Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>In 2002, Seiyu was saved by the foreign might of Walmart. Today it is about 25% smaller but over the same 20 years, it has gone from a ¥90 billion loss to an estimated ¥40 billion operating profit last year. Now, with the backing of its new majority owners, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kkr-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27333:1" rel="noopener">KKR &amp; Co Inc (KKR US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a>, Seiyu has announced ambitious plans to become Japan’s largest online supermarket by 2025. This is increasingly likely thanks to Rakuten's new reach through its new joint venture with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP).</a> </p><p>Right now, online food retailing is a two horse race between Amazon and Rakuten, with Z Holdings nowhere in sight.</p>

In 2002, Seiyu was saved by the foreign might of Walmart. Today it is about 25% smaller but over the same 20 years, it has gone from a ¥90 billion loss to an estimated ¥40 billion operating profit last year. Now, with the backing of its new majority owners, KKR &amp; Co Inc (KKR US) and Rakuten Inc (4755 JP), Seiyu has announced ambitious plans to become Japan’s largest online supermarket by 2025. This is increasingly likely thanks to Rakuten's new reach through its new joint venture with Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP). Right now, online food retailing is a two horse race between Amazon and Rakuten, with Z Holdings nowhere in sight.

Seiyu: Back in the Mainstream Thanks to Rakuten

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.

Equity Capital Markets

Bukalapak.com PT Tbk / Equity Capital Markets

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bukalapak" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33575:1" rel="noopener">Bukalapak (BUKA IJ)</a>, which means 'opening a kiosk' in Indonesian, is a leading e-commerce player in non-Tier 1 cities in Indonesia, with a market share of 35% in 2020 based on GMV (gross merchandise value), according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. </p>
<p>Bukalapak will price its IPO at the top-end of its indicative price range of Rp750-850 per share, according to press reports. Bukalapak will raise Rp22 trillion ($1.5 billion) which will be Indonesia's largest-ever IPO. The shares are set to list on 6 August. </p>
</div><div><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bukalapak-ipo-initiation-island-shopping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:54584" rel="noopener">Bukalapak IPO Initiation: Island Shopping</a>, we noted that like its peers, Bukalapak is benefiting from the accelerating adoption of e-commerce in Indonesia. Bukalapak’s strategy of focusing on consumers in the non-Tier 1 area and the mass market in the Tier 1 area results in a relatively small overlap (less than 20%) between its customers and customers of other online marketplaces such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a>'s Shopee, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokopedia-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24239:1" rel="noopener">Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ)</a> and <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>'s Lazada. Competitors generally target the affluent segment of the market. We concluded that Bukalapak's fundamentals tick all the right boxes of rising monetisation, lower losses and declining cash burn, in our view. </p></div><div class="content-highlight"><p>Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive. Overall, we would participate in the IPO.</p></div>


Bukalapak (BUKA IJ), which means 'opening a kiosk' in Indonesian, is a leading e-commerce player in non-Tier 1 cities in Indonesia, with a market share of 35% in 2020 based on GMV (gross merchandise value), according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. 
Bukalapak will price its IPO at the top-end of its indicative price range of Rp750-850 per share, according to press reports. Bukalapak will raise Rp22 trillion ($1.5 billion) which will be Indonesia's largest-ever IPO. The shares are set to list on 6 August. 
In Bukalapak IPO Initiation: Island Shopping, we noted that like its peers, Bukalapak is benefiting from the accelerating adoption of e-commerce in Indonesia. Bukalapak’s strategy of focusing on consumers in the non-Tier 1 area and the mass market in the Tier 1 area results in a relatively small overlap (less than 20%) between its customers and customers of other online marketplaces such as Sea Ltd (SE US)'s Shopee, Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ) and Alibaba Group (BABA US)'s Lazada. Competitors generally target the affluent segment of the market. We concluded that Bukalapak's fundamentals tick all the right boxes of rising monetisation, lower losses and declining cash burn, in our view. Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive. Overall, we would participate in the IPO.

