Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The Holdco trade involving <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kirin-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16977:1" rel="noopener">Kirin Holdings (2503 JP)</a>, which we suggested last year has generated over 33% during the last 12 months against Topix’s 3.8% and Nikkei’s 2.6%.</li>
<li>We expect additional gains from this Holdco trade mostly alongside improvements in the core-business EBITDA expectations.</li>
<li>In addition, Kirin is looking outright positive with multiple catalysts assisting Kirin to turn around price performance.</li>
</ul>


The Holdco trade involving Kirin Holdings (2503 JP), which we suggested last year has generated over 33% during the last 12 months against Topix’s 3.8% and Nikkei’s 2.6%.
We expect additional gains from this Holdco trade mostly alongside improvements in the core-business EBITDA expectations.
In addition, Kirin is looking outright positive with multiple catalysts assisting Kirin to turn around price performance.


Kirin: Holdco Trade Has More Room to Run, Also Outright Attractive

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asahi-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10482:1" rel="noopener">Asahi Group Holdings (2502 JP)</a>’s 1Q22 OP of ¥9.0bn from ¥496.9bn revenue was significantly below the consensus OP of ¥34.0bn from ¥489.4bn revenue.</li>
<li>Yet the company maintained its aggressive 2022 guidance, which expects domestic beer volume growth while prices are scheduled to increase by 6-10%.</li>
<li>We don’t find this estimate credible, especially given that Asahi generates most of the domestic revenue from the price-sensitive high malt beer segment.</li>
</ul>



Asahi Group Holdings (2502 JP)’s 1Q22 OP of ¥9.0bn from ¥496.9bn revenue was significantly below the consensus OP of ¥34.0bn from ¥489.4bn revenue.
Yet the company maintained its aggressive 2022 guidance, which expects domestic beer volume growth while prices are scheduled to increase by 6-10%.
We don’t find this estimate credible, especially given that Asahi generates most of the domestic revenue from the price-sensitive high malt beer segment.


Asahi: More Downside Left After Maintaining The Optimistic 2022 Guidance

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

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

<ul>
<li>On 5th May 2022, Thai Beverage announced that BeerCo will resume its Proposed Spin-off Listing. This time the company is aiming to raise less than US$1bn, as per media reports.</li>
<li>We have looked at various aspects of the deal earlier, as the company had tried to spin-off BeerCo in 2021 as well before finally calling it off in April 2021.</li>
<li>In this note we undertake a peer comparison and talk about valuations</li>
</ul>


On 5th May 2022, Thai Beverage announced that BeerCo will resume its Proposed Spin-off Listing. This time the company is aiming to raise less than US$1bn, as per media reports.
We have looked at various aspects of the deal earlier, as the company had tried to spin-off BeerCo in 2021 as well before finally calling it off in April 2021.
In this note we undertake a peer comparison and talk about valuations


ThaiBev BeerCo 2022 Pre-IPO - Peer Comp and Thoughts on Valuation

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asahi-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10482:1" rel="noopener">Asahi Group Holdings (2502 JP)</a> announced yesterday that it will raise the prices of a majority of its domestic beverage brands to pass the rising cost of raw materials to customers.</li>
<li>Although beers as a whole has a relatively inelastic demand, the price elasticity in different categories of beer varies quite a bit with high malt beers having highly elastic demand.</li>
<li>We think the price hike could be more detrimental to Asahi than its competitors as the company generates most of its domestic revenue from the price-sensitive high malt beer segment.</li>
</ul>



Asahi Group Holdings (2502 JP) announced yesterday that it will raise the prices of a majority of its domestic beverage brands to pass the rising cost of raw materials to customers.
Although beers as a whole has a relatively inelastic demand, the price elasticity in different categories of beer varies quite a bit with high malt beers having highly elastic demand.
We think the price hike could be more detrimental to Asahi than its competitors as the company generates most of its domestic revenue from the price-sensitive high malt beer segment.


Asahi Raises Domestic Beverage Prices: Elastic “Beer” Demand Makes the Price Hike Unfavourable

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kirin-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16977:1" rel="noopener">Kirin Holdings (2503 JP)</a>’s NAV discount has narrowed from around 30% in July 2021 to 17% by November 2021.</li>
<li>Institutional investors have started to increase their ownership of Kirin after trimming their stakes during the first half of the year.</li>
<li>We think that NAV discount will continue to narrow over the next few months as institutional investors come back to own Kirin following the issues with the Myanmar business.</li>
</ul>



Kirin Holdings (2503 JP)’s NAV discount has narrowed from around 30% in July 2021 to 17% by November 2021.
Institutional investors have started to increase their ownership of Kirin after trimming their stakes during the first half of the year.
We think that NAV discount will continue to narrow over the next few months as institutional investors come back to own Kirin following the issues with the Myanmar business.


Kirin: Holdco Discount Is Starting to Unwind Alongside The Return of Institutional Investors

Japan

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited produces beer, soft drinks, food products, whisky, and pharmaceuticals.  The Company sells its products in Japan and overseas.

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Kirin Holdings (2503 JP)

Kirin: Holdco Trade Has More Room to Run, Also Outright Attractive

Almost 12 months down the line, our Holdco trade involving Kirin has given us a return of around 33.3% against Topix’s 3.8% and Nikkei’s 2.6%...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Asahi: More Downside Left After Maintaining The Optimistic 2022 Guidance

With gross profit depressed and Opex elevated due to increased advertising and sales promotion expenses in line with product renewals, we suspect...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

ThaiBev BeerCo 2022 Pre-IPO - Peer Comp and Thoughts on Valuation

Thai Beverage recently announced that BeerCo will resume its Proposed Spin-off Listing. In this note, we talk about peer comparison and look at...

Sumeet Singh

Asahi Raises Domestic Beverage Prices: Elastic “Beer” Demand Makes the Price Hike Unfavourable

We think the price hike could be more detrimental to Asahi than its competitors as Asahi generates most of its domestic revenue from the more price...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Kirin: Holdco Discount Is Starting to Unwind Alongside The Return of Institutional Investors

Even though Kirin's listed holdings have gained more than 200% since 2019, Kirin's share price has failed to reflect that significant increase in...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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