ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Indonesian Digital Banks are an increasing focus for investors given their potential to serve the huge numbers of underbanked in Indonesia through tapping into e-commerce and fintech ecosystems and customers.</li>
<li>Players such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/allo-bank-indonesia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33551:1" rel="noopener">Allo Bank Indonesia</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pt-bank-neo-commerce-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15245:1" rel="noopener">PT Bank Neo Commerce,</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indo-agroniaga" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16626:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga</a> lead the field with the potential to tap their respective potential ecosystems.</li>
<li>We prefer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/allo-bank-indonesia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33551:1" rel="noopener">Allo Bank Indonesia</a>, given the former's exposure to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/goto-gojek-tokopedia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">GoTo</a>'s ecosystem and the latter's to CT Corp, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bukalapak" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33575:1" rel="noopener">Bukalapak</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grab-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (GRAB US)</a>. </li>
</ul>


Indonesian Digital Banks are an increasing focus for investors given their potential to serve the huge numbers of underbanked in Indonesia through tapping into e-commerce and fintech ecosystems and customers.
Players such as Bank Jago,Allo Bank Indonesia, PT Bank Neo Commerce, and Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga lead the field with the potential to tap their respective potential ecosystems.
We prefer Bank Jago and Allo Bank Indonesia, given the former's exposure to the GoTo's ecosystem and the latter's to CT Corp, Bukalapak, and Grab (GRAB US). 


Indonesian Digital Banks - Ecosystems and Channels

Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a> has just announced plans for a long-awaited rights issue, representing 23.25% of its total equity, which potentially lifts an overhang for the bank.
Part of the proceeds of the rights issue will be used to acquire government pawnshop operator, PT Pegadaian, as well as ultra-micro lender PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNN). 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indo-agroniaga" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16626:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ)</a>,  a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a>, has already been selected as its digital banking arm. Given that there is significant excess capital being generated from this rights issue after the expropriation value on the acquisitions, we see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indo-agroniaga" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16626:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ)</a> as a potential recipient of some of this new capital.
One notable digital player which has yet to enter the space in Indonesia is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> and there is already a relationship between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a>, with the bank's venture capital arm recently investing in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a>. 
We see a strong likelihood of some form of collaboration between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indo-agroniaga" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16626:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ)</a>, which would be mutually beneficial.
We take a positive view on both <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a> after the announcement of the rights issue, with approval likely on 22nd July. We also like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indo-agroniaga" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16626:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ)</a>, more especially if it ties up with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a>.

Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ) has just announced plans for a long-awaited rights issue, representing 23.25% of its total equity, which potentially lifts an overhang for the bank.
Part of the proceeds of the rights issue will be used to acquire government pawnshop operator, PT Pegadaian, as well as ultra-micro lender PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNN). 
Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ),  a subsidiary of Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ), has already been selected as its digital banking arm. Given that there is significant excess capital being generated from this rights issue after the expropriation value on the acquisitions, we see Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ) as a potential recipient of some of this new capital.
One notable digital player which has yet to enter the space in Indonesia is Grab and there is already a relationship between Grab and Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ), with the bank's venture capital arm recently investing in Grab. 
We see a strong likelihood of some form of collaboration between Grab and Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ), which would be mutually beneficial.
We take a positive view on both Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ) after the announcement of the rights issue, with approval likely on 22nd July. We also like Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ), more especially if it ties up with Grab.

Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BBRI IJ) - Ultra-Micro and Digital Aspirations in Place

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>The big online malls continue to grow at higher rates than many branded e-commerce stores, meaning consecutive annual gains in market share. </li>
<li>Amazon’s lead now seems to be widening while Rakuten is also pulling ahead of Z Holdings, which continues to struggle with poor integration of assets, and we see little upside.</li>
<li>Amazon is now Japan's 2nd biggest retailer but, despite its problems in Mobile, Rakuten is proving a relentless competitor in e-commerce and we remain bullish on its e-commerce prospects.</li>
</ul>


The big online malls continue to grow at higher rates than many branded e-commerce stores, meaning consecutive annual gains in market share. 
Amazon’s lead now seems to be widening while Rakuten is also pulling ahead of Z Holdings, which continues to struggle with poor integration of assets, and we see little upside.
Amazon is now Japan's 2nd biggest retailer but, despite its problems in Mobile, Rakuten is proving a relentless competitor in e-commerce and we remain bullish on its e-commerce prospects.


