In this briefing:
- Xinyi Solar Placement – Past Deals Have Done Well, Improvement in Sentiment Should Help
- NIO (NIO US): Lock-Up Expiry – This Could Get Messy
- Yingcheng Intl (银城国际) – Quick Post-IPO Trading Update
- Sea Ltd (SE US): The Bear Case – A One-Hit Wonder?
- Sea Ltd (SE US): Placing Price Leaves Money on the Table
1. Xinyi Solar Placement – Past Deals Have Done Well, Improvement in Sentiment Should Help
Xinyi Solar Holdings (968 HK) is looking to raise about US$170m in its top-up placement with an upsize option of 225m shares.
The deal scored well on our framework owing to its good track record, strong earnings and price momentum. The company’s 2H 2018 result had marginally beaten estimates while the news of China potentially reversing its effort to reduce solar subsidy has helped improve the overall sentiment of Xinyi Solar. On top of that, the past deals have generally done well.
2. NIO (NIO US): Lock-Up Expiry – This Could Get Messy
Yesterday, NIO Inc (NIO US)’s share tumbled 20% on the back of poor 1Q19 guidance. NIO warned that deliveries of ES8, its electric SUV, have been sluggish so far in 2019 and scrapped plans to build its Shanghai Manufacturing Plant. NIO blamed the slump on uncertainty over government subsidies for electric vehicles, China’s slowing economy and disruption caused by the Chinese New Year holidays.
The weak guidance could not come at a worse time as its six-month lock-up period expires on 11 March 2019. We continue to remain bears on NIO and believe that the lock-up expiry will lead to further share price weakness.
3. Yingcheng Intl (银城国际) – Quick Post-IPO Trading Update
Yincheng International Holdi (1902 HK) raised US$100m in at HK$2.38 per share, at the mid-point of its IPO price range. We have previously covered the IPO in:
In this insight, we will update on the deal dynamics, implied valuation, and include a valuation sensitivity table.
4. Sea Ltd (SE US): The Bear Case – A One-Hit Wonder?
Despite burning through $700mn in cash in 2018, investors decided to give another $1.3bn to Sea Ltd (SE US) . We believe investors should treat Sea Ltd with caution for the following reasons:
A significant slowdown in e-commerce
Is the gaming division a one-hit wonder?
Expecting another 800mn cash burn into 2019
Consensus has priced in further upgrades while cash flow metrics worst in the sector
NB. Our team has taken both sides of the Sea Ltd investment case as we think this makes for better decision making and encourages unique thinking within our team. We strongly recommend that investors read my colleague Arun’s positive notes on the company listed below, if you have not already done so.
Sea Ltd (SE US): Placing Price Leaves Money on the Table
Sea Ltd (SE US): Placement a Good Opportunity to Enter an Attractive Story
5. Sea Ltd (SE US): Placing Price Leaves Money on the Table
Sea Ltd (SE US) announced that it would raise gross proceeds of $1.35 billion after increasing the size of its placement from 50 million to 60 million ADS. The placement is priced at $22.50 per ADS, 6.5% discount to its last close price. Tencent Holdings (700 HK), as well as one of Sea’s directors, are expected to buy 6.3 million ADS in the placement. The placing is expected to close on or about 8 March 2019.
In our previous note, we stated that we would participate in the public offering at or below the last close price of $23. While the share price will initially trade around the placing price, we believe that share price will recover as Sea post-placing fundamentals are now materially stronger.
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