Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<header id="article-header_2-0"><p data-tooltip="Khadija Khartit is a strategy, investment, and funding expert, and an educator of fintech and strategic finance in top universities. She has been an investor, entrepreneur, and advisor for more than 25 years. She is a FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 license holder." data-inline-tooltip="true" data-tooltip-position-x="left" data-tooltip-position-y="top">Founded in 2013, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/moneylion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34686:1" rel="noopener">MoneyLion (ML US)</a> is a fintech company that provides lending, mobile banking, cash advances, financial advisory, and investment services including crypto trading to its users. The company aims to empower mobile banking and other financial products through machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies. Since its launch in 2013, MoneyLion has engaged with nearly 8.7 million users. </p></header><p data-tooltip="Khadija Khartit is a strategy, investment, and funding expert, and an educator of fintech and strategic finance in top universities. She has been an investor, entrepreneur, and advisor for more than 25 years. She is a FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 license holder." data-inline-tooltip="true" data-tooltip-position-x="left" data-tooltip-position-y="top">In February 2021,<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/mobile-bank-moneylion-go-public-via-blank-check-merger-29-bln-deal-2021-02-12/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> MoneyLion</a> agreed to go public through a merger with a blank-check firm Fusion Acquisition Corp <a href="https://www.reuters.com/companies/FUSE.N" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(FUSE.N)</a>, that would value the equity of the combined company at $2.9 billion. As of 26 October 2021, MoneyLion's market cap is $1.4 billion. MoneyLion completed its public listing on the NYSE in September 2021.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<h2>Valuation</h2>
<p>Our base case valuation of MoneyLion over the next year is $9.5 per share, which would be 59% higher than current share price. Our base case valuation is based on EV/S of 7.5x using our estimated sales of $257 million in 2022. We took a 10% discount to the company's guidance sales in 2022 to be more conservative. </p>
<p>The EV/S multiple of 7.5x is about 50% discount to the average EV/S multiple of its peers, which is mainly due to its lower operating margins and size effect. However, if the company is able to generate higher sales growth and more sizeable improvement to operating margins than its peers in the next several quarters, this valuation discount is likely to decline considerably. </p>
<p>Unlike in 2H 2020 to 1Q 2021 when there was a much positive sentiment on SPACs and SPAC related mergers, this sentiment has worsened considerably in the past six months. This is probably one of the reasons why the stock has taken such a beating since going public in the past month. We would argue that the fundamentals of the company is improving and the financial metrics of MoneyLion remain solid. Therefore, we would be a Buyer of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/moneylion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34686:1" rel="noopener">MoneyLion (ML US)</a> shares at current depressed levels.</p>
</div>

Founded in 2013, MoneyLion (ML US) is a fintech company that provides lending, mobile banking, cash advances, financial advisory, and investment services including crypto trading to its users. The company aims to empower mobile banking and other financial products through machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies. Since its launch in 2013, MoneyLion has engaged with nearly 8.7 million users. In February 2021, MoneyLion agreed to go public through a merger with a blank-check firm Fusion Acquisition Corp (FUSE.N), that would value the equity of the combined company at $2.9 billion. As of 26 October 2021, MoneyLion's market cap is $1.4 billion. MoneyLion completed its public listing on the NYSE in September 2021.
Valuation
Our base case valuation of MoneyLion over the next year is $9.5 per share, which would be 59% higher than current share price. Our base case valuation is based on EV/S of 7.5x using our estimated sales of $257 million in 2022. We took a 10% discount to the company's guidance sales in 2022 to be more conservative. 
The EV/S multiple of 7.5x is about 50% discount to the average EV/S multiple of its peers, which is mainly due to its lower operating margins and size effect. However, if the company is able to generate higher sales growth and more sizeable improvement to operating margins than its peers in the next several quarters, this valuation discount is likely to decline considerably. 
Unlike in 2H 2020 to 1Q 2021 when there was a much positive sentiment on SPACs and SPAC related mergers, this sentiment has worsened considerably in the past six months. This is probably one of the reasons why the stock has taken such a beating since going public in the past month. We would argue that the fundamentals of the company is improving and the financial metrics of MoneyLion remain solid. Therefore, we would be a Buyer of MoneyLion (ML US) shares at current depressed levels.


