Core Viewpoint - The company is expected to experience a significant decline in revenue for the first half of 2025, primarily due to changes in its business model and lack of major film and series releases [3][4]. Group 1: Revenue Forecast - The projected revenue for the first half of 2025 is 3.12 billion RMB, representing a year-on-year decrease of 25.5% [3]. - Online reading business revenue is expected to remain stable at 1.95 billion RMB, showing little change year-on-year [3]. - Revenue from copyright operations and other businesses is anticipated to drop to 1.17 billion RMB, a decline of 48% year-on-year, largely due to the absence of major releases from New Classics Media and changes in revenue recognition for short drama collaborations [3]. Group 2: Profit Expectations - The adjusted net profit for the first half of 2025 is estimated to be 480 million RMB, with the company's own profit expected to be around 500 million RMB, reflecting a 25% increase year-on-year [3]. - New Classics Media is projected to incur a loss of approximately 20 million RMB in the first half of 2025 [3]. Group 3: Online Reading Business - The online reading business is stable, with the integration of AI tools to enhance content creation efficiency [4]. - The international portal, WebNovel, has launched 6,800 Chinese translated works, with AI translations accounting for 3,200 of these, representing 47% of the total [4]. Group 4: Short Dramas and Derivative Products - New Classics Media has no major series released in the first half of 2025, but several anticipated series are set to launch in the second half, including "Solo Woman" and "Celebrating the Year 3" [5]. - The gaming sector has seen success with the new game "Douluo Dalu: Hunting Soul World," which generated an estimated revenue of 11.97 million RMB on iOS within a week of its launch [5][6]. - The company’s derivative products achieved a gross merchandise volume (GMV) exceeding 500 million RMB in 2024, with card products alone surpassing 200 million RMB [5].

Core Insights - The domestic plush toy brand "Super Vitality Factory" has opened a strategic investment opportunity exclusively to the Reading Group, resulting in Reading acquiring a 10% stake in the company, marking the first publicly recorded investment case in the vertical plush toy industry by a mainstream investment institution [1][3] - The investment is part of Reading's broader strategy to expand its IP derivative business, which includes both self-built and investment approaches to commercialize IP in the derivative product sector [3][5] Company Overview - Super Vitality Factory, under Hangzhou Lecheng Brand Management Co., Ltd., transitioned from a plush toy supply chain company to a brand that provides comprehensive plush product solutions for international events, global IPs, and leading domestic brands [1] - The company utilizes innovative composite materials in its products, which include plush blind boxes and high-quality plush figures, and has developed original IPs such as "Cino," "Adou," and "Alber" [1][4] Investment Details - Following the investment, both companies plan to collaborate closely on developing original toy IPs, with new product lines expected to launch in the second half of the year [3] - Reading has been actively investing in plush toy companies to enhance its scale and diversify its product offerings, having already launched collaborative products like the "Reading All-Star Island Party" plush items [4] Market Outlook - According to the "Trendy Toy Industry Development Report," the retail market size for trendy toys in mainland China is projected to reach 110.1 billion RMB by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 24% [5] - Reading Group aims to position "IP commercialization" as a key focus area, leveraging its cultural content platform to penetrate popular industries such as plush toys and card games [5]