All Posts By

Smartkarma Daily Briefs

Daily Brief South Korea: OASIS Corp and more

By | Daily Briefs, South Korea

In today’s briefing:

  • Oasis Corp IPO Preview

Oasis Corp IPO Preview

By Douglas Kim

  • Oasis Corp is getting ready to complete its IPO on KOSDAQ in February 2023. Oasis Corp is a leading online/offline provider of organic foods and other groceries in Korea.
  • IPO price range is from 30,500 won to 39,500 won, with a total offering amount of 160 billion won to 207 billion won. 
  • Other than Coupang, the other three companies (bankers’ valuation) may not be appropriate comps, mainly because they operate in different markets around the world and are much bigger in size.

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief Thailand: Esso Thailand and more

By | Daily Briefs, Thailand

In today’s briefing:

  • Esso Thailand: Bangchak Corp’s Takeunder

Esso Thailand: Bangchak Corp’s Takeunder

By David Blennerhassett

  • Refiner/retailer Bangchak Corporation (BCP TB)‘s board has approved the purchase of a 65.99% stake in Esso Thailand (ESSO TB) from Exxon Mobil (XOM US).
  • The purchase price is subject to a price adjustment mechanism and will only be known upon completion of the SPA. The indicative Offer Price is THB 8.84, 20% below undisturbed. 
  • Once completed – tentatively anticipated in the 3Q23 – a mandatory tender offer will be triggered for the remaining 34.01% of shares out in Esso. 

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief Indonesia: Imajin, CIFI Holdings and more

By | Daily Briefs, Indonesia

In today’s briefing:

  • Imajin Reportedly Raises Seed Funding Round
  • Morning Views Asia: China SCE, China Vanke, CIFI Holdings, Lippo Karawaci

Imajin Reportedly Raises Seed Funding Round

By e27

  • Init-6, East Ventures, 500 Southeast Asia, and a number of investors participated in this funding round for Imajin

  • Founded by Chendy Jaya, Imajin is a platform that connected local manufacturers with potential customers.
  • By July 2022, the startup has secured more than 400 local factory partners and 80 customers, including Japanese companies operating in Indonesia

Morning Views Asia: China SCE, China Vanke, CIFI Holdings, Lippo Karawaci

By Charles Macgregor

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.


💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief United States: Tesla Motors, Bitcoin, Ethereum, National Vision Holdings and more

By | Daily Briefs, United States

In today’s briefing:

  • What Is Tesla’s Outlook After It Drops Out Of Top 10 Largest U.S. Public Companies?
  • Weekly Close Is Likely To Confirm Sustainable Bitcoin and Ethereum Uptrends
  • Liquid Staking Derivatives Wars
  • National Vision Holdings, Inc. (EYE) Recommendation: Sell Short

What Is Tesla’s Outlook After It Drops Out Of Top 10 Largest U.S. Public Companies?

By Vladimir Dimitrov, CFA

  • Tesla’s disastrous performance has resulted in the company no longer being among the Top 10 largest U.S. public companies.
  • Market commentators remain laser-focused on business fundamentals, while outside factors are still in the driver’s seat.
  • Back in April of last year (less than a year ago) the optimism on Wall Street was running high.

Weekly Close Is Likely To Confirm Sustainable Bitcoin and Ethereum Uptrends

By David Coloretti, CMT

  • Today we step away from our ST / tactical TSS strategy and focus on definitive MT momentum confirmation.
  • The uptrends that have evolved since the November lows in Bitcoin and Ethereum are small relative to the 2022 declines.
  • This week is in the process of delivering definitive bullish MT momentum confirmation in both Bitcoin and Ethereum. Such an outcome will confirm a high probability multi-month uptrend bias.

Liquid Staking Derivatives Wars

By Kaiko

  • As a proof of stake network, Ethereum rewards stakers with block rewards and user fees.
  • However, the 32 ETH minimum required to stake your ETH directly on the network prohibits the vast majority of users from doing so. Enter liquid staking derivatives, or LSDs.
  • LSDs refer to the tokens created by DeFi protocols or centralized services designed to reward users who stake ETH on their platform.