MoneyLion - An Oversold Fintech Stock Following a SPAC Merger

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

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/policybazaar-insurance-web-aggregator" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33470:1" rel="noopener">Policybazaar Insurance Web Aggregator (1569999D IN)</a>/PB Fintech operates the <em>Policybazaar</em> and <em>Paisabazaar</em> platforms in India. <em>Policybazaar</em> is India’s largest digital insurance marketplace with a 93.4% market share based on the number of policies sold in FY20, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. <em>Paisabazaar</em> is India’s largest digital consumer credit marketplace with a 51.4% market share, based on disbursals in FY20, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. PB Fintech’s shareholders include SoftBank Vision Fund, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, Tiger Global and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/info-edge-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14461:1" rel="noopener">Info Edge India (INFOE IN)</a>.   </p><p>PB Fintech is looking to raise Rs60.2 billion ($809 million) at an $5 billion valuation, according to press reports. The IPO comprises a primary raise of Rs37.5 billion and a secondary raise of Rs22.7 million. PB Fintech is also considering a pre-IPO placement of Rs7.5 billion in new shares. The pre-IPO placement amount will be deducted from the primary portion of the raise. </p><p>India has a highly underpenetrated insurance market due to financial illiteracy, lack of awareness of insurance, low household disposable income, complex products and inefficiencies in distribution system. Insurance penetration (premium as % of GDP) is at 3.8% in India as compared to the global average of 7.2%. However, online distribution channels are changing the insurance distribution landscape in India. A key enabler of online distribution are digital insurance marketplaces which account for 54% of the total online insurance market in FY20, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. </p><p><em>Policybazaar</em>, which is India’s largest digital consumer credit marketplace, is a direct play on the rising insurance penetration rates in India. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paytm-mobile-solutions-pvt-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26149:1" rel="noopener">Paytm (PAYTM IN)</a>, which also has an insurance marketplace amongst its various offerings, offers an alternative but less direct exposure to the Indian insurance market. We discussed the Paytm IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/paytm-ipo-initiation-a-payments-led-super-app" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:54983" rel="noopener">Paytm IPO Initiation: A Payments-Led Super-App</a>. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>PB Fintech operates an asset-light capital model and does not underwrite any insurance or retain any credit risk on loans. Due to its market-leading platforms, the business is well positioned to benefit from the post-COVID-19 recovery in insurance policies sales and loan disbursals by its partners. In July 2021, PB Fintech obtained an insurance brokerage license will allow <em>Policybazaar</em> to broaden its consumer reach through the offline channel. Helped by strong brand recognition and retention rates, the favourable unit economics also suggest that profitability is within reach. Overall, we think that PB Fintech has attractive fundamentals.</p></div>

Policybazaar Insurance Web Aggregator (1569999D IN)/PB Fintech operates the Policybazaar and Paisabazaar platforms in India. Policybazaar is India’s largest digital insurance marketplace with a 93.4% market share based on the number of policies sold in FY20, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. Paisabazaar is India’s largest digital consumer credit marketplace with a 51.4% market share, based on disbursals in FY20, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. PB Fintech’s shareholders include SoftBank Vision Fund, Tencent (700 HK), Tiger Global and Info Edge India (INFOE IN).   PB Fintech is looking to raise Rs60.2 billion ($809 million) at an $5 billion valuation, according to press reports. The IPO comprises a primary raise of Rs37.5 billion and a secondary raise of Rs22.7 million. PB Fintech is also considering a pre-IPO placement of Rs7.5 billion in new shares. The pre-IPO placement amount will be deducted from the primary portion of the raise. India has a highly underpenetrated insurance market due to financial illiteracy, lack of awareness of insurance, low household disposable income, complex products and inefficiencies in distribution system. Insurance penetration (premium as % of GDP) is at 3.8% in India as compared to the global average of 7.2%. However, online distribution channels are changing the insurance distribution landscape in India. A key enabler of online distribution are digital insurance marketplaces which account for 54% of the total online insurance market in FY20, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. Policybazaar, which is India’s largest digital consumer credit marketplace, is a direct play on the rising insurance penetration rates in India. Paytm (PAYTM IN), which also has an insurance marketplace amongst its various offerings, offers an alternative but less direct exposure to the Indian insurance market. We discussed the Paytm IPO in Paytm IPO Initiation: A Payments-Led Super-App. PB Fintech operates an asset-light capital model and does not underwrite any insurance or retain any credit risk on loans. Due to its market-leading platforms, the business is well positioned to benefit from the post-COVID-19 recovery in insurance policies sales and loan disbursals by its partners. In July 2021, PB Fintech obtained an insurance brokerage license will allow Policybazaar to broaden its consumer reach through the offline channel. Helped by strong brand recognition and retention rates, the favourable unit economics also suggest that profitability is within reach. Overall, we think that PB Fintech has attractive fundamentals.

