: Improved by 4.9 percentage points to 28.8% [3] - **Raw Milk Revenue**: 15.1 billion CNY, up 17% year-on-year; gross profit of 4.914 billion CNY, up 33.8% [3] - **Solution Business Revenue**: 5 billion CNY with a gross margin of 16.8% [3] - **Average Annual Yield**: Increased by 5% to 12.6 tons per farm [3] Industry Insights - **Milk Production Capacity**: National milk production capacity is on a downward trend [5] - **Consumer Stimulus Policies**: Expected to improve supply-demand balance [5] - **Cost Structure**: Cost of milk sold per kilogram is 2.77 CNY, with feed costs accounting for 76% [6] - **Raw Material Prices**: Slight fluctuations expected in 2025 due to weak demand [6] Operational Efficiency - **Cost Control**: Yuran Dairy maintains cost targets through technical measures and operational optimization [7][8] - **Long-term Contracts**: Agreements with major clients ensure stable pricing and volume [3][18] Future Outlook - **Production Goals for 2025**: Targeting an average yield of 13 tons, with expected double-digit growth in production [5][11] - **Capital Expenditure**: Expected to decrease to under 600 million CNY in 2025 [22] - **Cow Herd Growth**: Anticipated to reach over 650,000 by the end of 2025 [12] Market Dynamics - **Milk Price Trends**: Prices are expected to stabilize above 2 CNY per kilogram in 2025, reflecting improved supply-demand dynamics [13] - **Impact of Tariffs**: Tariffs have limited impact on soybean meal prices; corn is primarily sourced domestically [6][10] - **Industry Consolidation**: Larger farms are better positioned to manage costs compared to smaller farms [9][16] Challenges and Risks - **Net Loss**: Company reported a net loss of 1.69 billion CNY, though this represents a 34% reduction in losses year-on-year [4] - **Cash Flow**: Cash flow improved significantly, with free cash flow turning positive [4] Strategic Initiatives - **Acquisition Strategy**: No major acquisitions planned; focus on organic growth and herd expansion [23] - **Dividend Policy**: Future dividends will depend on cash flow performance [25] Conclusion Yuran Dairy has demonstrated resilience in a challenging market, achieving growth in revenue and operational efficiency while navigating cost pressures and market dynamics. The company is well-positioned for future growth with strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing production and maintaining financial stability.

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the performance and competitive advantages of YouRan, highlighting its revenue growth, milk production, and unique market positioning through specialty milk products supported by Yili [3][4][5]. Financial Performance - YouRan's raw milk revenue reached 15.1 billion RMB in 2024, up 17% from 12.9 billion RMB in 2023, while raw milk production increased to 3.75 million tons, a 24.1% rise from 3.02 million tons in the previous year [3]. - The average price of raw milk was 4.12 RMB per kg, down 5.9% from 4.38 RMB, indicating that revenue growth did not keep pace with production growth [3]. - The company reported a loss in the second half of the year due to a 5 billion RMB impairment charge on property and equipment, primarily because of reduced sales in the feed business [6]. Market Positioning - YouRan's milk price is significantly higher than the national average, which has been around 3.15 RMB, due to its specialty milk products and support from Yili [4][5]. - The company has expanded its dairy herd to 622,000 cows, a 27% increase compared to Modern Dairy's 490,000 cows, and has introduced 20,000 goats for specialty milk production [5]. Operational Insights - The proportion of breeding cows increased to 52.3%, which is expected to lower costs in the future, although growth rates may slow down [5]. - The feed business saw a decline in revenue from 5.8 billion RMB last year to 5 billion RMB this year, indicating operational challenges [6]. Profitability Metrics - The gross profit margin for raw milk improved to 32.7% in 2024, up nearly 4 percentage points from 28.6% in 2023, reflecting better cost management despite lower sales volumes [11]. - EBITDA and pre-impairment profits showed significant growth, but comparisons with mid-year results indicate that earlier performance was even stronger [12].