APAC IPOs & Placements

Zhen Zhou, Toh

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<div><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/krafton-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28956:1" rel="noopener"></a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/krafton-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28956:1" rel="noopener"> Krafton Inc (259960 KS)</a> is looking to raise up to US3.8bn in its South Korea IPO. </div><div>
Krafton Inc is a video game developer based in South Korea. The company is known for developing the global hit, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), an online multiplayer battle royale game. It is backed by Tencent and has also developed other games such as Tera, Elyon, Golf King: World Tour, Mini Golf King, Bowling King, and Archery King.
In this note, we will share our thoughts on assumptions and valuation.
We covered the IPO earlier in:
<ul><li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/krafton-ipo-adapting-and-transforming-well" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:54117" rel="noopener">Krafton IPO - Adapting and Transforming Well</a> </li></ul>
</div>

 Krafton Inc (259960 KS) is looking to raise up to US3.8bn in its South Korea IPO. 
Krafton Inc is a video game developer based in South Korea. The company is known for developing the global hit, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), an online multiplayer battle royale game. It is backed by Tencent and has also developed other games such as Tera, Elyon, Golf King: World Tour, Mini Golf King, Bowling King, and Archery King.
In this note, we will share our thoughts on assumptions and valuation.
We covered the IPO earlier in:

Krafton IPO - Adapting and Transforming Well 


Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

In this insight, we discuss our initial thoughts on the Krafton IPO. According to the bankers' valuation, the expected market cap of the company is expected to be from 23.7 trillion won to 28.8 trillion won (IPO price range of 458,000 won to 557,000 won).<div class="content-highlight">Our base case valuation of Krafton is an implied market cap of 24.1 trillion won or 465,055 won per share. Our valuation sensitivity suggests a valuation range from 18.3 trillion won to 30.6 trillion won. Our base case valuation of 465,055 won is close to the low end of the IPO price range of 458,000 won to 557,000 won. Given the lack of upside, we would PASS on this IPO deal. </div>

In this insight, we discuss our initial thoughts on the Krafton IPO. According to the bankers' valuation, the expected market cap of the company is expected to be from 23.7 trillion won to 28.8 trillion won (IPO price range of 458,000 won to 557,000 won).Our base case valuation of Krafton is an implied market cap of 24.1 trillion won or 465,055 won per share. Our valuation sensitivity suggests a valuation range from 18.3 trillion won to 30.6 trillion won. Our base case valuation of 465,055 won is close to the low end of the IPO price range of 458,000 won to 557,000 won. Given the lack of upside, we would PASS on this IPO deal. 

Initial Thoughts on the Krafton IPO Valuation

<div class="content-highlight">In this insight, we discuss the 9 major risks (excluding valuation issues) for Krafton. Overall, we believe these significant risk factors could result in much lower than expected demand for the Krafton IPO shares, especially among the institutional investors unless the IPO price range is lowered significantly. </div>1) Too much dependent on one game PUBG2) Krafton's big political risk with China (Game for Peace)3) Political risks of operating PUBG in overseas countries such as India  4) Company's sales growth in 2020 helped by COVID-195) Declining sales and profit growth in 1Q 20216) Comparable companies' worsening sales and profit trend in 1Q 20217) Potential acquisitions may not add value8) Expansion into other entertainment related business may involve execution risks9) Insiders are selling too much in this IPO

In this insight, we discuss the 9 major risks (excluding valuation issues) for Krafton. Overall, we believe these significant risk factors could result in much lower than expected demand for the Krafton IPO shares, especially among the institutional investors unless the IPO price range is lowered significantly. 1) Too much dependent on one game PUBG2) Krafton's big political risk with China (Game for Peace)3) Political risks of operating PUBG in overseas countries such as India  4) Company's sales growth in 2020 helped by COVID-195) Declining sales and profit growth in 1Q 20216) Comparable companies' worsening sales and profit trend in 1Q 20217) Potential acquisitions may not add value8) Expansion into other entertainment related business may involve execution risks9) Insiders are selling too much in this IPO 

Equity Bottom-Up

International Games System / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/international-games-system-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3486:1" rel="noopener">International Games System (3293 TT)</a> (IGS) is one of the leading social online gaming companies in Taiwan. IGS's core products include social casino games, casual games, and arcade games.Despite risks including declining sales of Arcade Games and potential regulatory risks associated with social casino online games, we believe many investors will focus on the positives and continue to add to their positions of this undervalued stock. Key catalysts of the company are as follows:<ul>
<li>Tremendous growth in online/mobile social casino &amp; casual games</li>
<li>Strong sales growth in Jan-Apr 2021 </li>
<li>Improving profit margins</li>
<li>High dividend payout</li>
</ul>

