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

<p>Kakao Pay (KP), one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to listing, with Ant Financial holding the balance 45% stake.</p><p>As of 1H21, KP had a total of 36m users and around 20m monthly active users (MAU). It processed a total GMV of KRW66.9tn in 2020 and it had already generated KRW47.9tn GMV in 1H21 itself. As of the end of 1H21, it had dealings with more than 610,000 affiliated stores and 100 financial institutions.</p><p>Since spinning out from Kakao in 2017, the number of MAUs have grown 14x from 2Q17 to 2Q21, while the quarterly transaction amount grew 61x from KRW0.4tn in 2Q17 to KRW24.5tn in 2Q21. </p><p>Over the past few years the company has been expanding its offering beyond payment processing to include other financial products. On the back of this, its revenue has been growing faster than its GMV.</p><p>We have covered most aspects of the deal in our earlier note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kakao-pay-ipo-guided-by-ant-financial-to-be-a-mini-ant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kakao Pay IPO - Guided by Ant Financial to be a mini Ant</a>.</p><p>In this note we will undertake a peer comparison.</p>

Kakao Pay (KP), one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to listing, with Ant Financial holding the balance 45% stake.As of 1H21, KP had a total of 36m users and around 20m monthly active users (MAU). It processed a total GMV of KRW66.9tn in 2020 and it had already generated KRW47.9tn GMV in 1H21 itself. As of the end of 1H21, it had dealings with more than 610,000 affiliated stores and 100 financial institutions.Since spinning out from Kakao in 2017, the number of MAUs have grown 14x from 2Q17 to 2Q21, while the quarterly transaction amount grew 61x from KRW0.4tn in 2Q17 to KRW24.5tn in 2Q21. Over the past few years the company has been expanding its offering beyond payment processing to include other financial products. On the back of this, its revenue has been growing faster than its GMV.We have covered most aspects of the deal in our earlier note, Kakao Pay IPO - Guided by Ant Financial to be a mini Ant.In this note we will undertake a peer comparison.

Kakao Pay IPO - Peer Comparison - Local and International

<p>Kakao Pay (KP), one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to listing, with Ant Financial holding the balance 45% stake.</p><p>As of 1H21, KP had a total of 36m users and around 20m monthly active users (MAU). It processed a total GMV of KRW66.9tn in 2020 and it had already generated KRW47.9tn GMV in 1H21 itself. As of the end of 1H21, it had dealings with more than 610,000 affiliated stores and 100 financial institutions.</p><p>KP began operation in Sep 2014 as a fintech division of Kakao to facilitate online payments. Ant Financial invested US$200m in the company in Feb 2017 and the division was spun out of Kakao in Apr 2017. Since spinning out, the number of MAUs have grown 14x from 2Q17 to 2Q21, while the quarterly transaction amount grew 61x from KRW0.4tn in 2Q17 to KRW24.5tn in 2Q21. </p><p>Over the past few years the company has been expanding its offering beyond payment processing to include other financial products. On the back of this, its revenue has been growing faster than its GMV.</p>

Kakao Pay (KP), one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to listing, with Ant Financial holding the balance 45% stake.As of 1H21, KP had a total of 36m users and around 20m monthly active users (MAU). It processed a total GMV of KRW66.9tn in 2020 and it had already generated KRW47.9tn GMV in 1H21 itself. As of the end of 1H21, it had dealings with more than 610,000 affiliated stores and 100 financial institutions.KP began operation in Sep 2014 as a fintech division of Kakao to facilitate online payments. Ant Financial invested US$200m in the company in Feb 2017 and the division was spun out of Kakao in Apr 2017. Since spinning out, the number of MAUs have grown 14x from 2Q17 to 2Q21, while the quarterly transaction amount grew 61x from KRW0.4tn in 2Q17 to KRW24.5tn in 2Q21. Over the past few years the company has been expanding its offering beyond payment processing to include other financial products. On the back of this, its revenue has been growing faster than its GMV.

