ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

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

Equity Bottom-Up

Sea Limited offers information technology services. The Company provides online personal computer and mobile digital content, e-commerce, and payment platforms. Sea serves customers worldwide.

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Limited (SE US)</a> booked a strong set of 1Q2024 results from a GMV, revenue and adjusted EBITDA perspective, with fears of greater competition from TikTok failing to materialise. </li>
<li>The company has been investing in growth across all segments, with e-commerce driving and digital financial services driving growth but digital entertainment also seeing a return to growth mode. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Limited</a> continues to focus on its core competitiveness in pricing, improving service quality, and lowering the cost to serve through SPX Express, with advertising becoming a more meaningful contributor.  </li>
</ul>



Sea Limited (SE US) booked a strong set of 1Q2024 results from a GMV, revenue and adjusted EBITDA perspective, with fears of greater competition from TikTok failing to materialise. 
The company has been investing in growth across all segments, with e-commerce driving and digital financial services driving growth but digital entertainment also seeing a return to growth mode. 

Sea Limited continues to focus on its core competitiveness in pricing, improving service quality, and lowering the cost to serve through SPX Express, with advertising becoming a more meaningful contributor.  


Grab Holdings Limited operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, develops delivery management, mobility, financial services, and enterprise software solutions. Grab Holdings serves customers worldwide.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grab-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a>'s focus last year was offering more affordable products, which helped to increase its addressable market. FY2024 will see the rollout of a broader range of initiatives across economic segments. </li>
<li>This year Grab is rolling out more premium offerings and new initiatives, including advance bookings, family accounts, increased reviews, and new merchant features to grow revenue streams from advertising.</li>
<li>The upcoming results are likely to reflect seasonal factors but should also reveal something about Grab's new initiatives and the changing competitive environment, with GoTo investing more aggressively. </li>
</ul>



Grab's focus last year was offering more affordable products, which helped to increase its addressable market. FY2024 will see the rollout of a broader range of initiatives across economic segments. 
This year Grab is rolling out more premium offerings and new initiatives, including advance bookings, family accounts, increased reviews, and new merchant features to grow revenue streams from advertising.
The upcoming results are likely to reflect seasonal factors but should also reveal something about Grab's new initiatives and the changing competitive environment, with GoTo investing more aggressively. 


Grab Holdings (GRAB US) - Rich in Initiatives

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>The past week saw insights on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/goto-gojek-tokopedia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/industri-jamu-dan-farmasi-sido-muncul-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6033:1" rel="noopener">Sido Muncul (SIDO IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-eastern-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13993:1" rel="noopener">Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-airlines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:74:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Airlines (SIA SP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lippo-malls-indonesia-retail-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10946:1" rel="noopener">Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust.</a>
</li>
<li>There were also macro insights on Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, and the latest CrossASEAN Ground Zero insight on the digital economy and other ASEAN themes. </li>
<li>The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom-up, from across Southeast Asia.</li>
</ul>


The past week saw insights on GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO IJ), Sido Muncul (SIDO IJ), Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP), Singapore Airlines (SIA SP), and Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust.

There were also macro insights on Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, and the latest CrossASEAN Ground Zero insight on the digital economy and other ASEAN themes. 
The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom-up, from across Southeast Asia.


The CrossASEAN Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - GoTo Transformed, Sido Muncul, and Great Eastern

GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk PT / Equity Bottom-Up

PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk operates as an e-commerce platform. The Company offers mobility, food delivery, logistics, e-commerce, and financial technology solutions. GoTo Gojek Tokopedia serves customers in Indonesia.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/goto-gojek-tokopedia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO IJ)</a> booked an encouraging set of 1Q2024 results which provided a first look at the new structure, whereby suddenly e-commerce became cashflow positive for the company. </li>
<li>The company booked strong headline growth with core GMV increasing by +32% YoY, despite incentive &amp; product spending decreasing by -31% YoY, whilst adjusted EBITDA losses fell -89% YoY. </li>
<li>GoTo will drive growth less through incentives and more through innovative products, increasing the user base, and focusing on retention through its subscription products, with fintech becoming increasingly important. </li>
</ul>



GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO IJ) booked an encouraging set of 1Q2024 results which provided a first look at the new structure, whereby suddenly e-commerce became cashflow positive for the company. 
The company booked strong headline growth with core GMV increasing by +32% YoY, despite incentive &amp; product spending decreasing by -31% YoY, whilst adjusted EBITDA losses fell -89% YoY. 
GoTo will drive growth less through incentives and more through innovative products, increasing the user base, and focusing on retention through its subscription products, with fintech becoming increasingly important. 


GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO IJ) - Metamorphosis

<ul>
<li>This week we look at the noise surrounding the entrance of new EV players to Indonesia and suggest that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International</a> is well-positioned to face the renewed competition. </li>
<li>We also look at CVC's move on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/siloam-international-hospitals" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:878:1" rel="noopener">Siloam International Hospitals</a>, Kopi Kenangan's expansion plans, and Microsoft's commitment to invest US$1.7bn in the AI space in Indonesia. </li>
<li>CrossASEAN Ground Zero is a thematic weekly product that focuses on key Southeast Asian themes and technology trends with a core focus on Indonesia.</li>
</ul>


This week we look at the noise surrounding the entrance of new EV players to Indonesia and suggest that Astra International is well-positioned to face the renewed competition. 
We also look at CVC's move on Siloam International Hospitals, Kopi Kenangan's expansion plans, and Microsoft's commitment to invest US$1.7bn in the AI space in Indonesia. 
CrossASEAN Ground Zero is a thematic weekly product that focuses on key Southeast Asian themes and technology trends with a core focus on Indonesia.


CrossASEAN Ground Zero - EV Frenzy, Siloam Gets New Investors, Kopi Kenangan, and Microsoft's Pledge

In Equity Sales and Research for more than 25 years covering Asian markets. Possesses in-depth knowledge of a wide range of companies, economies, and markets in Asia. Over his career, he has specialised in HK/China and ASEAN markets at various different Investment Banks, most recently heading equities in Indonesia for Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Jakarta for more than three years. Whilst in Jakarta, he produced a well-read daily and weekly product on the Indonesian market, which included company visits, as well as political, economic and sector commentary. A former racing skier, who enjoys ultra-marathons and surfing in his spare time.