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 Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nio-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27399:1" rel="noopener">NIO (NIO US)</a> is a Chinese premium electric vehicle manufacturer listed across three exchanges. </li>
<li>NIO will likely struggle to reignite its growth with its three-brand strategy in a fiercely competitive market. Its promise to reach breakeven in 2026 is likely to be broken.  </li>
<li>NIO’s valuation is stretched as it trades at a material premium to median Chinese EV peers’ EV/Sales and growth-adjusted EV/Sales multiples. </li>
</ul>



NIO (NIO US) is a Chinese premium electric vehicle manufacturer listed across three exchanges. 
NIO will likely struggle to reignite its growth with its three-brand strategy in a fiercely competitive market. Its promise to reach breakeven in 2026 is likely to be broken.  
NIO’s valuation is stretched as it trades at a material premium to median Chinese EV peers’ EV/Sales and growth-adjusted EV/Sales multiples. 


2025 High Conviction: Short NIO (NIO US/9866 HK)

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/geely-automobile-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:127:1" rel="noopener">Geely Auto (175 HK)</a>, China’s second-largest carmaker, has made an non-binding proposal for 65.7%-held <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zeekr-intelligent-technology-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36785:1" rel="noopener">Zeekr (ZK US)</a>, a premium Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer. </li>
<li>Geely is offering US$25.66/ADS, a paltry 13.6% premium. Or 12.3 newly issued shares. The Offer appears opportunistic after Zeekr's 20% decline YTD (pre-Offer) in response to Trump tariffs.</li>
<li>
Should a definitive agreement be inked, this is done. The risk to the trade, as with many US-listed China plays, is timing. Trading tight at a 1.9% gross spread.</li>
</ul>



Geely Auto (175 HK), China’s second-largest carmaker, has made an non-binding proposal for 65.7%-held Zeekr (ZK US), a premium Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer. 
Geely is offering US$25.66/ADS, a paltry 13.6% premium. Or 12.3 newly issued shares. The Offer appears opportunistic after Zeekr's 20% decline YTD (pre-Offer) in response to Trump tariffs.

Should a definitive agreement be inked, this is done. The risk to the trade, as with many US-listed China plays, is timing. Trading tight at a 1.9% gross spread.


Zeekr (ZK US): Minorities Have Limited Options Amid Geely's Low-Balled Offer

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/geely-automobile-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:127:1" rel="noopener">Geely Auto (175 HK)</a>, the controlling shareholder, disclosed a cash or scrip non-binding proposal for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zeekr-intelligent-technology-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36785:1" rel="noopener">ZEEKR (ZK US)</a> at US$25.66 per ADS or 12.3 newly issued Geely shares.</li>
<li>While the offer is 22.2% above the IPO price, it is unattractive compared to historical trading ranges, peer multiples and average sell-side price targets. </li>
<li>The shareholder vote is a formality as Geely and concert parties exceed the two-thirds voting threshold. The key risk is the timing of a binding proposal. </li>
</ul>



Geely Auto (175 HK), the controlling shareholder, disclosed a cash or scrip non-binding proposal for ZEEKR (ZK US) at US$25.66 per ADS or 12.3 newly issued Geely shares.
While the offer is 22.2% above the IPO price, it is unattractive compared to historical trading ranges, peer multiples and average sell-side price targets. 
The shareholder vote is a formality as Geely and concert parties exceed the two-thirds voting threshold. The key risk is the timing of a binding proposal. 


ZEEKR (ZK US): Geely Auto’s Light Non-Binding Offer at US$25.66 Per ADS

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

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contemporary-amperex-technolog" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24404:1" rel="noopener">Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (300750 CH)</a>, one of the world’s largest battery solutions providers, aims to raise around US$5bn in its H-share listing.</li>
<li>CATL is the global leader in new energy vehicle battery solutions, in China and globally, as per SNE Research. Its A-shares have been listed since 2018.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company’s past performance and valuations in our earlier notes. In this note, we talk about its recent updates and provide updated thoughts on valuations.</li>
</ul>



Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (300750 CH), one of the world’s largest battery solutions providers, aims to raise around US$5bn in its H-share listing.
CATL is the global leader in new energy vehicle battery solutions, in China and globally, as per SNE Research. Its A-shares have been listed since 2018.
We have looked at the company’s past performance and valuations in our earlier notes. In this note, we talk about its recent updates and provide updated thoughts on valuations.


CATL A/H Listing - PHIP Updates and Updated Thoughts on A/H Premium

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>Maintain HOLD. Despite NIO’s efforts to lift GPM in 3Q24, its cost control capabilities disappointed us once again.</li><li>With the Onvo L60’s designed GPM and continuous investments in battery swap, we see limited GPM improvement in FY25E despite 45% YoY growth in revenue on our estimates.</li><li>We are of the view that management’s guidance for breakeven in FY26 is too optimistic.</li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Maintain HOLD. Despite NIO’s efforts to lift GPM in 3Q24, its cost control capabilities disappointed us once again.With the Onvo L60’s designed GPM and continuous investments in battery swap, we see limited GPM improvement in FY25E despite 45% YoY growth in revenue on our estimates.We are of the view that management’s guidance for breakeven in FY26 is too optimistic.Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

NIO Inc. (NIO US) - NIO’s Cost Control Disappoints Us Again

China

NIO Inc. manufactures and sells automobiles. The Company offers electric vehicles and parts, as well as provides battery charging services. NIO serves customers worldwide.

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NIO (NIO US)

2025 High Conviction: Short NIO (NIO US/9866 HK)

NIO will likely struggle to reignite its growth with its three-brand strategy in a fiercely competitive market. Its promise to reach breakeven in...

Arun George

Zeekr (ZK US): Minorities Have Limited Options Amid Geely's Low-Balled Offer

Li Shufu has the necessary votes. Should a definitive agreement be inked, this should be done. The risk to the trade, as with many US-listed China...

David Blennerhassett

ZEEKR (ZK US): Geely Auto’s Light Non-Binding Offer at US$25.66 Per ADS

The offer is light. The shareholder vote is a formality as Geely and concert parties exceed the two-thirds voting threshold. The key risk is the...

Arun George

CATL A/H Listing - PHIP Updates and Updated Thoughts on A/H Premium

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (300750 CH), one of the world’s largest battery solutions providers, aims to raise around US$5bn in its H...

Sumeet Singh

NIO Inc. (NIO US) - NIO’s Cost Control Disappoints Us Again

With the Onvo L60’s designed GPM and continuous investments in battery swap, we see limited GPM improvement in FY25E despite 45% YoY growth in...

CMB International

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