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.

Event-Driven

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rlx-technology-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31113:1" rel="noopener">RLX Technology Inc (RLX US) </a>raised around US$1.4bn in its US listing in Jan 2021. RLX was the largest branded e-vapor company in China with a market share of closed-system e-vapor products in terms of retail sales value. RLX only sells its e-vapor products in China.</p><p>While the company didn’t have cornerstone investors in the deal, it did have a lot of pre-IPO investors. The lock-up will expire over the next few days.</p><div><p>Links to our previous notes:</p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rlx-technology-pre-ipo-the-positives-fast-growth-low-penetration" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:46797" rel="noopener">RLX Technology Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Low Penetration</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rlx-technology-pre-ipo-the-negatives-limited-track-record-and-missing-international-ops" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:46836" rel="noopener">RLX Technology Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Limited Track Record, and Missing International Ops</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rlx-technology-pre-ipo-rlx-store-visits-to-relx-and-its-competitors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RLX Technology Pre-IPO (RLX): Store Visits to Relx and Its Competitors</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rlx-technology-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-and-valuation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RLX Technology Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison and Valuation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rlx-technology-ipo-valuation-has-more-than-doubled-in-two-months" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RLX Technology IPO - Valuation Has More than Doubled in Two Months</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rlx-tech-rlx-stock-down-48-after-amendment-to-tobacco-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RLX Tech (RLX): Stock Down 48% After Amendment to Tobacco Law</a></li>
</ul></div>

RLX Technology Inc (RLX US) raised around US$1.4bn in its US listing in Jan 2021. RLX was the largest branded e-vapor company in China with a market share of closed-system e-vapor products in terms of retail sales value. RLX only sells its e-vapor products in China.While the company didn’t have cornerstone investors in the deal, it did have a lot of pre-IPO investors. The lock-up will expire over the next few days.Links to our previous notes:

RLX Technology Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Low Penetration 
RLX Technology Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Limited Track Record, and Missing International Ops
RLX Technology Pre-IPO (RLX): Store Visits to Relx and Its Competitors
RLX Technology Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison and Valuation
RLX Technology IPO - Valuation Has More than Doubled in Two Months
RLX Tech (RLX): Stock Down 48% After Amendment to Tobacco Law


RLX Lock-Up Expiry- Stung by Regulation, What Early Investors Do Will Be Telling, >US$1bn Comes Free

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Mega cap tech stocks rarely underperform the market to the same extent as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> during the last seven months, especially with no deterioration in earnings growth potential.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/217/249/original/image_11147906721625671618744.png?1625671621" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="217249"></figure><div class="content-caption"><em>Source: Cap IQ</em></div><p>After trading sideways during May/June 2021, technicals were pointing the right way for the very first time for Alibaba in 2021.</p><p>The stock rallied by 10% in the last week of June to $229.4 per share, causing most of us to assume that Alibaba was making a comeback.</p><p>Unfortunately, the joy lasted just a short time, as Xi Jinping’s government went back on the offence with a broadened crackdown on tech platforms, especially the US-listed Chinese tech companies like the recent ride sharing IPO <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US)</a>.</p><p>After underperforming the S&amp;P for almost seven months, most Chinese technology stocks, especially Alibaba, seem very cheap, but it is not cheap enough to call it a bottom amidst ongoing regulatory crackdowns and the geopolitical rivalry between the US and China. As such, we would not rush to buy any dips and recommend that we wait till the rally well and truly begins.</p>

Mega cap tech stocks rarely underperform the market to the same extent as Alibaba Group (9988 HK) during the last seven months, especially with no deterioration in earnings growth potential.Source: Cap IQAfter trading sideways during May/June 2021, technicals were pointing the right way for the very first time for Alibaba in 2021.The stock rallied by 10% in the last week of June to $229.4 per share, causing most of us to assume that Alibaba was making a comeback.Unfortunately, the joy lasted just a short time, as Xi Jinping’s government went back on the offence with a broadened crackdown on tech platforms, especially the US-listed Chinese tech companies like the recent ride sharing IPO DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US).After underperforming the S&amp;P for almost seven months, most Chinese technology stocks, especially Alibaba, seem very cheap, but it is not cheap enough to call it a bottom amidst ongoing regulatory crackdowns and the geopolitical rivalry between the US and China. As such, we would not rush to buy any dips and recommend that we wait till the rally well and truly begins.

