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/rakuten-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35638:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Bank (5838 JP)</a>, the online banking arm of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a>, aims to raise up to around US$630m in its Japan listing in April 2023.</li>
<li>RB is the largest internet bank in Japan, by number of accounts. As of Dec 22, it had 13.3m deposit accounts with a total deposit base of JPY8.8tn.</li>
<li>In our earlier notes, we have looked at the company’s past performance and undertook a peer comparison. In this note, we talk about valuations in the IPO price range.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten Bank (5838 JP), the online banking arm of Rakuten (4755 JP), aims to raise up to around US$630m in its Japan listing in April 2023.
RB is the largest internet bank in Japan, by number of accounts. As of Dec 22, it had 13.3m deposit accounts with a total deposit base of JPY8.8tn.
In our earlier notes, we have looked at the company’s past performance and undertook a peer comparison. In this note, we talk about valuations in the IPO price range.


Rakuten Bank IPO - Lower Range Makes It Even More Attractive

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

<ul>
<li>Aeon Kyushu will accelerate rollout of its new, small store formats, emulating its parent company’s strategy in Tokyo.</li>
<li>The stores will also challenge local players like Cosmos Pharma and Trial. </li>
<li>A year after opening the first small-format supermarket, it has added an ultra small Maxvalu Express in Fukuoka. </li>
</ul>


Aeon Kyushu will accelerate rollout of its new, small store formats, emulating its parent company’s strategy in Tokyo.
The stores will also challenge local players like Cosmos Pharma and Trial. 
A year after opening the first small-format supermarket, it has added an ultra small Maxvalu Express in Fukuoka. 


Aeon Kyushu: The Future Is Small Format Supermarkets

Director, Head of Research, Smartkarma

Pranav Rao

Director, Head of Research

Smartkarma

Smartkarma unites the fragmented investment industry, connecting institutional investors, independent research providers, and corporates within a single network.

Research Reinvented

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Welcome to Curator’s Cut — a fortnightly roundup of standout themes from the 1,500+ insights published on Smartkarma.</li>
<li>In this cut, we review CATL's H-share lock-up expiry, iron ore equity opportunities in the face of Simandou's expected supply, and the accelerating consolidation in Japan's consumer sector.</li>
<li>Want to dig deeper? Comment or message with the themes you’d like to see highlighted next.</li>
</ul>


Welcome to Curator’s Cut — a fortnightly roundup of standout themes from the 1,500+ insights published on Smartkarma.
In this cut, we review CATL's H-share lock-up expiry, iron ore equity opportunities in the face of Simandou's expected supply, and the accelerating consolidation in Japan's consumer sector.
Want to dig deeper? Comment or message with the themes you’d like to see highlighted next.


Curator's Cut: Powering Down CATL, Iron Ore Plays & Japan Consumer Consolidation

<ul>
<li>Yaoko is now called Blue Zone Holdings, and is shaking up Japan’s supermarket landscape by acquiring two well-matched regional chains just weeks after its launch. </li>
<li>The company plans to accelerate plans to acquire other smaller supermarket chains to build out into a national chain.</li>
<li>The plan also signals a new wave of M&amp;A in the sector as barriers to supermarket consolidation finally start to fall.</li>
</ul>


Yaoko is now called Blue Zone Holdings, and is shaking up Japan’s supermarket landscape by acquiring two well-matched regional chains just weeks after its launch. 
The company plans to accelerate plans to acquire other smaller supermarket chains to build out into a national chain.
The plan also signals a new wave of M&amp;A in the sector as barriers to supermarket consolidation finally start to fall.


Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

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.

Tekscend Photomask / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tekscend-photomask-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45819:1" rel="noopener">Tekscend Photomask (429A JP)</a> is a global leader in semiconductor photomasks. At the IPO price, Tekscend will raise JPY138 billion (US$910 million). The shares will be listed on 16 October.</li>
<li>I previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tekscend-photomask-429a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:203592" rel="noopener">Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tekscend-photomask-429a-jp-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:203753" rel="noopener">Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: The Bear Case</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tekscend-photomask-429a-jp-ipo-valuation-insights" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:204079" rel="noopener">Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights</a>. </li>
<li>The peers have re-rated since the release of the prospectus. My analysis suggests that Tekscend is attractively valued at the IPO price.</li>
</ul>



Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) is a global leader in semiconductor photomasks. At the IPO price, Tekscend will raise JPY138 billion (US$910 million). The shares will be listed on 16 October.
I previously discussed the IPO in Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: The Bull Case, Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: The Bear Case and Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights. 
The peers have re-rated since the release of the prospectus. My analysis suggests that Tekscend is attractively valued at the IPO price.


Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: Trading Debut

Japan

TRIAL Holdings, Inc. engages in the planning, management, and operation of corporate groups centered on retail, logistics, finance and payment, and retail technology businesses. The firm operates its business through two segments Distribution Retail Business and Retail AI Business. The Distribution Retail Business mainly operates stores such as the discount store Trial. The Retail AI Business mainly engages in research and development aimed at turning stores into smart stores, sales of products related to smart stores, and contract work. The company was founded in April 1974 and is headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan.

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Trial Holdings (141A JP)

Rakuten Bank IPO - Lower Range Makes It Even More Attractive

Rakuten Bank (5838 JP), the online banking arm of Rakuten (4755 JP), aims to raise up to around US$630m in its Japan listing in April 2023.

Sumeet Singh

Aeon Kyushu: The Future Is Small Format Supermarkets

Aeon Kyushu is expanding its small store formats in Fukuoka to compete with local players like Cosmos Yakuhin and Trial, following its parent...

Michael Causton

Curator's Cut: Powering Down CATL, Iron Ore Plays & Japan Consumer Consolidation

This Curator's Cut highlights CATL's premium powering down, iron ore opportunities even as Simandou goes live, and Japan's consumer sector...

Pranav Rao

Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...

Michael Causton

Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: Trading Debut

The peers have re-rated since the release of the prospectus. My analysis suggests that Tekscend is attractively valued at the IPO price.

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Rakuten Bank IPO - Lower Range Makes It Even More Attractive

Rakuten Bank (5838 JP), the online banking arm of Rakuten (4755 JP), aims to raise up to around US$630m in its Japan listing in April 2023.

Sumeet Singh

Aeon Kyushu: The Future Is Small Format Supermarkets

​Aeon Kyushu is expanding its small store formats in Fukuoka to compete with local players like Cosmos Yakuhin and Trial, following its parent...

Michael Causton

Curator's Cut: Powering Down CATL, Iron Ore Plays & Japan Consumer Consolidation

This ​Curator's Cut highlights CATL's premium powering down, iron ore opportunities even as Simandou goes live, and Japan's consumer sector...

Pranav Rao

Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

​Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...

Michael Causton

Tekscend Photomask (429A JP) IPO: Trading Debut

The peers have re-rated since the release of the prospectus. My analysis suggests that Tekscend is attractively valued at the IPO price.

Arun George

Aeon Kyushu is expanding its small store formats in Fukuoka to compete with local players like Cosmos Yakuhin and Trial, following its parent...

This Curator's Cut highlights CATL's premium powering down, iron ore opportunities even as Simandou goes live, and Japan's consumer sector...

Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...