Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Our base case valuation of Shift Up is target price of 95,510 won, which is 59% higher than the high end of the IPO price range (60,000 won).</li>
<li>We believe Shift Up deserves higher valuation multiples than its peers mainly due to higher sales growth, much higher operating margins, and higher ROE.</li>
<li>Since its launch in April of this year, Stellar Blade (PS console game) has ranked first in sales in eight countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.</li>
</ul>


Our base case valuation of Shift Up is target price of 95,510 won, which is 59% higher than the high end of the IPO price range (60,000 won).
We believe Shift Up deserves higher valuation multiples than its peers mainly due to higher sales growth, much higher operating margins, and higher ROE.
Since its launch in April of this year, Stellar Blade (PS console game) has ranked first in sales in eight countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.


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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shift-up-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36232:1" rel="noopener">Shift Up (462870 KS)</a> is Korea's leading game development studio. It is seeking to raise up to US$320 million.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <strong><em><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/shift-up-ipo-the-investment-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:144015" rel="noopener">Shift Up IPO: The Investment Case</a></em></strong>. </li>
<li>We examine the syndicate's valuation methodology. Our analysis suggests that Shift Up is attractively valued in the IPO price range. We would participate in the IPO.</li>
</ul>



Shift Up (462870 KS) is Korea's leading game development studio. It is seeking to raise up to US$320 million.
We previously discussed the IPO in Shift Up IPO: The Investment Case. 
We examine the syndicate's valuation methodology. Our analysis suggests that Shift Up is attractively valued in the IPO price range. We would participate in the IPO.


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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shift-up-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36232:1" rel="noopener">Shift Up (462870 KS)</a> plans to raise up to US$320m in its South Korean IPO.</li>
<li>Shift Up is a South Korean games developer, which as released three games so far for the global markets.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company’s performance in our past notes. In this note, we talk about valuations.</li>
</ul>



Shift Up (462870 KS) plans to raise up to US$320m in its South Korean IPO.
Shift Up is a South Korean games developer, which as released three games so far for the global markets.
We have looked at the company’s performance in our past notes. In this note, we talk about valuations.


Shift Up IPO - Thoughts on Valuations - Bear/Base/Bull

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shift-up-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36232:1" rel="noopener">Shift Up (462870 KS)</a> is Korea's leading game development studio. It is seeking to raise up to US$320 million.    </li>
<li>Shift Up now focuses only on game development and has a policy of publishing games in cooperation with global partners such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sony-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:563:1" rel="noopener">Sony Corp (6758 JP)</a>. </li>
<li>The investment case rests on a stellar game development track record, several growth drivers, high profitability and cash generation.</li>
</ul>



Shift Up (462870 KS) is Korea's leading game development studio. It is seeking to raise up to US$320 million.    
Shift Up now focuses only on game development and has a policy of publishing games in cooperation with global partners such as Tencent (700 HK) and Sony Corp (6758 JP). 
The investment case rests on a stellar game development track record, several growth drivers, high profitability and cash generation.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shift-up-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36232:1" rel="noopener">Shift Up (462870 KS)</a> plans to raise up to US$320m in its upcoming South Korean IPO.</li>
<li>Shift Up is a South Korean games developer, which as released three games so far for the global markets.</li>
<li>In our previous note, we looked at the company’s past performance. In this note, we will undertake a peer comparison.</li>
</ul>



Shift Up (462870 KS) plans to raise up to US$320m in its upcoming South Korean IPO.
Shift Up is a South Korean games developer, which as released three games so far for the global markets.
In our previous note, we looked at the company’s past performance. In this note, we will undertake a peer comparison.


Shift Up IPO - Peer Comparison - Small in Size but Ranks High on Growth and Margins

Japan

SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD. develops and sells entertainment software for home video game consoles including Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy series. The Company also publishes books such as informational guide books for its game software, and comic magazines and books.  Additionally, Square Enix sells character goods and stationery items from its software products.

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Square Enix Holdings (9684 JP)

Shift Up IPO Valuation Analysis

The first day of book building for the Shift Up IPO started on Monday and it looks excellent. Many institutional investors placed orders at prices...

Douglas Kim

Shift Up IPO: Valuation Insights

We examine the syndicate's valuation methodology. Our analysis suggests that Shift Up is attractively valued in the IPO price range. We would...

Arun George

Shift Up IPO - Thoughts on Valuations - Bear/Base/Bull

Shift Up (462870 KS) plans to raise up to US$320m in its South Korean IPO. We have looked at its past performance earlier, in this note, we talk...

Sumeet Singh

Shift Up IPO: The Investment Case

The investment case rests on a stellar game development track record, several growth drivers, high profitability and cash generation.

Arun George

Shift Up IPO - Peer Comparison - Small in Size but Ranks High on Growth and Margins

Shift Up (462870 KS) plans to raise up to US$320m in its upcoming South Korean IPO. In this note, we undertake a peer comparison.

Sumeet Singh

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