PB Fintech (Policybazaar) IPO Initiation: Insurance Policy

<div class="content-highlight">
<div style="text-align: start;">Our base case valuation of Kakao Pay is an implied market cap of 12.1 trillion won or 89,335 won per share.</div>
<div style="text-align: start;"></div>
<ul>
<li>Our base case valuation is based on 10.7x EV/Sales multiple and applying this to our estimated sales of 954 billion won in 2022.</li>
<li>The EV/S multiple of 10.7x is based on the median valuation multiple of the comps in 2022.</li>
</ul>
<p>The IPO price range is from 63,000 won to 96,000 won. If the IPO is priced near the high end of the IPO price range, we would avoid this deal. <span>On the other hand, if the IPO is priced close to the low end of the IPO price range, we would be more comfortable with taking the deal.</span></p>
</div>


Our base case valuation of Kakao Pay is an implied market cap of 12.1 trillion won or 89,335 won per share.


Our base case valuation is based on 10.7x EV/Sales multiple and applying this to our estimated sales of 954 billion won in 2022.
The EV/S multiple of 10.7x is based on the median valuation multiple of the comps in 2022.

The IPO price range is from 63,000 won to 96,000 won. If the IPO is priced near the high end of the IPO price range, we would avoid this deal. On the other hand, if the IPO is priced close to the low end of the IPO price range, we would be more comfortable with taking the deal.


<div>Our base case value of Waterdrop is $4.6 billion or $11 per share. This is essentially at the mid-point of the IPO valuation range. Given the limited upside, we would pass on this IPO deal.</div><div></div><div>Our valuation of $4.6 billion is based on EV/S multiple of 5.8x using our estimated sales of $670 million (4.3 billion RMB) in 2021. Our EV/S multiple of 5.8x is based on the median valuation multiple of our comparable companies in 2021. This valuation multiple is also close to the average EV/S multiple of 6.1x for the two China online insurance/healthcare related stocks including ZhongAn Online P&amp;C insurance and Ping An Good Doctor. According to our valuation sensitivity analysis, the IPO valuation ranges from $8.4 per share to $13.9 per share. </div><div></div><div>Given that the mutual aid platform has been one of the key generators of user traffic, discontinuing this operation would result in a major change in the company's business operations and its ability to generate sufficient sales and customers growth. As such, we believe this is a major risk factor for the company. </div>

Our base case value of Waterdrop is $4.6 billion or $11 per share. This is essentially at the mid-point of the IPO valuation range. Given the limited upside, we would pass on this IPO deal.Our valuation of $4.6 billion is based on EV/S multiple of 5.8x using our estimated sales of $670 million (4.3 billion RMB) in 2021. Our EV/S multiple of 5.8x is based on the median valuation multiple of our comparable companies in 2021. This valuation multiple is also close to the average EV/S multiple of 6.1x for the two China online insurance/healthcare related stocks including ZhongAn Online P&amp;C insurance and Ping An Good Doctor. According to our valuation sensitivity analysis, the IPO valuation ranges from $8.4 per share to $13.9 per share. Given that the mutual aid platform has been one of the key generators of user traffic, discontinuing this operation would result in a major change in the company's business operations and its ability to generate sufficient sales and customers growth. As such, we believe this is a major risk factor for the company. 

