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 (4478 JP)</a> reported 3QFY06/2023 results. Revenue increased 39.5% YoY to ¥5.1bn (vs consensus ¥4.9bn) while adj. operating losses increased to ¥1.9bn (vs consensus ¥1.9bn) from ¥676m in 3QFY03/2022.</li>
<li>Widened operating losses is no big surprise as freee had already guided for increased investments related to invoicing system and tax filing season which has helped increase paying user numbers.</li>
<li>As we continue to emphasise, freee’s business model is superior to that of MF who has resorted to several mediocre businesses (non-BA SAAS) to pursue aggressive top line growth.</li>
</ul>



freee (4478 JP) reported 3QFY06/2023 results. Revenue increased 39.5% YoY to ¥5.1bn (vs consensus ¥4.9bn) while adj. operating losses increased to ¥1.9bn (vs consensus ¥1.9bn) from ¥676m in 3QFY03/2022.
Widened operating losses is no big surprise as freee had already guided for increased investments related to invoicing system and tax filing season which has helped increase paying user numbers.
As we continue to emphasise, freee’s business model is superior to that of MF who has resorted to several mediocre businesses (non-BA SAAS) to pursue aggressive top line growth.


Freee: User Acquisition Strategy Paying Off

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/rakuten-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a> aims to raise up to US$2.4bn (JPY323bn) via a global offering.</li>
<li>The deal was undoubtedly accelerated by Reuters breaking the news of a possible equity raising on 15th May 2023.</li>
<li>We have covered most aspects of the deal in our previous note, in this note we talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten (4755 JP) aims to raise up to US$2.4bn (JPY323bn) via a global offering.
The deal was undoubtedly accelerated by Reuters breaking the news of a possible equity raising on 15th May 2023.
We have covered most aspects of the deal in our previous note, in this note we talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.


Rakuten US$2.4bn Placement - Larger than Rumored, Some Indications of Finality

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a> is considering raising around US$2.2bn (JPY300bn), as per Reuters reports. The company hasn't confirmed or denied the same in its press release.</li>
<li>The company has been listing some of its subsidiaries and monetising investments to raise cash and has recently hinted at a possible equity issuance.</li>
<li>While there is no guarantee that the deal will ever materialize, in this note, we take an early look at the possible deal dynamics.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten (4755 JP) is considering raising around US$2.2bn (JPY300bn), as per Reuters reports. The company hasn't confirmed or denied the same in its press release.
The company has been listing some of its subsidiaries and monetising investments to raise cash and has recently hinted at a possible equity issuance.
While there is no guarantee that the deal will ever materialize, in this note, we take an early look at the possible deal dynamics.


Rakuten Possible US$2.2bn Placement - Will Be a Huge Deal to Digest, but It's Not All Bad

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35638:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Bank (5838 JP)</a>, the online banking arm of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a>, raised around US$630m in its Japan IPO.</li>
<li>RB is the largest internet bank in Japan, by number of accounts. As of Dec 22, it had 13.3m deposit accounts with a total deposit base of JPY8.8tn.</li>
<li>In our earlier notes, we have looked at various aspects of the deal. In this note, we talk about the deal dynamics and trading updates.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten Bank (5838 JP), the online banking arm of Rakuten (4755 JP), raised around US$630m in its Japan IPO.
RB is the largest internet bank in Japan, by number of accounts. As of Dec 22, it had 13.3m deposit accounts with a total deposit base of JPY8.8tn.
In our earlier notes, we have looked at various aspects of the deal. In this note, we talk about the deal dynamics and trading updates.


<ul>
<li>MF reported 1QFY11/2023 results on Friday. Revenue increased 43.0% YoY to ¥6.8bn (vs consensus ¥6.5bn) while operating losses dropped to ¥1.59bn vs ¥1.65bn in 1QFY11/22 (vs consensus ¥2.0bn).</li>
<li>The company’s S&amp;M spending is the lowest during first quarter of the year, which drove losses down. However, the company has guided for higher S&amp;M spending in 2Q.</li>
<li>Our analysis on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/money-forward-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25919:1" rel="noopener">Money Forward (3994 JP)</a> BO SAAS vs Non-BO SAAS shows that non-BO businesses’ GPM has continued to decline suggesting that these non-BO businesses only help inflate revenues.</li>
</ul>


MF reported 1QFY11/2023 results on Friday. Revenue increased 43.0% YoY to ¥6.8bn (vs consensus ¥6.5bn) while operating losses dropped to ¥1.59bn vs ¥1.65bn in 1QFY11/22 (vs consensus ¥2.0bn).
The company’s S&amp;M spending is the lowest during first quarter of the year, which drove losses down. However, the company has guided for higher S&amp;M spending in 2Q.
Our analysis on Money Forward (3994 JP) BO SAAS vs Non-BO SAAS shows that non-BO businesses’ GPM has continued to decline suggesting that these non-BO businesses only help inflate revenues.


Money Forward: Lower S&M Spending in 1Q Drives Losses Down

Japan

Money Forward, Inc. develops mobile application software. The Company produces automatic household account book softwares, household account book application softwares, and other products. Money Forward also provides personal financial management, cloud based accounting solutions, and other services.

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Money Forward (3994 JP)

Freee: User Acquisition Strategy Paying Off

Widened operating losses is no big surprise as freee had already guided for increased investments related to invoicing system and tax filing...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Rakuten US$2.4bn Placement - Larger than Rumored, Some Indications of Finality

Rakuten (4755 JP) aims to raise up to US$2.4bn (JPY323bn) via a global offering. In this note, we talk about the deal structure and the deal dynamics.

Sumeet Singh

Rakuten Possible US$2.2bn Placement - Will Be a Huge Deal to Digest, but It's Not All Bad

Rakuten (4755 JP) is considering raising around US$2.2bn, as per Reuters reports. The company hasn't confirmed or denied the same in its press...

Sumeet Singh

Rakuten Bank IPO Trading - Ample Upside

Rakuten Bank (5838 JP), the online banking arm of Rakuten (4755 JP), raised around US$630m in its Japan IPO. In this note, we talk about the...

Sumeet Singh

Money Forward: Lower S&M Spending in 1Q Drives Losses Down

MF's S&M spending is lowest during the first quarter which helped reduce losses during the quarter. Non-BO SAAS businesses' GPM is declining...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

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