National Vision Holdings, Inc. (EYE) Recommendation: Sell Short

By Eric Fernandez, CFA

  • Sales have fallen for four quarters. Comp store sales growth fell -8% last quarter due to customer weakness, the declining macro environment and constraints on exam capacity (optometrists).
  • Optometrists are supply constrained, which pressure margins from rising compensation. Investor-owned optometry service providers are at a disadvantage competing with professional practices that don’t share fees with investors.
  • National Vision is neither large and vertically integrated like Essilor Luxottica, nor niche focused like Warby Parker is on ecommerce. Their low-price strategy is easily replicable by competitors.

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief China: Tianneng Power International, Perfect Medical Health, Alibaba Group, China Education Group, iShares China Large-Cap (FXI), Lu Daopei Medical Group, Lepu Medical Technology A, CIFI Holdings and more

By | China, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Tianneng (819 HK): EV Battery Play Seeks Swiss Listing
  • Perfect Medical: Reopening in China to Provide a Boost, Rally to Sustain
  • Alibaba Signs Cooperation Agreement With Hangzhou Government
  • China Education Group (839 HK): Solidifying Investment Thesis After Placement
  • EQD | FXI (FXI US): – Could Chinese Equities Lead the Way Higher? Use Options for Delta-Follow Up
  • Lu DaoPei Medical Group Pre-IPO Tearsheet
  • Lepu Medical Technology (300003.CH) – New Development Mode Changes the Valuation Logic
  • Morning Views Asia: China SCE, China Vanke, CIFI Holdings, Lippo Karawaci

Tianneng (819 HK): EV Battery Play Seeks Swiss Listing

By David Blennerhassett


Perfect Medical: Reopening in China to Provide a Boost, Rally to Sustain

By Sameer Taneja

  • China ( >20% of revenue ) changing its stance on COVID provides Perfect Medical Health (1830 HK) with an opportunity to crystallize its expansion plans there. 
  • The border reopening between HK/China will provide a boost to its HK operations (>70% of revenue). The second half of H1 2023 results reflect an improving revenue trend for HK.
  • The stock trades at 16x/11x FY23e/24e with ~15% of the market cap in cash and a dividend yield of 6.5%/9.5% FY23e/24e (based on ~100% payout ratio). 

Alibaba Signs Cooperation Agreement With Hangzhou Government

By Caixin Global

  • Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the government of Hangzhou, the eastern China city where the company is headquartered
  • Alibaba and its finance affiliate Ant Group Co. Ltd. have been at the center of the Chinese government’s multi-year crackdown on the internet sector since October 2020.
  • In 2021, Alibaba was fined a record 18.2 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) for monopolistic behavior.

China Education Group (839 HK): Solidifying Investment Thesis After Placement

By Osbert Tang, CFA

  • Positive response of China Education Group (839 HK)‘s placement indicated a good return of investor appetite to the sector. Its premium multiples stay well justified even after recent rally. 
  • The HK$1.6bn proceeds will reduce gearing to 29.2% (including contract liabilities) from 41.7% with minimal dilution. Narrowing in valuation gap against asking price of targets means more M&A potential. 
  • More funding for expansion of existing campuses, increase in accommodation and the set up of COVID-19 related curriculum will allow CEG to realise higher revenue per student.

EQD | FXI (FXI US): – Could Chinese Equities Lead the Way Higher? Use Options for Delta-Follow Up

By Simon Harris

  • On 30th November we proposed a restructure of a bullish FXI US trade
  • Since then FXI US has rallied 12% and implied vols have decreased significantly
  • We evaluate the call ladder that we highlighted and consider what to do next

Lu DaoPei Medical Group Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Clarence Chu

  • Lu Daopei Medical Group (1816743D CH) Lu DaoPei Medical Group is looking to raise around US$400m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. The bookrunners are CITIC Securities, CMB International, and Macquarie.
  • Lu DaoPei Medical Group (LDPM) is a hospital operator focusing on hematology healthcare services.
  • As per F&S, the firm was the largest hematology healthcare services provider in China in terms of 2021 revenue.

