Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Capital Markets

Zhihu Technology / Equity Capital Markets

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhihu-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32185:1" rel="noopener">Zhihu Technology (ZH US)</a> announced its IPO terms. It plans to raise up to $632.5 million offering 55 million ADSs. The IPO price range is from $9.50 to $11.5 per share. At the mid point of the IPO price range, the company would be valued at $6.2 billion. At the high end of the IPO price range ($11.5 per share), it would be valued at $6.8 billion. Along with the IPO, Zhihu also plans to raise $250 million in a private placement to Alibaba, JD.com, Tencent, and Lilith Games.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Our base case and high case implied market caps of the company are $7.1 billion ($12 per share) and $9.0 billion ($15.2 per share), respectively. We do believe that there will be a first day pop for this IPO and expect its market cap could reach the high end of the valuation sensitivity analysis (market cap of $9.0 billion or $15.2 per share). In the first few days of trading post IPO, we expect the company's market cap to be trading in the mid-to-high end of our valuation analysis ($12 to $15.2 per share). We have a positive view of the Zhihu IPO. </p></div>

Zhihu Technology (ZH US) announced its IPO terms. It plans to raise up to $632.5 million offering 55 million ADSs. The IPO price range is from $9.50 to $11.5 per share. At the mid point of the IPO price range, the company would be valued at $6.2 billion. At the high end of the IPO price range ($11.5 per share), it would be valued at $6.8 billion. Along with the IPO, Zhihu also plans to raise $250 million in a private placement to Alibaba, JD.com, Tencent, and Lilith Games.Our base case and high case implied market caps of the company are $7.1 billion ($12 per share) and $9.0 billion ($15.2 per share), respectively. We do believe that there will be a first day pop for this IPO and expect its market cap could reach the high end of the valuation sensitivity analysis (market cap of $9.0 billion or $15.2 per share). In the first few days of trading post IPO, we expect the company's market cap to be trading in the mid-to-high end of our valuation analysis ($12 to $15.2 per share). We have a positive view of the Zhihu IPO. 

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.

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhihu-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32185:1" rel="noopener">Zhihu Technology (ZH US)</a> is the largest Q&amp;A-inspired online community and one of the top five comprehensive online content communities in China, both in terms of average mobile MAUs and revenue in 2020, according to CIC. Zhihu is acknowledged as the first choice among all online content communities in China where people look for information to make decisions or find answers, according to CIC. Zhihu is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a>.</p></div><div><p>At the mid-point of the proposed IPO price range of $9.50-11.50 per ADS, Zhihu will have a fully diluted market cap of $6.2 billion. Zhihu will also raise an additional $250 million in a concurrent private placement to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a>, Tencent and Lilith Games. At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds including the concurrent private placement are $801.3 million. </p></div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/zhihu-ipo-initiation-question-time" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48928" rel="noopener">Zhihu IPO Initiation: Question Time</a>, we opined that as the largest Q&amp;A-inspired online community, Zhihu is well-positioned to benefit from favourable industry trends. We concluded that Zhihu’s fundamentals are attractive. Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive. Overall, we would participate in the IPO. </p></div></div>

Zhihu Technology (ZH US) is the largest Q&amp;A-inspired online community and one of the top five comprehensive online content communities in China, both in terms of average mobile MAUs and revenue in 2020, according to CIC. Zhihu is acknowledged as the first choice among all online content communities in China where people look for information to make decisions or find answers, according to CIC. Zhihu is backed by Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK) and Baidu (BIDU US).At the mid-point of the proposed IPO price range of $9.50-11.50 per ADS, Zhihu will have a fully diluted market cap of $6.2 billion. Zhihu will also raise an additional $250 million in a concurrent private placement to Alibaba Group (BABA US), JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US), Tencent and Lilith Games. At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds including the concurrent private placement are $801.3 million. In Zhihu IPO Initiation: Question Time, we opined that as the largest Q&amp;A-inspired online community, Zhihu is well-positioned to benefit from favourable industry trends. We concluded that Zhihu’s fundamentals are attractive. Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive. Overall, we would participate in the IPO. 

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>Bilibili plans to raise around US$3bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. </p></div><div><p>We have covered the background of the deal in our earlier notes, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bilibili-secondary-listing-early-look-will-probably-be-more-like-jd-and-netease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bilibili Secondary Listing Early Look - Will Probably Be More like JD and NetEase</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bilibili-secondary-listing-early-look-4q20-results-quick-note" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bilibili Secondary Listing Early Look - 4Q20 Results Quick Note</a>.</p></div><div><p>In this note, we'll touch upon the updates since our last note.</p></div>

Bilibili plans to raise around US$3bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. We have covered the background of the deal in our earlier notes, Bilibili Secondary Listing Early Look - Will Probably Be More like JD and NetEase and Bilibili Secondary Listing Early Look - 4Q20 Results Quick Note.In this note, we'll touch upon the updates since our last note.

