Softbank Group - Vision Fund’s Race to Liquidity

Softbank Group - Concerns on the Value of Private Vision Fund Assets Re-Surface

WeWork - Still Asking for Way More than They Are Worth

Coupang IPO and Softbank Group - A Vision Fund Jewel Emerges but It Is Pricey

Softbank Group: Jitters in a Frothy Market

Battle Lines Drawn As BABA Builds Out First/Last-Mile Capacity; But Who Will Fund 75+ Bn CNY CapEx?

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

It has been a roller-coaster week for Vision Fund performance with Coupang pricing its IPO at a premium to already heady valuations whilst at the opposite end of the spectrum fintech investee Greensill has completed a rather quick move to insolvency. Markets seems to have taken both in stride as Softbank shares continues to hover above the ¥10,000 level whilst the corresponding discount to underlying public values remains at c. 20%. Since Softbank reported Q3 results, tech shares in the US have weakened and Vision Fund portfolio companies are down 14%/$7bn. Whilst expectations of further IPOs (Grab and or Didi) are supportive, share price performance will rely heavily on US tech sentiment going forward. HighlightsCoupang has reportedly priced its IPO at $35, which is well ahead of our fair value but not surprising in a frothy market. Coupang’s recent growth acceleration and move towards profitability make the stock attractive despite the premium valuation. The reported price implies a 3.1x EV/FY21e sales which is much higher than a direct peer group that includes Amazon (2.8x sales).Greensill has collapsed with Vision Fund exposure of up to $2bn. That is a lot of money but Coupang upside will outshine the impact on Vision Fund performance when quarterly numbers come out. What is worrisome is that this marks the second time a Softbank-backed financial firm has failed following Wirecard last summer. In addition, Greensill reportedly provided funding to four or five Vision Fund companies (Katerra, Oyo, View, Fair, Guazi) and without any disclosure it is not known whether Greensill’s demise would have a knock-on effect.Vision Fund’s public portfolio is down 14% since Q3 results. The volatility in tech valuations in the US has had an impact on Vision Fund’s public portfolio which is down 14% (or $6.9bn) since 9 February led by a 28% decline in DoorDash and a 19% decline in Beike (in VF 2).  That excludes any losses that may come at the cash management subsidiary Northstar which had $22bn invested in liquid tech assets at the end of Dec. AT Q3 results, Softbank said a $1bn loss at the end of the quarter had inverted to a c. $1bn gain by 9 February and that easily could have inflected again.

It has been a roller-coaster week for Vision Fund performance with Coupang pricing its IPO at a premium to already heady valuations whilst at the opposite end of the spectrum fintech investee Greensill has completed a rather quick move to insolvency. Markets seems to have taken both in stride as Softbank shares continues to hover above the ¥10,000 level whilst the corresponding discount to underlying public values remains at c. 20%. Since Softbank reported Q3 results, tech shares in the US have weakened and Vision Fund portfolio companies are down 14%/$7bn. Whilst expectations of further IPOs (Grab and or Didi) are supportive, share price performance will rely heavily on US tech sentiment going forward. HighlightsCoupang has reportedly priced its IPO at $35, which is well ahead of our fair value but not surprising in a frothy market. Coupang’s recent growth acceleration and move towards profitability make the stock attractive despite the premium valuation. The reported price implies a 3.1x EV/FY21e sales which is much higher than a direct peer group that includes Amazon (2.8x sales).Greensill has collapsed with Vision Fund exposure of up to $2bn. That is a lot of money but Coupang upside will outshine the impact on Vision Fund performance when quarterly numbers come out. What is worrisome is that this marks the second time a Softbank-backed financial firm has failed following Wirecard last summer. In addition, Greensill reportedly provided funding to four or five Vision Fund companies (Katerra, Oyo, View, Fair, Guazi) and without any disclosure it is not known whether Greensill’s demise would have a knock-on effect.Vision Fund’s public portfolio is down 14% since Q3 results. The volatility in tech valuations in the US has had an impact on Vision Fund’s public portfolio which is down 14% (or $6.9bn) since 9 February led by a 28% decline in DoorDash and a 19% decline in Beike (in VF 2).  That excludes any losses that may come at the cash management subsidiary Northstar which had $22bn invested in liquid tech assets at the end of Dec. AT Q3 results, Softbank said a $1bn loss at the end of the quarter had inverted to a c. $1bn gain by 9 February and that easily could have inflected again.   

Softbank Group - Vision Fund Ups and Downs: Coupang and Greensill