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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/go-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49420:1" rel="noopener">GO (581A JP)</a> is Japan’s leading ride-hailing platform. It is seeking to raise up to JPY86.7 billion (US$546 million). Pricing is on 1 June, with listing on 16 June.</li>
<li>I previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/go-581a-jp-ipo-the-investment-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:238988" rel="noopener">GO (581A JP) IPO: The Investment Case</a>. </li>
<li>In this note, I present my forecasts and discuss valuation. My analysis suggests that GO is attractively valued at the IPO price relative to its peers' multiples.</li>
</ul>



GO (581A JP) is Japan’s leading ride-hailing platform. It is seeking to raise up to JPY86.7 billion (US$546 million). Pricing is on 1 June, with listing on 16 June.
I previously discussed the IPO in GO (581A JP) IPO: The Investment Case. 
In this note, I present my forecasts and discuss valuation. My analysis suggests that GO is attractively valued at the IPO price relative to its peers' multiples.


Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, 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/go-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49420:1" rel="noopener">GO (581A JP)</a> a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO</li>
<li>GO combines app-based taxi hailing with in-taxi technology to meet the needs of both users and partner taxi operators through services such as ride matching, payment processing and advertising.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company’s past performance in our previous note. In this note, we will talk about valuations.</li>
</ul>



GO (581A JP) a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO
GO combines app-based taxi hailing with in-taxi technology to meet the needs of both users and partner taxi operators through services such as ride matching, payment processing and advertising.
We have looked at the company’s past performance in our previous note. In this note, we will talk about valuations.


Aequitas: GO Inc IPO - Final Thoughts on Valuations - Domestically Dominant, but Not at a Discount

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/083/132/original/2019-03-25_18-58-11.png?1553507902" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="83132"></figure>Source: Japan Analytics
</div>There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33 Information &amp; Communication sub-Sector but is broader in that it encompasses all companies listed on all sections and exchanges but is also narrower in that we have excluded Telecommunications (including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">S</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">oftbank Group (9984 JP)</a>) and Information Technology companies. We have adopted a 'quantamental' approach which covers the long-term and current trends for Japan's Internet Sector as a whole, as well as eight sub-Sectors or Peer Groups and the Sectors' leading companies by market capitalisation.  Our focus is exclusively on the locally-listed universe and is based on disclosed financial and market data. We do not provide any forecasts, other than the companies' own forecasts and we do not attempt to make any business model or strategic judgments. Our focus is purely on financial and market performance. We do not cover unlisted and defunct companies such as Livedoor and, therefore, there is implicit survivor bias in the data. The broad themes that are developed in DETAIL below are grouped into six topics as follows: - • SUMMARY •  • FUNDAMENTAL OVERVIEW •  • SCORING - RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS / RELATIVE PRICE •  • RESULTS TRENDS •  • VALUATION • • RECOMMENDATIONS •<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/083/206/original/2019-03-25_17-46-58.png?1553565764" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="83206"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>OVERVIEW - As will be covered in greater DETAIL below, Japan has failed to evolve a substantial Internet Sector and, in many business models, has been passed by global competitors including in the home market. Although Internet Sector revenues have grown steadily and now account for close to 1% of the total for all listed companies, operating margins have declined by half in the last seven years and are now only four percentage points higher than the market average. Accordingly, as measured by our Results &amp; Revision Score, the Sector is close to a twelve-year low. The market's response is an unchanged Sector weight in the market composite despite the addition of 111 new companies in the last six years, and a Relative Price Score that has moved in a narrow range over that period. The Sector averages disguise the weak business and market performance of a handful of Sector leaders as well as the overvaluation of the Sector's more successful business models, which is partly a result of a lack of alternatives. Despite the world's most significant Internet investor - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>'s Vision Fund - being based in Japan, this fund and other global investors in Internet business have been right to give Japan a 'pass'.


Source: Japan Analytics
There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33 Information &amp; Communication sub-Sector but is broader in that it encompasses all companies listed on all sections and exchanges but is also narrower in that we have excluded Telecommunications (including Softbank Group (9984 JP)) and Information Technology companies. We have adopted a 'quantamental' approach which covers the long-term and current trends for Japan's Internet Sector as a whole, as well as eight sub-Sectors or Peer Groups and the Sectors' leading companies by market capitalisation.  Our focus is exclusively on the locally-listed universe and is based on disclosed financial and market data. We do not provide any forecasts, other than the companies' own forecasts and we do not attempt to make any business model or strategic judgments. Our focus is purely on financial and market performance. We do not cover unlisted and defunct companies such as Livedoor and, therefore, there is implicit survivor bias in the data. The broad themes that are developed in DETAIL below are grouped into six topics as follows: - • SUMMARY •  • FUNDAMENTAL OVERVIEW •  • SCORING - RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS / RELATIVE PRICE •  • RESULTS TRENDS •  • VALUATION • • RECOMMENDATIONS •Source: Japan AnalyticsOVERVIEW - As will be covered in greater DETAIL below, Japan has failed to evolve a substantial Internet Sector and, in many business models, has been passed by global competitors including in the home market. Although Internet Sector revenues have grown steadily and now account for close to 1% of the total for all listed companies, operating margins have declined by half in the last seven years and are now only four percentage points higher than the market average. Accordingly, as measured by our Results &amp; Revision Score, the Sector is close to a twelve-year low. The market's response is an unchanged Sector weight in the market composite despite the addition of 111 new companies in the last six years, and a Relative Price Score that has moved in a narrow range over that period. The Sector averages disguise the weak business and market performance of a handful of Sector leaders as well as the overvaluation of the Sector's more successful business models, which is partly a result of a lack of alternatives. Despite the world's most significant Internet investor - Softbank Group (9984 JP)'s Vision Fund - being based in Japan, this fund and other global investors in Internet business have been right to give Japan a 'pass'. 

🇯🇵 Japan • Internet Sector Review - 'Japan Passing'

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/go-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49420:1" rel="noopener">GO (581A JP)</a> a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO.</li>
<li>GO combines app-based taxi hailing with in-taxi technology to meet the needs of both users and partner taxi operators through services such as ride matching, payment processing and advertising.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company's past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we talk about valuations.</li>
</ul>



GO (581A JP) a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO.
GO combines app-based taxi hailing with in-taxi technology to meet the needs of both users and partner taxi operators through services such as ride matching, payment processing and advertising.
We have looked at the company's past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we talk about valuations.


Aequitas: GO Inc Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuations

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/go-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49420:1" rel="noopener">GO (581A JP)</a> a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO.</li>
<li>GO combines app-based taxi hailing with in-taxi technology to meet the needs of both users and partner taxi operators through services such as ride matching, payment processing and advertising.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company's past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we will undertake a peer comparison.</li>
</ul>



GO (581A JP) a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO.
GO combines app-based taxi hailing with in-taxi technology to meet the needs of both users and partner taxi operators through services such as ride matching, payment processing and advertising.
We have looked at the company's past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we will undertake a peer comparison.


Aequitas: GO Inc Pre-IPO - Listed and Unlisted Peer Comparison

Japan

DeNA Co., Ltd. operates social media site, auction and shopping web site such as Mobage-town and Bidders.  DeNA also provides mobile-related services such as mobile game and community site.

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DeNA (2432 JP)

GO (581A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

The IPO price range has been set at JPY2,350-2,400 compared to the reference price of JPY2,350. The domestic/international mix has changed from 34%...

Arun George

Aequitas: GO Inc IPO - Final Thoughts on Valuations - Domestically Dominant, but Not at a Discount

GO (581A JP) a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO. In this note, we talk about...

Sumeet Singh

🇯🇵 Japan • Internet Sector Review - 'Japan Passing'

There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33...

Campbell Gunn

Aequitas: GO Inc Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuations

GO (581A JP) a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO. In this note, we talk about...

Sumeet Singh

Aequitas: GO Inc Pre-IPO - Listed and Unlisted Peer Comparison

GO (581A JP) a leading taxi app in Japan, aims to raise around US$550m via a secondary selldown in its Japan IPO. In this note, we will undertake a...

Sumeet Singh

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