Equity Capital Markets

<p>In our previous note <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-adrs-kanzhun-full-truck-and-didi-regulators-sending-a-message" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China ADRs - Kanzhun, Full Truck and Didi - Regulators Sending a Message,</a> we spoke about the recent crackdown on the three US listed firms. Since then more news has been coming in along the same theme of a general crackdown on overseas listings for Chinese companies. </p>
<div>
<p>We have looked at the ADRs in the past, in our previous notes:</p>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-adrs-secondary-listing-deep-dive-yin-and-yang" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China ADRs Secondary Listing Deep-Dive: Yin and Yang,</a> published in Feb 2020,  we looked at the background and rules around undertaking a secondary listing in Hong Kong and then came up with a short-list of companies that might undertake a secondary listing. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-adrs-secondary-listing-covid-19-has-increased-the-tension-but-narrowed-the-short-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In China ADRs Secondary Listing: COVID-19 Has Increased the Tension but Narrowed the Short List</a> published in May 2020, we looked at the recent developments and provided an revised short-list</li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-adrs-secondary-listing-holding-foreign-companies-accountable-act-i-m-coming-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China ADRs Secondary Listing - Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act - I’m Coming Home</a>, published in May 2020, we spoke about the implication of the act which had made its way through the senate.</li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-adrs-secondary-listing-pipeline-looks-rich-have-three-years-to-move" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China ADRs Secondary Listing - Pipeline Looks Rich, Have Three Years to Move</a>, published in Feb 2021 we looked at the ADR pipeline and spoke about the updates from the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act becoming law and the updates at Hong Kong end as well. </li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-adrs-sec-notice-instead-of-three-probably-have-four-years-till-2025-correction-overdone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China ADRs - SEC Notice - Instead of Three, Probably Have Four Years till 2025 - Correction Overdone, </a> we spoke about the new SEC notice and its implications. </li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-adrs-a-new-act-aims-to-put-an-end-to-china-adr-ipos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China ADRs - A New Act Aims to Put an End to China ADR IPOs</a>, we spoke about the No IPOs for Unaccountable Actors Act, which aims to prohibit IPO on U.S. exchanges for Chinese companies. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>In this note, we'll talk about the implications of the recent China regulatory announcements.</p>
</div>

In our previous note China ADRs - Kanzhun, Full Truck and Didi - Regulators Sending a Message, we spoke about the recent crackdown on the three US listed firms. Since then more news has been coming in along the same theme of a general crackdown on overseas listings for Chinese companies. 

We have looked at the ADRs in the past, in our previous notes:




China ADRs Secondary Listing Deep-Dive: Yin and Yang, published in Feb 2020,  we looked at the background and rules around undertaking a secondary listing in Hong Kong and then came up with a short-list of companies that might undertake a secondary listing. 

In China ADRs Secondary Listing: COVID-19 Has Increased the Tension but Narrowed the Short List published in May 2020, we looked at the recent developments and provided an revised short-list
In China ADRs Secondary Listing - Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act - I’m Coming Home, published in May 2020, we spoke about the implication of the act which had made its way through the senate.
In China ADRs Secondary Listing - Pipeline Looks Rich, Have Three Years to Move, published in Feb 2021 we looked at the ADR pipeline and spoke about the updates from the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act becoming law and the updates at Hong Kong end as well. 
In China ADRs - SEC Notice - Instead of Three, Probably Have Four Years till 2025 - Correction Overdone,  we spoke about the new SEC notice and its implications. 
In China ADRs - A New Act Aims to Put an End to China ADR IPOs, we spoke about the No IPOs for Unaccountable Actors Act, which aims to prohibit IPO on U.S. exchanges for Chinese companies. 



In this note, we'll talk about the implications of the recent China regulatory announcements.


China ADRs - Now the Message Is Loud and Getting Clearer

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xpeng-motors" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29217:1" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors (XPEV US)</a> raised around US$2bn via a listing in Hong Kong. In this note, we will talk about the trading dynamics and the updates since our last note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xpeng-motors-hk-listing-will-probably-be-hot-given-strong-momentum-but-past-deal-didn-t-do-well" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors HK Listing - Will Probably Be Hot Given Strong Momentum but past Deal Didn’t Do Well.</a></p>
</div>
<div>
<p>We have covered the IPO in:</p>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xpeng-motors-pre-ipo-lots-to-like-with-solid-backing-from-investors" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42126" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Pre-IPO - Lots to like with Solid Backing from Investors</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xpeng-motors-visited-a-store-fairly-priced-but-with-recharging-problem" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42283" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车): Visited a Store, Fairly Priced, But with Recharging Problem</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xpeng-motors-pre-ipo-car-comparison-and-p7-performance-test" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42386" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Pre-IPO - Car Comparison and P7 Performance Test</a></li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xpeng-motors-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-and-valuation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42389" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison and Valuation</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xpeng-ipo-riding-the-momentum" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42503" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) IPO - Riding the Momentum</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xpeng-motors-trading-nio-leading-the-charge" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42616" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Trading - NIO Leading the Charge</a> </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>And the previous placement in:</p>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xpeng-motors-placement-level-the-playing-field" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Placement - Level the Playing Field</a></li>
</ul>
</div>


Xpeng Motors (XPEV US) raised around US$2bn via a listing in Hong Kong. In this note, we will talk about the trading dynamics and the updates since our last note, Xpeng Motors HK Listing - Will Probably Be Hot Given Strong Momentum but past Deal Didn’t Do Well.


