Chief Economist

Diana Choyleva

Enodo Economics

Enodo Economics is an independent macroeconomic forecasting company that untangles complexity, challenges the consensus, and makes sense of the future. Our focus is on China – one of the most misunderstood economies in the world, but one of the most important to figure out.  Enodo’s chief economist, Diana Choyleva, has been analysing China for almost 20 years, while Enodo’s team boasts a combined 140 years’ experience covering China’s economy, politics and markets. 

Macroeconomics

<h2>China News That Matters</h2><ul>
<li>China posts fastest GDP growth on record</li>
<li>One month to comply, Beijing tells big tech</li>
<li>You can even spend DCEP deep in the South China Sea</li>
<li>Climate talks for veteran envoys </li>
<li>Debt trap? Montenegro’s road to nowhere</li>
</ul><div class="content-remarks">In my weekly digest China News That Matters, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and highlight why I think the news is significant. These posts are meant to neither be bullish nor bearish, but help you separate the signal from the noise.</div>

China News That Matters
China posts fastest GDP growth on record
One month to comply, Beijing tells big tech
You can even spend DCEP deep in the South China Sea
Climate talks for veteran envoys 
Debt trap? Montenegro’s road to nowhere
In my weekly digest China News That Matters, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and highlight why I think the news is significant. These posts are meant to neither be bullish nor bearish, but help you separate the signal from the noise.

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

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.

Event-Driven

The ride-hailing giant <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a> announced on Tuesday (13th April 2021) that it plans to go public in the US via a SPAC merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altimeter-growth-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33007:1" rel="noopener">Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)</a>  at a proposed valuation (pro-forma) of approx. US$39.6bn.In our previous insight on Grab’s SPAC deal, we discussed the company’s growth prospects and its financials. In this insight, we examine the company’s valuation using a SOTP.

The ride-hailing giant Grab (0967655D SP) announced on Tuesday (13th April 2021) that it plans to go public in the US via a SPAC merger with Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)  at a proposed valuation (pro-forma) of approx. US$39.6bn.In our previous insight on Grab’s SPAC deal, we discussed the company’s growth prospects and its financials. In this insight, we examine the company’s valuation using a SOTP.

Grab: SOTP Suggests Steep Discount to Proposed SPAC 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.

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a> is Southeast Asia’s leading super-app and the largest online delivery platform, ride-hailing platform and digital wallet payments platform in Southeast Asia, according to Euromonitor. Grab intends to go public in the US through a SPAC merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altimeter-growth-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33007:1" rel="noopener">Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)</a>.In <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>, we looked at Grab's fundamentals and management forecasts. We noted that Grab is using its super-app status to deliver high-growth with declining loss margin and cash burn. While certain management forecasts seem bullish, the overall forecasts are not outlandish.  In this note, we look at the valuation. As a reminder, the deal values Grab at a post-money market cap of $39.6 billion and post-money EV of $31.3 billion. The deal implies 9.6x 2022 EV/Sales based on Grab’s forecasted adjusted net revenue.<div class="content-highlight">
At first glance, Grab's implied multiples are eye-watering in comparison to global peers related to its delivery and mobility businesses. However, we think that judging Grab's multiples based on such peers is missing the point. Grab's key competitive advantage and investor pitch is that it can be credibly billed as a super-app rather than just a leading app in a narrow market category.
Super-apps tend to be rare and investors are starved of publicly listed opportunities. With the regulatory heat turned up on the Chinese super-apps, alternative super-app plays in Asia are likely to be in demand. When judged against global super-apps, Grab's implied multiples seems more justifiable for its forecast growth.  
</div>

Grab (0967655D SP) is Southeast Asia’s leading super-app and the largest online delivery platform, ride-hailing platform and digital wallet payments platform in Southeast Asia, according to Euromonitor. Grab intends to go public in the US through a SPAC merger with Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US).In Grab SPAC Deal: Delivering the Goods, we looked at Grab's fundamentals and management forecasts. We noted that Grab is using its super-app status to deliver high-growth with declining loss margin and cash burn. While certain management forecasts seem bullish, the overall forecasts are not outlandish.  In this note, we look at the valuation. As a reminder, the deal values Grab at a post-money market cap of $39.6 billion and post-money EV of $31.3 billion. The deal implies 9.6x 2022 EV/Sales based on Grab’s forecasted adjusted net revenue.
At first glance, Grab's implied multiples are eye-watering in comparison to global peers related to its delivery and mobility businesses. However, we think that judging Grab's multiples based on such peers is missing the point. Grab's key competitive advantage and investor pitch is that it can be credibly billed as a super-app rather than just a leading app in a narrow market category.
Super-apps tend to be rare and investors are starved of publicly listed opportunities. With the regulatory heat turned up on the Chinese super-apps, alternative super-app plays in Asia are likely to be in demand. When judged against global super-apps, Grab's implied multiples seems more justifiable for its forecast growth.  


