Naver shares droop after buying second-hand garments platform Poshmark

Shares in South Korea’s largest web group Naver dropped on Tuesday after it introduced a $1.2bn deal to purchase Poshmark, a US clothes reseller, because it pushes into the booming second-hand vogue market.

The deal is Naver’s largest acquisition and its first foray into Silicon Valley because the South Korean firm accelerates its world growth.

However the dimension of the deal took buyers unexpectedly, driving down Naver shares 8.8 per cent to their lowest level in additional than two years. The shares have plunged greater than 50 per cent this 12 months on account of a worldwide tech rout.

Naver will purchase all of Poshmark’s shares for $17.90 every, a 15 per cent premium to Monday’s closing worth. Buying and selling of Poshmark shares was halted on the information after surging 14 per cent in after-hours buying and selling on Monday.

With the deal, Naver will be capable to construct its presence within the US on-line vogue re-commerce market by coupling technological advances, together with dwell streaming options widespread in Asia, with Poshmark’s social buying platform and constant buyer base.

“The mix will create the strongest platform for powering communities and refashioning commerce,” mentioned Choi Soo-yeon, Naver’s chief government. “Naver’s main know-how in search, AI advice and ecommerce instruments will assist energy the subsequent section of Poshmark’s world development.”

The US on-line vogue “recommerce” market is estimated at $80bn and is predicted to develop by 20 per cent yearly to $130bn by 2025, in accordance with Activate Consulting.

Naver is South Korea’s largest on-line search engine in addition to providing web companies together with video games, webtoons, metaverse experiences and ecommerce. Poshmark has greater than 80mn registered customers throughout the US.

Poshmark would proceed to be led by chief Manish Chandra. The corporate’s shares have declined over the previous 12 months and a half over issues about slowing development and weakening profitability. The corporate’s gross merchandise worth is predicted to extend about 10 per cent this 12 months after a mean of 25 per cent development up to now three years.

However Naver expects Poshmark to regain its development and profitability within the close to future due to its sturdy consumer base and excessive retention charge.

“There’s a tough trade-off between development and margins,” Kim Nam-sun, Naver’s chief monetary officer, instructed analysts throughout a convention name on Tuesday. “However will probably be laborious to take care of the technique of prioritising profitability on the expense of development.”

Naver mentioned the timing of the deal was “acceptable” and its worth was “engaging” regardless of the deteriorating world financial atmosphere. The deal is predicted to shut by the primary quarter of 2023.

However analysts questioned the excessive price ticket. “The deal appears costly as Poshmark is prone to put up about Won100bn ($70mn) of losses this 12 months,” mentioned Oh Dong-hwan, an analyst at Samsung Securities.

“It’s particularly in order all ecommerce firms are grappling with slowing development after the pandemic-induced growth.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Citi analysts downgraded Naver’s inventory to a promote score, saying its price-to-earnings ratio was too excessive in contrast with its abroad rivals.