Lepu Medical Technology (300003.CH) – New Development Mode Changes the Valuation Logic

By Xinyao (Criss) Wang

  • After China reopens and demand for COVID-19 testing drops sharply, Lepu has lost the big driving force of performance growth. The 2022 full year performance may not be optimistic.
  • Lepu Medical Technology A (300003 CH) has begun to focus more on capital operation. As a holding platform, the valuable assets are spun off, which changes the valuation logic.
  • Even if Lepu could finally digest the negative impact of centralized procurement, such development mode would still put pressure/uncertainties on its future performance, leading to lower-than-expected financial results.

Morning Views Asia: China SCE, China Vanke, CIFI Holdings, Lippo Karawaci

By Charles Macgregor

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.


💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief India: KreditBee, Survival Technologies and more

By | Daily Briefs, India

In today’s briefing:

  • India’s KreditBee Adds US$100m to Its Series D
  • Survival Technology Pre-IPO Tearsheet

India’s KreditBee Adds US$100m to Its Series D

By Tech in Asia

  • India-based KreditBee has added another US$100 million to its series D, with primary funding from equity investor Advent International.

  • Founded in 2018 by Madhusudan Ekambaram, Karthikeyan Krishnaswamy, and Wan Hong, the startup offers tech-enabled personal loans to working professionals.
  • KreditBee finances the loan through partnerships with banks and non-bank financial companies.

Survival Technology Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Clarence Chu

  • Survival Technologies (1279515D IN) is looking to raise around US$121m in its upcoming India IPO. The deal will be run by JM Financial, and ICICI Securities.
  • Survival Technology (ST) is a contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) focused speciality chemical manufacturer in India.
  • As per CRISIL, the firm is one of the leading CRAMS companies in India in terms of manufacturing of select chemical products as of Mar 22.

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief Japan: Cosmo Energy Holdings, Japan Excellent, Fast Retailing, Shift Inc and more

By | Daily Briefs, Japan

In today’s briefing:

  • Cosmo Energy (5021) Vs Murakami – It’s On!
  • Japan Excellent (8987). It WAS Most Excellent. That’s Now Done.
  • Fast Retailing (9983) | Q1 Miss
  • 2023 High Conviction Shift: Margins Begin to Recover as Unprofitable Projects Coming to an End

Cosmo Energy (5021) Vs Murakami – It’s On!

By Travis Lundy

  • In March 2022, longtime Cosmo Energy Holdings (5021 JP) holder Mubadala sold the last 15.7% of Cosmo Energy in a block sale after having sold 5% 8 months earlier.
  • A month later it was revealed noted Japanese activist Murakami-san had bought 5.1%. A week later it was 8.3%. Then he bought more. Cosmo announced a buyback in May 2022.
  • By November Murakami-san had 19.8%. But behind the scenes there had been discussions and those are now coming to light. Cosmo has announced possible defence measures.

Japan Excellent (8987). It WAS Most Excellent. That’s Now Done.

By Travis Lundy

  • 4.5 months ago I wrote about a possible “Sustained Flow Event” on Japan Excellent (8987 JP). Since then, the stock has outperformed every other Office REIT. It’s up since then.
  • Outperformance within Office REITs has been a minimum of 3.5%, and a maximum of ~20.8% vs the biggest peer, with an average and median outperformance of 11.7% and 13.4% respectively.
  • This idiosyncratic story has come to an end. It may be a temporary end, but I don’t see the next catalyst.

Fast Retailing (9983) | Q1 Miss

By Mark Chadwick

  • We remain bearish on Fast Retailing given its valuation premium versus global peers
  • Q1 sales were resilient despite global cost of living issues. Profits missed on rising costs and China’s Covid hangover 
  • Cost pressures on the wage bill could be a multi-year issue as Uniqlo seeks to align with global pay standards

2023 High Conviction Shift: Margins Begin to Recover as Unprofitable Projects Coming to an End

By Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

  • Shift Inc (3697 JP) reported 1QFY08/2023 results today. Revenue increased 35.6% YoY to JPY19.3bn (vs consensus JPY19.8bn) while OP decreased 7.4% YoY to JPY1.8bn (vs consensus JPY2.2bn).
  • Both GPM and OPM have dropped compared to 1QFY08/2022 but shows significant improvement over last two quarters suggesting unprofitable development projects are coming to an end.
  • Though 1Q earnings fell a touch below consensus, we would not be too concerned as the company’s new services and being the market leader should drive long-term growth.

