APAC IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Nicholas Tan

APAC 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.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chagee-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45011:1" rel="noopener">Chagee Holdings (CHA US)</a>  is planning to raise up to US$500m through its upcoming US IPO.</li>
<li>It is a leading premium tea drinks brand, serving healthy and delicious freshly-made tea drinks.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company’s past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we discuss latest industry dynamics, conduct a quick peer comparison and discuss the company’s valuation.</li>
</ul>



Chagee Holdings (CHA US)  is planning to raise up to US$500m through its upcoming US IPO.
It is a leading premium tea drinks brand, serving healthy and delicious freshly-made tea drinks.
We have looked at the company’s past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we discuss latest industry dynamics, conduct a quick peer comparison and discuss the company’s valuation.


Chagee IPO: Peer Comp and Thoughts on Valuation

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chagee-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45011:1" rel="noopener">Chagee Holdings (CHA US)</a>, a leading premium tea drinks brand, is seeking to raise US$400-500 million through a Nasdaq IPO.</li>
<li>In <em><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/chagee-holdings-cha-us-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:181653" rel="noopener">Chagee Holdings (CHA US) IPO: The Bull Case</a></strong></em>, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.</li>
<li>The bear case rests on unsustainable growth rates, pressure on KPIs, signs of margin pressure, increasing S&amp;M expenses and weakening forward growth indicators.</li>
</ul>



Chagee Holdings (CHA US), a leading premium tea drinks brand, is seeking to raise US$400-500 million through a Nasdaq IPO.
In Chagee Holdings (CHA US) IPO: The Bull Case, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.
The bear case rests on unsustainable growth rates, pressure on KPIs, signs of margin pressure, increasing S&amp;M expenses and weakening forward growth indicators.


Chagee Holdings (CHA US) IPO: The Bear Case

HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

<ul>
<li>Chagee adopts the "1+1+9+N" business model, which ensures the successful replication of the single store model. However, we saw performance decline in 2024, and future performance growth sustainability is uncertain.</li>
<li>In terms of valuation, comparable companies include Starbucks and MIXUE. We think valuation of Chagee should be lower than MIXUE and Starbucks as both have proved themselves in the industry.</li>
<li>Future growth would inevitably slow down. Investors may need more 'safety margins' on valuation because despite short-term strong demand, investors need to be alert to the performance validation after IPO.  </li>
</ul>


Chagee adopts the "1+1+9+N" business model, which ensures the successful replication of the single store model. However, we saw performance decline in 2024, and future performance growth sustainability is uncertain.
In terms of valuation, comparable companies include Starbucks and MIXUE. We think valuation of Chagee should be lower than MIXUE and Starbucks as both have proved themselves in the industry.
Future growth would inevitably slow down. Investors may need more 'safety margins' on valuation because despite short-term strong demand, investors need to be alert to the performance validation after IPO.  


Pre-IPO Chagee Holdings - The Business Model, the Concerns Behind and Valuation Outlook

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chagee-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45011:1" rel="noopener">Chagee Holdings (CHA US)</a>, a leading premium tea drinks brand, is seeking to raise US$400-500 million through a Nasdaq IPO. </li>
<li>According to iResearch, as of December 31, 2024, Chagee was the largest premium freshly made tea drink brand in China by the number of stores.</li>
<li>The bull case rests on a strong brand, leading market share, peer-leading revenue growth, top-tier profitability and cash generation.   </li>
</ul>



Chagee Holdings (CHA US), a leading premium tea drinks brand, is seeking to raise US$400-500 million through a Nasdaq IPO. 
According to iResearch, as of December 31, 2024, Chagee was the largest premium freshly made tea drink brand in China by the number of stores.
The bull case rests on a strong brand, leading market share, peer-leading revenue growth, top-tier profitability and cash generation.   


