Forensic Analyst

Jason Yap, CFA

Forensic Accounting

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nanofilm-technologies-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29700:1" rel="noopener">Nanofilm (NANO SP)</a> is a Singapore-based nanotechnology solutions provider. Its principal business is the manufacturing and distribution of advanced materials and nanoproducts for the consumer electronics, communications, and automotive industries.Founded in 1999 by Executive Chairman Dr Shi Xu, who was then an associate professor at Nanyang Technology University (NTU)'s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanofilm raised approximately SGD470.1 million in IPO proceeds in October 2020.During its short history as a public company, the company had to endure significant regulator and investor scrutiny following sub-par H1 2021 results and senior management changes, including the abrupt resignations of former CEO, Mr Lee Liang Huang and former COO, Mr Ricky Tan, in quick succession (June and August 2021 respectively). Dr Shi, assumed the role of interim CEO, until the <a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/nanofilm-appoints-new-ceo-says-it-continues-to-see-growth-momentum-for-business#:~:text=MAINBOARD%2DLISTED%20Nanofilm%20Technologies%20International,on%20Thursday%20(Oct%2014)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent appointment</a> of Mr Gary Ho Hock Yong, as Nanofilm's CEO.  Dr Shi served as the company's CEO from 1999 to 2017. On 14 October 2021, Nanofilm provided a business update for Q3 2021, which highlighted continued growth momentum despite a volatile business environment, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions. In this Insight, we examine Nanofilm's financial and business risks based on its IPO prospectus disclosures and certain new risks that emerged given latest available facts and developments, including but not limited to the following: <ol>
<li>High Customer Concentration  </li>
<li>Competition from Alternative Products and Solutions</li>
<li>Significant Management Changes </li>
<li>Management Share Disposals </li>
</ol>Accordingly, we highlight the key areas of concern for investors.

Nanofilm (NANO SP) is a Singapore-based nanotechnology solutions provider. Its principal business is the manufacturing and distribution of advanced materials and nanoproducts for the consumer electronics, communications, and automotive industries.Founded in 1999 by Executive Chairman Dr Shi Xu, who was then an associate professor at Nanyang Technology University (NTU)'s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanofilm raised approximately SGD470.1 million in IPO proceeds in October 2020.During its short history as a public company, the company had to endure significant regulator and investor scrutiny following sub-par H1 2021 results and senior management changes, including the abrupt resignations of former CEO, Mr Lee Liang Huang and former COO, Mr Ricky Tan, in quick succession (June and August 2021 respectively). Dr Shi, assumed the role of interim CEO, until the recent appointment of Mr Gary Ho Hock Yong, as Nanofilm's CEO.  Dr Shi served as the company's CEO from 1999 to 2017. On 14 October 2021, Nanofilm provided a business update for Q3 2021, which highlighted continued growth momentum despite a volatile business environment, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions. In this Insight, we examine Nanofilm's financial and business risks based on its IPO prospectus disclosures and certain new risks that emerged given latest available facts and developments, including but not limited to the following: 
High Customer Concentration  
Competition from Alternative Products and Solutions
Significant Management Changes 
Management Share Disposals 
Accordingly, we highlight the key areas of concern for investors. 

Understanding Nanofilm (Nano SP)'s 3Cs - Customer Concentration, Competition and Management Changes

APAC IPOs & Placements

Zhen Zhou, Toh

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 Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nanofilm-technologies-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29700:1" rel="noopener">Nanofilm (NANO SP)</a> has been on a tear since its listing late last year. Its shares are currently trading about 103% higher than its IPO price.We covered the IPO in:<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/nanofilm-technologies-ipo-impressive-growth-and-margins" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44341" rel="noopener">Nanofilm Technologies IPO - Impressive Growth and Margins</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/nanofilm-technologies-ipo-expensive-but-still-justifiable-valuation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44348" rel="noopener">Nanofilm Technologies IPO - Expensive but Still Justifiable Valuation</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/nanofilm-technologies-ipo-trading-may-just-be-the-one-that-stands-out" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44706" rel="noopener">Nanofilm Technologies IPO Trading - May Just Be the One that Stands Out</a> </li>
</ul>

Nanofilm (NANO SP) has been on a tear since its listing late last year. Its shares are currently trading about 103% higher than its IPO price.We covered the IPO in:

Nanofilm Technologies IPO - Impressive Growth and Margins 

Nanofilm Technologies IPO - Expensive but Still Justifiable Valuation 

Nanofilm Technologies IPO Trading - May Just Be the One that Stands Out 


Nanofilm Technologies - Risk Reward Shifting

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

Equity Capital Markets

Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation / Equity Capital Markets

Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation

<ul>
<li>Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation Ltd (VTAC) aims to raise around US$126m via Singapore’s first SPAC listing.</li>
<li>VTAC is sponsored by Vertex Venture Holdings (VVH), a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek. </li>
<li>In this tear sheet, we will talk about the deal background and structure.</li>
</ul>


Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation Ltd (VTAC) aims to raise around US$126m via Singapore’s first SPAC listing.
VTAC is sponsored by Vertex Venture Holdings (VVH), a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek. 
In this tear sheet, we will talk about the deal background and structure.


Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation Ltd Tear Sheet - Singapore’s First SPAC Listing

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Temasek raised around US$300m via its secondary selldown in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-airlines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:74:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Airlines (SIA SP)</a> in Jun 2023. The lockup from that placement will expire soon.</li>
<li>Temasek still owns over 50% of SIA and hence, any selldown might not come before SIA reports its 1H23/24 results in mid-Nov 2023.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the placement lockup dynamics.</li>
</ul>


Temasek raised around US$300m via its secondary selldown in Singapore Airlines (SIA SP) in Jun 2023. The lockup from that placement will expire soon.
Temasek still owns over 50% of SIA and hence, any selldown might not come before SIA reports its 1H23/24 results in mid-Nov 2023.
In this note, we talk about the placement lockup dynamics.


SIA Placement Lockup - Time for Another Trim of Its US$7bn Stake

<ul>
<li>PropertyGuru and Bridgetown 2 announced, on 23rd Jul 2021, that they have entered into a business combination agreement which will see PropertyGuru go public in the US. </li>
<li>Both the companies will hold their respective EGMs next week and aim to complete the listing by 18th Mar 2022.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company’s prior listing attempt, in Australia in 2019, and the current SPAC merger. In this note, we will talk about the recent updates.</li>
</ul>


PropertyGuru and Bridgetown 2 announced, on 23rd Jul 2021, that they have entered into a business combination agreement which will see PropertyGuru go public in the US. 
Both the companies will hold their respective EGMs next week and aim to complete the listing by 18th Mar 2022.
We have looked at the company’s prior listing attempt, in Australia in 2019, and the current SPAC merger. In this note, we will talk about the recent updates.


PropertyGuru/Bridgetown 2 SPAC Listing/Merger - Peers Are Down a Lot, as the Deal Nears Completion

Singapore

Nanofilm Technologies International Pte Ltd manufactures industrial machinery. The Company specializes in batch and load-lock systems, as well as materials with special surface properties and nano-engineering capabilities. Nanofilm Technologies International serves customers worldwide.

Nanofilm (NANO SP)

Understanding Nanofilm (Nano SP)'s 3Cs - Customer Concentration, Competition and Management Changes

In its short listed history, Nanofilm endured significant regulator and investor scrutiny following sub-par results, management share disposals and...

Jason Yap, CFA

Nanofilm Technologies - Risk Reward Shifting

Nanofilm (NANO SP) has been on a tear since its listing late last year. Its shares are currently trading about 103% higher than its IPO price.

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation Ltd Tear Sheet - Singapore’s First SPAC Listing

Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation Ltd (VTAC) aims to raise around US$126m via Singapore’s first SPAC listing. VTAC is backed by Vertex,...

Sumeet Singh

SIA Placement Lockup - Time for Another Trim of Its US$7bn Stake

Temasek raised around US$300m via its secondary selldown in Singapore Airlines (SIA SP) in Jun 2023. The lockup from that placement will expire soon.

Sumeet Singh

PropertyGuru/Bridgetown 2 SPAC Listing/Merger - Peers Are Down a Lot, as the Deal Nears Completion

PropertyGuru and Bridgetown 2 announced, on 23rd Jul 2021, that they have entered into a business combination agreement which will see PropertyGuru...

Sumeet Singh