Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Rakuten announced today it would both prepare for a potential listing of Rakuten Bank and the incorporation of Symphony, the mobile network system integrator.  This could represent the next funding step for Rakuten as its mobile network investment accelerates although the news today is preliminary enough to be considered a trial balloon. A Bank listing could surface hidden value as we think fintech represents a majority of Rakuten’s overall value even as mobile and eCommerce grab the headlines. Unfortunately, until mobile turns the corner on operating losses we are unlikely to see a meaningful change in sentiment. We remain at Neutral.</p>

Rakuten announced today it would both prepare for a potential listing of Rakuten Bank and the incorporation of Symphony, the mobile network system integrator.  This could represent the next funding step for Rakuten as its mobile network investment accelerates although the news today is preliminary enough to be considered a trial balloon. A Bank listing could surface hidden value as we think fintech represents a majority of Rakuten’s overall value even as mobile and eCommerce grab the headlines. Unfortunately, until mobile turns the corner on operating losses we are unlikely to see a meaningful change in sentiment. We remain at Neutral.

Rakuten Group (Neutral) - Testing the Waters on Further Funding

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Equity Capital Markets

<h2>Key revisions</h2><p>Kakao Pay submitted a revised registration statement (prospectus) on Friday afternoon. It plans to start bookbuilding on October 20-21 and subscription on the 25th. It then plans to go public in early November (tentatively November 3rd). However, Kakao Pay did not change the offering price.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/231/611/original/2.png?1632487425" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="231611"></figure></section><p>The grace period for the registration statement to take effect is 15 business days. During this period, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will undergo a final review. An issuer cannot do marketing during the grace period. After 15 business days from today (September 24th), it becomes October 20th. So, the start date of bookbuilding was decided on October 20th.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/231/612/original/1.png?1632487478" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="231612"></figure></section><p>Contrary to expectations, Kakao Pay maintained its offering price at 60,000-90,000 won as before. The market capitalization based on the top of the indicative price band is 11.73 trillion won. The institutional allocation rate remains the same at 55-75%.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/231/613/original/3.png?1632487969" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="231613"></figure></section><p>Kakao Pay added government regulatory risk to this revised report. It stated that it had suspended those services that violated the Financial Consumer Protection Act (the services concluded as financial product brokerage, not advertising).</p><p>However, Kakao Pay explained that the portion of sales of the discontinued services was only 1.2% of the total sales. Therefore, Kakao Pay said it did not feel the need to change its IPO valuation (the offering price).</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/231/614/original/4.png?1632488385" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="231614"></figure></section>

Key revisionsKakao Pay submitted a revised registration statement (prospectus) on Friday afternoon. It plans to start bookbuilding on October 20-21 and subscription on the 25th. It then plans to go public in early November (tentatively November 3rd). However, Kakao Pay did not change the offering price.The grace period for the registration statement to take effect is 15 business days. During this period, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will undergo a final review. An issuer cannot do marketing during the grace period. After 15 business days from today (September 24th), it becomes October 20th. So, the start date of bookbuilding was decided on October 20th.Contrary to expectations, Kakao Pay maintained its offering price at 60,000-90,000 won as before. The market capitalization based on the top of the indicative price band is 11.73 trillion won. The institutional allocation rate remains the same at 55-75%.Kakao Pay added government regulatory risk to this revised report. It stated that it had suspended those services that violated the Financial Consumer Protection Act (the services concluded as financial product brokerage, not advertising).However, Kakao Pay explained that the portion of sales of the discontinued services was only 1.2% of the total sales. Therefore, Kakao Pay said it did not feel the need to change its IPO valuation (the offering price).

