极氪：上市不到一年，“纯电黑马” 为何选择私有化退市？

Core Viewpoint - Geely Auto has submitted a privatization proposal for Zeekr, aiming to acquire the remaining 34.4% of shares to make Zeekr a wholly-owned subsidiary and delist it from the NYSE, with a proposed purchase price of $25.66 per share, representing a 13.6% premium over the last closing price [3][4]. Summary by Sections Privatization Proposal - Geely currently holds approximately 65.7% of Zeekr's equity and plans to buy out the remaining shares [3]. - The acquisition price of $25.66 per share is a 13.6% premium compared to Zeekr's closing price of $22.6 on May 6 [3][4]. - Shareholders can choose to accept cash or stock exchange, with the stock exchange option offering 12.3 shares of Geely for each Zeekr ADS [3]. Reasons for Privatization - Zeekr's valuation is significantly lower than other new energy vehicle companies, with a P/S ratio of 0.7 compared to 0.9 for the automotive business and 1.5 for competitors like Xpeng [4][6]. - The market perceives Zeekr as undervalued, especially given its initial strong sales performance and the expectation of a P/S ratio of at least 1 for its automotive business [6][7]. Current Challenges - Zeekr's valuation has declined, with projected sales for 2025 being around 500,000 units, leading to an estimated valuation of 0.4-0.5 times [7][8]. - The company has been heavily reliant on Geely for support, leading to a high debt-to-asset ratio of 1.31, one of the highest in the industry [8][9]. - Internal coordination issues may arise post-merger with Lynk & Co, as both brands have overlapping strategies and product lines [9][10]. Sales Performance - Zeekr's sales have been declining, with the Zeekr 001 model dropping from 14,000 units per month to 3,000 units, and the Zeekr 007 also experiencing a significant drop [12][13]. - The competitive landscape has intensified, with rivals like Xiaomi and Xpeng gaining market share, further impacting Zeekr's sales [12][13]. Financial Implications - Zeekr's cash flow is low at approximately $9 billion, compared to competitors like Xpeng and NIO, which have significantly higher cash reserves [15]. - The total acquisition cost of $2.24 billion could strain Geely's cash flow, which was $43.6 billion at the end of 2024, potentially requiring new financing methods [16].