IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Equity Capital Markets

Webtoon Entertainment / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/webtoon-entertainment-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43652:1" rel="noopener">Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US)</a>, a global storytelling platform, seeks to raise up to US$500 million through a Nasdaq IPO.</li>
<li>In <em><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/webtoon-entertainment-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:146038" rel="noopener">Webtoon Entertainment IPO: The Bull Case</a></strong></em>, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.</li>
<li>The bear case rests on declining organic revenue, declining Korean paying ratio, a peaking Japan growth driver, optimistic market sizing, and unsustainable low marketing spending.</li>
</ul>



Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US), a global storytelling platform, seeks to raise up to US$500 million through a Nasdaq IPO.
In Webtoon Entertainment IPO: The Bull Case, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.
The bear case rests on declining organic revenue, declining Korean paying ratio, a peaking Japan growth driver, optimistic market sizing, and unsustainable low marketing spending.


Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) IPO: The Bear Case

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/webtoon-entertainment-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43652:1" rel="noopener">Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US)</a>, a global storytelling platform, seeks to raise up to US$500 million through a Nasdaq IPO.</li>
<li>Webtoon is the leading web-comic player in all its major geographies, including Korea, the US and Japan. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ly-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">LY (4689 JP)</a> are the primary shareholders.</li>
<li>The bull case rests on a large TAM, rising monthly active users, strong constant currency growth supported by monetisation initiatives, a shift to profitability, and cash generation.</li>
</ul>



Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US), a global storytelling platform, seeks to raise up to US$500 million through a Nasdaq IPO.
Webtoon is the leading web-comic player in all its major geographies, including Korea, the US and Japan. Naver Corp (035420 KS) and LY (4689 JP) are the primary shareholders.
The bull case rests on a large TAM, rising monthly active users, strong constant currency growth supported by monetisation initiatives, a shift to profitability, and cash generation.


APAC IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Ethan Aw

APAC IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/webtoon-entertainment-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43652:1" rel="noopener">Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US)</a> is looking to raise up to US$500m in its US IPO.</li>
<li>Webtoon Entertainment is a global storytelling platform where a community of creators and users discover, create and share new content.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.</li>
</ul>



Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) is looking to raise up to US$500m in its US IPO.
Webtoon Entertainment is a global storytelling platform where a community of creators and users discover, create and share new content.
In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.


Webtoon Entertainment Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Korea Revenue Declined, JP Acquisition to the Rescue

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/webtoon-entertainment-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43652:1" rel="noopener">Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US)</a> is looking to raise up to US$500m in its US IPO.</li>
<li>Webtoon Entertainment is a global storytelling platform where a community of creators and users discover, create and share new content. </li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the positive aspects of the deal.</li>
</ul>



Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) is looking to raise up to US$500m in its US IPO.
Webtoon Entertainment is a global storytelling platform where a community of creators and users discover, create and share new content. 
In this note, we talk about the positive aspects of the deal.


Webtoon Entertainment Pre-IPO - The Positives - Just Turned Profitable

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ly-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">LY (4689 JP)</a>'s Yahoo Shopping looks to be in trouble after five straight quarters of negative growth while Amazon and Rakuten move ahead.</li>
<li>Despite a revenue increase in 4Q2023, Yahoo Shopping continues to struggle with merchant fraud and a lack of a clear USP.</li>
<li>If effective integration between the many parts of LY is not forthcoming soon, the company may eventually attract demands for better synergies, as well as a stick-wielding Softbank.</li>
</ul>



LY (4689 JP)'s Yahoo Shopping looks to be in trouble after five straight quarters of negative growth while Amazon and Rakuten move ahead.
Despite a revenue increase in 4Q2023, Yahoo Shopping continues to struggle with merchant fraud and a lack of a clear USP.
If effective integration between the many parts of LY is not forthcoming soon, the company may eventually attract demands for better synergies, as well as a stick-wielding Softbank.


Yahoo Still Falling Further Behind Amazon and Rakuten

Japan

LY Corporation operates as an internet search engine "Yahoo! JAPAN". The Company provides electronic commerce and settlement finance services for small medium enterprises and individuals. LY also operates media business including search linked advertising and display advertising services.

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LY (4689 JP)

Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on declining organic revenue, declining Korean paying ratio, a peaking Japan growth driver, optimistic market sizing, and...

Arun George

Webtoon Entertainment IPO: The Bull Case

The bull case rests on a large TAM, rising monthly active users, strong constant currency growth supported by monetisation initiatives, a shift to...

Arun George

Webtoon Entertainment Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Korea Revenue Declined, JP Acquisition to the Rescue

Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) is looking to raise up to US$500m in its US IPO. In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.

Ethan Aw

Webtoon Entertainment Pre-IPO - The Positives - Just Turned Profitable

Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) is looking to raise up to US$500m in its US IPO. In this note, we talk about the positive aspects of the deal.

Ethan Aw

Yahoo Still Falling Further Behind Amazon and Rakuten

LY Corp's Yahoo Shopping faces challenges with negative growth in many recent quarters and lack of USP, risking pressure for better integration...

Michael Causton

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on declining organic revenue, declining Korean paying ratio, a peaking Japan growth driver, optimistic market sizing, and...

Arun George

Webtoon Entertainment IPO: The Bull Case

The bull case rests on a large TAM, rising monthly active users, strong constant currency growth supported by monetisation initiatives, a shift to...

Arun George

Webtoon Entertainment Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Korea Revenue Declined, JP Acquisition to the Rescue

Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) is looking to raise up to US$500m in its US IPO. In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.

Ethan Aw

Webtoon Entertainment Pre-IPO - The Positives - Just Turned Profitable

Webtoon Entertainment (WBTN US) is looking to raise up to US$500m in its US IPO. In this note, we talk about the positive aspects of the deal.

Ethan Aw

Yahoo Still Falling Further Behind Amazon and Rakuten

​LY Corp's Yahoo Shopping faces challenges with negative growth in many recent quarters and lack of USP, risking pressure for better integration...

Michael Causton

LY Corp's Yahoo Shopping faces challenges with negative growth in many recent quarters and lack of USP, risking pressure for better integration...