Kakao Pay IPO Revised Prospectus Out: Key Revisions & Talking Points

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-pay-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29675:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Pay (377300 KS)</a> provided a new timeline of its IPO after the market close today.</strong> The book building for the institutional investors will now start on <strong>20 October.</strong> Previously, this was supposed to start on 29 September. Despite another delay in the IPO schedule, the company has maintained the IPO price range of 60,000 won to 90,000 won. The IPO base deal size ranges from $871 million to $1.3 billion.</p><p>According to the bankers' valuation, the expected market cap of Kakao Pay is expected to range from 8.2 trillion won to 12.2 trillion won. Kakao Pay IPO is expected to start trading on <strong>3 November. </strong></p><div class="content-highlight">
<div>We maintain our base case valuation of EV of 10.1 trillion won, implied market cap of 12.2 trillion won, and target price per share of 89,739 won per share. This is based on an EV/S multiple of 10.6x using our estimated sales of 954 billion won for the company in 2022.</div>
<div></div>
<div>At the high end of the IPO price range (90,000 won), we see limited upside as compared to our base case valuation. On the other hand, at the low or mid end of the IPO price range (60,000 won to 75,000 won per share), we see a solid upside as compared to our target price. </div>
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Kakao Pay (377300 KS) provided a new timeline of its IPO after the market close today. The book building for the institutional investors will now start on 20 October. Previously, this was supposed to start on 29 September. Despite another delay in the IPO schedule, the company has maintained the IPO price range of 60,000 won to 90,000 won. The IPO base deal size ranges from $871 million to $1.3 billion.According to the bankers' valuation, the expected market cap of Kakao Pay is expected to range from 8.2 trillion won to 12.2 trillion won. Kakao Pay IPO is expected to start trading on 3 November. 
We maintain our base case valuation of EV of 10.1 trillion won, implied market cap of 12.2 trillion won, and target price per share of 89,739 won per share. This is based on an EV/S multiple of 10.6x using our estimated sales of 954 billion won for the company in 2022.

At the high end of the IPO price range (90,000 won), we see limited upside as compared to our base case valuation. On the other hand, at the low or mid end of the IPO price range (60,000 won to 75,000 won per share), we see a solid upside as compared to our target price. 


<h2>Listing schedule</h2><p>First, it was confirmed that the Financial Supervisory Service discussed the scope of correction and listing schedule with Kakao Pay during the Chuseok holiday.</p><p>The results of this discussion have not yet been leaked to the market. However, the local street's general view is that the listing schedule will not be substantially delayed. Kakao Pay's listing schedule has already been postponed once, and delaying it until next year could be a significant burden for the Financial Supervisory Service as well.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>The majority view in the local market is that Kakao Pay will submit a revised securities declaration at the end of September (likely sometime next week). </strong><strong>And the bookbuilding will begin around mid-October after the 15 business day grace period. </strong><strong>In this case, the listing date is likely to be around mid-November.</strong></p></div><h2>What changes are to be added?</h2><p>Kakao Pay has so far provided a service that recommends insurance or financial investment products that meet individual needs through the app. The FSC concluded that this was a product brokerage service, not an advertisement.</p><p>Of course, a business license is required to broker financial products in the Korean market. An insurance broker license is required to broker insurance, and a brokerage license is needed to broker financial investment products under the Capital Market Act.</p><p>Currently, Kakao Pay does not have these licenses. Instead, Kakao Pay's subsidiaries, KP Insurance Service, and Kakao Pay Securities, hold these financial product brokerage licenses. However, the FSC raised the issue, saying that this is a license owned by a subsidiary, not a license of Kakao Pay.</p><p>Therefore, the FSC requested Kakao Pay to immediately stop these services from September 25, when the guidance period of the Financial Consumer Protection Act ends. In this regard, Kakao Pay has already temporarily suspended insurance product brokerage services such as car insurance, companion animal insurance, and overseas travel insurance.</p><p>Kakao Pay has no choice but to include the newly changed regulatory environment and the resulting temporary suspension of services in the revised securities report. Then, the question is whether a lowering of the offering price is inevitable.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p><strong>The general view of the local market is that a downward revision of the offering price is inevitable. As 32% of sales in the first half of this year were from the brokerage of financial products, future growth and sales estimates will have to be revised down.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Of course, Kakao Pay can resume these financial product brokerage services under the name of its subsidiaries or by directly obtaining a license. However, the problem is that the cost structure will be significantly different if it becomes a financial product brokerage service rather than an advertisement. That is, it is inevitable </strong><strong>to make a major revision to whether Kakao Pay can achieve the previously estimated sales/profit growth rate with this cost structure.</strong></p>
</div>

