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/foru-worldwide-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33314:1" rel="noopener">Foru Worldwide (FOYO US)</a> is the largest technology-driven road freight transportation platform in China as measured by revenue in 2020, according to CIC. ForU claims to have fully digitalized every step of freight transportation by offering a Freight-as-a-Service (FaaS) service to shippers. ForU is seeking to raise $500 million through a Nasdaq listing, according to press reports. ForU is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (2618 HK)</a> which owns 6.3% of the outstanding shares. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>At first sight, ForU recent results look stunning due to fast-paced growth and declining loss margin. However, a closer look, suggests that the business faces several challenges and the financials on a normalised basis appears to be middling at best. Overall, we are inclined to give the ForU IPO a pass.    </p></div><p>As an aside, for readers interested in the upcoming JD Logistics IPO, we highlight some of our coverage - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-initiation-the-flow-of-things" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48279" rel="noopener">JD Logistics IPO Initiation: The Flow of Things</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-valuation-insights" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51524" rel="noopener">JD Logistics IPO: Valuation Insights</a>. </p>

Foru Worldwide (FOYO US) is the largest technology-driven road freight transportation platform in China as measured by revenue in 2020, according to CIC. ForU claims to have fully digitalized every step of freight transportation by offering a Freight-as-a-Service (FaaS) service to shippers. ForU is seeking to raise $500 million through a Nasdaq listing, according to press reports. ForU is backed by JD Logistics (2618 HK) which owns 6.3% of the outstanding shares. At first sight, ForU recent results look stunning due to fast-paced growth and declining loss margin. However, a closer look, suggests that the business faces several challenges and the financials on a normalised basis appears to be middling at best. Overall, we are inclined to give the ForU IPO a pass.    As an aside, for readers interested in the upcoming JD Logistics IPO, we highlight some of our coverage - JD Logistics IPO Initiation: The Flow of Things and JD Logistics IPO: Valuation Insights. 

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (2618 HK)</a> is the largest player in China’s integrated supply chain logistics services market, with a 2.2% revenue market share in 2019, according to CIC. At the mid-point of the IPO price range of HK$39.36-43.36 per share, the net proceeds are HK$24,713 million ($3.2 billion). JD Logistics will price its IPO this Friday (21 May). The offer has received a strong reception, with the retail offer oversubscribed 200x and the international offer fully subscribed, according to press reports. </p></div><div><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-prioritizing-market-share-gains-over-margins" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50976" rel="noopener">JD Logistics IPO: Prioritizing Market Share Gains over Margins</a>, we noted that the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments underscore the positives which are strong growth, rising margin and cash generation. However, the outlook is mixed as JD Logistics cautions that it will pursue market share gains at the cost of profitability over the medium term. We opined that JD Logistics has the right ingredients to ride out the industry’s current price-competitive dynamics and deliver good shareholder returns over the medium term. </p></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-valuation-insights" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51524" rel="noopener">JD Logistics IPO: Valuation Insights</a>, we noted that the IPO price range is attractive, particularly in the context of JD Logistics' positioning and higher than peers forecasted growth. In this note, we present our base-case DCF valuation and present a valuation sensitivity analysis around market share and margin forecasts. </p></div></div></div>

JD Logistics (2618 HK) is the largest player in China’s integrated supply chain logistics services market, with a 2.2% revenue market share in 2019, according to CIC. At the mid-point of the IPO price range of HK$39.36-43.36 per share, the net proceeds are HK$24,713 million ($3.2 billion). JD Logistics will price its IPO this Friday (21 May). The offer has received a strong reception, with the retail offer oversubscribed 200x and the international offer fully subscribed, according to press reports. In JD Logistics IPO: Prioritizing Market Share Gains over Margins, we noted that the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments underscore the positives which are strong growth, rising margin and cash generation. However, the outlook is mixed as JD Logistics cautions that it will pursue market share gains at the cost of profitability over the medium term. We opined that JD Logistics has the right ingredients to ride out the industry’s current price-competitive dynamics and deliver good shareholder returns over the medium term. In JD Logistics IPO: Valuation Insights, we noted that the IPO price range is attractive, particularly in the context of JD Logistics' positioning and higher than peers forecasted growth. In this note, we present our base-case DCF valuation and present a valuation sensitivity analysis around market share and margin forecasts. 

JD Logistics IPO: Valuation Scenario Analysis

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (2618 HK)</a> is the largest player in China’s integrated supply chain logistics services market, with a 2.2% revenue market share in 2019, according to CIC. JD Logistics was founded with the formation of <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>’s in-house logistics department in 2007.</p></div><div><p>At the proposed IPO price range of HK$39.36-43.36 per share, JD Logistics will have a market cap of HK$239,766-264,132 million ($30.9-34.0 billion). At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are HK$24,713 million ($3.2 billion). Seven cornerstone investors will purchase $1.5 billion worth of the offer shares (47.16% of the offer shares at the mid-point of the IPO price range). The cornerstone investors are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>, Temasek, Tiger Global, China Structural Reform Fund, Blackstone,  Matthews Funds and Oaktree. </p></div><div><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-initiation-the-flow-of-things" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48279" rel="noopener">JD Logistics IPO Initiation: The Flow of Things</a>, we stated that JD Logistics is an indirect play on the shift of some customer behaviour permanently to online shopping, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods. We concluded that JD Logistics fundamentals are attractive and it remains well-placed to address consumers demand faster and more flexible supply chain logistics services.</p></div><div><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-prioritizing-market-share-gains-over-margins" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50976" rel="noopener">JD Logistics IPO: Prioritizing Market Share Gains over Margins</a>,  we noted that the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments underscore the positives which are strong growth, rising margin and cash generation. However, the outlook is mixed as JD Logistics cautions that it will pursue market share gains at the cost of profitability over the medium term. We opined that JD Logistics has the right ingredients to ride out the industry’s current price-competitive dynamics and deliver good shareholder returns over the medium term. </p></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>Overall, based on valuation analysis, we think that the IPO price range is attractive, particularly in the context of JD Logistics' positioning and higher than peers forecasted growth. </p></div></div></div>