International Games System (3293 TT) (IGS) is one of the leading social online gaming companies in Taiwan. IGS's core products include social casino games, casual games, and arcade games.Despite risks including declining sales of Arcade Games and potential regulatory risks associated with social casino online games, we believe many investors will focus on the positives and continue to add to their positions of this undervalued stock. Key catalysts of the company are as follows:
Tremendous growth in online/mobile social casino &amp; casual games
Strong sales growth in Jan-Apr 2021 
Improving profit margins
High dividend payout


International Games System: An Undervalued Online Social Gaming Stock in Taiwan

<div class="content-highlight">The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coupang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28425:1" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US)</a> IPO has been one of the most successful IPOs for a company whose operations are mainly in Korea. There are likely to be a lot more Korean based companies (both public and private) that will consider listing their shares in the US market after a hugely successfully Coupang IPO. In this insight, we discuss 14 major Korean companies that may try to list their shares in the US exchanges in the next several years in order to reduce the infamous "Korea discount."</div>14 Korean Companies That May List Their Shares in the US Stock Exchange:<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">1) Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>2) Kurly (Private)3) SmartStudy (Private)4) Naver Webtoon (Private) 5) Krafton (Private) 6) LG Energy Solution (Private) 7) 11st (Private) 8) SSG.com (Private) 9) <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ncsoft-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5169:1" rel="noopener">NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS)</a>10) <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a>11) Kakao Entertainment (Private)  12) <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>13) Tmon (Private) 14) Non private equity firm that acquires Ebay Korea

The Coupang (CPNG US) IPO has been one of the most successful IPOs for a company whose operations are mainly in Korea. There are likely to be a lot more Korean based companies (both public and private) that will consider listing their shares in the US market after a hugely successfully Coupang IPO. In this insight, we discuss 14 major Korean companies that may try to list their shares in the US exchanges in the next several years in order to reduce the infamous "Korea discount."14 Korean Companies That May List Their Shares in the US Stock Exchange:1) Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)2) Kurly (Private)3) SmartStudy (Private)4) Naver Webtoon (Private) 5) Krafton (Private) 6) LG Energy Solution (Private) 7) 11st (Private) 8) SSG.com (Private) 9) NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS)10) Naver Corp (035420 KS)11) Kakao Entertainment (Private)  12) Kakao Corp (035720 KS)13) Tmon (Private) 14) Non private equity firm that acquires Ebay Korea 

Top 14 Korean Companies That May List in the US Stock Exchanges - Close The "Korea Discount Gap"

United States

Electronic Arts Inc. develops, publishes, and distributes branded interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game consoles, personal computers, handheld game players, and cellular handsets. The Company also provides online game-related services.

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Electronic Arts (EA US)

Krafton IPO - Assumptions and Valuation

Krafton Inc (259960 KS) is looking to raise up to US3.8bn in its South Korea IPO. In this note, we will share our thoughts on assumptions and...

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Initial Thoughts on the Krafton IPO Valuation

Our base case valuation of Krafton is an implied market cap of 24.1 trillion won or 465,055 won per share. Given the lack of upside relative to the...

Douglas Kim

Krafton IPO - 9 Major Risks

We discuss the 9 major risks (excluding valuation issues) for Krafton. Overall, we believe these significant risk factors could result in much...

Douglas Kim

Top 14 Korean Companies That May List in the US Stock Exchanges - Close The "Korea Discount Gap"

In this insight, we discuss 14 major Korean companies that may try to list their shares in the US exchanges in the next several years in order to...

Douglas Kim

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Krafton IPO - Assumptions and Valuation

Krafton Inc (259960 KS) is looking to raise up to US3.8bn in its South Korea IPO. In this note, we will share our thoughts on assumptions and...

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Initial Thoughts on the Krafton IPO Valuation

Our base case valuation of Krafton is an implied market cap of 24.1 trillion won or 465,055 won per share. Given the lack of upside relative to the...

Douglas Kim

Krafton IPO - 9 Major Risks

We discuss the 9 major risks (excluding valuation issues) for Krafton. Overall, we believe these significant risk factors could result in much...

Douglas Kim

International Games System: An Undervalued Online Social Gaming Stock in Taiwan

International Games System (3293 TT) is high growth, social games provider in Taiwan that we believe is undervalued versus leading global social...

Douglas Kim

Top 14 Korean Companies That May List in the US Stock Exchanges - Close The "Korea Discount Gap"

In this insight, we discuss 14 major Korean companies that may try to list their shares in the US exchanges in the next several years in order to...

Douglas Kim