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.

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> , the largest product e-commerce player in Korea, aims to raise around US$3bn in its US listing via a mix of selling primary and secondary shares. As per media reports, the company has earlier obtained investments from Sequoia, Softbank, Blackrock and Fidelity.</p></div><div><p>Coupang offers its 14.8m customers a wide range of owned-inventory selection. In addition, on its marketplace it also offers millions of SKUs sourced from over 200,000 merchants. Apart from normal e-commerce operation, it also provides its customers with: grocery offering, Rocket Fresh; logistics food delivery offering, Coupang Eats; and digital financial services, Coupang Pay.</p></div><p>In my earlier insight,  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-pre-ipo-the-positives-fast-growth-sticky-customers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coupang Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Sticky Customers</a>, I spoke about the positive aspects of the deal. In this insight, I'll talk about the not so pleasing aspects of the deal.</p>

Coupang (CPNG US) , the largest product e-commerce player in Korea, aims to raise around US$3bn in its US listing via a mix of selling primary and secondary shares. As per media reports, the company has earlier obtained investments from Sequoia, Softbank, Blackrock and Fidelity.Coupang offers its 14.8m customers a wide range of owned-inventory selection. In addition, on its marketplace it also offers millions of SKUs sourced from over 200,000 merchants. Apart from normal e-commerce operation, it also provides its customers with: grocery offering, Rocket Fresh; logistics food delivery offering, Coupang Eats; and digital financial services, Coupang Pay.In my earlier insight,  Coupang Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Sticky Customers, I spoke about the positive aspects of the deal. In this insight, I'll talk about the not so pleasing aspects of the deal.

Coupang Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Horrendous Data Disclosures, Including No Mention of OTT Launch

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 $12.0bn in annual revenue, filed for an NYSE IPO under the ticker “CPNG” with a placeholder value of $1.0bn.</p><p>Coupang is fundamentally different from other e-commerce companies as it generates around 92.2% of the total revenue from the owned inventory segment. The company’s COGS is over 83% of revenue compared to marketplace players like <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>’s 57% and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)</a>’s 22%. Inherently, Coupang is incapable of generating gross margins comparable with e-commerce marketspace players due to its dependence on own inventory sales.</p><p>Around 29% of South Korea’s total population is active Coupang customers, yet the company made an operating loss of $528m in 2020. Moreover, the company’s revenue increased 91% YoY in 2020 to $12.0bn driven by 25.9% YoY and 59% YoY active customer growth and revenue per active customer growth respectively. However, 2020 operating loss declined just $116m. It is an indication that Coupang’s margin expansion potential is greatly exhausted.</p><p>There is significant revenue growth potential in Coupang. However, we don’t expect revenue growth to translate into profits. Thus, the $50.0bn valuation suggested by various media reports seems extremely optimistic.</p>

Coupang (CPNG US), the largest e-commerce company in South Korea with $12.0bn in annual revenue, filed for an NYSE IPO under the ticker “CPNG” with a placeholder value of $1.0bn.Coupang is fundamentally different from other e-commerce companies as it generates around 92.2% of the total revenue from the owned inventory segment. The company’s COGS is over 83% of revenue compared to marketplace players like Alibaba Group (BABA US)’s 57% and Pinduoduo (PDD US)’s 22%. Inherently, Coupang is incapable of generating gross margins comparable with e-commerce marketspace players due to its dependence on own inventory sales.Around 29% of South Korea’s total population is active Coupang customers, yet the company made an operating loss of $528m in 2020. Moreover, the company’s revenue increased 91% YoY in 2020 to $12.0bn driven by 25.9% YoY and 59% YoY active customer growth and revenue per active customer growth respectively. However, 2020 operating loss declined just $116m. It is an indication that Coupang’s margin expansion potential is greatly exhausted.There is significant revenue growth potential in Coupang. However, we don’t expect revenue growth to translate into profits. Thus, the $50.0bn valuation suggested by various media reports seems extremely optimistic.

<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 product e-commerce player in Korea, aims to raise around US$3bn in its US listing via a mix of selling primary and secondary shares. As per media reports, the company has earlier obtained investments from Sequoia, Softbank, Blackrock and Fidelity.</p><p>Coupang offers its 14.8m customers a wide range of owned-inventory selection. In addition, on its marketplace it also offers millions of SKUs sourced from over 200,000 merchants. Apart from normal e-commerce operation, it also provides its customers with: grocery offering, Rocket Fresh; logistics food delivery offering, Coupang Eats; and digital financial services, Coupang Pay.</p><p>In this insight, we'll talk about the positive aspects of the deal.</p>

Coupang (CPNG US) , the largest product e-commerce player in Korea, aims to raise around US$3bn in its US listing via a mix of selling primary and secondary shares. As per media reports, the company has earlier obtained investments from Sequoia, Softbank, Blackrock and Fidelity.Coupang offers its 14.8m customers a wide range of owned-inventory selection. In addition, on its marketplace it also offers millions of SKUs sourced from over 200,000 merchants. Apart from normal e-commerce operation, it also provides its customers with: grocery offering, Rocket Fresh; logistics food delivery offering, Coupang Eats; and digital financial services, Coupang Pay.In this insight, we'll talk about the positive aspects of the deal.

Coupang Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Sticky Customers

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/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.

<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

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 Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Horrendous Data Disclosures, Including No Mention of OTT Launch

Coupang (CPNG US) , the largest product e-commerce player in Korea, aims to raise around US$3bn in its US listing via a mix of selling primary and...

Sumeet Singh

Coupang IPO: Lacks Margin Upside

Coupang is not the typical e-commerce company that enjoys margin expansion with volume and revenue growth. The company’s revenue increased 91% YoY...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Coupang Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Sticky Customers

Coupang (CPNG US) , the largest product e-commerce player in Korea, aims to raise around US$3bn in its US listing via a mix of selling primary and...

Sumeet Singh

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

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