Listing scheduleFirst, it was confirmed that the Financial Supervisory Service discussed the scope of correction and listing schedule with Kakao Pay during the Chuseok holiday.The results of this discussion have not yet been leaked to the market. However, the local street's general view is that the listing schedule will not be substantially delayed. Kakao Pay's listing schedule has already been postponed once, and delaying it until next year could be a significant burden for the Financial Supervisory Service as well.The majority view in the local market is that Kakao Pay will submit a revised securities declaration at the end of September (likely sometime next week). And the bookbuilding will begin around mid-October after the 15 business day grace period. In this case, the listing date is likely to be around mid-November.What changes are to be added?Kakao Pay has so far provided a service that recommends insurance or financial investment products that meet individual needs through the app. The FSC concluded that this was a product brokerage service, not an advertisement.Of course, a business license is required to broker financial products in the Korean market. An insurance broker license is required to broker insurance, and a brokerage license is needed to broker financial investment products under the Capital Market Act.Currently, Kakao Pay does not have these licenses. Instead, Kakao Pay's subsidiaries, KP Insurance Service, and Kakao Pay Securities, hold these financial product brokerage licenses. However, the FSC raised the issue, saying that this is a license owned by a subsidiary, not a license of Kakao Pay.Therefore, the FSC requested Kakao Pay to immediately stop these services from September 25, when the guidance period of the Financial Consumer Protection Act ends. In this regard, Kakao Pay has already temporarily suspended insurance product brokerage services such as car insurance, companion animal insurance, and overseas travel insurance.Kakao Pay has no choice but to include the newly changed regulatory environment and the resulting temporary suspension of services in the revised securities report. Then, the question is whether a lowering of the offering price is inevitable.
The general view of the local market is that a downward revision of the offering price is inevitable. As 32% of sales in the first half of this year were from the brokerage of financial products, future growth and sales estimates will have to be revised down.
Of course, Kakao Pay can resume these financial product brokerage services under the name of its subsidiaries or by directly obtaining a license. However, the problem is that the cost structure will be significantly different if it becomes a financial product brokerage service rather than an advertisement. That is, it is inevitable to make a major revision to whether Kakao Pay can achieve the previously estimated sales/profit growth rate with this cost structure.


