IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

Arun has over 15 years’ experience covering the Technology sector. During this time, he has worked with technology start-ups and as an equity analyst in investment banks and independent research firms. He was formerly a Technology Analyst for Canaccord Genuity, Altium Securities, Espirito Santo Investment Bank, Noble Group and Clear Capital. He has a dual Master’s degree in Financial Engineering and Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He is also a CFA charterholder.

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Ximalaya IPO Preview - Creating the Joe Rogans of China

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Global Equity Research Ltd

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Equity Capital Markets

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ximalaya-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33232:1" rel="noopener">Ximalaya (XIMA US)</a> is the largest online audio platform in China as measured by average MAUs (monthly active users), total mobile listening time, and total revenues in 2020, according to CIC. Ximalaya also has the largest audio content library and the most audio content creators in China. <br>Ximalaya is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> (5.4% of outstanding shares), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tal-education-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1124:1" rel="noopener">TAL Education (TAL US)</a> and Sony Music Entertainment. Ximalaya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $0.5-1.0 billion, according to press reports. </p><p>China is the world’s largest online audio market in terms of the number of online audio users. However, the number of mobile online audio MAUs (monthly active users) in China accounted for only 16.1% of total mobile Internet MAUs in 2020, according to CIC. China’s online audio market in terms of revenue is forecasted to grow from RMB13.1 billion in 2020 to RMB120.1 billion by 2025, representing a CAGR of 55.8%, according to CIC.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p>At first glance, Ximalaya is well-positioned to benefit from this sizeable market opportunity. The strong user engagement, fast-paced revenue growth and declining loss margin suggest that Ximalaya is heading in the right direction. However, a closer look reveals concerning developments on several fronts.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lizhi-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28396:1" rel="noopener">Lizhi Inc (LIZI US)</a>, a peer, is trading around 50% below its IPO price which suggests that investors are not overly enthused by plays on the China online audio market. With sentiment on Chinese US listings weakening, we think that the negatives in the Ximalaya story warrant a pass.  </p>
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Ximalaya (XIMA US) is the largest online audio platform in China as measured by average MAUs (monthly active users), total mobile listening time, and total revenues in 2020, according to CIC. Ximalaya also has the largest audio content library and the most audio content creators in China.  Ximalaya is backed by Tencent (700 HK) (5.4% of outstanding shares), TAL Education (TAL US) and Sony Music Entertainment. Ximalaya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $0.5-1.0 billion, according to press reports. China is the world’s largest online audio market in terms of the number of online audio users. However, the number of mobile online audio MAUs (monthly active users) in China accounted for only 16.1% of total mobile Internet MAUs in 2020, according to CIC. China’s online audio market in terms of revenue is forecasted to grow from RMB13.1 billion in 2020 to RMB120.1 billion by 2025, representing a CAGR of 55.8%, according to CIC.
At first glance, Ximalaya is well-positioned to benefit from this sizeable market opportunity. The strong user engagement, fast-paced revenue growth and declining loss margin suggest that Ximalaya is heading in the right direction. However, a closer look reveals concerning developments on several fronts.
Lizhi Inc (LIZI US), a peer, is trading around 50% below its IPO price which suggests that investors are not overly enthused by plays on the China online audio market. With sentiment on Chinese US listings weakening, we think that the negatives in the Ximalaya story warrant a pass.  


Ximalaya

Ximalaya IPO Initiation: Out of Tune