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

Airbnb aims to raise around US$2.5bn in its US listing. Airbnb is a global short-stay offering platform. To put it simply, iIt connects hosts, who post available accommodation on Airbnb, with guests, who make bookings for the accommodation. It charges a fee for this service.As of 9M20, it had 4 million hosts in more than 220 countries and regions around the world. Since inception, its hosts have welcomed over 825m guest arrivals and have cumulatively earned over $110bn. In 2019, it had 54m active bookers worldwide, who booked 327m nights and experiences on Airbnb.Over 2017-19, the company reported steady growth in earnings led by an increase in the number of bookings. Its overall number of guests and hosts have been growing as well, with most metrics heading in the right direction. While COVID-19 did take a harsh toll on the company, its quarterly results paint a better picture as compared to its 9M20 numbers. Even during COVID, there have been certain pockets, like domestic and long stay travel which have continued to grow, thus, highlighting the company’s resilience. Having said that, Airbnb has failed to explain the reason for the downwards pressure on its 2019 margins. At the same time, the cohorts data highlights the ample other options available to its guests and the severe competition in the industry.

Airbnb aims to raise around US$2.5bn in its US listing. Airbnb is a global short-stay offering platform. To put it simply, iIt connects hosts, who post available accommodation on Airbnb, with guests, who make bookings for the accommodation. It charges a fee for this service.As of 9M20, it had 4 million hosts in more than 220 countries and regions around the world. Since inception, its hosts have welcomed over 825m guest arrivals and have cumulatively earned over $110bn. In 2019, it had 54m active bookers worldwide, who booked 327m nights and experiences on Airbnb.Over 2017-19, the company reported steady growth in earnings led by an increase in the number of bookings. Its overall number of guests and hosts have been growing as well, with most metrics heading in the right direction. While COVID-19 did take a harsh toll on the company, its quarterly results paint a better picture as compared to its 9M20 numbers. Even during COVID, there have been certain pockets, like domestic and long stay travel which have continued to grow, thus, highlighting the company’s resilience. Having said that, Airbnb has failed to explain the reason for the downwards pressure on its 2019 margins. At the same time, the cohorts data highlights the ample other options available to its guests and the severe competition in the industry. 

Airbnb IPO - Time for a Good Break - Even from the Share Lock-Up

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst, Obex Capital Research

Aaron Gabin

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research

Obex Capital Research

“Obex” is Latin for Barriers to Entry. Obex Capital Management’s investment philosophy is driven by an intense focus on which business model’s Barriers to Entry are able to withstand the ever increasing competitive disruption in the TMT and Consumer Sectors.

Equity Bottom-Up

Snowflake had a good quarter…it was a bit above expectations that were well telegraphed from the IPO, and their guidance was only inline (though likely conservative)….so what does one do with a stock that is the single richest multiple in the stock market (100x+ sales)? Buy a lot more? We can’t pretend to understand why this stock was up 16% today. And we can’t pretend to understand why the market values its revenues at 3x!!! the rest of high valuation software. We don’t short on valuation alone. But we certainly couldn’t justify owning Snowflake. <div class="content-highlight">Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</div>

Snowflake had a good quarter…it was a bit above expectations that were well telegraphed from the IPO, and their guidance was only inline (though likely conservative)….so what does one do with a stock that is the single richest multiple in the stock market (100x+ sales)? Buy a lot more? We can’t pretend to understand why this stock was up 16% today. And we can’t pretend to understand why the market values its revenues at 3x!!! the rest of high valuation software. We don’t short on valuation alone. But we certainly couldn’t justify owning Snowflake. Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

Snowflake 3Q21: Our Revenues Are Worth More Than Your Revenues

Asean-focused. Ex-Head of Thai Research

Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA

Asean (Thailand) Focused Independent Research

M Corp Review

M Corp is led by Athaporn Arayasantiparb who served as Head of Research for UOB and ANZ in Thailand and was an award-winning telecoms analyst at UBS in 2010 (AsiaMoney Thailand category) and Regional Strategist for DMG in Singapore. Prior to that, he also served as Kasikornbank credit analyst and scholar. He has a total work experience of 17 years, of which 14 were in research and 4 in research management roles. He started his career as an engineer for PTT and currently manages family investments. He holds an MBA from Stern (NYU) and CFA Charter since 2006. Apart from IPO Radar, which focuses on future listings, MCorp Review also provides six on-going thematic series ranked by frequency in descending order, namely: 1) Silicon Stories (technology) 2) Sathorn Series (financial services) 3) Thai-Coons (billionaire origin stories) 4) Reality Check (data-driven, investigative) 5) Thai Media Spotlight; and 6) Thai Macro Watch (global market drivers).

Cross Asset Strategy

Initially, the worst part of the pandemic appeared to be behind us in April, but the situation changed in September when waves of infected Burmese workers crossed into Thailand without proper health checks. We address this and other developments in this review, namely:<ul>
<li>
Thailand Focus. At least, four companies provided good perspective to the risk and opportunities created by COVID-19, such as: 1) Entry of Big Tech; 2) high unemployment amongst the young; and 3) market share consolidation.</li>
<li>
Government aid. Prior to his resignation, Finance Minister Preedee Daochai focused on cutting costs for consumers and avoiding more debt, even as his successor focuses on job creation.</li>
<li>
Needle opportunities. The asymmetric global recovery means that demand for medical products such a surgical gloves, needles, and syringes remain very strong. TM and STGT  remains the spotlight. </li>
<li>
Domestic travel has become increasingly important to the sector, accounting for 60-70% in the near term, with rising concentration at top tier hotels who discount.</li>
<li>
Playing the Global Themes. As Europe is hit by a second wave and China re-opens for business, we look at a few Thai stocks that tend to benefit or lose out from global themes in the short to medium term. (Winners: TVO, Asia Soft, TNR. Losers: CRC, MINT)</li>
</ul>

Initially, the worst part of the pandemic appeared to be behind us in April, but the situation changed in September when waves of infected Burmese workers crossed into Thailand without proper health checks. We address this and other developments in this review, namely:

Thailand Focus. At least, four companies provided good perspective to the risk and opportunities created by COVID-19, such as: 1) Entry of Big Tech; 2) high unemployment amongst the young; and 3) market share consolidation.

