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

Alibaba Group Holding  / 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

Global TMT analyst with Asia ex-Japan focus.

Mitchell Kim

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><strong>Coupang's share price is 14% above its IPO price of USD35 but it is down 21% from the peak closing price on 15 March. </strong> Since the IPO, the company has weathered through the deteriorating public support over the death of an overworked logistics center employee and the public ire over the death of a firefighter in the fire at Coupang's logistics center in June.  Added to this, The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) investigated  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coupang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28425:1" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US)</a> for possible violation of the Korean Fair Trade Law last week. </p><p><strong>KFTC is accusing Coupang has manipulated its search algorithm to prioritize its private-label items at the top of the search results</strong>, while placing other products in the lower-tiered areas at the bottom.   Moreover, Coupang is also accused of leveraging its dominance to demand the lowest pricing from suppliers and penalizing those suppliers who resisted preferential pricing over those provided to other platforms.   </p><p><strong>I was cautious on the stock pre-IPO</strong> (see my pre-IPO thoughts in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-cpng-us-going-mano-e-mano-with-jd-com" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49065" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US): Going Mano E Mano with JD.com</a> and my view on 1Q21 results in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-cpng-us-crack-in-the-armor" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51455" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US): Crack in the Armor</a>) as its valuations appeared expensive. <strong> I remain a bear on the stock as I am concerned about the risk of operational disappointment, and the company's risky global ambition. </strong></p><p><strong>Eroding public sentiment on the company and the rising regulatory risks further increases risk premium on the stock, in my view.</strong> One of the benefits of owning Coupang for investors was risk diversification from the Chinese Internet platforms currently facing their own intense regulatory restrictions.  However, increasing regulatory risk neutralizes this benefit, in my view.       </p>

Coupang's share price is 14% above its IPO price of USD35 but it is down 21% from the peak closing price on 15 March.  Since the IPO, the company has weathered through the deteriorating public support over the death of an overworked logistics center employee and the public ire over the death of a firefighter in the fire at Coupang's logistics center in June.  Added to this, The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) investigated  Coupang (CPNG US) for possible violation of the Korean Fair Trade Law last week. KFTC is accusing Coupang has manipulated its search algorithm to prioritize its private-label items at the top of the search results, while placing other products in the lower-tiered areas at the bottom.   Moreover, Coupang is also accused of leveraging its dominance to demand the lowest pricing from suppliers and penalizing those suppliers who resisted preferential pricing over those provided to other platforms.   I was cautious on the stock pre-IPO (see my pre-IPO thoughts in Coupang (CPNG US): Going Mano E Mano with JD.com and my view on 1Q21 results in Coupang (CPNG US): Crack in the Armor) as its valuations appeared expensive.  I remain a bear on the stock as I am concerned about the risk of operational disappointment, and the company's risky global ambition. Eroding public sentiment on the company and the rising regulatory risks further increases risk premium on the stock, in my view. One of the benefits of owning Coupang for investors was risk diversification from the Chinese Internet platforms currently facing their own intense regulatory restrictions.  However, increasing regulatory risk neutralizes this benefit, in my view.       

Coupang (CPNG US): Under the Regulator's Microscope

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.

EBeauty Holdings / Equity Capital Markets

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ebeauty-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33505:1" rel="noopener">EBeauty Holdings (1894926D HK)</a> is the largest beauty brand e-commerce enablement service provider by GMV (gross merchandise value) facilitated or generated in China, with a market share of 13.3% in 2020, according to iResearch. eBeauty primarily executes the branding and marketing strategies that the brand partners have designed, operating their official online stores, while in some cases it provides marketing strategy advisory to brand partners to help them formulate their marketing strategies.</p><p>eBeauty is pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $600 million, according to press reports. The shareholders include Genesis Capital, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bilibili-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26793:1" rel="noopener">Bilibili Inc (BILI US)</a> and Mass Ave Global.</p><p>eBeauty is a play on the rising complexity of China’s beauty e-commerce industry which has resulted in more brands out-sourcing their e-commerce operations to specialized brand e-commerce enablement service providers (such as eBeauty). The beauty e-commerce industry is fast-evolving, with mounting demands for personalised marketing strategy, multi-channel operation capabilities and technology solutions. These demanding requirements force a significant proportion of beauty brands to engage service providers who offer a suite of services in the e-commerce value chain.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>eBeauty is capitalising on these industry dynamics by delivering solid organic growth, rising margins and good cash generation. Overall, we believe that eBeauty is worth a closer look.</p></div>

EBeauty Holdings (1894926D HK) is the largest beauty brand e-commerce enablement service provider by GMV (gross merchandise value) facilitated or generated in China, with a market share of 13.3% in 2020, according to iResearch. eBeauty primarily executes the branding and marketing strategies that the brand partners have designed, operating their official online stores, while in some cases it provides marketing strategy advisory to brand partners to help them formulate their marketing strategies.eBeauty is pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $600 million, according to press reports. The shareholders include Genesis Capital, Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Bilibili Inc (BILI US) and Mass Ave Global.eBeauty is a play on the rising complexity of China’s beauty e-commerce industry which has resulted in more brands out-sourcing their e-commerce operations to specialized brand e-commerce enablement service providers (such as eBeauty). The beauty e-commerce industry is fast-evolving, with mounting demands for personalised marketing strategy, multi-channel operation capabilities and technology solutions. These demanding requirements force a significant proportion of beauty brands to engage service providers who offer a suite of services in the e-commerce value chain.eBeauty is capitalising on these industry dynamics by delivering solid organic growth, rising margins and good cash generation. Overall, we believe that eBeauty is worth a closer look.

EBeauty Holdings IPO Initiation: Attention Pays

<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

JD.com, Inc. is an online direct sales company in China. The Company offers a wide selection of products through its website and mobile applications. JD.com sells appliances, computers, digital products, communication products, garments, books, and household items to consumers and vendors.

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JD.com (9618 HK)

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

Coupang (CPNG US): Under the Regulator's Microscope

Not unlike its Chinese counterparts, Coupang too has come under anti-trust regulatory scrutiny for flexing its dominant player's power. Risk...

Mitchell Kim

EBeauty Holdings IPO Initiation: Attention Pays

eBeauty is pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $600 m. eBeauty is capitalising on favourable industry dynamics by delivering solid organic...

Arun George

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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