A look at the Farfetch valuation case A look at the Farfetch valuation case A look at the Farfetch valuation case

A look at the Farfetch valuation case

Peter Garnry

Head of Saxo Strats

Last month we wrote about Farfetch, the London-based technology platform for luxury fashion, as the company filed for IPO on NYSE. No information was released about the price range or the actual amount in the initial registration document. The initial F-1 filing stated that the proposed maximum aggregate offering price would be $100 million.

In the recent F-1 amendment, the offer size was increased to maximum $733.2m with a price range of $15-17 and expected pricing date is set to September 20, 2018, which means that expected first trading date is September 21. Farfetch’s business and outlook is described in our initial IPO analysis so please read that for background. Today’s update will only include sections on the offering and valuation.

The offering

Farfetch is raising $570.9m in new shares based on the mid-price and that the investment banks’ over-allotment option is exercised. Existing shareholders are also selling existing shares worth $119.2m. The shares will trade on New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FTCH:xnys on SaxoTrader.
Farfetch F-1
Source: Farfetch, Saxo Bank
Based on 290,906,105 shares outstanding after the IPO (including options exercised) the market value at the mid-price is $4,654m. In addition, the company has issued several tranches of preferred shares with a book value of $742m as of June 30, 2018. The latest balance sheet shows that cash and short-term investments is $337m. Adding the $571m in proceeds from the IPO the company will have an immediate enterprise value of $4,489m after the IPO. 
Farfetch F-1
Source: Farfetch, Saxo Bank
Farfetch had 59% revenue growth in FY'17 slowing down to 55% H1 2018. The rapid growth is driven by massive expansion in operating expenses primarily used on administration and marketing. As a result, EBITDA has turned increasingly more negative although the EBITDA margin has improved somewhat (if an improvement of negative margins makes much sense).

Based on the H1 results we expect revenue to be up 53% in FY'18 taking revenue to $590.6m. Over the coming years we expect the revenue growth rate to slowly decay as the business matures and Farfetch slows down the growth in operating expenses to please investors with a more positive trajectory on operating profit (EBITDA).
Farfetch F-1
Source: Farfetch, Saxo Bank
Based on the estimated enterprise value and expected revenue in FY'18, the FY18e EV/Sales ratio is 7.6x. The FY'18e EV/EBITDA is not measurable or meaningful. 
Farfetch F-1
Source: Farfetch, Saxo Bank

Farfetch has not listed any direct competitors in the F-1 filing for direct peer comparison. However, based on our research their competitors are ASOS, Yoox Net-A-Porter Group (acquired by Richemont in June 2018) and Zalando. Their EV/Sales multiple (FY'18) is far below Farfetch’s:

● ASOS: 2.1x
● Yoox Net-A-Porter (latest, FY17): 1.9
● Zalando: 1.8x

It is clear from the valuation perspective that Farfetch is setting the valuation based on other technology platforms such as eBay, Etsy, Spotify, Netflix, Facebook, Twitter et cetera. It seems investor demand is high enough given the tight price range to accept this premise.

For Farfetch to live to those high expectations, the growth decay has be slow over the coming years with the business growing at least +40% on the top line each year to justify the valuation premium to ASOS, Yoox Net-A-Porter, and Zalando. Although the business model is not entirely the same, the question is whether it is so different to warrant such a big gap. Time will obviously tell and our view is that the first couple of earnings releases will be crucial for the stock price.

Risk profile

The Farfetch IPO comes with risks for investors. Key investment risks are slower online adoption/penetration than expected as luxury proves to be more a physical experience than online. The company is not profitable, which creates greater credit/equity risks for shareholders and creditors. The luxury fashion industry is highly competitive and fast-changing. which makes it difficult to predict. Farfetch is dependent on luxury sellers wanting to sell their goods on the platform and these sellers likely have the upper hand on the take-fees. GDPR could potentially slow down retail growth as it increases friction for customers.
 

Disclaimer

The Saxo Group entities each provide execution-only service, and access to analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Inspiration Disclaimer and (v) Notices applying to Trade Inspiration, Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular, no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-sg/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo Markets does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo Markets or its affiliates.

Saxo Markets
88 Market Street
CapitaSpring #31-01
Singapore 048948

Contact Saxo

Select region

Singapore
Singapore

Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd ('Saxo Markets') is a company authorised and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) [Co. Reg. No.: 200601141M ] and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saxo Bank A/S, headquartered in Denmark. Please refer to our General Business Terms & Risk Warning to consider whether acquiring or continuing to hold financial products is suitable for you, prior to opening an account and investing in a financial product.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Trading in leveraged products such as Margin FX products may result in your losses exceeding your initial deposits. Saxo Markets does not provide financial advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo Markets does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation.

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-sg/about-us/awards.

The information or the products and services referred to on this website may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and Services offered on this website are not intended for residents of the United States, Malaysia and Japan. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.