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

With operations across eight countries and more than 400 cities, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> is one of the region’s most valuable start-ups and was the leader in 2020 by GMV in online food delivery and ride-hailing, and by TPV (total processing value) in the e-wallet segment of financial services.
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<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> hosted its inaugural Q12021 results call recently, which saw the senior management presenting the first quarter company performance for the first time. The company provided a detailed and presentation on the progress this year, and was reassuringly open. 
The company also filed its F-4 Prospectus in connection with its proposed merger with the Altimeter Growth SPAC, which provides more detail on the company's underlying business prospects, as well as risks. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> is making good progress toward listing, which is expected in 4Q2021, even as early as the end of October. 
The company exceeded internal expectations for 1Q2021 both for adjusted net sales and adjusted EBITDA. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> saw its 1Q2021 adjusted net sales rise +39%YoY to a record US$507m, with reduced losses on the back of a strong performance in its deliveries business.
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> also reported that its spend per user or GMV per monthly transacting user (MTU), increased by +31% YoY, which suggests some synergies between the different verticals across the company's "Super App".
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> has seen its mobility business suffer from the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant mobility restrictions, which are affecting a number of the company's markets but EBITDA margins remain firm.
The company saw its financial services division experience its highest ever quarterly total payments volume in 1Q2021, with +18% YoY growth.
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> 's newest division under enterprise and new initiatives saw its GMV increase 3.5x, with a large portion of this division's revenues coming from advertising. 
One area where <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> can be sure to win supporters are on its ESG credentials given that it's natural fit in its support for the livelihoods of both its driver-partners and its widespread community of small merchants.
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We took a deep dive with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> management to better understand its regional prospects and long-term strategy and came away more positive as a result. 
We see the company's increasing collaboration with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elang-mahkota-teknologi-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7752:1" rel="noopener">Emtek (EMTK IJ)</a> as a positive development, which will help fill in some of the gaps to its business in Indonesia.
There are still risks to the company's growth projections and we look to identify where those competitive risks lie. 
Having seen <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> go through the mill with the SEC and after detailed and open discussions with the company plus the company's comprehensive 1Q2021 results release, we have turned more positive on the company's prospects. This leads us to be more comfortable with the valuations, as long as the company can achieve its targets. The company's collaboration with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elang-mahkota-teknologi-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7752:1" rel="noopener">Emtek (EMTK IJ)</a> in Indonesia may also yield further positive developments there. 
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With operations across eight countries and more than 400 cities, Grab is one of the region’s most valuable start-ups and was the leader in 2020 by GMV in online food delivery and ride-hailing, and by TPV (total processing value) in the e-wallet segment of financial services.



Grab hosted its inaugural Q12021 results call recently, which saw the senior management presenting the first quarter company performance for the first time. The company provided a detailed and presentation on the progress this year, and was reassuringly open. 
The company also filed its F-4 Prospectus in connection with its proposed merger with the Altimeter Growth SPAC, which provides more detail on the company's underlying business prospects, as well as risks. Grab is making good progress toward listing, which is expected in 4Q2021, even as early as the end of October. 
The company exceeded internal expectations for 1Q2021 both for adjusted net sales and adjusted EBITDA. Grab saw its 1Q2021 adjusted net sales rise +39%YoY to a record US$507m, with reduced losses on the back of a strong performance in its deliveries business.
Grab also reported that its spend per user or GMV per monthly transacting user (MTU), increased by +31% YoY, which suggests some synergies between the different verticals across the company's "Super App".
Grab has seen its mobility business suffer from the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant mobility restrictions, which are affecting a number of the company's markets but EBITDA margins remain firm.
The company saw its financial services division experience its highest ever quarterly total payments volume in 1Q2021, with +18% YoY growth.
Grab 's newest division under enterprise and new initiatives saw its GMV increase 3.5x, with a large portion of this division's revenues coming from advertising. 
One area where Grab can be sure to win supporters are on its ESG credentials given that it's natural fit in its support for the livelihoods of both its driver-partners and its widespread community of small merchants.

We took a deep dive with Grab management to better understand its regional prospects and long-term strategy and came away more positive as a result. 
We see the company's increasing collaboration with Emtek (EMTK IJ) as a positive development, which will help fill in some of the gaps to its business in Indonesia.
There are still risks to the company's growth projections and we look to identify where those competitive risks lie. 
Having seen Grab go through the mill with the SEC and after detailed and open discussions with the company plus the company's comprehensive 1Q2021 results release, we have turned more positive on the company's prospects. This leads us to be more comfortable with the valuations, as long as the company can achieve its targets. The company's collaboration with Emtek (EMTK IJ) in Indonesia may also yield further positive developments there. 