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief Technical Analysis: Awaiting CPI Thursday; Expect 4100-4165 SPX to Cap Upside; Buy Ideas Within Gold Miners and more

By | Daily Briefs, Technical Analysis

In today’s briefing:

  • Awaiting CPI Thursday; Expect 4100-4165 SPX to Cap Upside; Buy Ideas Within Gold Miners, Insurance

Awaiting CPI Thursday; Expect 4100-4165 SPX to Cap Upside; Buy Ideas Within Gold Miners, Insurance

By Joe Jasper

  • We currently see the market indexes as consolidating within broad horizontal trading ranges, and we expect these ranges to continue for months, and quite possibly for the entirety of 2023.
  • We see the top-end of the range at 4100-4165 on the S&P 500, while the bottom-end is at the 2022 lows (3490).
  • With yesterday’s break above 3910 it tells us a tradable rally has begun, with 4100-4165 our target

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief ESG: It’s Not Who The Directors Come From and more

By | Daily Briefs, ESG

In today’s briefing:

  • It’s Not Who The Directors Come From, but Their Skills and Ability to Fulfill Their Fiduciary Duties

It’s Not Who The Directors Come From, but Their Skills and Ability to Fulfill Their Fiduciary Duties

By Aki Matsumoto

  • People who can make business strategy decisions that are economic sense should be hired to serve on the board, not necessarily investors or financial experts.
  • If the motivation to increase corporate value is weak, linking the compensation of directors to the expansion of corporate value or granting them the company’s stock is an alternative.
  • Investors aren’t necessarily the only ones with conflicts of interest with shareholders. Founders hold significant shares, and the same problem can be assumed for directors from financial institutions with cross-shareholdings.

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars

Daily Brief ECM: CDP Holding Pre-IPO – Sales Have Grown but Continues to Rake in Losses and more

By | Daily Briefs, ECM

In today’s briefing:

  • CDP Holding Pre-IPO – Sales Have Grown but Continues to Rake in Losses
  • Rept Battero IPO: Intense Competition and Highly Scaled Competitors Stave Off Profits
  • Aequitas 2023 Asia IPO Pipeline – India, ADRs, Korea, Japan and ASEAN

CDP Holding Pre-IPO – Sales Have Grown but Continues to Rake in Losses

By Clarence Chu

  • CDP Holdings (1782198D CH) is looking to raise up to US$400m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. 
  • CDP Holding (CDP) is a human capital management (HCM) service provider.
  • As per CIC, CDP was the No. 1 HCM SaaS+ platform in China in terms of revenue generated from HCM SaaS+ services in 2021.

Rept Battero IPO: Intense Competition and Highly Scaled Competitors Stave Off Profits

By Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

  • Rept Battero is a lithium-ion battery manufacturer focusing on lithium-ion EV battery products and ESS battery products. The company has filed for an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
  • The company had recorded strong growth over all its battery segments and was the fastest growing battery manufacturer among top 10 lithium-ion battery manufacturers in China.
  • However, we find the company’s inability to generate profits at gross profit level concerning.

Aequitas 2023 Asia IPO Pipeline – India, ADRs, Korea, Japan and ASEAN

By Sumeet Singh

  • In this note, we will take a look at the Asia Pacific IPO pipeline for 2023, specifically for India, Asia-linked ADRs, Korea, Japan and ASEAN.
  • This list has been compiled on a best effort basis from tracking the company filings and through various other sources.
  • The deals you see in this note are only a part of our full IPO pipeline tracker. Feel free to drop us a message for additional information on these IPOs.

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars