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.

Event-Driven

The ride-hailing giant <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a> announced on Tuesday (13th April 2021) that it plans to go public in the US via a SPAC merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altimeter-growth-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33007:1" rel="noopener">Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)</a>  at a proposed valuation (pro-forma) of approx. US$39.6bn.In our previous insight on Grab’s SPAC deal, we discussed the company’s growth prospects and its financials. In this insight, we examine the company’s valuation using a SOTP.

The ride-hailing giant Grab (0967655D SP) announced on Tuesday (13th April 2021) that it plans to go public in the US via a SPAC merger with Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)  at a proposed valuation (pro-forma) of approx. US$39.6bn.In our previous insight on Grab’s SPAC deal, we discussed the company’s growth prospects and its financials. In this insight, we examine the company’s valuation using a SOTP.

Grab: SOTP Suggests Steep Discount to Proposed SPAC Valuation

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Capital Markets

Priced at ~2x Uber on a forward EV/Revenue metric.
That was my immediate takeaway from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a>'s <a href="https://www.grab.com/sg/press/others/grab-go-public-in-partnership-with-altimeter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> it intends to go public in the U.S. in partnership with SPAC <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altimeter-growth-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33007:1" rel="noopener">Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)</a>. 
The proposed transaction represents an expected equity value of US$39.55bn and EV of US$30.36bn, with cash proceeds of US$4.54bn.
In past insights on SPACs, beginning with <a href="https://skr.ma/5UGLq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virtual IPOs/Direct Listings: Uninhibited Price Discovery</a>, one issue for SPACs is their overabundance in the market today, targeting popular private companies. As such, popular private companies can tee up “SPAC-offs,” where various SPACs pitch their deal, competing (mostly) on price.  The higher the acquisition price, the lower the future return for SPAC investors.
And Grab has competition. Its main rival is Indonesia's <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a>, and the two courted each other around February last year before irreconcilable differences led to them parting ways in January this year.
There is talk Gojek will merge with e-commerce payer Tokopedia and similarly seek a US listing.
Mobile gaming and online shopping platform player <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> is also in the mix, and currently boasts a non-insignificant market cap of US$125bn.
The merger is slated for closing in July this year.
More below the fold.

Priced at ~2x Uber on a forward EV/Revenue metric.
That was my immediate takeaway from Grab (0967655D SP)'s announcement it intends to go public in the U.S. in partnership with SPAC Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US). 
The proposed transaction represents an expected equity value of US$39.55bn and EV of US$30.36bn, with cash proceeds of US$4.54bn.
In past insights on SPACs, beginning with Virtual IPOs/Direct Listings: Uninhibited Price Discovery, one issue for SPACs is their overabundance in the market today, targeting popular private companies. As such, popular private companies can tee up “SPAC-offs,” where various SPACs pitch their deal, competing (mostly) on price.  The higher the acquisition price, the lower the future return for SPAC investors.
And Grab has competition. Its main rival is Indonesia's Gojek (1379371D IJ), and the two courted each other around February last year before irreconcilable differences led to them parting ways in January this year.
There is talk Gojek will merge with e-commerce payer Tokopedia and similarly seek a US listing.
Mobile gaming and online shopping platform player Sea Ltd (SE US) is also in the mix, and currently boasts a non-insignificant market cap of US$125bn.
The merger is slated for closing in July this year.
More below the fold.

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

Private Capital Markets

GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk PT / Private Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> just had a vote of confidence in its digital financial strategy, with GIC (Singapore's Sovereign Wealth Fund) revealing that it will invest in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ)</a>, where Gojek recently increased its own stake to 22.16%. 
GIC will invest around US$225m to acquire circa 9% stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ)</a> through a rights issue to take place in March.
The Indonesian bank is already in the process of transforming itself into a digital bank but bringing in GIC as a shareholder will bring comfort in terms of governance of the bank, as well as obviously bringing new funds.
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ)</a> will secure IDR7tn or US$497.3m through the issuance of new shares, increasing its total capital to IDR8tn or US$564.4m.
The potential customer base for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ)</a> will be even larger assuming the Gojek-Tokopedia merger goes through, opening up Tokopedia's customers and sellers as potential customers. 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> is not standing still on digital finance in Indonesia and has recently acquired a local bank Bank BKE, which has been renamed SeaBank, which we also discuss below. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> probably represents the most serious potential competitive threat for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ)</a>.
<div class="content-highlight">
Valuations for the merged <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokopedia-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24239:1" rel="noopener">Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ)</a> have crept up to US$35bn-US$40bn and no doubt an early success with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ)</a> will help it command a higher multiple on the listing of the combined entity. 
</div>

Gojek (1379371D IJ) just had a vote of confidence in its digital financial strategy, with GIC (Singapore's Sovereign Wealth Fund) revealing that it will invest in Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ), where Gojek recently increased its own stake to 22.16%. 
GIC will invest around US$225m to acquire circa 9% stake in Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ) through a rights issue to take place in March.
The Indonesian bank is already in the process of transforming itself into a digital bank but bringing in GIC as a shareholder will bring comfort in terms of governance of the bank, as well as obviously bringing new funds.
Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ) will secure IDR7tn or US$497.3m through the issuance of new shares, increasing its total capital to IDR8tn or US$564.4m.
The potential customer base for Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ) will be even larger assuming the Gojek-Tokopedia merger goes through, opening up Tokopedia's customers and sellers as potential customers. 
Sea Ltd (SE US) is not standing still on digital finance in Indonesia and has recently acquired a local bank Bank BKE, which has been renamed SeaBank, which we also discuss below. Sea Ltd (SE US) probably represents the most serious potential competitive threat for Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ).

