Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">Freee KK (4478 JP)</a> reported 1QFY06/2025 results which saw the company generating its first-ever Adj. operating profit, earlier than we expected.</li>
<li>The company has begun capitalising its software assets (decline in R&amp;D costs as % of revenue) and this coupled with fall in S&amp;M costs have contributed to profits.</li>
<li>The corporate paying customers surpassed more than 200k for the first time and we expect freee’s earnings to continue to improve going forward.</li>
</ul>



Freee KK (4478 JP) reported 1QFY06/2025 results which saw the company generating its first-ever Adj. operating profit, earlier than we expected.
The company has begun capitalising its software assets (decline in R&amp;D costs as % of revenue) and this coupled with fall in S&amp;M costs have contributed to profits.
The corporate paying customers surpassed more than 200k for the first time and we expect freee’s earnings to continue to improve going forward.


Freee 1Q: Turns Profitable Sooner Than We Expected

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">Freee KK (4478 JP)</a> reported 4QFY06/2024 and full-year results today. Earnings were in line with guidance, but operating losses have declined significantly beating consensus by a huge margin.</li>
<li>The company has issued guidance which calls for a break-even or an adj. OPM of 3% for FY06/2025E suggesting freee’s investments in marketing and client acquisition have finally paid off.</li>
<li>Freee’s share price has moved up slightly during the last few weeks, but still trading at a discount to its own multiples and at a steep discount to Money Forward.</li>
</ul>



Freee KK (4478 JP) reported 4QFY06/2024 and full-year results today. Earnings were in line with guidance, but operating losses have declined significantly beating consensus by a huge margin.
The company has issued guidance which calls for a break-even or an adj. OPM of 3% for FY06/2025E suggesting freee’s investments in marketing and client acquisition have finally paid off.
Freee’s share price has moved up slightly during the last few weeks, but still trading at a discount to its own multiples and at a steep discount to Money Forward.


Freee 4Q: Significant Decline in Losses; Soon to Turn Profitable

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.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trial-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36821:1" rel="noopener">Trial Holdings (5882 JP)</a> (TH) is now looking to raise around US$234m in its Japan IPO, after having canceled its prior listing attempt last year.</li>
<li>TH operates a network of retail stores that offer one-stop shopping under its everyday low price model, across a variety of daily necessities, food items and other products.</li>
<li>We have looked at the past performance in our previous notes. In this note, we talk about the updates from its recent filings.</li>
</ul>



Trial Holdings (5882 JP) (TH) is now looking to raise around US$234m in its Japan IPO, after having canceled its prior listing attempt last year.
TH operates a network of retail stores that offer one-stop shopping under its everyday low price model, across a variety of daily necessities, food items and other products.
We have looked at the past performance in our previous notes. In this note, we talk about the updates from its recent filings.


Trial Holdings Pre-IPO - Refiling Updates - Margin Uptick, More Golf Courses

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">Freee KK (4478 JP)</a> reported 2QFY06/2024 results today. 2Q revenue increased 35.1% YoY, however, both revenue and operating losses fell below consensus estimates.</li>
<li>As expected, upfront investment in selling and marketing and personnel expenses prior to the new invoicing system led to an increase in operating losses.</li>
<li>However, these investments have helped the company acquire a large no. of corporate paying users and we expect losses to decline going forward.</li>
</ul>



Freee KK (4478 JP) reported 2QFY06/2024 results today. 2Q revenue increased 35.1% YoY, however, both revenue and operating losses fell below consensus estimates.
As expected, upfront investment in selling and marketing and personnel expenses prior to the new invoicing system led to an increase in operating losses.
However, these investments have helped the company acquire a large no. of corporate paying users and we expect losses to decline going forward.


Freee: New Invoicing System Helps Onboard Corporate Clients Though Losses Widen

APAC IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Clarence Chu

APAC IPOs & Placements

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/genda-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:39911:1" rel="noopener">GENDA (9166 JP)</a> (GENDA) was listed on the TSE on 28th July 2023. The IPO had been a mix of primary and secondary shares. </li>
<li>Genda develops and operates amusement facilities in Japan, primarily operating under its Genda GiGO Entertainment subsidiary.</li>
<li>Coming up for six-month lockup expiry are the pre-IPO shareholders, notably Midas Capital, and the firm’s executives and directors.</li>
</ul>



GENDA (9166 JP) (GENDA) was listed on the TSE on 28th July 2023. The IPO had been a mix of primary and secondary shares. 
Genda develops and operates amusement facilities in Japan, primarily operating under its Genda GiGO Entertainment subsidiary.
Coming up for six-month lockup expiry are the pre-IPO shareholders, notably Midas Capital, and the firm’s executives and directors.


GENDA Lock-Up - Since Selling in the IPO, Midas Capital's Remaining Stake Is up Another 60%

Japan

freee K.K. develops software products. The Company produces cloud based accounting softwares, automatic online accounting systems, and other products. freee provides its services throughout Japan.

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Freee (4478 JP)

Freee 1Q: Turns Profitable Sooner Than We Expected

The key highlight of freee's 1Q results was the first-ever Adj. operating profits for the company, earlier than we expected. The Corporate Paying...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Freee 4Q: Significant Decline in Losses; Soon to Turn Profitable

Freee's 4Q losses declined significantly, which beat consensus by a wide margin. Guidance for FY06/2025E calls for operating profits as...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Trial Holdings Pre-IPO - Refiling Updates - Margin Uptick, More Golf Courses

Trial Holdings (5882 JP) (TH) is now looking to raise around US$234m in its Japan IPO, after having canceled its prior listing attempt last year.

Sumeet Singh

Freee: New Invoicing System Helps Onboard Corporate Clients Though Losses Widen

As we expected, freee's operating losses further expanded in 2Q due to upfront investment related to the new invoicing system. However, it has...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

GENDA Lock-Up - Since Selling in the IPO, Midas Capital's Remaining Stake Is up Another 60%

GENDA (9166 JP) (GENDA) was listed on the TSE on 28th July 2023. Coming up for six-month lockup expiry are the pre-IPO shareholders, notably Midas...

Clarence Chu

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Freee 1Q: Turns Profitable Sooner Than We Expected

The key highlight of freee's 1Q results was the first-ever Adj. operating profits for the company, earlier than we expected. The Corporate Paying...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Freee 4Q: Significant Decline in Losses; Soon to Turn Profitable

​Freee's 4Q losses declined significantly, which beat consensus by a wide margin. Guidance for FY06/2025E calls for operating profits as...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Trial Holdings Pre-IPO - Refiling Updates - Margin Uptick, More Golf Courses

Trial Holdings (5882 JP) (TH) is now looking to raise around US$234m in its Japan IPO, after having canceled its prior listing attempt last year.

Sumeet Singh

Freee: New Invoicing System Helps Onboard Corporate Clients Though Losses Widen

As we expected, freee's operating losses further expanded in 2Q due to upfront investment related to the new invoicing system. However, it has...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

GENDA Lock-Up - Since Selling in the IPO, Midas Capital's Remaining Stake Is up Another 60%

GENDA (9166 JP) (GENDA) was listed on the TSE on 28th July 2023. Coming up for six-month lockup expiry are the pre-IPO shareholders, notably Midas...

Clarence Chu

Freee's 4Q losses declined significantly, which beat consensus by a wide margin. Guidance for FY06/2025E calls for operating profits as...