TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst, Obex Capital Research

Aaron Gabin

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research

Obex Capital Research

“Obex” is Latin for Barriers to Entry. Obex Capital Management’s investment philosophy is driven by an intense focus on which business model’s Barriers to Entry are able to withstand the ever increasing competitive disruption in the TMT and Consumer Sectors.

Equity Bottom-Up

We are more bullish on the deal logic than initial reaction from the market and sell-side and would buy Paypal on this pullback.<div class="content-highlight">Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.  </div>

We are more bullish on the deal logic than initial reaction from the market and sell-side and would buy Paypal on this pullback.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.  

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

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

Bangkok Expressway and Metro / Equity Bottom-Up

Low ridership and reopening have presented a dilemma to investors whether it is time to start building positions in the mass transport operator <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bangkok-expressway-and-metro-68c0c1b3-af0c-4380-a380-f3dc7ba5d5ac" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22849:1" rel="noopener">Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM TB)</a> . On one hand, the low ridership presents room for improvement which means recovery of net income, therefore, a lower forward PE multiple. On the other hand, the reopening is yet to happen and how much is the increase in ridership is unclear. 
With the reopening date is set, coming back to school, and the support from the Thai government to jump-start the tourism sector by having a grandiose New Year celebration with no less than sending an invite to the world-renown Andrea Bocelli to perform,  the mass transport ridership is set to increase from both the domestic reopening as well as from the increase in tourists arrival.
Compared to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/airports-of-thailand-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:239:1" rel="noopener">Airports of Thailand (AOT TB)</a> which trades at 8x book value, BEM (at 3.6x book value) does not look expensive.  BEM'share price is trailing behind <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/stock-exchange-of-thailand-set-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22915:1" rel="noopener">Thailand SET Index (SET INDEX)</a> in the recovery from COVID-19.
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source: Reuters
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Low ridership and reopening have presented a dilemma to investors whether it is time to start building positions in the mass transport operator Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM TB) . On one hand, the low ridership presents room for improvement which means recovery of net income, therefore, a lower forward PE multiple. On the other hand, the reopening is yet to happen and how much is the increase in ridership is unclear. 
With the reopening date is set, coming back to school, and the support from the Thai government to jump-start the tourism sector by having a grandiose New Year celebration with no less than sending an invite to the world-renown Andrea Bocelli to perform,  the mass transport ridership is set to increase from both the domestic reopening as well as from the increase in tourists arrival.
Compared to Airports of Thailand (AOT TB) which trades at 8x book value, BEM (at 3.6x book value) does not look expensive.  BEM'share price is trailing behind Thailand SET Index (SET INDEX) in the recovery from COVID-19.



source: Reuters


Bangkok Expressway (BEM): Ridership Increase

Latest News from the World’s Leading Innovators

Granite Bay Capital

An innovation focussed investment company

Granite Bay Capital is an innovation focussed investment company with a deep focus on the companies at the leading edge of innovation across major themes such as AI, ubiquitous computing, sustainability, automation and longevity.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<h2>Headline Developments</h2>Not the best week for Facebook (FB) !  Firstly, the entire company’s ecosystem (FB, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger) ground to a halt for several hours.  This is an extraordinary occurrence for a company of this size.  Trying to keep this as simple as possible, this was an internal problem.

Headline DevelopmentsNot the best week for Facebook (FB) !  Firstly, the entire company’s ecosystem (FB, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger) ground to a halt for several hours.  This is an extraordinary occurrence for a company of this size.  Trying to keep this as simple as possible, this was an internal problem.

Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

If you have never heard of the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE), that is understandable. It is new, and still quite small; in fact, it is the second smallest in the world (for reference LTSE is larger than the Armenia Securities Exchange and considerably smaller than the Bermuda Stock Exchange).But this is about strategy, not size.As the world's first and one-of-a-kind "ESG stock exchange," LTSE's evolution is worth watching. One big milestone came last week when Asana (ASAN US) and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/twilio-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26473:1" rel="noopener">Twilio (TWLO US)</a> began trading; LTSE's first two listings, and solid "anchors" that should give other issuers confidence in LTSE.This Insight provides an overview of LTSE – its ESG business model, history, funding, expertise, and outlook including potential future listings. Not just from the perspective of LTSE, but also in terms of the broader implications for sustainable/ESG investing and capital markets.