We have covered the IPO in:




Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Pre-IPO - Lots to like with Solid Backing from Investors 

Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车): Visited a Store, Fairly Priced, But with Recharging Problem 
Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Pre-IPO - Car Comparison and P7 Performance Test

Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison and Valuation 

Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) IPO - Riding the Momentum 

Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Trading - NIO Leading the Charge 



And the previous placement in:



Xpeng Motors (小鹏汽车) Placement - Level the Playing Field



Xpeng Motors HK Trading - More Hot with Instis that Retail

Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

<p>Well, that sure escalated quickly.</p><p>Early last week, in the Insight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/pre-ipo-esg-analysis-didi-s-exemplary-esg-achievements-eclipsed-by-regulatory-risks-and-uncertainty" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53687" rel="noopener">Pre-IPO ESG Analysis: DiDi's Exemplary ESG Achievements Eclipsed By Regulatory Risks and Uncertainty</a>, I juxtaposed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi's (DIDI US)</a> relatively strong ESG results in areas under its control with serious concerns about regulatory risk outside of its direct control.</p><p>Late last week, days after DiDi's successful US$4.4 billion initial public offering, Chinese regulators ordered the removal of DiDi's business-critical ride-hailing apps from online app markets, until the company rectifies "serious violations" pertaining to collection and use of customer data.</p><p>DiDi is down 5.3% so far (delayed open today).</p><p>Regulatory risk was central to my thesis in the first Insight. I hardly anticipated this, but I referred to regulatory risk as real, near-term, tangible investment risk; not just some fuzzy ESG risk. Given that, I felt obliged to follow up. At the same time, however, this news is covered <em>ad nauseam.</em></p><p>No sense in beating a dead horse with a broken record.</p><p>So, I decided to do something different. That statement about regulatory risk being a real tangible investment risk is primarily based on anecdotal evidence – i.e., when regulators flex their muscle, stocks go down, not up. But "anecdotal" isn't good enough.</p><p>Which is why I took this opportunity to quantify the impacts of adverse regulatory events in China. Specifically, with event studies measuring abnormal returns around major regulatory events across four broad categories. That's what most of this Insight is about. But back to DiDi for a moment.</p><p>Regulatory risk and uncertainty for DiDi is much worse today than it was last week. Typically, the opposite would be true; a negative event out in the open is better than a possible event lurking in the shadows. But not this time. Barring an immediate change of heart by the PRC, this is bad.</p><p>Therefore, downgrading to bearish.</p>

Well, that sure escalated quickly.Early last week, in the Insight Pre-IPO ESG Analysis: DiDi's Exemplary ESG Achievements Eclipsed By Regulatory Risks and Uncertainty, I juxtaposed DiDi's (DIDI US) relatively strong ESG results in areas under its control with serious concerns about regulatory risk outside of its direct control.Late last week, days after DiDi's successful US$4.4 billion initial public offering, Chinese regulators ordered the removal of DiDi's business-critical ride-hailing apps from online app markets, until the company rectifies "serious violations" pertaining to collection and use of customer data.DiDi is down 5.3% so far (delayed open today).Regulatory risk was central to my thesis in the first Insight. I hardly anticipated this, but I referred to regulatory risk as real, near-term, tangible investment risk; not just some fuzzy ESG risk. Given that, I felt obliged to follow up. At the same time, however, this news is covered ad nauseam.No sense in beating a dead horse with a broken record.So, I decided to do something different. That statement about regulatory risk being a real tangible investment risk is primarily based on anecdotal evidence – i.e., when regulators flex their muscle, stocks go down, not up. But "anecdotal" isn't good enough.Which is why I took this opportunity to quantify the impacts of adverse regulatory events in China. Specifically, with event studies measuring abnormal returns around major regulatory events across four broad categories. That's what most of this Insight is about. But back to DiDi for a moment.Regulatory risk and uncertainty for DiDi is much worse today than it was last week. Typically, the opposite would be true; a negative event out in the open is better than a possible event lurking in the shadows. But not this time. Barring an immediate change of heart by the PRC, this is bad.Therefore, downgrading to bearish.

PRC Shows DiDi Who's Boss: An Analysis of Adverse Regulatory Events on Stock Prices

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)

RLX Lock-Up Expiry- Stung by Regulation, What Early Investors Do Will Be Telling, >US$1bn Comes Free

RLX Technology Inc (RLX US) raised around US$1.4bn in its US listing in Jan 2021.RLX sells e-vapor products in China. The lock-up will expire over...

Sumeet Singh

Alibaba: Still Too Risky to Own

Mega cap tech stocks rarely underperform the market to the same extent as Alibaba during the last seven months, especially with no deterioration in...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

China ADRs - Now the Message Is Loud and Getting Clearer

In our previous note we spoke about the recent crackdown on the three US listed firms. Since then more news has been coming in along the same theme...

Sumeet Singh

Xpeng Motors HK Trading - More Hot with Instis that Retail

Xpeng Motors (XPEV US) raised around US$2bn via a listing in Hong Kong. In this note, we will talk about the trading dynamics and the updates since...

Sumeet Singh

PRC Shows DiDi Who's Boss: An Analysis of Adverse Regulatory Events on Stock Prices

Last week, I wrote about DiDi's regulatory risk. This week, it's worse. Hence the downgrade. But this is mostly an analysis of how regulatory...

Kyle Rudden

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