China

Daily China: Healius (HLS AU): An Unattractive Bid and more

In this briefing:

  1. Healius (HLS AU): An Unattractive Bid
  2. Future Metals Curve in China
  3. Weimob IPO Valuation: Optically Cheap
  4. Tencent: A Brief Statistical Review of Game Approvals
  5. Weimob IPO Quick Take – Less SaaS, More Ads -> Lower Valuation

1. Healius (HLS AU): An Unattractive Bid

Healius (HLS AU), formerly known as Primary Health Care (PRY AU), is a leading Australian owner of GP clinics and pathology centres. On 3 January 2018, Healius received an unsolicited and highly conditional proposal from Jangho Group Co Ltd A (601886 CH) for A$3.25 cash per share.

We believe that Jangho’s bid is opportunistic and unattractive. Also, if Jangho puts in an improved bid, getting regulatory blessing will be an uphill task.

2. Future Metals Curve in China

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Metals are an important part of China’s economic prowess. Specifically, metals are a spoke in the economic wheel with fortunes of commodities and real estate all centered around metals. As we look at metals futures, we see that most metals futures are very flat.

3. Weimob IPO Valuation: Optically Cheap

Weimob.com (1260480D CH) is a combination of a SaaS software and an adtech (targeted marketing) business which has started book building to raise gross proceeds of $108-135 million. According to press reports, Weimob is being viewed favourably by investors as it is being offered at a “cheap” valuation of 18-23x 2019 P/E.

However, the valuation of 18-23x 2019 P/E is optically cheap. Our analysis suggests that including capitalised R&D, Weimob is being offered at a material premium to a peer group of major Chinese internet companies. Notably, our forecasts do not adjust for the capitalised contract acquisition costs which would further increase Weimob’s P/E multiple. Consequently, we believe that the proposed IPO price range is unattractive and would sit out this IPO.

4. Tencent: A Brief Statistical Review of Game Approvals

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Paused for eight months, China’s authority resumed the domestic game approval in December. The first batch of 80 games was approved recently.

Since the last round of game application approval, the stock price of Tencent Holdings (700 HK) has fallen by 26%. Stock price reacted positively to the recent progress of game approval. 

In this insight, we try to assess the significance of recent progress with a statistical approach.

5. Weimob IPO Quick Take – Less SaaS, More Ads -> Lower Valuation

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Weimob.com (1260480D CH),  a Tencent Holdings (700 HK) and GIC investee company, plans to raise up to US$135m in its Hong Kong IPO.

I’ve covered most aspects of the deal in my earlier insight, Weimob Pre-IPO – Can Be Steamrolled by Tencent, Anytime, where I spoke about the over-reliance on Tencent, high attrition rates and acquisition costs for SMBs, and the increasing contribution of its ads business.

In this insight, I’ll provide an update from the latest filings, comment on valuations and run the deal through our IPO framework.

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