Daily Brief Consumer: Ola Electric, ASICS Corp, Alibaba Group Holding , Prosus NV, TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX, Five Below, Kimberly Clark, General Motors, Comcast Corp Class A, Coca Cola Co and more

• Ola Electric (1700674D IN), the largest Indian player in electric two-wheel vehicles (E2W), will launch a US$660 million IPO at a lower US$4.5 billion valuation (vs. the previous US$7-8bn target). 
• We previously discussed the IPO in Ola Electric IPO: The Bull Case and Ola Electric IPO: The Bear Case. In this note, we examine the latest updates in the RHP. 
• The investment case rests on rising market share in a growing market, rapid growth aided by product diversification, path to profitability supported by lower losses and declining cash burn.

• Aequitas Research’s weekly update on the IPOs, placements, lockup expiry and other ECM linked events that were covered by the team over the past week.
• On the IPO front, the coming week will see Sanil Electric (062040 KS) list, while Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals books will open and Ola Electric too might be launched.
• On the placement front, the past week was relatively quiet after a few hectic weeks.

• Xiaomi’s shipments increased by double digits, but Apple’s shipments decreased in China in 2Q24.
• Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall platforms have waived the AliPay fee for retailers.
• Amazon will open a store on JD.com next Black Friday.

• Prosus has become more shareholder-friendly and responsive, driven by management remuneration incentives
• The drop in discount from 2022 to 2023 was influenced by these incentives, but the lack of their extension for 2024 has led to an increase in the discount to over 40%
• Investors have an asymmetrical opportunity to benefit from Prosus’ discounted value, especially with its valuable stake in Tencent

This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.

• It is very difficult to ensure the independence and transparency of a committee when the board of directors is staffed with people who are aligned with the president’s wishes.
• Companies with high ROE have superior corporate governance, due to effective overseas investor’s engagement, while companies with low ROE show unclear policies for improving ROE, despite having formalized board practice.
• To improve the effectiveness of the board, companies should appoint people to the board who will help expand the value of the company, and use engagement with overseas investors etc.

• Introduction (If you hate my story-telling, please scroll to the Background section) A lady once asked me a thought provoking question, “why have children?”
• Redirecting my gentle gaze to the ceiling and stressfully clasping a chunk of hair on the back of my head, I pondered and dug deep, with the intent of conjuring an impressive answer.
• The testosterone in me blurted, “to pass down the huge wealth I would amass some day, my children are my legacy!” and my traditional Eastern roots interrupted, “so someone would take care of me when I’m old and decrepit!”

• The updated business analysis of Kimberly-Clark reveals a mixed financial landscape rooted in strategic endeavors and market-specific challenges, which calls for a calculated evaluation for potential investors.
• During the second quarter of 2024, Kimberly-Clark underscored a strategic focus on driving volume and mix-driven gains, particularly evident in significant geographies such as the U.S., China, and the U.K. This initiative aligns with their innovation-led growth strategy aiming at revitalizing their “Powerhouse” categories, which is indicative of their proactive response to market demands and consumer preferences.
• Baptista Research looks to evaluate the different factors that could influence the company’s price in the near future and attempts to carry out an independent valuation of the company using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methodology.

• General Motors Company (GM) delivered a robust financial performance in the second quarter of 2024, demonstrating strong operational execution across its varied segments, enhancing confidence in its updated forecasts for the year.
• The overall sentiment from the review reflected both substantial achievements and some risks to be navigated in the future growth strategy.
• A significant positive was GM’s record revenue generation during this quarter, bolstered by a high-performing lineup of internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks and SUVs, and a growing portfolio of electric vehicles (EVs) outpacing the broader market growth.

• Comcast’s second quarter earnings call highlighted various areas of performance in the company’s operations.
• On the broadband front, despite the competitive market conditions prevalent in recent quarters, Comcast’s strategy has been consistent, focusing on generating considerable broadband revenue growth through a balance between rate and volume.
• With an established customer base of 32 million subscribers, the company is implementing market segmentation.

• The Coca-Cola Company continued its strong momentum in the second quarter.
• The company’s resilient strategy as well as its consistent focus on leveraging its scale and growth mindset have contributed to solid year-to-date results.
• As a result, Coca-Cola has raised both its top and bottom-line guidance.