Grab - Deep Dive Reveals the Mist Is Lifting

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.

Event-Driven

PropertyGuru and Bridgetown 2 announced, on 23rd Jul 2021, that they have entered into a business combination agreement which will see PropertyGuru go public in the US. The transaction will value PropertyGuru at an EV of US$1.35bn and equity value of US$1.78bn.We have looked at the company’s prior listing attempt when it tried to list in Australia in 2019. In this note, we will comment on the current listing arrangement.Link to our previous notes:<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/propertyguru-ipo-powered-by-singapore-recharged-by-vietnam-but-dragged-down-by-others" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PropertyGuru IPO - Powered by Singapore, Recharged by Vietnam but Dragged Down by Others</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/propertyguru-ipo-sotp-leaves-one-well-short-of-the-low-end" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PropertyGuru IPO - SOTP Leaves One Well Short of the Low-End</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/propertyguru-ipo-agents-q-a-shows-its-stranglehold-in-s-pore-throws-up-some-interesting-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PropertyGuru IPO - Agents Q&amp;A Shows Its Stranglehold in S’pore; Throws up Some Interesting Nuggets</a></li>
</ul>

PropertyGuru and Bridgetown 2 announced, on 23rd Jul 2021, that they have entered into a business combination agreement which will see PropertyGuru go public in the US. The transaction will value PropertyGuru at an EV of US$1.35bn and equity value of US$1.78bn.We have looked at the company’s prior listing attempt when it tried to list in Australia in 2019. In this note, we will comment on the current listing arrangement.Link to our previous notes:
PropertyGuru IPO - Powered by Singapore, Recharged by Vietnam but Dragged Down by Others
PropertyGuru IPO - SOTP Leaves One Well Short of the Low-End
PropertyGuru IPO - Agents Q&amp;A Shows Its Stranglehold in S’pore; Throws up Some Interesting Nuggets


PropertyGuru/Bridgetown 2 SPAC Listing/Merger - Second Time Lucky - Some Food for Thought

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

Equity Bottom-Up

Astro Malaysia Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

Malaysia's vaccination rate is only 5% of the total population and new cases have jumped to almost 5000 daily in the past week, higher than the second wave that took place between December last year to February this year, prompted the Malaysian government to put another MCO (lockdown) in place.
As a result, people are back to work from home and not spending much time outside. Historically, many have turned into spending more time on TV and mobile entertainment in which <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astro-malaysia-holdings-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1143:1" rel="noopener">Astro Malaysia Holdings (ASTRO MK)</a> is the direct beneficiary.

Malaysia's vaccination rate is only 5% of the total population and new cases have jumped to almost 5000 daily in the past week, higher than the second wave that took place between December last year to February this year, prompted the Malaysian government to put another MCO (lockdown) in place.
As a result, people are back to work from home and not spending much time outside. Historically, many have turned into spending more time on TV and mobile entertainment in which Astro Malaysia Holdings (ASTRO MK) is the direct beneficiary. 

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/starhub-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:119:1" rel="noopener">Starhub Ltd (STH SP)</a> pay-TV has been the problem child alongside the Mobile segment due to overcrowded space, led to a higher churn in the number of subscribers coupled with a lower ARPU, followed by a decline in the share price. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/the-walt-disney-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15439:1" rel="noopener">The Walt Disney Co (DIS US)</a> + coming to Singapore will cause a further decline in the Pay-TV ARPU. Starhub's Enterprise Business which recently has gained momentum and for the first time in almost 3 years, its revenue contribution almost equaled Mobile's. As a result, the revenue in Q3 2020 went up 2% compared to the average of 1H 2020. <div class="content-highlight">After underperforming Singtel by 20% for the past 3 years, it is now maybe the time for Starhub to play catch up with the Enterprise Business finally is taking off. With a 3.6% higher yield than Singtel, Starhub sounds like a bargain. </div><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/625/original/image_25922309421608537778217.png?1608537778" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179625"></figure><div class="content-remarks">source: Capital IQ</div>

