IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Equity Capital Markets

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coupang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28425:1" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US)</a> is the largest e-commerce platform in South Korea, according to Euromonitor. Coupang is best known for Rocket Delivery, which provides free, next-day delivery for orders placed any time of the day.</p></div><div><p>Coupang is seeking to raise up to $2 billion at a $50 billion valuation, according to Reuters. The rumoured valuation is a significant increase to the December 2018 fundraising at a $9 billion valuation, according to press reports. </p></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-ipo-initiation-delivering-the-goods" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48125" rel="noopener">Coupang IPO Initiation: Delivering the Goods</a>, we opined that Coupang's fundamentals tick all the right boxes and worth a look, in our view. In this note, we take a first look at Coupang's valuation. Overall, based on our valuation analysis, we think that the rumoured IPO valuation can be justified.</p></div></div></div>

Coupang (CPNG US) is the largest e-commerce platform in South Korea, according to Euromonitor. Coupang is best known for Rocket Delivery, which provides free, next-day delivery for orders placed any time of the day.Coupang is seeking to raise up to $2 billion at a $50 billion valuation, according to Reuters. The rumoured valuation is a significant increase to the December 2018 fundraising at a $9 billion valuation, according to press reports. In Coupang IPO Initiation: Delivering the Goods, we opined that Coupang's fundamentals tick all the right boxes and worth a look, in our view. In this note, we take a first look at Coupang's valuation. Overall, based on our valuation analysis, we think that the rumoured IPO valuation can be justified.

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

<div><p>Bairong, an independent AI-powered technology platform in China serving the financial services industry, plans to raise around US$300m in its Hong Kong IPO. According to F&amp;S, it was the largest independent financial big data analytics solutions provider in China by revenue in 2019, with a market share of 8.7%.</p></div><div>
<p>Over 2017-19, Bairong’s revenue expanded by 3.56x or at 88.8% CAGR. While its data analytics revenue increased by 66% over the period, its precision marketing services revenue grew 22.6x, and insurance distribution grew 54.5x. Over the same time, gross profit grew 3.99x and adjusted EBITDA, PAT and OCF all turned positive during that period.</p>
<p>I've covered the positive aspects of the deal in my earlier note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bairong-pre-ipo-the-positives-largest-independent-big-data-analytics-provider" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bairong Pre-IPO - The Positives - Largest Independent Big-Data Analytics Provider</a>.</p>
</div><div><p>In this insight, I'll talk about the not so pleasant aspects.</p></div>

Bairong, an independent AI-powered technology platform in China serving the financial services industry, plans to raise around US$300m in its Hong Kong IPO. According to F&amp;S, it was the largest independent financial big data analytics solutions provider in China by revenue in 2019, with a market share of 8.7%.
Over 2017-19, Bairong’s revenue expanded by 3.56x or at 88.8% CAGR. While its data analytics revenue increased by 66% over the period, its precision marketing services revenue grew 22.6x, and insurance distribution grew 54.5x. Over the same time, gross profit grew 3.99x and adjusted EBITDA, PAT and OCF all turned positive during that period.
I've covered the positive aspects of the deal in my earlier note, Bairong Pre-IPO - The Positives - Largest Independent Big-Data Analytics Provider.
In this insight, I'll talk about the not so pleasant aspects.

Bairong Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Playing with Its Own Data

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coupang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28425:1" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US)</a>, the largest e-commerce company in South Korea with US$ 12.0bn in annual revenue, filed for an NYSE IPO under the ticker “CPNG” with a placeholder value of US$ 1.0bn.</p><p>According to various new reports, the Softbank Group- backed company Coupang is expected to command a valuation of nearly US$50.0bn, which is 456% more than its last private market valuation in 2018. Other investors of Coupang include BlackRock, Sequoia Capital, Altos Ventures, Maverick Ventures, and billionaire investor Bill Ackman.</p><p>The IPO is underwritten by Goldman Sachs, Allen &amp; Company LLC, J.P. Morgan, BofA, Citigroup, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, UBS, Mizuho Securities, and CLSA Limited.</p>

Coupang (CPNG US), the largest e-commerce company in South Korea with US$ 12.0bn in annual revenue, filed for an NYSE IPO under the ticker “CPNG” with a placeholder value of US$ 1.0bn.According to various new reports, the Softbank Group- backed company Coupang is expected to command a valuation of nearly US$50.0bn, which is 456% more than its last private market valuation in 2018. Other investors of Coupang include BlackRock, Sequoia Capital, Altos Ventures, Maverick Ventures, and billionaire investor Bill Ackman.The IPO is underwritten by Goldman Sachs, Allen &amp; Company LLC, J.P. Morgan, BofA, Citigroup, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, UBS, Mizuho Securities, and CLSA Limited.

