Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

A chartered management accountant with more than 10 years of rich experience in investment research and financial analysis. Worked as an equity analyst for one of the world's largest asset managers with USD2.5trn in AUM covering numerous sectors including chemicals, retail, tech, autos, telco, real-estate and banks, globally. Experienced in fundamental equity research, industry research, commodity studies, forensic accounting, and due diligence reviews.

Equity Analyst

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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

India’s largest payment and financial services platform <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paytm-mobile-solutions-pvt-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26149:1" rel="noopener">Paytm (PAYTM IN)</a>  has filed for an IPO to raise about INR166bn (US$2.2bn) through the issuance of new shares as well as through the sale of existing shares. Paytm plans to raise about INR83bn through the sale of new shares while the existing shareholders including the company’s founder Mr. Vijay Shekhar Sharma and other investors plan to offer part of their shareholding in the company.According to news media outlets, Paytm aims for a valuation of about US$25-30bn and the company’s FY03/2021 revenues of INR28bn (US$364m) implies a trailing EV/Sales of 69-82x.Paytm’s revenues grew 1.5% YoY in FY03/2020 while it declined 14.6% YoY in FY03/2021 due to the pandemic. We expect the company’s commerce and cloud services business’s top line to further decline in FY03/2022E due to the resurgence of Covid-19 in India in April 2021. Though Paytm has multiple monetisation channels and established itself as a category leader in overall payments sector in India, we believe it will take a few more years for the company to reach profits.In this insight, we examine Paytm’s business model, segments, revenues and margins. In a follow-up insight, we plan to take a look at the corporate governance related issues of the company and run through our governance framework.

India’s largest payment and financial services platform Paytm (PAYTM IN)  has filed for an IPO to raise about INR166bn (US$2.2bn) through the issuance of new shares as well as through the sale of existing shares. Paytm plans to raise about INR83bn through the sale of new shares while the existing shareholders including the company’s founder Mr. Vijay Shekhar Sharma and other investors plan to offer part of their shareholding in the company.According to news media outlets, Paytm aims for a valuation of about US$25-30bn and the company’s FY03/2021 revenues of INR28bn (US$364m) implies a trailing EV/Sales of 69-82x.Paytm’s revenues grew 1.5% YoY in FY03/2020 while it declined 14.6% YoY in FY03/2021 due to the pandemic. We expect the company’s commerce and cloud services business’s top line to further decline in FY03/2022E due to the resurgence of Covid-19 in India in April 2021. Though Paytm has multiple monetisation channels and established itself as a category leader in overall payments sector in India, we believe it will take a few more years for the company to reach profits.In this insight, we examine Paytm’s business model, segments, revenues and margins. In a follow-up insight, we plan to take a look at the corporate governance related issues of the company and run through our governance framework.

Paytm IPO: Multiple Revenue Channels but Profitability Is a Tall Order