JD Logistics (2618 HK) is the largest player in China’s integrated supply chain logistics services market, with a 2.2% revenue market share in 2019, according to CIC. JD Logistics was founded with the formation of JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)’s in-house logistics department in 2007.At the proposed IPO price range of HK$39.36-43.36 per share, JD Logistics will have a market cap of HK$239,766-264,132 million ($30.9-34.0 billion). At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are HK$24,713 million ($3.2 billion). Seven cornerstone investors will purchase $1.5 billion worth of the offer shares (47.16% of the offer shares at the mid-point of the IPO price range). The cornerstone investors are Softbank Group (9984 JP), Temasek, Tiger Global, China Structural Reform Fund, Blackstone,  Matthews Funds and Oaktree. In JD Logistics IPO Initiation: The Flow of Things, we stated that JD Logistics is an indirect play on the shift of some customer behaviour permanently to online shopping, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods. We concluded that JD Logistics fundamentals are attractive and it remains well-placed to address consumers demand faster and more flexible supply chain logistics services.In JD Logistics IPO: Prioritizing Market Share Gains over Margins,  we noted that the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments underscore the positives which are strong growth, rising margin and cash generation. However, the outlook is mixed as JD Logistics cautions that it will pursue market share gains at the cost of profitability over the medium term. We opined that JD Logistics has the right ingredients to ride out the industry’s current price-competitive dynamics and deliver good shareholder returns over the medium term. Overall, based on valuation analysis, we think that the IPO price range is attractive, particularly in the context of JD Logistics' positioning and higher than peers forecasted growth. 

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<p>We think the 72.7% YoY plunge in gross profit at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (JDL HK)</a> in 1Q21 reflects that it lacks pricing power, even though it is the largest player in the integrated supply chain logistics services industry. Meanwhile, the express industry witnessed an overall YoY contraction in unit revenue and profitability in 1Q21, continuing a structural declining trend. With a market share of 2.7%, JDL is not expected to see material change in its profitability even if this is doubled as the industry stays fragmented and it will still be susceptible to industry price competition, in our view.</p><p>Instead, we see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc. (9618 HK)</a> the beneficiary of JDL's significant capital investment in logistics infrastructure over the near-to-medium term. In fact, there are other more attractive pure logistics options like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sinotrans-limited-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1321:1" rel="noopener">Sinotrans (598 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kerry-logistics-network-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:367:1" rel="noopener">Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK)</a> which have longer track record, better profitability and higher dividend yield. Fundamentally, we are not a big fan of JDL at its proposed valuations.</p>

We think the 72.7% YoY plunge in gross profit at JD Logistics (JDL HK) in 1Q21 reflects that it lacks pricing power, even though it is the largest player in the integrated supply chain logistics services industry. Meanwhile, the express industry witnessed an overall YoY contraction in unit revenue and profitability in 1Q21, continuing a structural declining trend. With a market share of 2.7%, JDL is not expected to see material change in its profitability even if this is doubled as the industry stays fragmented and it will still be susceptible to industry price competition, in our view.Instead, we see JD.com Inc. (9618 HK) the beneficiary of JDL's significant capital investment in logistics infrastructure over the near-to-medium term. In fact, there are other more attractive pure logistics options like Sinotrans (598 HK) and Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK) which have longer track record, better profitability and higher dividend yield. Fundamentally, we are not a big fan of JDL at its proposed valuations.

JD Logistics IPO: We Play Devil's Advocate

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Last Week in Event SPACE: Singapore Press, Tabcorp, Invesco Office, Justbon, IHH Healthcare, JD.com

Hong Kong

Kerry Logistics Network Limited provides logistics services in Asia and internationally. The Company offers integrated logistics services, as well as leases warehousing space in Hong Kong and provides international freight forwarding services.

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Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK)

ForU Worldwide IPO Initiation: Not ForU

ForU is seeking to raise $500 m through a Nasdaq listing. We think that the business faces several challenges and the financials on a normalised...

Arun George

JD Logistics IPO: Valuation Scenario Analysis

JD Logistics will price its IPO this Friday (21 May). We present our base-case DCF valuation and present a valuation sensitivity analysis around...

Arun George

JD Logistics IPO: Valuation Insights

The net proceeds are $3.2 billion at the mid-point of the IPO price range. We think that the IPO price range is attractive due to JD Logistics'...

Arun George

JD Logistics IPO: We Play Devil's Advocate

We think the weak 1Q21 gross profit and margin at JDL reflect its lack of pricing power in the industry despite its largest market share position....

Osbert Tang, CFA

Last Week in Event SPACE: Singapore Press, Tabcorp, Invesco Office, Justbon, IHH Healthcare, JD.com

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

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