Core Viewpoint - Hope Sea Inc. is preparing for an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with plans to raise funds for service expansion, IT system upgrades, international expansion, and general corporate purposes [1][2]. Company Overview - Hope Sea is a comprehensive supply chain solution provider based in China, focusing on cross-border supply chain solutions for electronic products, particularly integrated circuits [2]. - The company is controlled 100% by the Feng family through family trusts, with the founder Feng Sujun and his family holding all shares [2][4]. Financial Performance - In 2023 and 2024, Hope Sea distributed a total of 525 million yuan in dividends, significantly exceeding its net profit of 169 million yuan during the same period, raising concerns about potential profit extraction [5]. - The company's revenue showed a trend of decline followed by recovery, with total revenues of 253 million yuan, 221 million yuan, and 235 million yuan for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively [7]. - The gross merchandise volume (GMV) for imports reached approximately 34.8 billion yuan in 2024, making it the largest provider of electronic product import supply chain solutions in China [2]. Governance Structure - The board of directors consists of six members, including family members and independent directors, raising concerns about the independence of the board due to family control [4][5]. - The independent non-executive director's connection to the auditing firm may pose risks related to conflicts of interest and independence [6]. Business Model and Strategy - Hope Sea's business model includes supply chain solutions and cross-border fund arrangements, generating revenue primarily through service fees based on GMV [7]. - The company adopted a "price for volume" strategy, leading to increased GMV but a decrease in average fee rates, indicating potential weaknesses in bargaining power [8]. Cost Structure and Risks - Transportation costs rose significantly, accounting for 13.01% of total revenue in 2024, up from 9.92% in 2023, indicating increased operational costs [8]. - The company faces currency exchange risks due to its reliance on USD for cross-border transactions [9]. Debt and Financial Health - As of the end of 2024, Hope Sea's debt-to-asset ratio was high at 94.75%, with total borrowings of 13.134 billion yuan, primarily related to cross-border fund arrangements [12]. - The company has significant restricted cash, amounting to 13.147 billion yuan, closely tied to its borrowing activities [13].