Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Softbank Vision Funds 1 and 2 were the biggest combined holdings at December 2022, accounting for 30% of group equity value; SVF private companies accounted for 73% of equity value</li>
<li>To December-end 2022, public companies in SVF2 were marked down by 52% versus investment cost, whereas SVF2 private companies were marked down by a more modest 33% versus investment cost</li>
<li>We believe that SVF2 private company valuations are at risk of further markdowns in 4QFY22 results, with many of these investments made close to the period of peak pandemic valuations</li>
</ul>


Softbank Vision Funds 1 and 2 were the biggest combined holdings at December 2022, accounting for 30% of group equity value; SVF private companies accounted for 73% of equity value
To December-end 2022, public companies in SVF2 were marked down by 52% versus investment cost, whereas SVF2 private companies were marked down by a more modest 33% versus investment cost
We believe that SVF2 private company valuations are at risk of further markdowns in 4QFY22 results, with many of these investments made close to the period of peak pandemic valuations


Softbank (9984 JP) – Focus on the SVFs, Are the Private Companies Appropriately Marked?

<ul>
<li>Softbank Group’s share price has been supported by the share buyback programme since late September, but 2Q FY2022 results are likely act as a negative catalyst for Softbank shares</li>
<li>Alibaba and its core listed holdings in the Vision Funds have seen market values go lower in recent months; see the diverging market price chart trends in this report</li>
<li>In addition, valuations among the unlisted holdings are also under pressure into October, so 2Q results may not capture the full extent of the down rounds</li>
</ul>


Softbank Group’s share price has been supported by the share buyback programme since late September, but 2Q FY2022 results are likely act as a negative catalyst for Softbank shares
Alibaba and its core listed holdings in the Vision Funds have seen market values go lower in recent months; see the diverging market price chart trends in this report
In addition, valuations among the unlisted holdings are also under pressure into October, so 2Q results may not capture the full extent of the down rounds


Softbank Group (9984 JP) – Defying Gravity into 4Q 2022

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Vision Fund's public portfolio lost $10bn in Q1 marking the third time in four quarters that valuation losses were in the tens of billions</li>
<li>Global tech weaness remains the main challenge as portfolio losses are matched with concerns on the private portfolio, especially ARM</li>
<li>And worries about ARM also feed into leverage concerns as Softbank's QoQ decline in reported LTV was driven by an ARM upgrade.  Meanwhile, CDS prices are near all-time highs</li>
</ul>


Vision Fund's public portfolio lost $10bn in Q1 marking the third time in four quarters that valuation losses were in the tens of billions
Global tech weaness remains the main challenge as portfolio losses are matched with concerns on the private portfolio, especially ARM
And worries about ARM also feed into leverage concerns as Softbank's QoQ decline in reported LTV was driven by an ARM upgrade.  Meanwhile, CDS prices are near all-time highs


Softbank Group - First Look at Q1 22 Performance

<ul>
<li>Vision Fund's public portfolio dropped $18.6bn (-24%) in Q4. China concerns grabbed headlines but it was Asian names (Coupang, Grab) that drove losses</li>
<li>Public investments held at the parent level fell 41% (-$1.3bn), led by SoFi (-$862mn), Lemonade (-$189mn) and THG (-$147mn) </li>
<li>We expect that Softbank will also need to write down private investments although it is not clear just how far private valuations have tracked public changes</li>
</ul>


Vision Fund's public portfolio dropped $18.6bn (-24%) in Q4. China concerns grabbed headlines but it was Asian names (Coupang, Grab) that drove losses
Public investments held at the parent level fell 41% (-$1.3bn), led by SoFi (-$862mn), Lemonade (-$189mn) and THG (-$147mn) 
We expect that Softbank will also need to write down private investments although it is not clear just how far private valuations have tracked public changes


Softbank Group - Early Read on Q4 Portfolio Performance

<ul>
<li>Nvidia is reportedly close to throwing in the towel on the acquisition of ARM (although markets have assumed that outcome for awhile)</li>
<li>Softbank can still monetize the asset through an IPO but most likely at a lower valuation and with much fewer proceeds</li>
<li>We believe ARM was the primary source of buyback funds and with VF down $13bn QTD prospects for meaningful buybacks have been pushed out</li>
</ul>


Nvidia is reportedly close to throwing in the towel on the acquisition of ARM (although markets have assumed that outcome for awhile)
Softbank can still monetize the asset through an IPO but most likely at a lower valuation and with much fewer proceeds
We believe ARM was the primary source of buyback funds and with VF down $13bn QTD prospects for meaningful buybacks have been pushed out


Softbank Group - ARM News, Vision Fund Weakness Highlight That Share Buyback Will Be Back Loaded

Norway

AutoStore Holdings Ltd. operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides warehouse robot technology solutions which helps its customers to enable space saving and increase performance, while reducing labor and energy costs. AutoStore Holdings serves customers worldwide.

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AutoStore Holdings Ltd (AUTO NO)

Softbank (9984 JP) – Focus on the SVFs, Are the Private Companies Appropriately Marked?

The NAV could be 10%-15% lower than stated now at the mid-May results release, due to a further squeeze in private company valuations; this would...

Victor Galliano

Softbank Group (9984 JP) – Defying Gravity into 4Q 2022

Softbank's share price has defied gravity of late, diverging from the trends of its listed holdings but we see clear hurdles going forward from the...

Victor Galliano

Softbank Group - First Look at Q1 22 Performance

Public valuation losses again exceeded $10bn as a last day meltdown for SenseTime marred an otherwise stable quarter for China. Global tech,...

Kirk Boodry

Softbank Group - Early Read on Q4 Portfolio Performance

Portfolio losses were steep and may very well exceed the record quarterly erosion set in Q2 as well-known public losses are matched with private...

Kirk Boodry

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Softbank (9984 JP) – Focus on the SVFs, Are the Private Companies Appropriately Marked?

The NAV could be 10%-15% lower than stated now at the mid-May results release, due to a further squeeze in private company valuations; this would...

Victor Galliano

Softbank Group (9984 JP) – Defying Gravity into 4Q 2022

Softbank's share price has defied gravity of late, diverging from the trends of its listed holdings but we see clear hurdles going forward from the...

Victor Galliano

Softbank Group - First Look at Q1 22 Performance

Public valuation losses again exceeded $10bn as a last day meltdown for SenseTime marred an otherwise stable quarter for China. Global tech,...

Kirk Boodry

Softbank Group - Early Read on Q4 Portfolio Performance

Portfolio losses were steep and may very well exceed the record quarterly erosion set in Q2 as well-known public losses are matched with private...

Kirk Boodry

Softbank Group - ARM News, Vision Fund Weakness Highlight That Share Buyback Will Be Back Loaded

Shares never captured Nvidia upside so the collapse of the ARM sale is not surprising but it also removes the primary source of funds for the share...

Kirk Boodry