Japan's E-Commerce Wars: Rakuten Fighting Hard as Amazon Japan Becomes No. 2 Retailer

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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP)</a> aims to sell around US$9bn worth of  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:838:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Bank (7182 JP)</a>, trimming its stake by a third.</li>
<li>We have looked at the deal in our previous notes, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-post-bank-placement-deal-structure-past-deals-index-buyback" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:96666" rel="noopener">Japan Post Bank Placement - Deal Structure, past Deals, Index, Buyback</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-post-bank-placement-misbehaving-still-has-time-to-correct-a-look-at-past-deals" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:97201" rel="noopener">Japan Post Bank Placement - Misbehaving</a>. </li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the updates since our last note and have a look at the post pricing performance of a few more deals.</li>
</ul>



Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP) aims to sell around US$9bn worth of  Japan Post Bank (7182 JP), trimming its stake by a third.
We have looked at the deal in our previous notes, Japan Post Bank Placement - Deal Structure, past Deals, Index, Buyback and Japan Post Bank Placement - Misbehaving. 
In this note, we talk about the updates since our last note and have a look at the post pricing performance of a few more deals.


Japan Post Bank Placement -  Still Misbehaving - Post-Pricing Performance of Some More Deals

Research from Tech in Asia, Tech in Asia

Tech in Asia

Research from Tech in Asia

Tech in Asia (YC W15) is the largest English-language technology media company that focuses on Asia. From the latest news to the hottest trends and the boldest startups to the strongest titans, we cover everything tech in the region. Our goal is to build and serve Asia’s tech and startup community.

News from Tech in Asia

Private Capital Markets

Akros Technologies / Private Capital Markets

<ul><li><a href="https://www.akrostec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Akros Technologies</a>, a South Korea-based fintech firm, has raised US$2.3 million in a strategic funding round.</li><li>The fundraise was led by ZVC – the investment arm of Line Corporation parent Z Holdings.</li><li>Founded last year, Akros Technologies manages its own <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/etf.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exchange-traded funds</a> (ETFs) powered by machine learning models. </li></ul>

Akros Technologies, a South Korea-based fintech firm, has raised US$2.3 million in a strategic funding round.The fundraise was led by ZVC – the investment arm of Line Corporation parent Z Holdings.Founded last year, Akros Technologies manages its own exchange-traded funds (ETFs) powered by machine learning models. 

Line Parent’s VC Firm Leads $2.3m Funding for Korean ETF Startup

Japan

A Holdings Corporation develops and operates the LINE application for smartphones. The Company offers games distribution, music distribution, advertisements, and other services. A Holdings serves clients across worldwide.

A Holdings (3938 JP)

Indonesian Digital Banks - Ecosystems and Channels

Indonesian Digital Banks are an increasing focus for investors with the potential to serve the huge numbers of underbanked in Indonesia through...

Angus Mackintosh

Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BBRI IJ) - Ultra-Micro and Digital Aspirations in Place

We are positive Bank Rakyat Indonesia after the announcement of a long-awaited rights issue. We also like Bank Rakyat Indo Agroniaga (AGRO IJ),...

Angus Mackintosh

Japan's E-Commerce Wars: Rakuten Fighting Hard as Amazon Japan Becomes No. 2 Retailer

Amazon is now Japan's 2nd biggest retailer by JPN revenues. Rakuten claims parity on GTVs and is trying hard to build share through a better...

Michael Causton

Japan Post Bank Placement - Still Misbehaving - Post-Pricing Performance of Some More Deals

Japan Post Holdings aims to sell around US$9bn worth of Japan Post Bank (7182 JP), trimming its stake by a third. In this note, we look at the...

Sumeet Singh

Line Parent’s VC Firm Leads $2.3m Funding for Korean ETF Startup

Akros Technologies, a South Korea-based fintech firm, has raised US$2.3 million in a strategic funding round. The fundraise was led by ZVC – the...

Tech in Asia