Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Japanese Internet companies are testing lows from the 2020 tech selloff whilst Rakuten stands out for reaching levels last seen in 2010</li>
<li>Z Holdings is at a two-year low but has fallen the same distance from its recent high (-53%) </li>
<li>Both face robust competition from Amazon, which has doubled its eCommerce GMV in Japan over the last four years (Rakuten +60%, core Z Holdings +47%)</li>
</ul>


Japanese Internet companies are testing lows from the 2020 tech selloff whilst Rakuten stands out for reaching levels last seen in 2010
Z Holdings is at a two-year low but has fallen the same distance from its recent high (-53%) 
Both face robust competition from Amazon, which has doubled its eCommerce GMV in Japan over the last four years (Rakuten +60%, core Z Holdings +47%)


Japan Internet - Fresh Lows for Many with Rakuten the Lowest Since 2010

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>Net Protections Holdings, a buy now pay later service provider, raised around US$570m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares in its Japan IPO in Dec 2021.</li>
<li>As per Yano Research, it had 40% market share in the domestic BNPL market for B2C transactions.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the upcoming lock-up expiry on 12th Jun 2022.</li>
</ul>


Net Protections Holdings, a buy now pay later service provider, raised around US$570m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares in its Japan IPO in Dec 2021.
As per Yano Research, it had 40% market share in the domestic BNPL market for B2C transactions.
In this note, we will talk about the upcoming lock-up expiry on 12th Jun 2022.


Net Protections Holding IPO Lock-Up - Small Expiry Now, Before 20% Is Released Later in the Year

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The end of Rakuten free plans is unlikely to have a major industry read across although the end of loyalty point chasing should help save on promotional costs</li>
<li>Mobile erosion has likely peaked but full-year losses for FY22 will be higher than last year. We expect the progression to profitability to be modest</li>
<li>Listing the securities business is a positive as it surfaces fintech value but allocating proceeds from valuable asset sales to funding mobile is not</li>
</ul>


The end of Rakuten free plans is unlikely to have a major industry read across although the end of loyalty point chasing should help save on promotional costs
Mobile erosion has likely peaked but full-year losses for FY22 will be higher than last year. We expect the progression to profitability to be modest
Listing the securities business is a positive as it surfaces fintech value but allocating proceeds from valuable asset sales to funding mobile is not


Rakuten (Neutral) - Follow-Up on Q1 Results and Thoughts on a Securities Listing

JD.com Inc (ADR) / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.</li>
<li>With LIC not delivering and Delhivery needing insurance, combined with the Korean cancellations and HK silence, it looks like its going to be a quiet few weeks for IPOs.</li>
<li>On placements, both the Korean deals were a disappointment, despite being well-flagged.</li>
</ul>


Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.
With LIC not delivering and Delhivery needing insurance, combined with the Korean cancellations and HK silence, it looks like its going to be a quiet few weeks for IPOs.
On placements, both the Korean deals were a disappointment, despite being well-flagged.


ECM Weekly (22nd May 22) - JD, LIC, Delhivery, Leapmotor, Vista, Paradeep, Woori, Hyundai Heavy, NIO

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>Aeon has finally published numbers on its e-commerce growth and performance.</li>
<li>It has a ¥1 trillion target for FY2025 and while this is still a far off target, Aeon is making progress. </li>
<li>Digital sales have doubled in the past two years and Aeon is now well ahead of Seven &amp; I which continues to fail to present a coherent e-commerce plan.</li>
</ul>


Aeon has finally published numbers on its e-commerce growth and performance.
It has a ¥1 trillion target for FY2025 and while this is still a far off target, Aeon is making progress. 
Digital sales have doubled in the past two years and Aeon is now well ahead of Seven &amp; I which continues to fail to present a coherent e-commerce plan.


Aeon Shows up Seven & I in E-Commerce Growth and Strategy

Japan

Rakuten Group, Inc. provides Internet services. The Company offers Internet finance services which including "Rakuten Card" and "Rakuten Bank". Rakuten Group also provides digital content services including electronic book services.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Rakuten (4755 JP)

Japan Internet - Fresh Lows for Many with Rakuten the Lowest Since 2010

Tech sector weakness amplifies concerns on competition for Rakuten and Z Holdings. Both are down 50%+ from recent highs with Rakuten at levels last...

Kirk Boodry

Net Protections Holding IPO Lock-Up - Small Expiry Now, Before 20% Is Released Later in the Year

Net Protections Holdings, a buy now pay later service provider, raised around US$570m in its Japan IPO in Dec 2021. The lockup on one set of...

Sumeet Singh

Rakuten (Neutral) - Follow-Up on Q1 Results and Thoughts on a Securities Listing

Rakuten is trading at near-term lows as the path to mobile profitability and cash burn may be longer than expected. A second fintech IPO is...

Kirk Boodry

ECM Weekly (22nd May 22) - JD, LIC, Delhivery, Leapmotor, Vista, Paradeep, Woori, Hyundai Heavy, NIO

Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.

Sumeet Singh

Aeon Shows up Seven & I in E-Commerce Growth and Strategy

Aeon is now showing up Seven & I in e-commerce. While both retailers are behind specialty retailers in online share of sales, Aeon is now far ahead...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)