Grab SPAC Deal: A Sensible Super-App Valuation?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Capital Markets

Priced at ~2x Uber on a forward EV/Revenue metric.
That was my immediate takeaway from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a>'s <a href="https://www.grab.com/sg/press/others/grab-go-public-in-partnership-with-altimeter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> it intends to go public in the U.S. in partnership with SPAC <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altimeter-growth-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33007:1" rel="noopener">Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)</a>. 
The proposed transaction represents an expected equity value of US$39.55bn and EV of US$30.36bn, with cash proceeds of US$4.54bn.
In past insights on SPACs, beginning with <a href="https://skr.ma/5UGLq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virtual IPOs/Direct Listings: Uninhibited Price Discovery</a>, one issue for SPACs is their overabundance in the market today, targeting popular private companies. As such, popular private companies can tee up “SPAC-offs,” where various SPACs pitch their deal, competing (mostly) on price.  The higher the acquisition price, the lower the future return for SPAC investors.
And Grab has competition. Its main rival is Indonesia's <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a>, and the two courted each other around February last year before irreconcilable differences led to them parting ways in January this year.
There is talk Gojek will merge with e-commerce payer Tokopedia and similarly seek a US listing.
Mobile gaming and online shopping platform player <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> is also in the mix, and currently boasts a non-insignificant market cap of US$125bn.
The merger is slated for closing in July this year.
More below the fold.

Priced at ~2x Uber on a forward EV/Revenue metric.
That was my immediate takeaway from Grab (0967655D SP)'s announcement it intends to go public in the U.S. in partnership with SPAC Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US). 
The proposed transaction represents an expected equity value of US$39.55bn and EV of US$30.36bn, with cash proceeds of US$4.54bn.
In past insights on SPACs, beginning with Virtual IPOs/Direct Listings: Uninhibited Price Discovery, one issue for SPACs is their overabundance in the market today, targeting popular private companies. As such, popular private companies can tee up “SPAC-offs,” where various SPACs pitch their deal, competing (mostly) on price.  The higher the acquisition price, the lower the future return for SPAC investors.
And Grab has competition. Its main rival is Indonesia's Gojek (1379371D IJ), and the two courted each other around February last year before irreconcilable differences led to them parting ways in January this year.
There is talk Gojek will merge with e-commerce payer Tokopedia and similarly seek a US listing.
Mobile gaming and online shopping platform player Sea Ltd (SE US) is also in the mix, and currently boasts a non-insignificant market cap of US$125bn.
The merger is slated for closing in July this year.
More below the fold.

The ride-hailing giant <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a>  announced on Tuesday (13th April 2021) that it plans to go public in the US via a SPAC merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altimeter-growth-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33007:1" rel="noopener">Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)</a>  at a proposed valuation (pro-forma) of approx. US$39.6bn.As per the proposed transaction, Altimeter Growth and Grab will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of a new holding company and the combined company will have an equity-value of approx. US$39.6bn on a pro-forma basis.Grab will receive about US$4.5bn in cash, including more than US$4.0bn from a fully committed PIPE (private investment in public equity arrangement) offering that will be managed by BlackRock, Counterpoint Global, T.Rowe Price Associates, Fidelity International, Fidelity Management and Research, Mubadala, Temasek and several others.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/522/original/image_77815607321618386359074.png?1618386363" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200522"></figure><div style="text-align: left;" class="content-caption">Source: Company disclosures</div>Altimeter Capital has committed to US$750m to the PIPE Financing and also also has committed to a 3-year lock-up period for its sponsor promote shares offering investors confidence over Grab’s future prospects.

The ride-hailing giant Grab (0967655D SP)  announced on Tuesday (13th April 2021) that it plans to go public in the US via a SPAC merger with Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)  at a proposed valuation (pro-forma) of approx. US$39.6bn.As per the proposed transaction, Altimeter Growth and Grab will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of a new holding company and the combined company will have an equity-value of approx. US$39.6bn on a pro-forma basis.Grab will receive about US$4.5bn in cash, including more than US$4.0bn from a fully committed PIPE (private investment in public equity arrangement) offering that will be managed by BlackRock, Counterpoint Global, T.Rowe Price Associates, Fidelity International, Fidelity Management and Research, Mubadala, Temasek and several others.Source: Company disclosuresAltimeter Capital has committed to US$750m to the PIPE Financing and also also has committed to a 3-year lock-up period for its sponsor promote shares offering investors confidence over Grab’s future prospects.

Grab Goes Public: Expanding Top Line but No Profits; Proposed Valuation Seems Excessively Ambitious

China

Meituan operates as a web based shopping platform for locally found consumer products and retail services. The Company offers deals of the day by selling vouchers on local services and entertainment, dining, delivery, and other services. Meituan provides its services throughout China.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Meituan (3690 HK)

GDP, SAMR, DCEP, USA-PRC and BRI

In my weekly digest, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and...

Diana Choyleva

Grab: SOTP Suggests Steep Discount to Proposed SPAC Valuation

Our SOTP valuation implies significant downside to Grab’s pro-forma valuation of the proposed SPAC deal even after assigning generous target...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Grab SPAC Deal: A Sensible Super-App Valuation?

Grab's implied multiples are eye-watering in comparison to global peers related to its businesses. When judged against other global super-apps,...

Arun George

SPAC Grab ... At 2x Uber

There are 650mn consumers in Southeast Asia, worth an estimated US$2.8tn. This is not a winner takes all maker. If anything, it's a three-way "grab".

David Blennerhassett

Grab Goes Public: Expanding Top Line but No Profits; Proposed Valuation Seems Excessively Ambitious

Grab announced on Tuesday that it plans to go public in the US via a SPAC merger with Altimeter Growth Corp. at a proposed valuation (pro-forma) of...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)