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

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<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> 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. The <em>DiDi Chuxing</em> app in China where consumers can access mobility and other essential services. 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>. </div><div></div><div><p>At the mid-point of the proposed IPO price range of $13.00-14.00 per ADS, Didi will have a fully diluted market cap of $67.7 billion, materially below the rumoured top-end valuation of $100 billion. At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are $3,795.4 million, below the rumoured $10 billion raise target. Didi has received $1,250 million indications of interest (32.2% of the ADSs being offered) from Morgan Stanley Investment Management ($750 million) and Temasek ($500 million). </p></div><div>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/didi-chuxing-xiaoju-kuaizhi-initiation-in-for-a-bumpy-ride" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53014" rel="noopener">Didi Chuxing (Xiaoju Kuaizhi) Initiation: In for a Bumpy Ride?</a>, we opined that 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 company that possesses a highly profitable and cash generative core business. Unfortunately, Didi’s core china mobility business is not close to achieving this status and the international and other initiatives business look like unnecessary and costly distractions. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xiaoju-kuaizhi-didi-chuxing-ipo-growth-vs-margin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53232" rel="noopener">Xiaoju Kuaizhi (Didi Chuxing) IPO: Growth Vs Margin</a>, we examined the key financial metrics of Didi china mobility and international business to the relevant business units of its peers - Uber, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lyft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24423:1" rel="noopener">Lyft Inc (LYFT US)</a> and <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>. Our analysis showed that Didi offered a trade-off between growth and profitability in comparison to its peers. We concluded that in combination with the ongoing regulatory overhang, we are inclined to remain on the sidelines.</p>
</div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>Our SoTP valuation is $13.96 per ADS, which is a 3.4% upside to the mid-point of the IPO price range of $13-14 per ADS. Consequently, we think that Didi is fairly valued at the IPO price range.   </p></div></div></div>


DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US) 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. The DiDi Chuxing app in China where consumers can access mobility and other essential services. 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). At the mid-point of the proposed IPO price range of $13.00-14.00 per ADS, Didi will have a fully diluted market cap of $67.7 billion, materially below the rumoured top-end valuation of $100 billion. At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are $3,795.4 million, below the rumoured $10 billion raise target. Didi has received $1,250 million indications of interest (32.2% of the ADSs being offered) from Morgan Stanley Investment Management ($750 million) and Temasek ($500 million). 
In Didi Chuxing (Xiaoju Kuaizhi) Initiation: In for a Bumpy Ride?, we opined that 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 company that possesses a highly profitable and cash generative core business. Unfortunately, Didi’s core china mobility business is not close to achieving this status and the international and other initiatives business look like unnecessary and costly distractions. 
In Xiaoju Kuaizhi (Didi Chuxing) IPO: Growth Vs Margin, we examined the key financial metrics of Didi china mobility and international business to the relevant business units of its peers - Uber, Lyft Inc (LYFT US) and Grab (0967655D SP). Our analysis showed that Didi offered a trade-off between growth and profitability in comparison to its peers. We concluded that in combination with the ongoing regulatory overhang, we are inclined to remain on the sidelines.
Our SoTP valuation is $13.96 per ADS, which is a 3.4% upside to the mid-point of the IPO price range of $13-14 per ADS. Consequently, we think that Didi is fairly valued at the IPO price range.   

<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. 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>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/didi-chuxing-xiaoju-kuaizhi-initiation-in-for-a-bumpy-ride" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53014" rel="noopener">Didi Chuxing (Xiaoju Kuaizhi) Initiation: In for a Bumpy Ride?</a>, we opined that 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 company that possesses a highly profitable and cash generative core business. Unfortunately, Didi’s core china mobility business is not close to achieving this status and the international and other initiatives business look like unnecessary and costly distractions. </p><p>Today, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/exclusive-chinas-ipo-bound-didi-probed-antitrust-violations-sources-2021-06-17/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters reported</a> that China's market regulator (SAMR) has begun an antitrust probe into Didi. SAMR is examining if Didi used any competitive practices that squeezed out smaller rivals unfairly. The regulator is also examining whether the pricing mechanism used by Didi's china mobility business is sufficiently transparent. Didi declined to comment on "<em>unsubstantiated speculation from unnamed source(s).</em>"</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>In this note, we examine the key financial metrics of Didi china mobility and international business to the relevant business units of its peers - Uber, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lyft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24423:1" rel="noopener">Lyft Inc (LYFT US)</a> and <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>. Our analysis suggests that Didi offers a trade-off between growth and profitability in comparison to its peers. Overall, in combination with the ongoing regulatory overhang, we are inclined to remain on the sidelines.   </p></div>

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. 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). In Didi Chuxing (Xiaoju Kuaizhi) Initiation: In for a Bumpy Ride?, we opined that 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 company that possesses a highly profitable and cash generative core business. Unfortunately, Didi’s core china mobility business is not close to achieving this status and the international and other initiatives business look like unnecessary and costly distractions. Today, Reuters reported that China's market regulator (SAMR) has begun an antitrust probe into Didi. SAMR is examining if Didi used any competitive practices that squeezed out smaller rivals unfairly. The regulator is also examining whether the pricing mechanism used by Didi's china mobility business is sufficiently transparent. Didi declined to comment on "unsubstantiated speculation from unnamed source(s)."In this note, we examine the key financial metrics of Didi china mobility and international business to the relevant business units of its peers - Uber, Lyft Inc (LYFT US) and Grab (0967655D SP). Our analysis suggests that Didi offers a trade-off between growth and profitability in comparison to its peers. Overall, in combination with the ongoing regulatory overhang, we are inclined to remain on the sidelines.   

