Lyft Inc, which got its start as a college carpooling service called Zimride in 2007, is ready to hit the on-ramp to an initial public offering ahead of larger rival Uber Technologies Inc.
The smaller of the two biggest US ride-hailing companies is expected to publicly submit its IPO application to regulators shortly. That will put the company ahead of Uber as well as several high-profile tech unicorns bound for IPOs this year.
Lyft announced on December 6 that it had privately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the same day that Uber filed confidentially, people familiar with the matter have said.
A wave of IPO news has followed, with messaging startup Slack Technologies Inc, image company Pinterest Inc and food- delivery company Postmates Inc all moving closer to listings of their own.
Valued at $15.1bn on the private markets in its last funding round, Lyft is aiming for an IPO valuation of $20bn to $25bn, a person familiar with the matter has said.
While limited financial information on Lyft has been reported, its filing will include the first release of its full- year numbers, as well as other key metrics that the San Francisco-based startup hopes will entice potential public market investors. Details on the number of shares to be offered and the intended price range likely won’t come until a later filing.
Lyft generated $563mn in revenue in the third quarter, up from $300mn in the same period a year earlier, a person familiar with the matter said in October. Losses increased to $254mn in the period from $195mn in 2017, the person said.
Potential investors could blanch at those losses, which have continued even though Lyft operates almost exclusively in the US, which is often seen as a key profit centre. It also doesn’t have a massive, growing food-delivery business like Uber.
Lyft could begin its roadshow - in which it will meet and pitch investors - the week of March 18 and begin trading on the Nasdaq soon afterwards, a person familiar with the matter has said. JPMorgan Chase & Co, Credit Suisse Group AG and Jefferies Financial Group Inc are leading the San Francisco-based startup’s IPO.
Getting out before Uber will qualify as a minor victory for Lyft, though not one without risk. Three years younger than its much larger competitor, Lyft has plotted a faster route to the public markets and will want to make sure that it’s front and centre in investors’ minds. Filing first will give Lyft an opportunity to highlight favourable metrics before Uber discloses new details.
Key numbers for Lyft include average fare per ride, marketing spending and driver churn, according to a Lyft shareholder who asked not to be identified because he isn’t authorized to speak on behalf of the company. Investors will also be interested in Lyft’s longer-term plans for its autonomous driving program, in which it has been investing aggressively, adding to expenses. Lyft’s non-ride hailing business, namely scooter and bike sharing, will also be of interest, the investor said. In December, Lyft bought Motivate, the company that runs Citi Bike in New York. Like Uber, Lyft is also running its own electric-scooter program. Winter weather has caused both side-businesses to slow.
Risk factors will garner attention, too. Investors will be looking for any insight on potential regulatory hold-ups as well as legislation that could require Lyft to classify its drivers as employees.
Lyft’s drivers are independent contractors, which means they pay their own expenses and are paid per ride and not by the hour.
That could change, as politicians criticise ride-hailing companies for under compensating drivers and creating traffic and congestion. Last month, Lyft and another ride-hailing company have asked a judge to block New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission’s procedure for calculating minimum wages for drivers.
The company’s governance structure is also likely to come under scrutiny. This month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Lyft’s founders were preparing to take near-majority voting control, despite together owning less than 10% of the company.
The voting rights would give John Zimmer and Logan Green a firm handle on the company when it comes to major decisions, including over board appointments and a potential sale.
Founders’ Rights In 2017, Snap Inc’s co-founders retained about 90% of the voting rights, selling shares without those rights in the company’s IPO. Snap’s stock has plummeted about 42% from the offering.
Bankers have long looked to the example set in 2014 by Chinese e-commerce giants JD.com Inc and Alibaba Group Holding.
The smaller company, JD.com, moved first, setting the stage in May of that year for the record $25bn listing four months later by Alibaba.
While both companies made strong debuts and still trade well above their IPO valuations, Alibaba’s sheer size still dwarfs its smaller rival. Jack Ma and Joe Tsai’s behemoth is now worth $459bn, more than doubling in value from $168bn at its IPO, leaving JD.com trailing at $37.5bn in value - its shares up just 37% above its IPO price.
A pedestrian walks past the Lyft driver hub in Los Angeles, California. Lyft, which got its start as a college carpooling service called Zimride in 2007, is ready to hit the on-ramp to an initial public offering ahead of larger rival Uber Technologies.