Chagee Holdings (CHA US) IPO: The Bull Case

<ul>
<li>MIXUE’s valuation should be higher than peers such as Guming and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sichuan-baicha-baidao-industrial-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40029:1" rel="noopener">Baicha Baidao Industrial</a>. A comfortable valuation range is 18-20 P/E, higher than peers. So, the IPO pricing is attractive.</li>
<li>2024 full-year net profit is HK$4.8 billion.Net profit could reach HK$5.7 billion (up 19% YoY), HK$6.6 billion (up 16% YoY), HK$7.6 billion (up 15% YoY) in 2025, 2026, 2027, respectively. </li>
<li>Since Nongfu Spring’s revenue scale/net profit margin is higher than MIXUE, MIXUE’s valuation should be lower than Nongfu Spring. Investors need to be alert to the post-IPO performance growth pressure.</li>
</ul>


MIXUE’s valuation should be higher than peers such as Guming and Baicha Baidao Industrial. A comfortable valuation range is 18-20 P/E, higher than peers. So, the IPO pricing is attractive.
2024 full-year net profit is HK$4.8 billion.Net profit could reach HK$5.7 billion (up 19% YoY), HK$6.6 billion (up 16% YoY), HK$7.6 billion (up 15% YoY) in 2025, 2026, 2027, respectively. 
Since Nongfu Spring’s revenue scale/net profit margin is higher than MIXUE, MIXUE’s valuation should be lower than Nongfu Spring. Investors need to be alert to the post-IPO performance growth pressure.


Pre-IPO MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - The IPO Is Attractively Priced

China

Naisnow, formerly Nayuki Holdings Ltd., is an investment holding company that operates a chain of teahouses in the People's Republic of China. It sells freshly made tea drinks, baked goods, and other products under its flagship brand Nayuki and sub-brand Tai Gai. The company also provides store operations management, supply chain management, and franchise operations. Nayuki Holdings Limited was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, the People's Republic of China.

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

Naisnow (2150 HK)

Chagee IPO: Peer Comp and Thoughts on Valuation

Chagee, a leading premium tea drinks brand, is planning to raise up to US$500m through its upcoming US IPO. In this note, we discuss the company's...

Nicholas Tan

Chagee Holdings (CHA US) IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on unsustainable growth rates, pressure on KPIs, signs of margin pressure, increasing S&M expenses and weakening forward growth...

Arun George

Pre-IPO Chagee Holdings - The Business Model, the Concerns Behind and Valuation Outlook

Chagee's "1+1+9+N" model face uncertain future growth and should be valued lower than peers.Due to concerns, investors need more safety margins on...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Chagee Holdings (CHA US) IPO: The Bull Case

The bull case rests on a strong brand, leading market share, peer-leading revenue growth, top-tier profitability and cash generation.

Arun George

Pre-IPO MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - The IPO Is Attractively Priced

MIXUE's IPO debut was stellar.By March 3, market value was over HK$100 billion, higher than HK$86.4-96 billion range as analyzed in insight. P/E...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Chagee IPO: Peer Comp and Thoughts on Valuation

Chagee, a leading premium tea drinks brand, is planning to raise up to US$500m through its upcoming US IPO. In this note, we discuss the company's...

Nicholas Tan

Chagee Holdings (CHA US) IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on unsustainable growth rates, pressure on KPIs, signs of margin pressure, increasing S&M expenses and weakening forward growth...

Arun George

Pre-IPO Chagee Holdings - The Business Model, the Concerns Behind and Valuation Outlook

​Chagee's "1+1+9+N" model face uncertain future growth and should be valued lower than peers.Due to concerns, investors need more safety margins on...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Chagee Holdings (CHA US) IPO: The Bull Case

The bull case rests on a strong brand, leading market share, peer-leading revenue growth, top-tier profitability and cash generation.

Arun George

Pre-IPO MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - The IPO Is Attractively Priced

MIXUE's IPO debut was stellar.By March 3, market value was over HK$100 billion, higher than HK$86.4-96 billion range as analyzed in insight. P/E...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Chagee's "1+1+9+N" model face uncertain future growth and should be valued lower than peers.Due to concerns, investors need more safety margins on...