Government aid. Prior to his resignation, Finance Minister Preedee Daochai focused on cutting costs for consumers and avoiding more debt, even as his successor focuses on job creation.

Needle opportunities. The asymmetric global recovery means that demand for medical products such a surgical gloves, needles, and syringes remain very strong. TM and STGT  remains the spotlight. 

Domestic travel has become increasingly important to the sector, accounting for 60-70% in the near term, with rising concentration at top tier hotels who discount.

Playing the Global Themes. As Europe is hit by a second wave and China re-opens for business, we look at a few Thai stocks that tend to benefit or lose out from global themes in the short to medium term. (Winners: TVO, Asia Soft, TNR. Losers: CRC, MINT)


Thai Corona Crisis (December): The Looming Shadow of Myanmar

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

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.

We first wrote on Sony in mid-2017 noting that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sony-has-got-its-mojo-back-super-slomo-acoustic-surfaces-and-the-world-s-fastest-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sony Has Got Its Mojo Back: Super Slomo, Acoustic Surfaces, and the World’s Fastest Internet</a> as we felt that Kazuo Hirai’s efforts to restore the company’s innovative culture were starting to bear fruit in a lot of niche areas. In the more than three years since, Sony has built on this momentum and is firing on all cylinders moving into the launch of the PS5 which we believe will be a key driver of the company’s long-term value. While this is hardly a non-consensus opinion, we feel the market may not quite appreciate the degree of potential market share gains hinted at by subtle developments and choices on design. We discuss these and the valuation case below.

We first wrote on Sony in mid-2017 noting that Sony Has Got Its Mojo Back: Super Slomo, Acoustic Surfaces, and the World’s Fastest Internet as we felt that Kazuo Hirai’s efforts to restore the company’s innovative culture were starting to bear fruit in a lot of niche areas. In the more than three years since, Sony has built on this momentum and is firing on all cylinders moving into the launch of the PS5 which we believe will be a key driver of the company’s long-term value. While this is hardly a non-consensus opinion, we feel the market may not quite appreciate the degree of potential market share gains hinted at by subtle developments and choices on design. We discuss these and the valuation case below.

2021 High Conviction – Sony’s Year of the PS5

When we first began writing about Slack last summer, an acquisition was always on the radar, even as we were initially positive....for the same reason we flipped negative. Slack is a product, not a company, and is best housed inside a larger enterprise IT company...Salesforce.com is certainly it. Price matters though...and Slack is now trading ~22x forward EV/Sales after the 20% rip....CRM 10x. Are we sure Marc Benioff is willing to dilute his stock THAT much? slack = 10% of CRM EV.<div class="content-highlight">Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</div>

When we first began writing about Slack last summer, an acquisition was always on the radar, even as we were initially positive....for the same reason we flipped negative. Slack is a product, not a company, and is best housed inside a larger enterprise IT company...Salesforce.com is certainly it. Price matters though...and Slack is now trading ~22x forward EV/Sales after the 20% rip....CRM 10x. Are we sure Marc Benioff is willing to dilute his stock THAT much? slack = 10% of CRM EV.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

United States

Microsoft Corporation operates as a software company. The Company offers applications, extra cloud storage, and advanced security solutions. Microsoft serves customers worldwide.

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Microsoft Corp (MSFT US)

Snowflake 3Q21: Our Revenues Are Worth More Than Your Revenues

Snowflake's first public quarter was a raging success according to the stock market, who boosted a 100x P/S company by 16% just for meeting...

Aaron Gabin

Thai Corona Crisis (December): The Looming Shadow of Myanmar

Just when Thailand is ready to leave the COVID-19 scene, Myanmar pulls them back in with a new outbreak. The Thai government comes up with new...

Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA

2021 High Conviction – Sony’s Year of the PS5

Sony is a key name investors should be focusing on in 2021 as we believe the company has outlined an excellent path to ensuring PS5 dominance and...

Mio Kato

Slack + Salesforce.com: Initial Thoughts

We take a look at the potential pluses and minuses of Salesforce.com's proposed acquisition of Slack. The proposed deal is expensive and makes more...

Aaron Gabin

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Airbnb IPO - Time for a Good Break - Even from the Share Lock-Up

Airbnb aims to raise around US$2.5bn in its US listing. There is lots to like about the company, apart from it lack of lock-up on some shareholders.

Sumeet Singh

Snowflake 3Q21: Our Revenues Are Worth More Than Your Revenues

Snowflake's first public quarter was a raging success according to the stock market, who boosted a 100x P/S company by 16% just for meeting...

Aaron Gabin

Thai Corona Crisis (December): The Looming Shadow of Myanmar

Just when Thailand is ready to leave the COVID-19 scene, Myanmar pulls them back in with a new outbreak. The Thai government comes up with new...

Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA

2021 High Conviction – Sony’s Year of the PS5

Sony is a key name investors should be focusing on in 2021 as we believe the company has outlined an excellent path to ensuring PS5 dominance and...

Mio Kato

Slack + Salesforce.com: Initial Thoughts

We take a look at the potential pluses and minuses of Salesforce.com's proposed acquisition of Slack. The proposed deal is expensive and makes more...

Aaron Gabin