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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We turn positive on KakaoBank, for its increasingly secure competitive positioning in Korea, its attractive digital efficiency ratio, its low customer acquisition cost and for its high activity rate</li>
<li>We switch our buy rating from PAN to Inter as the latter has improved operationally, it is sound on capital and attractive on valuations</li>
<li>Nubank is executing well, but we remain cautious on Nubank shares as we continue to see potential capital constraints as a key risk, along with its stretched valuations</li>
</ul>


We turn positive on KakaoBank, for its increasingly secure competitive positioning in Korea, its attractive digital efficiency ratio, its low customer acquisition cost and for its high activity rate
We switch our buy rating from PAN to Inter as the latter has improved operationally, it is sound on capital and attractive on valuations
Nubank is executing well, but we remain cautious on Nubank shares as we continue to see potential capital constraints as a key risk, along with its stretched valuations


EM Digital Banks – We Turn Positive on KakaoBank and Inter, Cautious on Nubank and Neutral on PAN

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

<ul>
<li>KKBank is one of the only major internet banks in Asia-Pacific</li>
<li>Operating metrics show increasing core income momentum and strong ALM</li>
<li>Credit metrics have not yet proven to be a concern, as we near end of rising rates</li>
</ul>


KKBank is one of the only major internet banks in Asia-Pacific
Operating metrics show increasing core income momentum and strong ALM
Credit metrics have not yet proven to be a concern, as we near end of rising rates


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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Multiple new agencies have been reporting that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> plans to trim its investment portfolio over the remainder of the year. </li>
<li>The reports have been coming in since the second half of the year and the company has been duly denying these rumors.</li>
<li>In this note, we look at Tencent’s shareholding in various companies to try and gauge which ones it could sell out of and how.</li>
</ul>


Multiple new agencies have been reporting that Tencent (700 HK) plans to trim its investment portfolio over the remainder of the year. 
The reports have been coming in since the second half of the year and the company has been duly denying these rumors.
In this note, we look at Tencent’s shareholding in various companies to try and gauge which ones it could sell out of and how.


Tencent Investee Selldown - The US$120bn Global Overhang

Equity Capital Markets

HD Hyundai Marine Solution  / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>KKR is looking to raise around US$410m via selling some of its stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-marine-solution-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41002:1" rel="noopener">HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS)</a>.</li>
<li>KKR had come out of its IPO linked lockup in Nov 2024 and had  tried to launch a deal in Dec 2024 and finally undertook a deal in Feb 2025.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the placement and run the deal through our ECM framework</li>
</ul>


KKR is looking to raise around US$410m via selling some of its stake in HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS).
KKR had come out of its IPO linked lockup in Nov 2024 and had  tried to launch a deal in Dec 2024 and finally undertook a deal in Feb 2025.
In this note, we will talk about the placement and run the deal through our ECM framework


HD Hyundai Marine Placement - Very Well Flagged, Overhang Easing but Last Deal Didn’t Do Well

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

<ul>
<li>Kakao's Kim Beom-su has been arrested over alleged stock price manipulation in the SM Entertainment buyout, marking a new peak in the company's legal troubles.</li>
<li>Kakao Corp’s stock might drop due to the absence of a key figure. KakaoBank could also struggle from uncertainty about its largest shareholder and weakened business ties.</li>
<li>Kakao’s potential sale of SM Entertainment shares could initially hurt the stock price, but potential bidding interest might boost it.</li>
</ul>


Kakao's Kim Beom-su has been arrested over alleged stock price manipulation in the SM Entertainment buyout, marking a new peak in the company's legal troubles.
Kakao Corp’s stock might drop due to the absence of a key figure. KakaoBank could also struggle from uncertainty about its largest shareholder and weakened business ties.
Kakao’s potential sale of SM Entertainment shares could initially hurt the stock price, but potential bidding interest might boost it.


Kakao's Kim Beom-Su Arrested: Analyzing Its Impact on Related Companies

South Korea

KakaoBank Corp. operates bank businesses. The Company provides deposit money, withdraw money, credit cards, stock accounts, linked loans, and other services. KakaoBank conducts businesses in South Korea.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

KakaoBank (323410 KS)

EM Digital Banks – We Turn Positive on KakaoBank and Inter, Cautious on Nubank and Neutral on PAN

KakaoBank raised to buy for its firm business niche, its positive banking and capital ratios; Inter is also a buy for its undemanding valuations...

Victor Galliano

Kakao Bank - Only Major Internet Bank

Kakao Bank is unique in Asia-Pacific as an internet bank that has a fairly high market capitalization, but also one that is very profitable, and...

Daniel Tabbush

Tencent Investee Selldown - The US$120bn Global Overhang

There have been multiple reports that Tencent (700 HK) plans to trim its investment portfolio over the remainder of the year. We look at Tencent's...

Sumeet Singh

HD Hyundai Marine Placement - Very Well Flagged, Overhang Easing but Last Deal Didn’t Do Well

KKR is looking to raise around US$410m via selling some of its stake in HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS). In this note, we talk about the...

Sumeet Singh

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

EM Digital Banks – We Turn Positive on KakaoBank and Inter, Cautious on Nubank and Neutral on PAN

KakaoBank raised to buy for its firm business niche, its positive banking and capital ratios; Inter is also a buy for its undemanding valuations...

Victor Galliano

Kakao Bank - Only Major Internet Bank

Kakao Bank is unique in Asia-Pacific as an internet bank that has a fairly high market capitalization, but also one that is very profitable, and...

Daniel Tabbush

Tencent Investee Selldown - The US$120bn Global Overhang

There have been multiple reports that Tencent (700 HK) plans to trim its investment portfolio over the remainder of the year. We look at Tencent's...

Sumeet Singh

HD Hyundai Marine Placement - Very Well Flagged, Overhang Easing but Last Deal Didn’t Do Well

KKR is looking to raise around US$410m via selling some of its stake in HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS). In this note, we talk about the...

Sumeet Singh

Kakao's Kim Beom-Su Arrested: Analyzing Its Impact on Related Companies

Kakao Chairman Kim Beom-su has been arrested for alleged stock price manipulation in last year’s SM Entertainment buyout. This post examines the...

Sanghyun Park