Kakao Pay IPO Schedule Update & Short Trading Idea on Kakao Bank

<p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/douzone-bizon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20161:1" rel="noopener">Douzone Bizon (012510 KS)</a> has two major catalysts (Internet only bank for SMEs and accounts receivable factoring business) right now that is driving its share price higher.</strong></p><p>The huge success of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakaobank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33501:1" rel="noopener">KakaoBank (323410 KS)</a> IPO has given higher spotlight on companies that could become competitive threats in the Internet banking industry in Korea. Douzone Bizon in partnership with Shinhan Bank has the capability to become one of the major players in the Internet bank industry dedicated to the SME sector. Douzon Bizon's emphasis is not on the retail Internet banking but rather on the SMEs corporate related Internet banking services. </p><p>After Bain Capital became the second largest shareholder of the company in March 2021, the share price of the company fell nearly 25% (reaching low of 75,800 won on 20 August). However, its share price has rebounded strongly in the past month, driven by these two catalysts. </p><div class="content-highlight">
<p>Given the positive impact from the two key catalysts (Internet only bank for SMEs and accounts receivable factoring business), we believe that the market is likely to attach higher valuation multiples on the company in the coming weeks. As such, we believe that Douzone Bizon could continue to strongly outperform the market in the rest of 2021.</p>
<p>The company's shares have traded as high as 57.6x P/E in the past four years. If we apply this multiple on the consensus net profit of 75.6 billion won in 2022, this would imply a market cap of 4.4 trillion won (143,500 won per share), which is 32% higher than current share price. </p>
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Douzone Bizon (012510 KS) has two major catalysts (Internet only bank for SMEs and accounts receivable factoring business) right now that is driving its share price higher.The huge success of the KakaoBank (323410 KS) IPO has given higher spotlight on companies that could become competitive threats in the Internet banking industry in Korea. Douzone Bizon in partnership with Shinhan Bank has the capability to become one of the major players in the Internet bank industry dedicated to the SME sector. Douzon Bizon's emphasis is not on the retail Internet banking but rather on the SMEs corporate related Internet banking services. After Bain Capital became the second largest shareholder of the company in March 2021, the share price of the company fell nearly 25% (reaching low of 75,800 won on 20 August). However, its share price has rebounded strongly in the past month, driven by these two catalysts. 
Given the positive impact from the two key catalysts (Internet only bank for SMEs and accounts receivable factoring business), we believe that the market is likely to attach higher valuation multiples on the company in the coming weeks. As such, we believe that Douzone Bizon could continue to strongly outperform the market in the rest of 2021.
The company's shares have traded as high as 57.6x P/E in the past four years. If we apply this multiple on the consensus net profit of 75.6 billion won in 2022, this would imply a market cap of 4.4 trillion won (143,500 won per share), which is 32% higher than current share price. 


Douzone Bizon: Internet Bank for SMEs and Accounts Receivables Factoring Driving Share Price Higher

South Korea

KakaoBank Corp. operates bank businesses. The Company provides deposit money, withdraw money, credit cards, stock accounts, linked loans, and other services. KakaoBank conducts businesses in South Korea.

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KakaoBank (323410 KS)

Rakuten Group (Neutral) - Testing the Waters on Further Funding

Rakuten announced today it would prepare for a potential listing of Rakuten Bank. That could represent the next funding step for the mobile...

Kirk Boodry

Kakao Pay IPO Revised Prospectus Out: Key Revisions & Talking Points

Kakao Pay's revised prospectus is out afternoon today after the market closed. This post examines the key changes and main talking points.

Sanghyun Park

Kakao Pay - A New Timeline for Its IPO

Kakao Pay provided a new timeline of its IPO after the market close today. The book building for the institutional investors will now start on 20...

Douglas Kim

Kakao Pay IPO Schedule Update & Short Trading Idea on Kakao Bank

This post gives an update on Kakao Pay's listing situation, including the likely schedule. Then, it discusses short trading ideas involving Kakao...

Sanghyun Park

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Rakuten Group (Neutral) - Testing the Waters on Further Funding

Rakuten announced today it would prepare for a potential listing of Rakuten Bank. That could represent the next funding step for the mobile...

Kirk Boodry

Kakao Pay IPO Revised Prospectus Out: Key Revisions & Talking Points

Kakao Pay's revised prospectus is out afternoon today after the market closed. This post examines the key changes and main talking points.

Sanghyun Park

Kakao Pay - A New Timeline for Its IPO

Kakao Pay provided a new timeline of its IPO after the market close today. The book building for the institutional investors will now start on 20...

Douglas Kim

Kakao Pay IPO Schedule Update & Short Trading Idea on Kakao Bank

This post gives an update on Kakao Pay's listing situation, including the likely schedule. Then, it discusses short trading ideas involving Kakao...

Sanghyun Park

Douzone Bizon: Internet Bank for SMEs and Accounts Receivables Factoring Driving Share Price Higher

Douzone Bizon (012510 KS) has two major catalysts (Internet only bank for SMEs and accounts receivable factoring business) right now that is...

Douglas Kim