If you have never heard of the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE), that is understandable. It is new, and still quite small; in fact, it is the second smallest in the world (for reference LTSE is larger than the Armenia Securities Exchange and considerably smaller than the Bermuda Stock Exchange).But this is about strategy, not size.As the world's first and one-of-a-kind "ESG stock exchange," LTSE's evolution is worth watching. One big milestone came last week when Asana (ASAN US) and Twilio (TWLO US) began trading; LTSE's first two listings, and solid "anchors" that should give other issuers confidence in LTSE.This Insight provides an overview of LTSE – its ESG business model, history, funding, expertise, and outlook including potential future listings. Not just from the perspective of LTSE, but also in terms of the broader implications for sustainable/ESG investing and capital markets.

Asana and Twilio Are First Listings for ESG-Focused Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE)

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/square-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23755:1" rel="noopener">Square Inc (SQ US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/afterpay-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26940:1" rel="noopener">Afterpay (APT AU)</a> have <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02402191-3A571915?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a firm merger, the completion of which will create Australia's largest-ever buyout, exceeding <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unibail-rodamco-se" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21140:1" rel="noopener">Unibail-Rodamco SE (UL NA)</a>'s 2017 takeover of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/westfield-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:896:1" rel="noopener">Westfield Corp (WFD AU)</a> - discussed <a href="https://skr.ma/8TPFU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Under the terms of the Offer, by way of Scheme, Afterpay shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.375 shares of Square Class A common stock for each Afterpay ordinary share.
Based on Square’s closing price of US$247.26 on July 30, 2021, this represents an implied transaction price of ~A$126.21 per Afterpay share, or a premium of ~30.6%.
Following completion of the transaction, Afterpay shareholders are expected to own ~18.5% of the merged entity on a fully diluted basis.
Square may elect to pay 1% of total consideration in cash.
Square has agreed to establish a secondary listing on the ASX to allow Afterpay shareholders to trade Square shares via CHESS.
The merger is tentatively expected to complete in the 1Q22. The Scheme has the unanimous backing of both Boards. 
More below the fold.

Square Inc (SQ US) and Afterpay (APT AU) have announced a firm merger, the completion of which will create Australia's largest-ever buyout, exceeding Unibail-Rodamco SE (UL NA)'s 2017 takeover of Westfield Corp (WFD AU) - discussed here.
Under the terms of the Offer, by way of Scheme, Afterpay shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.375 shares of Square Class A common stock for each Afterpay ordinary share.
Based on Square’s closing price of US$247.26 on July 30, 2021, this represents an implied transaction price of ~A$126.21 per Afterpay share, or a premium of ~30.6%.
Following completion of the transaction, Afterpay shareholders are expected to own ~18.5% of the merged entity on a fully diluted basis.
Square may elect to pay 1% of total consideration in cash.
Square has agreed to establish a secondary listing on the ASX to allow Afterpay shareholders to trade Square shares via CHESS.
The merger is tentatively expected to complete in the 1Q22. The Scheme has the unanimous backing of both Boards. 
More below the fold.

United States

Twitter, Inc. provides online social networking and microblogging service. The Company offers users the ability to follow other users activity, read, and post tweets. Twitter serves customers worldwide.

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Twitter Inc (TWTR US)

Paypal + Pinterest Initial Thoughts

We are more bullish on the deal logic than initial reaction from the market and sell-side and would buy Paypal on this pullback.

Aaron Gabin

Bangkok Expressway (BEM): Ridership Increase

the reopening date is set, and with the support from the Thai government to jump-start the tourism sector, the MRT ridership is set to increase....

Henry Soediarko

Weekly Innovation Review (WIRE) #52

Not the best week for Facebook (FB) ! Firstly, the entire company’s ecosystem (FB, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger) ground to a halt for several...

Granite Bay Capital

Asana and Twilio Are First Listings for ESG-Focused Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE)

Long-Term Stock Exchange just landed its first two listings, Asana and Twilio. It's a major milestone for this new ESG-focused exchange.

Kyle Rudden

Afterpay Ltd (APT AU): All Squared Away

I think it is highly illustrative the co-founders are happy to kick out at price ~22% below the recent high of A$160/share, potentially suggesting...

David Blennerhassett

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