Coupang IPO: Not Worth Subscribing at Rumoured 50.0bn Valuation

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The growth rate of short video time on site accelerated in China in 2020.</li>
<li>In 4Q20, short video has the longest time on site among all online entertainments.</li>
<li>In 2020, short video shares more online advertising budgets.</li>
<li>However, we believe it is not a good idea to pay users for introducing new users.</li>
</ul>


The growth rate of short video time on site accelerated in China in 2020.
In 4Q20, short video has the longest time on site among all online entertainments.
In 2020, short video shares more online advertising budgets.
However, we believe it is not a good idea to pay users for introducing new users.


Kuaishou (1024 HK): Short Video Market Expanding, But Express Version Not Profitable

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/base-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28353:1" rel="noopener">BASE Inc (4477 JP)</a> delivered 4Q20 results yesterday with revenue and gross profit growth of 104.8% and 108.4% YoY respectively in 4Q20. However, operating loss expanded 113% YoY to ¥343m due to an increase in promotional expenditure.</p><p>The company’s 2021 revenue guidance of ¥9,750-10,536m (17.6%-27.1% YoY) suggests that BASE Inc’s revenue growth is expected to decelerate rapidly following a temporary increase in 2020 due to COVID. This rapid deceleration in revenue growth is expected while there is a substantial increase in promotional spending. 2021 OP guidance ¥-1,433 to -929m compared to an operating profit of ¥803m in 2020. Therefore, Base Inc’s growth prospects in the domestic market could be somewhat limited and at 15.8x consensus FY+2 EV/Sales (2022 revenue: ¥15,593, 48% YoY), Base Inc appears significantly overvalued. However, the announced five to one stock split effective on 1<sup>st</sup> April 2021 could be a catalyst for a short-term rally. Thus, we would wait for Base Inc’s share price to react to the stock split news before arranging a short position.</p>

BASE Inc (4477 JP) delivered 4Q20 results yesterday with revenue and gross profit growth of 104.8% and 108.4% YoY respectively in 4Q20. However, operating loss expanded 113% YoY to ¥343m due to an increase in promotional expenditure.The company’s 2021 revenue guidance of ¥9,750-10,536m (17.6%-27.1% YoY) suggests that BASE Inc’s revenue growth is expected to decelerate rapidly following a temporary increase in 2020 due to COVID. This rapid deceleration in revenue growth is expected while there is a substantial increase in promotional spending. 2021 OP guidance ¥-1,433 to -929m compared to an operating profit of ¥803m in 2020. Therefore, Base Inc’s growth prospects in the domestic market could be somewhat limited and at 15.8x consensus FY+2 EV/Sales (2022 revenue: ¥15,593, 48% YoY), Base Inc appears significantly overvalued. However, the announced five to one stock split effective on 1st April 2021 could be a catalyst for a short-term rally. Thus, we would wait for Base Inc’s share price to react to the stock split news before arranging a short position.

China

PDD Holdings Inc. is a multinational commerce group that owns and operates a portfolio of businesses. The Company focuses on digital economy so that local communities and small businesses can benefit from the increased productivity and new opportunities. PDD Holdings has built a network of sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment capabilities for its underlying businesses.

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PDD Holdings (PDD US)

Coupang IPO: Valuation First Look

Coupang is seeking a $50 billion valuation, according to Reuters. Overall, based on our valuation analysis, we think that the rumoured IPO...

Arun George

Bairong Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Playing with Its Own Data

Bairong, an independent AI-powered technology platform in China serving the financial services industry, plans to raise around US$300m in its Hong...

Sumeet Singh

Coupang IPO: Not Worth Subscribing at Rumoured 50.0bn Valuation

Coupang’s active user count is just 7.5%, 3.4%, 2.0% and 2.0% of Shopee’s JD.com’s, Pinduoduo’s, and Alibaba’s respectively. However, Coupang’s...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Kuaishou (1024 HK): Short Video Market Expanding, But Express Version Not Profitable

The growth rate of short video time on site accelerated in China in 2020. In 4Q20, short video has the longest time on site among all online...

Ming Lu

Base Inc: Taking a Wrong Turn

We loved Base at the time of the IPO. However, we are considering changing that opinion, as losses are starting to head the wrong way while Base...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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