Bilibili Secondary Listing - Volatile but Should Be Hot

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bilibili-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26793:1" rel="noopener">Bilibili Inc (BILI US)</a> is a Chinese online video platform themed around anime, manga, and game fandom and targeted at the young generations in China. Bilibili ranked top five in terms of brand awareness in Gen Z+ users among video-centric platforms in China in 2020, according to iResearch. Bilibili passed its Hong Kong listing committee hearing and could raise up to $3 billion through a secondary listing, according to press reports. </p><p>Bilibili’s focus on Gen Z+ users allows it to benefit from their growing consumption needs in conjunction with their increasing spending power. Bilibili is one of the fastest-growing major Chinese internet companies. The revenue growth is increasingly fuelled by the creation of more consumption scenarios and higher paying user conversion. Largely due to the high growth narrative, Bilibili gets a free pass from investors on the widening losses and FCF burn. Nevertheless, Bilibili’s ambition is to deliver operating leverage and FCF generation over the medium-term, which is reflected in consensus estimates. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Overall, Bilibili has made great strides in expanding its user base (Gen Z to Gen Z+) and subsequently monetising this expanded user base through the diversification of its revenue streams and lowering its reliance on key games titles. The top-line metrics are strong, and the bottom-line metrics will likely improve in the medium term, in our view. Overall, we believe that Bilibili is fairly valued at the last close, and would look at any share price weakness to add/build a position. </p></div>

Bilibili Inc (BILI US) is a Chinese online video platform themed around anime, manga, and game fandom and targeted at the young generations in China. Bilibili ranked top five in terms of brand awareness in Gen Z+ users among video-centric platforms in China in 2020, according to iResearch. Bilibili passed its Hong Kong listing committee hearing and could raise up to $3 billion through a secondary listing, according to press reports. Bilibili’s focus on Gen Z+ users allows it to benefit from their growing consumption needs in conjunction with their increasing spending power. Bilibili is one of the fastest-growing major Chinese internet companies. The revenue growth is increasingly fuelled by the creation of more consumption scenarios and higher paying user conversion. Largely due to the high growth narrative, Bilibili gets a free pass from investors on the widening losses and FCF burn. Nevertheless, Bilibili’s ambition is to deliver operating leverage and FCF generation over the medium-term, which is reflected in consensus estimates. Overall, Bilibili has made great strides in expanding its user base (Gen Z to Gen Z+) and subsequently monetising this expanded user base through the diversification of its revenue streams and lowering its reliance on key games titles. The top-line metrics are strong, and the bottom-line metrics will likely improve in the medium term, in our view. Overall, we believe that Bilibili is fairly valued at the last close, and would look at any share price weakness to add/build a position. 

Bilibili Secondary Listing: A Big-Sum Game

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Hellobike, an Alibaba’s investee and traffic source, will go public in 2Q21.</li>
<li>NetEase’s Cloud Music is seeking IPO next year.</li>
<li>The authorities said Tencent and Baidu were fined not because they eliminate competition, but because they forgot to ask for approval.</li>
<li>Tencent invests in Rakuten.</li>
</ul>


Hellobike, an Alibaba’s investee and traffic source, will go public in 2Q21.
NetEase’s Cloud Music is seeking IPO next year.
The authorities said Tencent and Baidu were fined not because they eliminate competition, but because they forgot to ask for approval.
Tencent invests in Rakuten.


China Internet Weekly (Mar 15): BABA & NTES Subsidiaries Seek IPO, Tencent Invests in Rakuten

China

Baidu, Inc. operates an Internet search engine. The Company offers algorithmic search, enterprise search, news, MP3, and image searches, voice assistance, online storage, and navigation services. Baidu serves clients globally.

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Baidu (BIDU US)

Zhihu IPO Valuation Analysis

In the first few days of trading post IPO, we expect Zhihu's market cap to be trading in the mid-to-high end of our valuation analysis ($12 to...

Douglas Kim

Zhihu IPO: Valuation Insights

At the mid-point of the $9.50-11.50 IPO price range, Zhihu's net proceeds inc. the concurrent private placement is $801.3 million. Our valuation...

Arun George

Bilibili Secondary Listing - Volatile but Should Be Hot

Bilibili plans to raise around US$3bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. We have covered the background of the deal in our earlier notes. In...

Sumeet Singh

Bilibili Secondary Listing: A Big-Sum Game

Bilibili could raise up to $3 bn through a secondary listing, according to press reports. It is fairly valued at the last close and would look at...

Arun George

China Internet Weekly (Mar 15): BABA & NTES Subsidiaries Seek IPO, Tencent Invests in Rakuten

Tencent was fined not because they eliminate competition, but because they forgot to ask for approval. Tencent invests in Rakuten. Hellobike and...

Ming Lu

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