Valuations for the merged Gojek (1379371D IJ) and Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ) have crept up to US$35bn-US$40bn and no doubt an early success with Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ) will help it command a higher multiple on the listing of the combined entity. 


Gojek (1379371D IJ) - A Leg Up for Digital Finance?

Global TMT analyst with Asia ex-Japan focus.

Mitchell Kim

Equity Bottom-Up

In this report, we summarize the potential impact of the Internet consumer lending guidelines announced by CBIRC on Ant Group and why its value remains intact, which bodes well for the underperformed Alibaba shares.  We provide a more in-depth look at the following: <ul>
<li>Ant’s revised valuation and sensitivity analyses focusing on consumer loan growth assumption and various valuation multiples.</li>
<li>The argument for why <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> shares were excessively penalized when <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a> remains unscathed.</li>
<li>Our own Ant Group’s financial forecasts.</li>
<li>A closer look at each of Ant's business segments and their monetization rates.</li>
<li>Ant’s market share by segment. </li>
</ul>

In this report, we summarize the potential impact of the Internet consumer lending guidelines announced by CBIRC on Ant Group and why its value remains intact, which bodes well for the underperformed Alibaba shares.  We provide a more in-depth look at the following: 
Ant’s revised valuation and sensitivity analyses focusing on consumer loan growth assumption and various valuation multiples.
The argument for why Alibaba Group (BABA US) shares were excessively penalized when Tencent Holdings (700 HK) remains unscathed.
Our own Ant Group’s financial forecasts.
A closer look at each of Ant's business segments and their monetization rates.
Ant’s market share by segment. 


Alibaba (BABA US): Ant Group Woes Overly Priced-In

Global equities research in innovation & tech

Vishal Hargovan

An innovation focussed investment company

Granite Bay Capital

Granite Bay Capital is an innovation focussed investment company with a deep focus on the companies at the leading edge of innovation across major themes such as AI, ubiquitous computing, sustainability, automation and longevity.

<ul>
<li>Affirm is a leading North American based BNPL provider that is well placed to grow aggressively over the next decade</li>
<li>Their advantages are threefold:</li>
</ul><ol>
<li>Excellence at technology and data which enables Affirm to win enterprise scale platforms</li>
<li>The ability to address transactions across the average order value scale hence address a larger proportion of credit card displacement TAM</li>
<li>Transparency and fairness with a commitment to never charge late fees appeals to merchants who share this value set / brand ethos</li>
</ol><ul><li>There will be multiple winners in the BNPL space and while Afterpay is our preferred pick, we believe Affirm’s strengths cannot be ignored and warrants strong consideration in a long portfolio</li></ul>


Affirm is a leading North American based BNPL provider that is well placed to grow aggressively over the next decade
Their advantages are threefold:

Excellence at technology and data which enables Affirm to win enterprise scale platforms
The ability to address transactions across the average order value scale hence address a larger proportion of credit card displacement TAM
Transparency and fairness with a commitment to never charge late fees appeals to merchants who share this value set / brand ethos
There will be multiple winners in the BNPL space and while Afterpay is our preferred pick, we believe Affirm’s strengths cannot be ignored and warrants strong consideration in a long portfolio

Affirm (AFRM) – The Rise of the Financial Super App

United States

PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates as a technology platform company that enables digital and mobile payments on behalf of consumers and merchants. The Company offers online payment solutions. PayPal Holdings serves customers worldwide.

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Paypal Holdings (PYPL US)

Grab: SOTP Suggests Steep Discount to Proposed SPAC Valuation

Our SOTP valuation implies significant downside to Grab’s pro-forma valuation of the proposed SPAC deal even after assigning generous target...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

SPAC Grab ... At 2x Uber

There are 650mn consumers in Southeast Asia, worth an estimated US$2.8tn. This is not a winner takes all maker. If anything, it's a three-way "grab".

David Blennerhassett

Gojek (1379371D IJ) - A Leg Up for Digital Finance?

The move by GIC to invest in Bank Jago represents a vote of confidence in Gojek's digital financial strategy and places it ahead of its competitors...

Angus Mackintosh

Alibaba (BABA US): Ant Group Woes Overly Priced-In

In this report, we summarize the potential impact of the recently announced regulation by CBIRC on Ant Group and why its value remains intact,...

Mitchell Kim

Affirm (AFRM) – The Rise of the Financial Super App

Affirm has a strong technology focus and a mission driven CEO who believes in bringing fairness to financial products. Investors should not...

Vishal Hargovan

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