Xiaoju Kuaizhi (Didi Chuxing) IPO: Growth Vs Margin

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

<p>Didi Chuxing is the dominant ride-hailing platform in one of the world’s most compelling markets for shared mobility. It is a global leader in some respects (number of active users, drivers, and transactions) and its IPO could represent the second-largest China IPO in the US trailing only eCommerce giant Alibaba Group. We value Didi Chuxing at $63/share (the ADR exchange has not yet been announced) which implies a pre-IPO equity value for the entire company of $70bn. </p><p>This report includes full financial forecasts, valuation, a summary of investment highlights and a list of questions we would ask on the roadshow.</p>

Didi Chuxing is the dominant ride-hailing platform in one of the world’s most compelling markets for shared mobility. It is a global leader in some respects (number of active users, drivers, and transactions) and its IPO could represent the second-largest China IPO in the US trailing only eCommerce giant Alibaba Group. We value Didi Chuxing at $63/share (the ADR exchange has not yet been announced) which implies a pre-IPO equity value for the entire company of $70bn. This report includes full financial forecasts, valuation, a summary of investment highlights and a list of questions we would ask on the roadshow.

Didi Chuxing and Softbank - Long Awaited IPO of China’s Mobility Giant Worth $70bn

<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.

Sona Blw Precision Forgings Lt / Equity Capital Markets

<p>Sona Comstar (Sona) aims to raise around US$761m in its Indian IPO. The company is backed by Blackstone, which held a 66.2% stake prior to listing.</p><p>Sona is an automotive technology company, designing, manufacturing and supplying highly engineered, mission critical automotive systems and components to automotive OEMs across US, Europe, India and China, for both electrified and non-electrified powertrain segments.</p><p>Sona delivered a steady performance in 2019 with revenue up 16.6% and PAT up 24.1%. However, its revenue fell by 14.5% in FY20, although it still managed to grow its PAT by 4%. It registered a strong bounce bank in FY21 with 28.4% revenue growth but PAT was flat.</p><p>While the company enjoys a long customer relationship, its largest customers haven’t consistently grown their contribution to revenue over the past few years.</p><p>We have covered the deal background in our earlier note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sona-comstar-pre-ipo-inconsistent-growth-patchy-disclosures" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sona Comstar Pre-IPO - Inconsistent growth, patchy disclosures. </a></p><p>In this note, we will talk about the recent updates and run the deal through our ECM framework.</p>

Sona Comstar (Sona) aims to raise around US$761m in its Indian IPO. The company is backed by Blackstone, which held a 66.2% stake prior to listing.Sona is an automotive technology company, designing, manufacturing and supplying highly engineered, mission critical automotive systems and components to automotive OEMs across US, Europe, India and China, for both electrified and non-electrified powertrain segments.Sona delivered a steady performance in 2019 with revenue up 16.6% and PAT up 24.1%. However, its revenue fell by 14.5% in FY20, although it still managed to grow its PAT by 4%. It registered a strong bounce bank in FY21 with 28.4% revenue growth but PAT was flat.While the company enjoys a long customer relationship, its largest customers haven’t consistently grown their contribution to revenue over the past few years.We have covered the deal background in our earlier note, Sona Comstar Pre-IPO - Inconsistent growth, patchy disclosures. In this note, we will talk about the recent updates and run the deal through our ECM framework.

Sona Comstar - Has Its Positives, but We Remain Unconvinced

Japan

Toyota Motor Corporation manufactures, sells, leases, and repairs passenger cars, trucks, buses, and their related parts worldwide. The Company also operates financing services through their subsidiaries. Toyota Motor builds homes, produces pleasure boats, and develops intelligent transportation systems including radar cruise control and electronic toll collection systems.

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Toyota Motor Corp Spon Adr (TM US)

DiDi Global IPO: Valuation Insights

Our SoTP valuation is $13.96 per ADS, which is a 3.4% upside to the mid-point of the IPO price range of $13-14 per ADS. Consequently, we think that...

Arun George

Xiaoju Kuaizhi (Didi Chuxing) IPO: Growth Vs Margin

We examine the key financial metrics of Didi to the relevant business units of its peers. Overall, in combination with the ongoing regulatory...

Arun George

Didi Chuxing and Softbank - Long Awaited IPO of China’s Mobility Giant Worth $70bn

This report includes full financial forecasts/valuation, the investment case top down and bottom-up,, Uber comps and a list of questions we would...

Kirk Boodry

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

Sona Comstar - Has Its Positives, but We Remain Unconvinced

Sona Comstar aims to raise around US$761m in its Indian IPO. The company is backed by Blackstone, which held a 66.2% stake prior to listing.

Sumeet Singh

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