Maxim Group: Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA) Despite Challenging Global Macro Environment, Reiterates Positive Outlook on SOPA Based on Strong Revenue Generation and Compelling Valuation

Rhea-AI Summary

Maxim Group's Equity Research Report highlights Society Pass Incorporated (SOPA) as a rising player in Southeast Asia's e-commerce sector. The report notes significant 3Q 2022 revenue growth to $2.1M from $84K year-over-year, driven by digital marketing. Maxim anticipates revenues will soar to $40.1M in 2023, despite expected widened EBITDA losses due to acquisitions. The company boasts a healthy balance sheet with $23M in cash. While facing macroeconomic challenges, Maxim remains optimistic about SOPA's expansion potential and consolidated business model in a fast-growing regional market.

Positive

• Significant year-on-year revenue growth in 3Q 2022: $2.1M, up from $84K.
• Healthy balance sheet with $23M in unrestricted cash and no debt.
• Projected revenue increase from $7.0M in 2022 to $40.1M in 2023.
• Positive outlook for business expansion and geographic consolidation in Southeast Asia.

Negative

• Widening adjusted EBITDA loss projected to ($20.7M) in 2022 from ($4.9M) in 2021.

New York, NY, Nov. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire – Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) issues Equity Research Report on Society Pass Incorporated ("SoPa”) (Nasdaq: SOPA), SEA’s leading data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem. 

Click here to view the full Maxim Group LLC Equity Research Report.

Summary Points:

• Positive view of early stages of building SEA ecommerce company. Luxury store Leflair provides luxury goods online. Additional businesses include online delivery companies Handycart and Pushkart (bought during 1Q22), as well as Gorilla Networks, a telecom MVNO (early June 2022). During 3Q22 the company acquired Thoughtful Media, a digital influencer, Mangan.ph, restaurant delivery, and NusaTrip, an online travel agency. SoPa will launch a loyalty points offering. Maxim believes Thoughtful Media can market SoPa's other brands and the food delivery and luxury brand businesses can be expanded geographically. Maxim has a positive view on the SE Asian market due to increasing mobile and ecommerce penetration, younger populations, travel coming back, and the opportunity to consolidate smaller companies.

• Significant year on year revenue growth in 3Q 2022. 3Q22 revenue of $2.1M increased significantly from $84K in the prior year quarter. Digital marketing accounted for over half of the quarter's revenue. Results were also held back as most of its businesses were very early stage. The company is in the process of restructuring several of its businesses to improve revenue and profitability.

• Healthy balance sheet and cash levels. The company ended September 2022 with $23M in unrestricted cash and no debt. Maxim projects current cash levels as sufficient to fund organic growth over the next two years.

• Challenging macro environment, yet positive on micro company business plan. Maxim factors in a more challenging macro environment impacting Society Pass' end markets and notes that Sea Ltd (SE - NR), SE Asia's largest internet company, has laid off 10% of staff in past 6 months and during its 3Q22 conference call projected lower than expected bookings for 2022. Maxim still expects SE Asia to be one of the fastest relative growth markets and anticipates SOPA to grow from spending on marketing, expansions, the launch of loyalty points in 4Q22, and contributions from all announced acquisitions. Maxim believes many of the businesses can be expanded geographically and benefit from greater capital.

• Strong revenue generation in 2023. Maxim projects revenue to increase from $0.5M in 2021, to $7.0M in 2022, and $40.1M in 2023. The increase is due to the significant expected contribution from acquisitions and organic growth. Maxim projects 2022 adjusted EBITDA loss to widen to ($20.7M), from a loss of ($4.9M) in 2021. The wider loss is due to one time costs related to acquisitions and higher public company expenses. For 2023, Maxim projects EBITDA loss estimate to ($11.0M).

• Compelling valuation. – SOPA trades at an EV/revenue multiple of 0.5x Maxim 2023 revenue estimate with over half of its market cap in cash. Maxim $5 price target is supported by our 10-year DCF analysis, which utilizes a 22% discount rate, 15x terminal multiple, and 3% terminal growth rate and equates to an EV/revenue multiple of 2.5x. The 2.5x multiple target is roughly in line with the peer group average of 2.4x. Our positive outlook is supported by the attractive SE Asian markets and opportunities to consolidate smaller companies. Maxim reiterates Buy rating.

About Society Pass Inc

Founded in 2018 as a data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.
Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa’s data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please check out:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass  or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass  or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or 
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Media Contacts:
PRecious Communications
sopa@preciouscomms.com

FAQ

What is Society Pass' projected revenue for 2023?

Society Pass is projected to generate $40.1M in revenue for 2023.

What was Society Pass' revenue in 3Q 2022?

In 3Q 2022, Society Pass reported revenue of $2.1M, up from $84K in the same quarter last year.

How much cash does Society Pass have on its balance sheet?

Society Pass ended September 2022 with $23M in unrestricted cash and no debt.

What is the expected EBITDA loss for Society Pass in 2022?

The expected adjusted EBITDA loss for Society Pass in 2022 is ($20.7M).

What factors contribute to Society Pass' revenue growth?

Revenue growth is driven by acquisitions, organic growth, and digital marketing efforts.