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/waterdrop-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33018:1" rel="noopener">Waterdrop Inc (WDH US)</a> is the largest independent third-party insurance platform in China as measured by life and health insurance first-year premiums (FYP) distributed in 2020, according to iResearch. Waterdrop 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/swiss-re-ag-1f83dcbc-730e-46fa-82f2-bfe7e8e361a1" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27914:1" rel="noopener">Swiss Re AG (SREN SW)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>.</p></div><div><p>At the mid-point of the proposed IPO price range of $10.00-12.00 per ADS, Waterdrop will have a market cap of $4.3 billion. At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are $301.6 million. New and existing shareholders have indicated on $210 million of the IPO, including Boyu Capital ($100 million), HOPU Investments (at least $80 million), and Kevin Sunny Holding ($30 million). The indications of interest represent 63.6% of the ADSs on offer at the mid-point of the IPO price range.</p></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/waterdrop-ipo-initiation-going-for-brokers" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50610" rel="noopener">Waterdrop IPO Initiation: Going for Brokers</a>, we opined that as a leading online third-party insurance broker, Waterdrop is well-positioned to benefit from favourable industry trends. The key unknown is whether the changing regulations will throw a spanner in the works. Notwithstanding the regulatory overhang, we concluded that Waterdrop is worth a look. Our analysis suggests that the IPO price range is full at the high-end but has some upside at the low-end. </p></div></div></div>

Waterdrop Inc (WDH US) is the largest independent third-party insurance platform in China as measured by life and health insurance first-year premiums (FYP) distributed in 2020, according to iResearch. Waterdrop is backed by Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Swiss Re AG (SREN SW) and Meituan (3690 HK).At the mid-point of the proposed IPO price range of $10.00-12.00 per ADS, Waterdrop will have a market cap of $4.3 billion. At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are $301.6 million. New and existing shareholders have indicated on $210 million of the IPO, including Boyu Capital ($100 million), HOPU Investments (at least $80 million), and Kevin Sunny Holding ($30 million). The indications of interest represent 63.6% of the ADSs on offer at the mid-point of the IPO price range.In Waterdrop IPO Initiation: Going for Brokers, we opined that as a leading online third-party insurance broker, Waterdrop is well-positioned to benefit from favourable industry trends. The key unknown is whether the changing regulations will throw a spanner in the works. Notwithstanding the regulatory overhang, we concluded that Waterdrop is worth a look. Our analysis suggests that the IPO price range is full at the high-end but has some upside at the low-end. 

United States

Lemonade, Inc. operates as an insurance company. The Company offers artificial intelligence (AI) based technology for fire, property, liability, and other related insurance policy issuing and claim settlements. Lemonade serves customers in the United States.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Lemonade Inc (LMND US)

MoneyLion - An Oversold Fintech Stock Following a SPAC Merger

MoneyLion is an oversold fintech stock following a SPAC merger. Our base case valuation of MoneyLion over the next year is $9.5 per share, which...

Douglas Kim

PB Fintech (Policybazaar) IPO Initiation: Insurance Policy

PB Fintech (operates Policybazaar and Paisabazaar platforms) is looking to raise Rs60.2 billion ($809 million) through an IPO in India. Overall, we...

Arun George

Kakao Pay IPO Valuation Analysis

Our base case valuation of Kakao Pay is an implied market cap of 12.1 trillion won or 89,335 won per share, which is based on 10.7x EV/Sales...

Douglas Kim

Waterdrop IPO Valuation Analysis

Our base case value of Waterdrop is $4.6 billion or $11 per share. This is essentially at the mid-point of the IPO valuation range. Given the...

Douglas Kim

Waterdrop IPO: Valuation Insights

Waterdrop has launched its IPO to raise net proceeds of $301.6 million at the mid-point of the price range of $10-12. The price range is full at...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)