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/paypay-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35269:1" rel="noopener">PayPay (PAYP US)</a> (PP), a Japanese payments and financial services platform, is looking to raise up to US$2bn in its upcoming US IPO.</li>
<li>PP operates a digital finance platform that serves as a payment solution for users and merchants, along with offering additional services.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.</li>
</ul>



PayPay (PAYP US) (PP), a Japanese payments and financial services platform, is looking to raise up to US$2bn in its upcoming US IPO.
PP operates a digital finance platform that serves as a payment solution for users and merchants, along with offering additional services.
In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.


Aequitas: PayPay Pre-IPO - The Negatives - User Growth, Loss Allowances

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paypay" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35269:1" rel="noopener">PayPay (PAYP US)</a> (PP), a Japanese payments and financial services platform, is looking to raise up to US$2bn in its upcoming US IPO.</li>
<li>PP operates a digital finance platform that serves as a payment solution for users and merchants, along with offering additional services.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the positive aspects of the deal.</li>
</ul>



PayPay (PAYP US) (PP), a Japanese payments and financial services platform, is looking to raise up to US$2bn in its upcoming US IPO.
PP operates a digital finance platform that serves as a payment solution for users and merchants, along with offering additional services.
In this note, we talk about the positive aspects of the deal.


Aequitas: PayPay Pre-IPO - The Positives - Dominant in the Payment Space

Index Rebal/Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Index Rebal/Special Situations

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) calculates Free-Float Weight (FFW) for each listed company and uses this value as a key component of TOPIX Index Calculation.</li>
<li>For companies with "low liquidity" the FFW will be multiplied by a fixed liquidity factor of 0.75x to derive the final FFW used for index calculation.</li>
<li>Every April, the application of this liquidity factor is reviewed by the TSE. In this insight, we take an early look at what could happen in April 2026.</li>
</ul>


The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) calculates Free-Float Weight (FFW) for each listed company and uses this value as a key component of TOPIX Index Calculation.
For companies with "low liquidity" the FFW will be multiplied by a fixed liquidity factor of 0.75x to derive the final FFW used for index calculation.
Every April, the application of this liquidity factor is reviewed by the TSE. In this insight, we take an early look at what could happen in April 2026.


TOPIX Index Upweights: An Early Preview Of "The Big April Basket" 2026; US$1bn+ Index Flows Possible

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>The review period for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> March rebalance is now complete. Nikkei has also confirmed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/advantest-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18107:1" rel="noopener">Advantest Corp (6857 JP)</a>'s capping at the rebalance. </li>
<li>We highlight 3 potential changes to the index and some close names that could be added/deleted at this rebalance or over the next couple of rebalances.</li>
<li>If the changes are as forecast, estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 1.35% leading to a round-trip trade of JPY 1tn (US$6.45bn).</li>
</ul>


The review period for the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) March rebalance is now complete. Nikkei has also confirmed Advantest Corp (6857 JP)'s capping at the rebalance. 
We highlight 3 potential changes to the index and some close names that could be added/deleted at this rebalance or over the next couple of rebalances.
If the changes are as forecast, estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 1.35% leading to a round-trip trade of JPY 1tn (US$6.45bn).


Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Mar 2026): Cutoff Done; Capping Confirmed; Constituent Changes?

Equity/Index & Cross Asset Volatility Specialist, Cameron Design

Jay Cameron

Equity/Index & Cross Asset Volatility Specialist

Cameron Design

We specialize in financial products and volatility. Our strategies balance speed, data, and risk control to capture opportunities across global markets. Our research leverages AI and data analytics to continuously refine our algorithms and adapt to evolving market dynamics.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>A once-again 'Young Stock' with massive liquidity is set to challenge traditional entry rules, leveraging a recent precedent to secure a spot in the benchmark index.</li>
<li>The committee's focus remains on raising the index's liquidity floor, resulting in a systemic removal of legacy constituents from various industrial sectors.</li>
<li>Sector balance is another priority, driving the modernization of segments and correcting lopsided underrepresentation of Japanese sectors on the index.</li>
</ul>


A once-again 'Young Stock' with massive liquidity is set to challenge traditional entry rules, leveraging a recent precedent to secure a spot in the benchmark index.
The committee's focus remains on raising the index's liquidity floor, resulting in a systemic removal of legacy constituents from various industrial sectors.
Sector balance is another priority, driving the modernization of segments and correcting lopsided underrepresentation of Japanese sectors on the index.


2026 NK 225 Reconstitution Forecast: Kioxia’s "Young Stock" Ascendance & The Legacy Materials Purge

Japan

Sony Financial Group Inc. provides insurance services. The Company offers life and non-life insurance, banking, and other financial services. Sony Financial Group serves customers across worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Sony Financial Group (8729 JP)

Aequitas: PayPay Pre-IPO - The Negatives - User Growth, Loss Allowances

PayPay (PAYP US), a Japanese payments and financial services platform, is looking to raise up to US$2bn in its upcoming US IPO. In this note, we...

Sumeet Singh

Aequitas: PayPay Pre-IPO - The Positives - Dominant in the Payment Space

PayPay (PAYP US) (PP), a Japanese payments and financial services platform, is looking to raise up to US$2bn in its upcoming US IPO. In this note,...

Sumeet Singh

TOPIX Index Upweights: An Early Preview Of "The Big April Basket" 2026; US$1bn+ Index Flows Possible

There are 20 names in our high and medium conviction groups which could collectively see up to US$1.1bn index buying if their 0.75x TOPIX Liquidity...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Mar 2026): Cutoff Done; Capping Confirmed; Constituent Changes?

The review period is complete and Advantest's capping has been confirmed. We highlight potential and close adds and deletes for the index. There...

Brian Freitas

2026 NK 225 Reconstitution Forecast: Kioxia’s "Young Stock" Ascendance & The Legacy Materials Purge

A new 'Young Stock' with high liquidity challenges entry rules, as index committee focuses on raising liquidity floor and balancing sectors.

Jay Cameron

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Aequitas: PayPay Pre-IPO - The Negatives - User Growth, Loss Allowances

PayPay (PAYP US), a Japanese payments and financial services platform, is looking to raise up to US$2bn in its upcoming US IPO. In this note, we...

Sumeet Singh

Aequitas: PayPay Pre-IPO - The Positives - Dominant in the Payment Space

PayPay (PAYP US) (PP), a Japanese payments and financial services platform, is looking to raise up to US$2bn in its upcoming US IPO. In this note,...

Sumeet Singh

TOPIX Index Upweights: An Early Preview Of "The Big April Basket" 2026; US$1bn+ Index Flows Possible

There are 20 names in our high and medium conviction groups which could collectively see up to US$1.1bn index buying if their 0.75x TOPIX Liquidity...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Mar 2026): Cutoff Done; Capping Confirmed; Constituent Changes?

The review period is complete and Advantest's capping has been confirmed. We highlight potential and close adds and deletes for the index. There...

Brian Freitas

2026 NK 225 Reconstitution Forecast: Kioxia’s "Young Stock" Ascendance & The Legacy Materials Purge

​A new 'Young Stock' with high liquidity challenges entry rules, as index committee focuses on raising liquidity floor and balancing sectors.

Jay Cameron

A new 'Young Stock' with high liquidity challenges entry rules, as index committee focuses on raising liquidity floor and balancing sectors.