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

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Indonesia has been the recipient of significant investment flows for foreign investors with more of a "risk on" environment with a large portion flowing into Indonesian banks. </li>
<li>Indonesia stacks up from an investment perspective with a stable political environment, solid GDP growth of around 5% YoY, rising flows of FDI, and a more stable IDR.</li>
<li>Despite the JCI knocking on all-time highs, valuations continue to look attractive with prospects of a better 2H2024 and lower interest rates. Top picks: Banks, property, consumer, and selective elsewhere. </li>
</ul>


Indonesia has been the recipient of significant investment flows for foreign investors with more of a "risk on" environment with a large portion flowing into Indonesian banks. 
Indonesia stacks up from an investment perspective with a stable political environment, solid GDP growth of around 5% YoY, rising flows of FDI, and a more stable IDR.
Despite the JCI knocking on all-time highs, valuations continue to look attractive with prospects of a better 2H2024 and lower interest rates. Top picks: Banks, property, consumer, and selective elsewhere. 


Indonesia Strategy - Caught in a Perfect Updraft?

<ul>
<li>CrossASEAN Ground Zero is a new thematic weekly product that focuses on key Southeast Asian digital themes and technology trends with a core focus on Indonesia.</li>
<li>This week we dive deeper into the reasoning behind the sale of Tokopedia's sale of a 75% stake to TikTok, and what it means for GoTo going forward.</li>
<li>We also look at the recent troubles around the leading Indonesian P2P marketplace Investree, which range from the resignation of its CEO to rapidly rising bad debts.</li>
</ul>


CrossASEAN Ground Zero is a new thematic weekly product that focuses on key Southeast Asian digital themes and technology trends with a core focus on Indonesia.
This week we dive deeper into the reasoning behind the sale of Tokopedia's sale of a 75% stake to TikTok, and what it means for GoTo going forward.
We also look at the recent troubles around the leading Indonesian P2P marketplace Investree, which range from the resignation of its CEO to rapidly rising bad debts.


CrossASEAN Ground Zero - GoTo's Big Plan and Investree's Troubles

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Press reports suggest that a merger between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/goto-gojek-tokopedia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">GoTo Gojek Tokopedia</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grab-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> is back on the table, which is ironic given the progress of both companies towards profitability. </li>
<li>Any merger may encounter anti-trust issues in Indonesia, with some fallout for drivers and potentially merchants, which may encounter resistance from the government and even potential demonstrations but not insurmountable.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grab-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> should book a net profit in 2025 plus higher growth, as its barbell strategy gains traction, but a <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/goto-gojek-tokopedia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">GoTo</a> merger could move the dial towards much higher profitability.</li>
</ul>


Press reports suggest that a merger between GoTo Gojek Tokopedia and Grab is back on the table, which is ironic given the progress of both companies towards profitability. 
Any merger may encounter anti-trust issues in Indonesia, with some fallout for drivers and potentially merchants, which may encounter resistance from the government and even potential demonstrations but not insurmountable.

Grab should book a net profit in 2025 plus higher growth, as its barbell strategy gains traction, but a GoTo merger could move the dial towards much higher profitability.


Grab Holdings (GRAB US) - GoTo Merger Rears Its Head?

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

<ul>
<li>We turn positive on KakaoBank, for its increasingly secure competitive positioning in Korea, its attractive digital efficiency ratio, its low customer acquisition cost and for its high activity rate</li>
<li>We switch our buy rating from PAN to Inter as the latter has improved operationally, it is sound on capital and attractive on valuations</li>
<li>Nubank is executing well, but we remain cautious on Nubank shares as we continue to see potential capital constraints as a key risk, along with its stretched valuations</li>
</ul>


We turn positive on KakaoBank, for its increasingly secure competitive positioning in Korea, its attractive digital efficiency ratio, its low customer acquisition cost and for its high activity rate
We switch our buy rating from PAN to Inter as the latter has improved operationally, it is sound on capital and attractive on valuations
Nubank is executing well, but we remain cautious on Nubank shares as we continue to see potential capital constraints as a key risk, along with its stretched valuations


EM Digital Banks – We Turn Positive on KakaoBank and Inter, Cautious on Nubank and Neutral on PAN

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bfi-finance-indonesia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8447:1" rel="noopener">BFI Finance Indonesia</a> saw a marked turnaround in new bookings and a declining NPF ratio in 4Q2023, as its business recovered from the malware attack in May last year.</li>
<li>The company has started to be more aggressive in non-dealer 4W space but remains cautious on 2W. Write-offs peaked in 4Q2023 and will decline in 2024, leading to lower CoC. </li>
<li>BFIN will launch a tripartite collaboration with GoTo and Bank Jago which will help to drive future bookings growth. Valuations remain attractive with BFIN trading in 2.0x PBV </li>
</ul>



BFI Finance Indonesia saw a marked turnaround in new bookings and a declining NPF ratio in 4Q2023, as its business recovered from the malware attack in May last year.
The company has started to be more aggressive in non-dealer 4W space but remains cautious on 2W. Write-offs peaked in 4Q2023 and will decline in 2024, leading to lower CoC. 
BFIN will launch a tripartite collaboration with GoTo and Bank Jago which will help to drive future bookings growth. Valuations remain attractive with BFIN trading in 2.0x PBV 


BFI Finance Indonesia (BFIN IJ) - Visibility Improves

Indonesia

PT Bank Jago Tbk is an Indonesian digital banking institution that provides innovative financial solutions for individuals and businesses, with a focus on enhancing financial management through its Jago and Jago Syariah applications. The bank offers various funding and lending products, including savings accounts, time deposits, and different types of credit, catering to conventional and Sharia-compliant needs. It is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, and was founded in 1992.

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Bank Jago (ARTO IJ)

Indonesia Strategy - Caught in a Perfect Updraft?

Despite the JCI knocking on all-time highs, valuations continue to look attractive with prospects of a better 2H2024 and lower interest rates. Top...

Angus Mackintosh

CrossASEAN Ground Zero - GoTo's Big Plan and Investree's Troubles

This week we dive deeper into the reasoning behind the sale of Tokopedia's sale of 75% stale to TikTok, and what it means for GoTo going forward.

Angus Mackintosh

Grab Holdings (GRAB US) - GoTo Merger Rears Its Head?

Grab should book a net profit in 2025 plus higher growth, as its barbell strategy gains traction, but a GoTo merger could move the dial towards...

Angus Mackintosh

EM Digital Banks – We Turn Positive on KakaoBank and Inter, Cautious on Nubank and Neutral on PAN

KakaoBank raised to buy for its firm business niche, its positive banking and capital ratios; Inter is also a buy for its undemanding valuations...

Victor Galliano

BFI Finance Indonesia (BFIN IJ) - Visibility Improves

BFIN saw a turnaround in new bookings and a declining NPF ratio in 4Q2023, as its business recovered from the malware attack in May last year....

Angus Mackintosh

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