Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Zero One

Founded in 2015, Zero One produces independent investment research and provides corporate finance advisory services with a focus on both listed and private technology companies. Founder Vincent Fernando has over 20 years of experience in US and Asia capital markets.

Independent Investment Research

Equity Bottom-Up

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>TSMC and ASML will report results this week. We may get additional detail about the scope of AI-related demand as a medium-term driver for the semiconductor industry.</li>
<li>Many Taiwan AI plays were top losers last week. Separately, the U.S. is expected to announce new tech restrictions for China this week.</li>
<li>SK Hynix is reportedly working closely with Mediatek to integrate some of its most advanced memory in Mediatek's flagship Dimensity chips. Mediatek was a top gainer last week.</li>
</ul>


TSMC and ASML will report results this week. We may get additional detail about the scope of AI-related demand as a medium-term driver for the semiconductor industry.
Many Taiwan AI plays were top losers last week. Separately, the U.S. is expected to announce new tech restrictions for China this week.
SK Hynix is reportedly working closely with Mediatek to integrate some of its most advanced memory in Mediatek's flagship Dimensity chips. Mediatek was a top gainer last week.


Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC & ASML Results This Week; Taiwan AI Plays Top Losers

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.

Equity Capital Markets

Kokusai Electric  / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> has trimmed its IPO price from JPY1,890 to JPY1,830-1,840 per share to raise up to US$727 million. The IPO price will be determined on 16 October.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kokusai-electric-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:113787" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bull Case</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kokusai-electric-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:114152" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bear Case</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kokusai-electric-ipo-valuation-insights" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:114376" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric IPO: Valuation Insights</a>. </li>
<li>Our base-case DCF valuation is JPY2,058 per share. Peers have modestly re-rated, and a lower IPO price range helps increase the IPO's attractiveness.</li>
</ul>



Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) has trimmed its IPO price from JPY1,890 to JPY1,830-1,840 per share to raise up to US$727 million. The IPO price will be determined on 16 October.
We previously discussed the IPO in Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bull Case, Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bear Case and Kokusai Electric IPO: Valuation Insights. 
Our base-case DCF valuation is JPY2,058 per share. Peers have modestly re-rated, and a lower IPO price range helps increase the IPO's attractiveness.


Kokusai Electric IPO: Lower Price Range Is Reasonable

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> is a speciality manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kkr-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27333:1" rel="noopener">KKR &amp; (KKR US)</a> seeks to raise about US$745 million through listing Kokusai.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kokusai-electric-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:113787" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bull Case</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kokusai-electric-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:114152" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bear Case</a>. </li>
<li>In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Kokusai is fully valued at the IPO reference price of JPY1,890 per share. We would pass on the IPO.</li>
</ul>



Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) is a speciality manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment. KKR &amp; (KKR US) seeks to raise about US$745 million through listing Kokusai.
We previously discussed the IPO in Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bull Case and Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bear Case. 
In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Kokusai is fully valued at the IPO reference price of JPY1,890 per share. We would pass on the IPO.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> is a speciality manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kkr-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27333:1" rel="noopener">KKR &amp; (KKR US)</a> seeks to raise about US$750 million through listing Kokusai.</li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kokusai-electric-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:113787" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bull Case</a>, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.</li>
<li>The bear case rests on a declining revenue trend, a challenging near-term growth target, high China revenue risk, margins on a downward trend, increasing inventory days and deteriorating FCF.</li>
</ul>



Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) is a speciality manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment. KKR &amp; (KKR US) seeks to raise about US$750 million through listing Kokusai.
In Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bull Case, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.
The bear case rests on a declining revenue trend, a challenging near-term growth target, high China revenue risk, margins on a downward trend, increasing inventory days and deteriorating FCF.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> is a speciality manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kkr-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27333:1" rel="noopener">KKR &amp; (KKR US)</a> seeks to raise about US$750 million through listing Kokusai.   </li>
<li>Kokusai has the leading market share in the batch deposition equipment market and the second largest market share in the treatment equipment market, according to TechInsights and Gartner.</li>
<li>The key elements of the bull case rest on a leading market share, strong IP, healthy forward revenue indicators, increasing recurring service revenue, solid gross margin trends and modest leverage.</li>
</ul>



Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) is a speciality manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment. KKR &amp; (KKR US) seeks to raise about US$750 million through listing Kokusai.   
Kokusai has the leading market share in the batch deposition equipment market and the second largest market share in the treatment equipment market, according to TechInsights and Gartner.
The key elements of the bull case rest on a leading market share, strong IP, healthy forward revenue indicators, increasing recurring service revenue, solid gross margin trends and modest leverage.


United States

Lam Research Corporation manufactures, markets, and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the making of integrated circuits.  The Company's products are used to deposit special films on a silicon wafer and etch away portions of various films to create a circuit design.  Lam sells its products around the world.

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Lam Research (LRCX US)

Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC & ASML Results This Week; Taiwan AI Plays Top Losers

SK Hynix is reportedly working closely with Mediatek to integrate some of its most advanced memory in Mediatek's flagship Dimensity chips. Mediatek...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Kokusai Electric IPO: Lower Price Range Is Reasonable

Kokusai has priced its IPO at the top of its IPO price range of JPY1,830-1,840 per share to raise US$724.4 million. The international offering was...

Arun George

Kokusai Electric IPO: Valuation Insights

Our analysis suggests that Kokusai is fully valued at the IPO reference price of JPY1,890 per share. We would pass on the IPO.

Arun George

Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on a declining revenue trend, a challenging near-term growth target, high China revenue risk, margins on a downward trend,...

Arun George

Kokusai Electric IPO: The Bull Case

The key elements of the bull case rest on a leading market share, strong IP, healthy forward revenue indicators, increasing recurring service...

Arun George

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