Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Capital Markets

Indian hospitality start-up, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oyo-pvt-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28861:1" rel="noopener">Oyo (1698548D IN)</a> is a digital platform connecting over 157,000 storefronts (hotels and homestays) with consumers. The company is trying to ride the Indian IPO wave with a $1.1bn IPO in India.Oyo is 46.6% owned by the Softbank Vision Fund and it is another example of a typical Softbank Investment like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/the-we-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28061:1" rel="noopener">The We Company (WeWork) (WE US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/uber-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:430:1" rel="noopener">Uber (UBER US)</a>. Oyo’s old business model was a complete disaster, and it almost ran the company into the ground. The new business model makes Oyo look more like a marketplace for lodging. Despite changes to the business model, we continue to have concerns as Oyo could be neither growth nor profits business under its new business model.

Indian hospitality start-up, Oyo (1698548D IN) is a digital platform connecting over 157,000 storefronts (hotels and homestays) with consumers. The company is trying to ride the Indian IPO wave with a $1.1bn IPO in India.Oyo is 46.6% owned by the Softbank Vision Fund and it is another example of a typical Softbank Investment like The We Company (WeWork) (WE US) and Uber (UBER US). Oyo’s old business model was a complete disaster, and it almost ran the company into the ground. The new business model makes Oyo look more like a marketplace for lodging. Despite changes to the business model, we continue to have concerns as Oyo could be neither growth nor profits business under its new business model.

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

The next financial report for Softbank will be a tough one. With the quarterly results in, Vision Fund’s public portfolio losses appear to be in the range of $18.3bn with another $1.4bn in losses for parent level investments. China exposure is a major driver whilst Coupang continues to spiral down from the heady highs in March. The holding company discount has held up (-41% v -44% at Q1-end) but the underlying value per share has spiraled down as VF and Alibaba weaken. We think a higher discount makes more sense but optimism on upcoming IPOs for PayTM and AutoStore could lend support in the near-term.

The next financial report for Softbank will be a tough one. With the quarterly results in, Vision Fund’s public portfolio losses appear to be in the range of $18.3bn with another $1.4bn in losses for parent level investments. China exposure is a major driver whilst Coupang continues to spiral down from the heady highs in March. The holding company discount has held up (-41% v -44% at Q1-end) but the underlying value per share has spiraled down as VF and Alibaba weaken. We think a higher discount makes more sense but optimism on upcoming IPOs for PayTM and AutoStore could lend support in the near-term. 

Softbank Group - A First Look at Investment Losses for the Quarter

Japanese news, equities, and trends, Teddy Letter

Teddy Okuyama

Japanese news, equities, and trends

Teddy Letter

We aim to fill the information gap on the Japan market, especially on small cap companies with little or no analyst coverage. While brokerages and sponsored research provide useful information, there is still an information divide between domestic and foreign investors. We aim to fill that gap by providing access to insights that are lost in translation.

This is installment #7 of my 200-day challenge to do write-ups on 200 Japanese small caps, at the end of which I plan to publish a book (tentative title: Japan Small Caps Handbook). I’m writing these unedited versions in a stream of consciousness style, and they will be refined before being finalized later on.

This is installment #7 of my 200-day challenge to do write-ups on 200 Japanese small caps, at the end of which I plan to publish a book (tentative title: Japan Small Caps Handbook). I’m writing these unedited versions in a stream of consciousness style, and they will be refined before being finalized later on.

WeWork and Bow Capital SPAC (BOWX US) announced agreement on a SPAC merger that would allow WeWork to reach public markets in Q3 21 at a suggested post-money enterprise value of $9bn. Expectations for a deal of this magnitude have been well-telegraphed so the announcement is not a surprise whilst, since it is a SPAC deal, a lack of financial statements/history isn’t either. We do know how the $9bn value is being justified and it is a bit of a stretch: markets need to believe WeWork can double its in-office user base and triple overall users, even as ARPUs rise and the absolute level of operating costs declines. Meanwhile, the only public comparable <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iwg-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28219:1" rel="noopener">IWG PLC (IWG LN)</a>  is roughly the same size with the same resources but has yet to recover value lost to the pandemic.

WeWork and Bow Capital SPAC (BOWX US) announced agreement on a SPAC merger that would allow WeWork to reach public markets in Q3 21 at a suggested post-money enterprise value of $9bn. Expectations for a deal of this magnitude have been well-telegraphed so the announcement is not a surprise whilst, since it is a SPAC deal, a lack of financial statements/history isn’t either. We do know how the $9bn value is being justified and it is a bit of a stretch: markets need to believe WeWork can double its in-office user base and triple overall users, even as ARPUs rise and the absolute level of operating costs declines. Meanwhile, the only public comparable IWG PLC (IWG LN)  is roughly the same size with the same resources but has yet to recover value lost to the pandemic.

WeWork - Still Asking for Way More than They Are Worth

Softbank shares have returned to the pre-Coupang levels of early February, driven by increasing concerns about the value of the Vision Fund portfolio that remains private.  Number one on the list is the potential for second-order effects from the Greensill bankruptcy which not only cost Vision Fund $1.5bn in lost equity but also includes a further $1.2bn in debt exposure and a potential cash squeeze for other Vision Fund companies that were also clients.

Softbank shares have returned to the pre-Coupang levels of early February, driven by increasing concerns about the value of the Vision Fund portfolio that remains private.  Number one on the list is the potential for second-order effects from the Greensill bankruptcy which not only cost Vision Fund $1.5bn in lost equity but also includes a further $1.2bn in debt exposure and a potential cash squeeze for other Vision Fund companies that were also clients.

Softbank Group - Concerns on the Value of Private Vision Fund Assets Re-Surface

United States

WeWork Inc. provides co-working spaces for individuals and entrepreneurs. The Company offers private offices, office suites, headquarters, and custom build out options to fit a variety of office needs, as well as desk spaces and conference rooms. WeWork serves customers worldwide.

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WeWork (WEWKQ US)

Oyo IPO: Flying Blind

Oyo is a typical Softbank Investment. Its old business model was a complete disaster, and it almost ran the company into the ground. The new...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Softbank Group - A First Look at Investment Losses for the Quarter

The next financial report for Softbank will be a tough one. With quarterly results in, Vision Fund’s public portfolio losses are c. $18.3bn. We...

Kirk Boodry

Day 7: TKP Corporation (3479)

This is installment #7 of my 200-day challenge to do write-ups on 200 Japanese small caps, at the end of which I plan to publish a book (tentative...

Teddy Okuyama

WeWork - Still Asking for Way More than They Are Worth

WeWork's SPAC deal values it at $9bn but predictably that is too high. We look at fundamental reasons why although as a SPAC merger, values depend...

Kirk Boodry

Softbank Group - Concerns on the Value of Private Vision Fund Assets Re-Surface

Softbank shares have returned to the pre-Coupang levels of early February, driven by increasing concerns about the value of the Vision Fund...

Kirk Boodry

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