Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Mercari's US operations, responsible for major losses, saw a workforce reduction by 45%, potentially preceding a market exit to improve overall margins.</li>
<li>Fintech growth is strong, with Mercari issuing over 3 million credit cards, achieving a 67% YoY credit balance increase, despite current operational losses</li>
<li>Mercari Hallo, an on-demand work platform, has rapidly gained users and business partners, positioning it to capitalize on Japan's growing gig economy.</li>
</ul>


Mercari's US operations, responsible for major losses, saw a workforce reduction by 45%, potentially preceding a market exit to improve overall margins.
Fintech growth is strong, with Mercari issuing over 3 million credit cards, achieving a 67% YoY credit balance increase, despite current operational losses
Mercari Hallo, an on-demand work platform, has rapidly gained users and business partners, positioning it to capitalize on Japan's growing gig economy.


Mercari (4385) | Fintech and Gig Economy as Key Catalysts

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>KKR raised around US$730m via selling some stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> Japan IPO in Sep 2023. Its remaining stake will be released from its IPO linked lockup soon.</li>
<li>KE main business activities consist of the manufacturing, sales and maintenance service of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the upcoming lock-up expiry and possible deal dynamics.</li>
</ul>


KKR raised around US$730m via selling some stake in Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) Japan IPO in Sep 2023. Its remaining stake will be released from its IPO linked lockup soon.
KE main business activities consist of the manufacturing, sales and maintenance service of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
In this note, we talk about the upcoming lock-up expiry and possible deal dynamics.


Kokusai Electric IPO Lock-Up - KKR Will Be Tempted by the US$2.7bn Release but Might Have to Wait

APAC IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Clarence Chu

APAC IPOs & Placements

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/timee-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43690:1" rel="noopener">Timee Inc (215A JP)</a> is looking to raise US$290m in its Japan IPO. The IPO will be a 100% secondary selldown by existing shareholders.</li>
<li>Timee operates an on-demand staffing platform that connects part-time jobseekers with businesses in Japan.</li>
<li>In an earlier note, we looked at the firm’s past performance and peer comparison. In this note, we discuss our thoughts on valuation.</li>
</ul>



Timee Inc (215A JP) is looking to raise US$290m in its Japan IPO. The IPO will be a 100% secondary selldown by existing shareholders.
Timee operates an on-demand staffing platform that connects part-time jobseekers with businesses in Japan.
In an earlier note, we looked at the firm’s past performance and peer comparison. In this note, we discuss our thoughts on valuation.


Timee Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuation - Primed for a Decent Upside at the Current Range

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/timee-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43690:1" rel="noopener">Timee Inc (215A JP)</a>, a leading part-time job platform in Japan, is seeking to raise up to US$286 million. Book-building runs from 9 to 23 July.</li>
<li>In <em><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/timee-215a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:150750" rel="noopener">Timee (215A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a></strong></em>, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.</li>
<li>The bear case rests on rapidly slowing growth, an industry-low FCF profile, and a business model predicated on access to large funding and significant share option dilution.</li>
</ul>



Timee Inc (215A JP), a leading part-time job platform in Japan, is seeking to raise up to US$286 million. Book-building runs from 9 to 23 July.
In Timee (215A JP) IPO: The Bull Case, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.
The bear case rests on rapidly slowing growth, an industry-low FCF profile, and a business model predicated on access to large funding and significant share option dilution.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/timee-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43690:1" rel="noopener">Timee Inc (215A JP)</a> is looking to raise US$290m from its Japan IPO. The IPO will be a 100% secondary selldown by existing shareholders.</li>
<li>Timee operates an on-demand staffing platform that connects part-time jobseekers with businesses in Japan. </li>
<li>In an earlier note, we looked at the firm’s past performance. In this note, we undertake a peer comparison.</li>
</ul>



Timee Inc (215A JP) is looking to raise US$290m from its Japan IPO. The IPO will be a 100% secondary selldown by existing shareholders.
Timee operates an on-demand staffing platform that connects part-time jobseekers with businesses in Japan. 
In an earlier note, we looked at the firm’s past performance. In this note, we undertake a peer comparison.


Timee Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison - Stronger Growth Has Allowed It to Close the Margin Gap

Japan

Mercari, Inc. operates as an electronic commercial company. The Company offers electronic commercial software, operation management, marketing planning, and other marketplace services. Mercari serves customers worldwide.

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Mercari (4385 JP)

Mercari (4385) | Fintech and Gig Economy as Key Catalysts

Mercari's US operations cut workforce by 45% to improve margins, while fintech growth remains strong and Mercari Hallo gains traction in Japan's...

Mark Chadwick

Kokusai Electric IPO Lock-Up - KKR Will Be Tempted by the US$2.7bn Release but Might Have to Wait

As per media reports, KKR is considering sell half its stake in Kokusai, with the company planning to buyback some shares as well. The company has...

Sumeet Singh

Timee Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuation - Primed for a Decent Upside at the Current Range

Timee Inc (215A JP) is looking to raise US$290m in its Japan IPO. The IPO will be a 100% secondary selldown by existing shareholders. In this note,...

Clarence Chu

Timee (215A JP) IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on rapidly slowing growth, an industry-low FCF profile, and a business model predicated on access to large funding and...

Arun George

Timee Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison - Stronger Growth Has Allowed It to Close the Margin Gap

Timee Inc (215A JP) is looking to raise US$290m from its Japan IPO. In an earlier note, we looked at the firm’s past performance. In this note, we...

Clarence Chu

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Mercari (4385) | Fintech and Gig Economy as Key Catalysts

​Mercari's US operations cut workforce by 45% to improve margins, while fintech growth remains strong and Mercari Hallo gains traction in Japan's...

Mark Chadwick

Kokusai Electric IPO Lock-Up - KKR Will Be Tempted by the US$2.7bn Release but Might Have to Wait

As per media reports, KKR is considering sell half its stake in Kokusai, with the company planning to buyback some shares as well. The company has...

Sumeet Singh

Timee Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuation - Primed for a Decent Upside at the Current Range

Timee Inc (215A JP) is looking to raise US$290m in its Japan IPO. The IPO will be a 100% secondary selldown by existing shareholders. In this note,...

Clarence Chu

Timee (215A JP) IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on rapidly slowing growth, an industry-low FCF profile, and a business model predicated on access to large funding and...

Arun George

Timee Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison - Stronger Growth Has Allowed It to Close the Margin Gap

Timee Inc (215A JP) is looking to raise US$290m from its Japan IPO. In an earlier note, we looked at the firm’s past performance. In this note, we...

Clarence Chu

Mercari's US operations cut workforce by 45% to improve margins, while fintech growth remains strong and Mercari Hallo gains traction in Japan's...