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bukalapak" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33575:1" rel="noopener">Bukalapak (BUKA IJ)</a>, which means 'opening a kiosk' in Indonesian, is a leading e-commerce player in non-Tier 1 cities in Indonesia, with a market share of 35% in 2020 based on GMV (gross merchandise value), according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. Bukalapak carries out its main business activities through the mobile platform <em>Bukalapak</em> and <em>Bukalapak Partners</em>. Bukalapak has increased its IPO size by about a third to $1.5 billion due to strong demand, according to press reports. Bookbuilding will close on 19 July and the shares are set to list on 6 August. </p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the rate of e-commerce adoption in Indonesia as more consumers are reluctant to travel and started changing their shopping habits to online shopping, due to personal preferences or lockdown restrictions. The share of e-commerce of total retail spending in Indonesia has grown from 5.6% in 2017 to around 22% in 2020 and will reach 35.9% in 2025, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Like its peers, Bukalapak is benefiting from this market tailwind. Bukalapak’s strategy of focusing on consumers in the non-Tier 1 area and the mass market in the Tier 1 area results in a relatively small overlap (less than 20%) between its customers and customers of other online marketplaces such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a>'s Shopee, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokopedia-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24239:1" rel="noopener">Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ)</a> and <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>'s Lazada. Competitors generally target the affluent segment of the market. Overall, Bukalapak's fundamentals tick all the right boxes of rising monetisation, lower losses and declining cash burn, in our view. We will discuss valuation in our next note. </p></div>

Bukalapak (BUKA IJ), which means 'opening a kiosk' in Indonesian, is a leading e-commerce player in non-Tier 1 cities in Indonesia, with a market share of 35% in 2020 based on GMV (gross merchandise value), according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. Bukalapak carries out its main business activities through the mobile platform Bukalapak and Bukalapak Partners. Bukalapak has increased its IPO size by about a third to $1.5 billion due to strong demand, according to press reports. Bookbuilding will close on 19 July and the shares are set to list on 6 August. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the rate of e-commerce adoption in Indonesia as more consumers are reluctant to travel and started changing their shopping habits to online shopping, due to personal preferences or lockdown restrictions. The share of e-commerce of total retail spending in Indonesia has grown from 5.6% in 2017 to around 22% in 2020 and will reach 35.9% in 2025, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. Like its peers, Bukalapak is benefiting from this market tailwind. Bukalapak’s strategy of focusing on consumers in the non-Tier 1 area and the mass market in the Tier 1 area results in a relatively small overlap (less than 20%) between its customers and customers of other online marketplaces such as Sea Ltd (SE US)'s Shopee, Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ) and Alibaba Group (BABA US)'s Lazada. Competitors generally target the affluent segment of the market. Overall, Bukalapak's fundamentals tick all the right boxes of rising monetisation, lower losses and declining cash burn, in our view. We will discuss valuation in our next note. 

Bukalapak IPO Initiation: Island Shopping

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-cosco-holdings-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:286:1" rel="noopener">COSCO Shipping Holdings (1919 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-life-insurance-co-ltd-9f877d22-7cf7-4b00-b525-cec71139f369" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5794:1" rel="noopener">China Life Insurance Co H (2628 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/byd-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20962:1" rel="noopener">BYD (1211 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/weimob-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27394:1" rel="noopener">Weimob Inc. (2013 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wuxi-apptec-co-ltd-bf4a1265-beef-48b6-b82d-29308426030f" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27795:1" rel="noopener">WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd. (2359 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pop-mart-international-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29016:1" rel="noopener">Pop Mart International Group Limited (9992 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/country-garden-services-holdings-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27343:1" rel="noopener">Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in the Financials, Industrials, Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Health Care, Consumer Staples and Real Estate sectors, while decreasing in the Information Technology sector.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takeda-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11747:1" rel="noopener">Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ryohin-keikaku-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2765:1" rel="noopener">Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10928:1" rel="noopener">SBI Holdings (8473 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-electric-power-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15457:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renova-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26753:1" rel="noopener">RENOVA Inc (9519 JP)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kirin-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16977:1" rel="noopener">Kirin Holdings (2503 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/agc-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2167:1" rel="noopener">AGC Inc (5201 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/monex-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14211:1" rel="noopener">Monex Group Inc (8698 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shimizu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8530:1" rel="noopener">Shimizu Corp (1803 JP)</a>. Shorts increased in the Health Care, Utilities and  Information Technology sectors while decreasing in the Consumer Staples, Industrials and Consumer Discretionary sectors.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hmm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13494:1" rel="noopener">HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ncsoft-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5169:1" rel="noopener">NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-electronics-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8814:1" rel="noopener">LG Electronics (066570 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1" rel="noopener">LG Display (034220 KS)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/posco-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12421:1" rel="noopener">Posco Chemical Co Ltd (003670 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lotte-chemical-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8757:1" rel="noopener">Lotte Chemical (011170 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/db-hitek-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18926:1" rel="noopener">DB Hitek Co., Ltd. (000990 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a>. </p></div><div><p>In Taiwan, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yang-ming-marine-transport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8502:1" rel="noopener">Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nanya-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3269:1" rel="noopener">Nanya Technology (2408 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/winbond-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9177:1" rel="noopener">Winbond Electronics (2344 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/novatek-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10904:1" rel="noopener">Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/au-optronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6704:1" rel="noopener">AU Optronics (2409 TT)</a> while shorts covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergreen-marine-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15428:1" rel="noopener">Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yuanta-financial-holding-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:685:1" rel="noopener">Yuanta Financial Holding Co (2885 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6450:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alchip-technologies-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20219:1" rel="noopener">Alchip Technologies (3661 TT)</a>. </p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on COSCO Shipping Holdings (1919 HK), Alibaba Group (9988 HK), China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK), Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK) and China Life Insurance Co H (2628 HK) while there was short covering on BYD (1211 HK), Weimob Inc. (2013 HK), WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd. (2359 HK), Pop Mart International Group Limited (9992 HK) and Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK). Shorts increased in the Financials, Industrials, Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Health Care, Consumer Staples and Real Estate sectors, while decreasing in the Information Technology sector.In Japan, stocks increased on Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP), Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP), SBI Holdings (8473 JP), Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501 JP) and RENOVA Inc (9519 JP) while there was short covering on Kirin Holdings (2503 JP), Rakuten Inc (4755 JP), AGC Inc (5201 JP), Monex Group Inc (8698 JP) and Shimizu Corp (1803 JP). Shorts increased in the Health Care, Utilities and  Information Technology sectors while decreasing in the Consumer Staples, Industrials and Consumer Discretionary sectors.In Korea, shorts increased on HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS), NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS), LG Electronics (066570 KS), Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) and LG Display (034220 KS) while shorts were covered on Posco Chemical Co Ltd (003670 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), Lotte Chemical (011170 KS), DB Hitek Co., Ltd. (000990 KS) and Naver Corp (035420 KS). In Taiwan, shorts increased on Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT), Nanya Technology (2408 TT), Winbond Electronics (2344 TT), Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT) and AU Optronics (2409 TT) while shorts covered on Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT), Yageo Corporation (2327 TT), Yuanta Financial Holding Co (2885 TT), United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT) and Alchip Technologies (3661 TT). 

