Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Zero One

Founded in 2015, Zero One produces independent investment research and provides corporate finance advisory services with a focus on both listed and private technology companies. Founder Vincent Fernando has over 20 years of experience in US and Asia capital markets.

Independent Investment Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Memory Market Diverges: AI Demand Continues to Surges While Legacy Segments Struggle in November</li>
<li>Diverging Demand Trends Highlight Market Decoupling -- AI Driving HBM, Server DRAM, QLC NAND Demand</li>
<li>Outlook for the Memory Market -- Decoupling Trade: Long SK Hynix vs. Short Nanya Tech Trade</li>
</ul>


Memory Market Diverges: AI Demand Continues to Surges While Legacy Segments Struggle in November
Diverging Demand Trends Highlight Market Decoupling -- AI Driving HBM, Server DRAM, QLC NAND Demand
Outlook for the Memory Market -- Decoupling Trade: Long SK Hynix vs. Short Nanya Tech Trade


Memory Monitor: Decoupling Trade Long SK Hynix Vs. Short Nanya Tech

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 Capital Markets

Kioxia Holdings  / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kioxia-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29243:1" rel="noopener">Kioxia Holdings (285A JP)</a> ’s long waited IPO is now live and plans to raise US$700m at a much lower valuation of US$4.8bn vs price paid by Bain 6-years ago.</li>
<li>The company’s IPO is very timely as earnings have almost approached the cycle peak, but margins have continued to trail peers who have a more balanced product portfolio.</li>
<li>Kioxia’s valuation has declined while market sentiment for memory names has also been that great. We will discuss our valuation in a follow-up insight. </li>
</ul>



Kioxia Holdings (285A JP) ’s long waited IPO is now live and plans to raise US$700m at a much lower valuation of US$4.8bn vs price paid by Bain 6-years ago.
The company’s IPO is very timely as earnings have almost approached the cycle peak, but margins have continued to trail peers who have a more balanced product portfolio.
Kioxia’s valuation has declined while market sentiment for memory names has also been that great. We will discuss our valuation in a follow-up insight. 


Kioxia IPO: Initial Thoughts on Financials and Valuation

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kioxia-holdings-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kioxia Holdings (6600 JP)</a> is a leading player in the NAND flash memory market. It will list on 18 December and seek to raise up to US$740 million.   </li>
<li>Bain Capital, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hoya-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8990:1" rel="noopener">Hoya Corp (7741 JP)</a> currently own 56.23%, 40.64% and 3.13% of the voting rights, respectively. </li>
<li>The bull case rests on an attractive market opportunity, a return to revenue growth, margins close to all-time highs, a favourable cash conversion cycle, and modest leverage. </li>
</ul>



Kioxia Holdings (6600 JP) is a leading player in the NAND flash memory market. It will list on 18 December and seek to raise up to US$740 million.   
Bain Capital, Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) and Hoya Corp (7741 JP) currently own 56.23%, 40.64% and 3.13% of the voting rights, respectively. 
The bull case rests on an attractive market opportunity, a return to revenue growth, margins close to all-time highs, a favourable cash conversion cycle, and modest leverage. 


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/kioxia-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29243:1" rel="noopener">Kioxia Holdings (6600 JP)</a> is aiming to raise around US$700m (including over-allocation) from its Japan IPO.</li>
<li>It was the world’s largest pure-play NAND flash memory supplier, in terms of both revenue and unit shipments in 2023, according to TechInsights.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company's past performance in our earlier notes. In this note we undertake a peer comparison.</li>
</ul>



Kioxia Holdings (6600 JP) is aiming to raise around US$700m (including over-allocation) from its Japan IPO.
It was the world’s largest pure-play NAND flash memory supplier, in terms of both revenue and unit shipments in 2023, according to TechInsights.
We have looked at the company's past performance in our earlier notes. In this note we undertake a peer comparison.


Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>Kioxia has been under-investing in Capex (27% of revenue versus competitors 37%) and R&amp;D (5% versus 11%) because Free Cash Flow is low, too low to pay back debt. </li>
<li>The Memory cycle peaked in June-24 and NAND prices have been declining since. Memory stocks (Micron, Samsung, SK Hynix) peaked in June. </li>
<li>The valuations multiples that reconcile with a US$4.9bn market value are half or one-third that of competitors. A huge discount is applied, reflecting the financial and technological weakness of Kioxia. </li>
</ul>


Kioxia has been under-investing in Capex (27% of revenue versus competitors 37%) and R&amp;D (5% versus 11%) because Free Cash Flow is low, too low to pay back debt. 
The Memory cycle peaked in June-24 and NAND prices have been declining since. Memory stocks (Micron, Samsung, SK Hynix) peaked in June. 
The valuations multiples that reconcile with a US$4.9bn market value are half or one-third that of competitors. A huge discount is applied, reflecting the financial and technological weakness of Kioxia. 


Kioxia Part 2: Financials (Under-Investments, Razor-Thin FCF), Valuations (Memory Cycle Has Peaked)

Japan

Kioxia Holdings Corporation manufactures semiconductor memory products. The Company develops, produces, and sells flash memory cards, solid state drives, secure digital memory cards, and other products. Kioxia Holdings also operates group management strategy formulation and management.

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Kioxia Holdings (285A JP)

Memory Monitor: Decoupling Trade Long SK Hynix Vs. Short Nanya Tech

AI demand is driving growth in memory market, while legacy segments struggle, creating opportunities for investors to capitalize on decoupling...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Kioxia IPO: Initial Thoughts on Financials and Valuation

Kioxia's IPO is timely as earnings have almost approached the cycle peak, but the proposed valuation is at a huge discount to what Bain paid six...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Kioxia (285A JP) IPO: The Bull Case

The bull case rests on an attractive market opportunity, a return to revenue growth, margins close to all-time highs, a favourable cash conversion...

Arun George

Kioxia Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison

Kioxia Holdings (6600 JP) is aiming to raise around US$700m (including over-allocation) from its Japan IPO. In this note, we undertake a peer...

Sumeet Singh

Kioxia Part 2: Financials (Under-Investments, Razor-Thin FCF), Valuations (Memory Cycle Has Peaked)

Kioxia's underinvestment in Capex and R&D due to low Free Cash Flow, which also makes repaying debt impossible. Significant valuations discount...

Nicolas Baratte

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Market Cap (USDm)

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Memory Monitor: Decoupling Trade Long SK Hynix Vs. Short Nanya Tech

​AI demand is driving growth in memory market, while legacy segments struggle, creating opportunities for investors to capitalize on decoupling...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Kioxia IPO: Initial Thoughts on Financials and Valuation

​Kioxia's IPO is timely as earnings have almost approached the cycle peak, but the proposed valuation is at a huge discount to what Bain paid six...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Kioxia (285A JP) IPO: The Bull Case

The bull case rests on an attractive market opportunity, a return to revenue growth, margins close to all-time highs, a favourable cash conversion...

Arun George

Kioxia Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison

Kioxia Holdings (6600 JP) is aiming to raise around US$700m (including over-allocation) from its Japan IPO. In this note, we undertake a peer...

Sumeet Singh

Kioxia Part 2: Financials (Under-Investments, Razor-Thin FCF), Valuations (Memory Cycle Has Peaked)

​Kioxia's underinvestment in Capex and R&D due to low Free Cash Flow, which also makes repaying debt impossible. Significant valuations discount...

Nicolas Baratte

AI demand is driving growth in memory market, while legacy segments struggle, creating opportunities for investors to capitalize on decoupling...

Kioxia's IPO is timely as earnings have almost approached the cycle peak, but the proposed valuation is at a huge discount to what Bain paid six...

Kioxia's underinvestment in Capex and R&D due to low Free Cash Flow, which also makes repaying debt impossible. Significant valuations discount...