Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Capital Markets

<p>In this insight, we discuss in detail our initial thoughts on the valuation range of <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> IPO. Didi was last valued at $65 billion in its latest fundingraising round in August 2020. The media have mentioned that the valuations of Didi Chuxing could be about <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/10/softbank-uber-tencent-set-to-reap-rewards-from-didi-ipo/?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMj5A2PgL-33D8uIOLSUl0PGX8TWig2FrftAae5MrH0qB7Jm7ZwviMBR8Ca6R2uOSje6Ep9uNZNsMwEy3FYscaBJf7P9FQXuaOZ5NXJHihyhXCPjXlAjwL5gNJKBVC-zQSM2Z1oGfH5A7b8-JakCHOHtZDR9n3PhDYPB7Lv7s9og" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$70 billion to $100 billion. </a></p><div class="content-highlight">
<p>Our initial valuation analysis of Didi Chuxing suggests a base case market cap valuation of $138 billion. Our valuation ranges from $77 billion (low case) to $215 billion (high case). The IPO price range is not yet available from the bankers but we plan to narrow our valuation once the IPO price range becomes public. </p>
<p>Although we do not know how the bankers will price the deal, if the IPO is priced at about $100 billion, our base case valuation of $138 billion would be 38% higher and given the solid upside, we would be positive on the IPO. </p>
</div>

In this insight, we discuss in detail our initial thoughts on the valuation range of DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US) IPO. Didi was last valued at $65 billion in its latest fundingraising round in August 2020. The media have mentioned that the valuations of Didi Chuxing could be about $70 billion to $100 billion. 
Our initial valuation analysis of Didi Chuxing suggests a base case market cap valuation of $138 billion. Our valuation ranges from $77 billion (low case) to $215 billion (high case). The IPO price range is not yet available from the bankers but we plan to narrow our valuation once the IPO price range becomes public. 
Although we do not know how the bankers will price the deal, if the IPO is priced at about $100 billion, our base case valuation of $138 billion would be 38% higher and given the solid upside, we would be positive on the IPO. 


Initial Thoughts on the Didi Chuxing 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.

<p><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>/Xiaoju Kuaizhi is the world's largest mobility technology platform by annual active users and by average daily transactions for the twelve months ended 31 March 2021, according to CIC. Xiaoju Kuaizhi is best known for its <em>DiDi Chuxing</em> app in China where consumers can access mobility and other essential services. It acquired rival Kuaidi Dache in February 2015 for $2.2 billion and then acquired the China operations of Uber Technologies for $7.0 billion in August 2016.  </p><p>Didi is seeking to raise as much as $10 billion through a US listing, according to press reports. Didi is backed by Softbank Vision Fund (21.5% stake), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/uber-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:430:1" rel="noopener">Uber (UBER US)</a> (12.8%), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> (6.8%), <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a>. </p><p>Ride-hailing platforms depend heavily on customers in high-density populated cities. China which has 14 metropolitan areas with a population of over 10 million offers the ideal conditions for ride-hailing platforms to flourish. Didi’s core china mobility business is heading on the right trajectory with rising growth and improving margin. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>However, Didi is saddled with two other businesses (international and other initiatives) which are driven by its global ambitions and its desire to provide a broad array of service offerings to consumers and drivers. This ecosystem strategy is sensible for a business that is trying to make it costlier for customers to switch to rival platforms by leveraging a core business that is highly profitable and cash generative. Unfortunately, Didi’s core business is not close to achieving this status and the international and other initiatives business look like unnecessary and costly distractions. In combination with the ongoing regulatory overhang and less than ideal financial disclosure, we are inclined to give the Didi IPO a pass.</p></div><p><em><strong>For readers interested in Didi's peers which are also seeking IPOs/SPAC deals, we highlight our research notes:</strong></em> </p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/grab-spac-deal-delivering-the-goods" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50305" rel="noopener">Grab SPAC Deal: Delivering the Goods</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/grab-spac-deal-a-sensible-super-app-valuation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50344" rel="noopener">Grab SPAC Deal: A Sensible Super-App Valuation?</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hello-ipo-initiation-goodbye" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50795" rel="noopener">Hello IPO Initiation: Goodbye</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hello-ipo-1q21-update-does-not-change-the-avoid-tag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51119" rel="noopener">Hello IPO: 1Q21 Update Does Not Change the Avoid Tag</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/dida-ipo-initiation-sharing-a-lift" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:47652" rel="noopener">Dida IPO Initiation: Sharing a Lift</a> </p>

DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US)/Xiaoju Kuaizhi is the world's largest mobility technology platform by annual active users and by average daily transactions for the twelve months ended 31 March 2021, according to CIC. Xiaoju Kuaizhi is best known for its DiDi Chuxing app in China where consumers can access mobility and other essential services. It acquired rival Kuaidi Dache in February 2015 for $2.2 billion and then acquired the China operations of Uber Technologies for $7.0 billion in August 2016.  Didi is seeking to raise as much as $10 billion through a US listing, according to press reports. Didi is backed by Softbank Vision Fund (21.5% stake), Uber (UBER US) (12.8%), Tencent (700 HK) (6.8%), Alibaba Group (BABA US) and Toyota Motor (7203 JP). Ride-hailing platforms depend heavily on customers in high-density populated cities. China which has 14 metropolitan areas with a population of over 10 million offers the ideal conditions for ride-hailing platforms to flourish. Didi’s core china mobility business is heading on the right trajectory with rising growth and improving margin. However, Didi is saddled with two other businesses (international and other initiatives) which are driven by its global ambitions and its desire to provide a broad array of service offerings to consumers and drivers. This ecosystem strategy is sensible for a business that is trying to make it costlier for customers to switch to rival platforms by leveraging a core business that is highly profitable and cash generative. Unfortunately, Didi’s core business is not close to achieving this status and the international and other initiatives business look like unnecessary and costly distractions. In combination with the ongoing regulatory overhang and less than ideal financial disclosure, we are inclined to give the Didi IPO a pass.For readers interested in Didi's peers which are also seeking IPOs/SPAC deals, we highlight our research notes: Grab SPAC Deal: Delivering the Goods Grab SPAC Deal: A Sensible Super-App Valuation? Hello IPO Initiation: Goodbye Hello IPO: 1Q21 Update Does Not Change the Avoid Tag Dida IPO Initiation: Sharing a Lift 

Didi Chuxing (Xiaoju Kuaizhi) Initiation: In for a Bumpy Ride?

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.

<div><p><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>, the world’s largest mobility technology platform, aims to raise around US$10bn in its US listing. It is backed by <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, along with other investors.</p></div><div><p>It is present in over 4,000 cities, counties and towns across 15 countries. As of twelve months ending (LTM) 1Q21, it had 493m annual active users and 15m drivers, who participated in 41m average daily transactions. It generated a gross transaction value of RMB341bn over LTM1Q21.  </p></div><div><p>We provided a brief background and financials overview in our previous note,<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/didi-chuxing-pre-ipo-one-of-asia-s-largest-ipos-this-year-tearsheet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> DiDi Chuxing Pre-IPO - One of Asia’s Largest IPOs This Year - Tearsheet</a>.</p></div><p>In this note, we will look at the financials and talk about the rumoured valuation.</p>

DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US), the world’s largest mobility technology platform, aims to raise around US$10bn in its US listing. It is backed by Softbank Group (9984 JP) and Tencent (700 HK), along with other investors.It is present in over 4,000 cities, counties and towns across 15 countries. As of twelve months ending (LTM) 1Q21, it had 493m annual active users and 15m drivers, who participated in 41m average daily transactions. It generated a gross transaction value of RMB341bn over LTM1Q21.  We provided a brief background and financials overview in our previous note, DiDi Chuxing Pre-IPO - One of Asia’s Largest IPOs This Year - Tearsheet.In this note, we will look at the financials and talk about the rumoured valuation.

DiDi Chuxing Pre-IPO - Has a Principal Agent Problem, Rumoured Target Valuation Is a Stretch

<div class="content-highlight">
<p>Didi Chuxing (Didi) is getting ready to complete its IPO in the coming weeks. The company claims to be the world's largest mobility technology platform in terms of annual active users and by average daily transactions for the 12 months ended March 2021. </p>
<p>Didi is the number player for shared mobility services in China including ride hailing, taxi hailing, chauffeur, hitch, and other forms of shared mobility. The company operates in 15 countries globally and its platform provides services to over 493 million active annual users and powered 41 million average daily transactions for 12 months ended March 31, 2021.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/bb80e462-fbb9-49d1-8a87-b3ad511c1d4e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Didi Chuxing</a> was last valued at $65 billion in a 2018 fund raising round. Major investors in Didi include Softbank which has invested more than $10 billion in this company. Softbank's Vision Funds own a 21.5% stake in Didi Chuxing, followed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/uber-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:430:1" rel="noopener">Uber (UBER US)</a> with a 12.8% stake, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> which has a 6.8% stake. </p>
</div><p>The company's long term vision is to capitalize on AI and big data to power shared, electric, smart, and autonomous mobility networks. The company estimates the mobility service market was $6.7 trillion globally in 2020, which is expected to increase to $16.4 trillion in 2040. Shared mobility and electric vehicles penetration rates were 2% and 1%, respectively in 2020. Shared mobility and electric vehicles penetration rates are expected to reach 23.6% and 29.3%, respectively in 2040.</p>