Asia Shorts: Cosco Ship, Kuaishou, Pop Mart, WuXi, Takeda, Kirin, Monex, HMM, NC Soft, Yang Ming

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>Google is reportedly close to acquiring smartphone settlements company Pring for ¥20-30bn which would open the door for it to offer a mobile payments service in Japan directly linked to bank accounts. And that is the appeal of Pring which is a relative minnow in the Japanese payments market with &lt;1mn users but has relationships with a wide range of Japanese financial institutions. Google is not a global fintech player but it has had some success in a few markets like the US and India whilst it has started to expand in Europe, and now apparently, Japan. Competitively, the major domestic players with vast consumer ecosystems are formidable competition but Google connects to half of all smartphone users through Android and has merchant relationships through its Internet advertising business.</p>

Google is reportedly close to acquiring smartphone settlements company Pring for ¥20-30bn which would open the door for it to offer a mobile payments service in Japan directly linked to bank accounts. And that is the appeal of Pring which is a relative minnow in the Japanese payments market with &lt;1mn users but has relationships with a wide range of Japanese financial institutions. Google is not a global fintech player but it has had some success in a few markets like the US and India whilst it has started to expand in Europe, and now apparently, Japan. Competitively, the major domestic players with vast consumer ecosystems are formidable competition but Google connects to half of all smartphone users through Android and has merchant relationships through its Internet advertising business.

Japan Fintech - Google Push into Mobile Payments Could Raise Competitive Intensity

Japan

Rakuten Group, Inc. provides Internet services. The Company offers Internet finance services which including "Rakuten Card" and "Rakuten Bank". Rakuten Group also provides digital content services including electronic book services.

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Rakuten (4755 JP)

Seiyu: Back in the Mainstream Thanks to Rakuten

Online is only 3% of food retail in Japan but this is about to change fast. Amazon leads in this race but Rakuten is about to catch up through...

Michael Causton

Bukalapak IPO: Valuation Insights

Bukalapak will price its IPO at the top-end of its indicative price range of Rp750-850 per share, according to press reports. Our valuation...

Arun George

Bukalapak IPO Initiation: Island Shopping

Bukalapak has increased its IPO size by about a third to $1.5 billion due to strong demand. Its fundamentals tick all the right boxes of rising...

Arun George

Asia Shorts: Cosco Ship, Kuaishou, Pop Mart, WuXi, Takeda, Kirin, Monex, HMM, NC Soft, Yang Ming

The Insight looks at large short interest movements across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

Japan Fintech - Google Push into Mobile Payments Could Raise Competitive Intensity

Google is considering an acquisition that would allow it to compete directly in JP mobile payments. It lacks a direct consumer business but Android...

Kirk Boodry

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