Starhub Ltd (STH SP) pay-TV has been the problem child alongside the Mobile segment due to overcrowded space, led to a higher churn in the number of subscribers coupled with a lower ARPU, followed by a decline in the share price. The Walt Disney Co (DIS US) + coming to Singapore will cause a further decline in the Pay-TV ARPU. Starhub's Enterprise Business which recently has gained momentum and for the first time in almost 3 years, its revenue contribution almost equaled Mobile's. As a result, the revenue in Q3 2020 went up 2% compared to the average of 1H 2020. After underperforming Singtel by 20% for the past 3 years, it is now maybe the time for Starhub to play catch up with the Enterprise Business finally is taking off. With a 3.6% higher yield than Singtel, Starhub sounds like a bargain. source: Capital IQ

Starhub (STH): Disney Is Coming but Enterprise Is Gaining Momentum

The SGD 100 Discover Singapore vouchers that were handed out since 1st December 2020 to its citizens have provided the much-needed sparks in Singapore's hospitality industry that also benefits the Singapore transport sector. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/comfortdelgro-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:497:1" rel="noopener">Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)</a>captures this in two angles; higher revenue in public transport as well as in the taxi segment. The taxi segment has a historically higher gross profit margin compared to public transport although of late, the online ride-hailing app has challenged the former's dominance. 
Although Phase 3 is unlikely to happen today after PM Lee's speech, today's speech will highlight more positives rather than negative news on the COVID-19 development for Singapore and will help to increase higher mobility in Singapore that benefits ComfortDelgro. There will be an increase in group size on phase 3 and capacity limits in public places and events including weddings. Borders will also be slowly reopened that invite more tourists to come to Singapore. 
Although Hong Kong is still juggling with more pandemic cases compared to Singapore, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mtr-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13289:1" rel="noopener">MTR Corp (66 HK)</a> share price has held up far better compared to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/comfortdelgro-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:497:1" rel="noopener">Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)</a> . Thus ComfortDelgro's share price should play a catch-up. 
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/178/308/original/image_74960535931607934386271.png?1607934386" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="178308"></figure>
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source: Capital IQ
</div>

The SGD 100 Discover Singapore vouchers that were handed out since 1st December 2020 to its citizens have provided the much-needed sparks in Singapore's hospitality industry that also benefits the Singapore transport sector. Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)captures this in two angles; higher revenue in public transport as well as in the taxi segment. The taxi segment has a historically higher gross profit margin compared to public transport although of late, the online ride-hailing app has challenged the former's dominance. 
Although Phase 3 is unlikely to happen today after PM Lee's speech, today's speech will highlight more positives rather than negative news on the COVID-19 development for Singapore and will help to increase higher mobility in Singapore that benefits ComfortDelgro. There will be an increase in group size on phase 3 and capacity limits in public places and events including weddings. Borders will also be slowly reopened that invite more tourists to come to Singapore. 
Although Hong Kong is still juggling with more pandemic cases compared to Singapore, MTR Corp (66 HK) share price has held up far better compared to Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP) . Thus ComfortDelgro's share price should play a catch-up. 


source: Capital IQ


ComfortDelgro (CD): Re-Discover Singapore

Singapore

StarHub is a Singaporean multinational telecommunications conglomerate that provides mobile, broadband internet, pay TV, and enterprise solutions including cybersecurity, cloud services, data analytics, IoT, and robotics. Headquartered in Singapore, the company was founded on May 7, 1998.

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StarHub (STH SP)

Grab - Deep Dive Reveals the Mist Is Lifting

Grab recently announced its 1Q2021 and help an inaugural analyst meeting to present the results and provide an update. We also talked separately...

Angus Mackintosh

PropertyGuru/Bridgetown 2 SPAC Listing/Merger - Second Time Lucky - Some Food for Thought

PropertyGuru and Bridgetown 2 announced, that they have merge to take PropertyGuru go public in the US. The transaction will value PropertyGuru at...

Sumeet Singh

Astro (Astro): Still the Good Pick

New cases have jumped to almost 5000 in the past week, higher than the second wave that took place between Dec last year to February this year,...

Henry Soediarko

Starhub (STH): Disney Is Coming but Enterprise Is Gaining Momentum

Starhub's Enterprise Business finally is taking off, almost equal to the Mobile. With a 3.6% higher yield than Singtel, Starhub sounds like a bargain.

Henry Soediarko

ComfortDelgro (CD): Re-Discover Singapore

Phase 3 is to happen soon and the speech highlighted more positives than negative news on COVID-19 development in SG and help to raise higher...

Henry Soediarko

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