Didi Chuxing (Didi) is getting ready to complete its IPO in the coming weeks. The company claims to be the world's largest mobility technology platform in terms of annual active users and by average daily transactions for the 12 months ended March 2021. 
Didi is the number player for shared mobility services in China including ride hailing, taxi hailing, chauffeur, hitch, and other forms of shared mobility. The company operates in 15 countries globally and its platform provides services to over 493 million active annual users and powered 41 million average daily transactions for 12 months ended March 31, 2021.
Didi Chuxing was last valued at $65 billion in a 2018 fund raising round. Major investors in Didi include Softbank which has invested more than $10 billion in this company. Softbank's Vision Funds own a 21.5% stake in Didi Chuxing, followed by Uber (UBER US) with a 12.8% stake, and Tencent (700 HK) which has a 6.8% stake. 
The company's long term vision is to capitalize on AI and big data to power shared, electric, smart, and autonomous mobility networks. The company estimates the mobility service market was $6.7 trillion globally in 2020, which is expected to increase to $16.4 trillion in 2040. Shared mobility and electric vehicles penetration rates were 2% and 1%, respectively in 2020. Shared mobility and electric vehicles penetration rates are expected to reach 23.6% and 29.3%, respectively in 2040.

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>We plan to do a deep dive on Didi Chuxing now that the prospectus is out but there are a few points related to Softbank that are worth highlighting in advance. In general, the IPO needs to be wildly successful to provide a meaningful bump in sentiment and anything less is probably factored into Softbank’s share price already. At equity valuations of $70-100bn, the upside for SBG shareholders would be ¥93-291/share. That is positive of course but relatively less than what Uber shareholders could expect (6% Didi exposure v SBG 4%) and also a smaller gain that that offered by the headline listings from Beike, DoorDash and Coupang in the last three periods. The good news is a placement before quarter-end helps the public portfolio which is down $8bn+ QTD.</p>

We plan to do a deep dive on Didi Chuxing now that the prospectus is out but there are a few points related to Softbank that are worth highlighting in advance. In general, the IPO needs to be wildly successful to provide a meaningful bump in sentiment and anything less is probably factored into Softbank’s share price already. At equity valuations of $70-100bn, the upside for SBG shareholders would be ¥93-291/share. That is positive of course but relatively less than what Uber shareholders could expect (6% Didi exposure v SBG 4%) and also a smaller gain that that offered by the headline listings from Beike, DoorDash and Coupang in the last three periods. The good news is a placement before quarter-end helps the public portfolio which is down $8bn+ QTD.

Softbank Group - Initial Thoughts on the Didi Chuxing IPO Filing

United States

Uber Technologies Inc provides ride hailing services. The Company develops applications for road transportation, navigation, ride sharing, and payment processing solutions. Uber Technologies serves customers worldwide.

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Uber Technologies (UBER US)

Initial Thoughts on the Didi Chuxing Valuation

Our initial valuation analysis of Didi Chuxing suggests a base case market cap valuation of $138 billion. Our valuation ranges from $77 billion...

Douglas Kim

Didi Chuxing (Xiaoju Kuaizhi) Initiation: In for a Bumpy Ride?

Didi is seeking to raise as much as $10 bn. Due to the costly distractions of the non-core business, regulatory overhang and less than ideal...

Arun George

DiDi Chuxing Pre-IPO - Has a Principal Agent Problem, Rumoured Target Valuation Is a Stretch

DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US), the world’s largest mobility technology platform, aims to raise around US$10bn in its US listing. It is backed by Softbank...

Sumeet Singh

Didi Chuxing IPO Preview

Didi Chuxing is the number player for shared mobility services in China. The media have mentioned that the valuations of Didi Chuxing could be...

Douglas Kim

Softbank Group - Initial Thoughts on the Didi Chuxing IPO Filing

Softbank's reaction to Didi's IPO filing has been muted as expectations are set and only a wildly sucecssful debut would boost sentiment. Also,...

Kirk Boodry

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