Kakao Pay IPO - Guided by Ant Financial to Be a Mini Ant

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc. (9618 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anta-sports-products-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10261:1" rel="noopener">Anta Sports Products (2020 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhou-intl-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10415:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhou Intl Group Holdings (2313 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in the Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Health Care and Real Estate sectors while decreasing in the Communication Services and Materials sectors.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shiseido-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5718:1" rel="noopener">Shiseido Company (4911 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yaskawa-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2458:1" rel="noopener">Yaskawa Electric (6506 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsui-osk-lines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20717:1" rel="noopener">Mitsui Osk Lines (9104 JP)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/invesco-office-j-reit-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7414:1" rel="noopener">Invesco Office J Reit (3298 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/odakyu-electric-railway-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5405:1" rel="noopener">Odakyu Electric Railway (9007 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lasertec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4126:1" rel="noopener">Lasertec Corp (6920 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsr-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17620:1" rel="noopener">JSR Corp (4185 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keio-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1223:1" rel="noopener">Keio Corp (9008 JP)</a>. Shorts increased in most sectors led by the Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Consumer Staples and Materials stocks.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ncsoft-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5169:1" rel="noopener">NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1" rel="noopener">LG Display (034220 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kumho-petro-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2014:1" rel="noopener">Kumho Petro Chemical (011780 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:393:1" rel="noopener">SK Inc (034730 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-telecom-co-ltd-bbccd86c-474d-4a4d-946d-10e911a225a2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:395:1" rel="noopener">SK Telecom (017670 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oci-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1904:1" rel="noopener">Oci Co Ltd (010060 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-biologics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22932:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-shipbuilding-offshore-engineering-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10155:1" rel="noopener">Korea Shipbuilding &amp; Offshore Engineering (009540 KS)</a>. </p></div><div><p>In Taiwan, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergreen-marine-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15428:1" rel="noopener">Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mediatek-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:772:1" rel="noopener">Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ase-technology-holding-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27270:1" rel="noopener">ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd (3711 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taishin-financial-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:715:1" rel="noopener">Taishin Financial Holding (2887 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/momo-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8403:1" rel="noopener">Momo.Com Inc (8454 TT)</a> while shorts covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-steel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:962:1" rel="noopener">China Steel (2002 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wan-hai-lines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14262:1" rel="noopener">Wan Hai Lines (2615 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6450:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-business-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18958:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Business Bank (2834 TT)</a>. </p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Alibaba Group (9988 HK), China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK), JD.com Inc. (9618 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) and Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK) while there was short covering on Tencent (700 HK), Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Anta Sports Products (2020 HK), Shenzhou Intl Group Holdings (2313 HK) and HKEX (388 HK). Shorts increased in the Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Health Care and Real Estate sectors while decreasing in the Communication Services and Materials sectors.In Japan, stocks increased on Shiseido Company (4911 JP), Fast Retailing (9983 JP), Yaskawa Electric (6506 JP), Canon Inc (7751 JP) and Mitsui Osk Lines (9104 JP) while there was short covering on Invesco Office J Reit (3298 JP), Odakyu Electric Railway (9007 JP), Lasertec Corp (6920 JP), JSR Corp (4185 JP), Keio Corp (9008 JP). Shorts increased in most sectors led by the Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Consumer Staples and Materials stocks.In Korea, shorts increased on NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS), LG Display (034220 KS), Kumho Petro Chemical (011780 KS), SK Inc (034730 KS) and Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) while shorts were covered on SK Telecom (017670 KS), Celltrion Inc (068270 KS), Oci Co Ltd (010060 KS), Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS) and Korea Shipbuilding &amp; Offshore Engineering (009540 KS). In Taiwan, shorts increased on Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT), Mediatek Inc (2454 TT), ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd (3711 TT), Taishin Financial Holding (2887 TT) and Momo.Com Inc (8454 TT) while shorts covered on TSMC (2330 TT), China Steel (2002 TT), Wan Hai Lines (2615 TT), United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT) and Taiwan Business Bank (2834 TT). 

Asia Shorts: Alibaba, CMB, Tencent, Anta, Shiseido, Odakyu, Keio, NC Soft, LGD, SK Tel, Evergreen

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.

Event-Driven

Samsung Electronics Pref Shares / Event-Driven

<p>First, let's take a look at Samsung Electronics' FY2021-2023 shareholder return policy.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/227/569/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-02+at+3.26.09+PM.png?1630610827" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="227569"></figure></section><div><ul><li>Samsung will continue to return 50% of the free cash flow (FCF) generated in FY21~23.</li></ul></div><div><ul>
<li>The regular dividend will increase to an annual total of ₩9.8T for FY21~23 (it was ₩9.6T for FY18~20).</li>
<li>So, this year's (and the next two years) guaranteed minimum dividend is ₩1,443 for ord and ₩1,444 for 1P. The quarterly dividend should then be ₩361.</li>
<li><strong>Samsung also reiterated that it would continue to return any remaining from the 50% of the FCF after regular dividend payouts.</strong></li>
<li><strong>What's different now is that Samsung will share the annual FCF at the end of each year.</strong></li>
<li><strong>In addition, Samsung will actively consider executing a portion of it at the close of each year’s results. Yes, we may have special dividends at each yearend in FY21~23.</strong></li>
</ul></div>

First, let's take a look at Samsung Electronics' FY2021-2023 shareholder return policy.Samsung will continue to return 50% of the free cash flow (FCF) generated in FY21~23.
The regular dividend will increase to an annual total of ₩9.8T for FY21~23 (it was ₩9.6T for FY18~20).
So, this year's (and the next two years) guaranteed minimum dividend is ₩1,443 for ord and ₩1,444 for 1P. The quarterly dividend should then be ₩361.
Samsung also reiterated that it would continue to return any remaining from the 50% of the FCF after regular dividend payouts.
What's different now is that Samsung will share the annual FCF at the end of each year.
In addition, Samsung will actively consider executing a portion of it at the close of each year’s results. Yes, we may have special dividends at each yearend in FY21~23.


Samsung Electronics Special Dividend Situation Checkup for This Year

Global Special Situations & Strategy, SR Services Ltd

David Lepper

Global Special Situations & Strategy

SR Services Ltd

SR Services provides Strategic Knowledge and Solutions services for Family Offices and Corporate Business. 

We deliver this via advisory services, strategic planning, opportunity analysis/sourcing, as well as solution implementation. 

Whilst, we create intellectual discipline and operational leverage for your projects or daily activities, our ultimate objective is to empower whilst enhancing your decision making. 

Strategic Knowledge and Solutions

Equity Bottom-Up

<h2>
<strong>Examining key questions from the Kioxia &amp; PE </strong><strong>news flow</strong>
</h2><p>In our July 2021 note <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/toshiba-corp-6502-jp-chapter-5" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:54649" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) Chapter 5: Assessing the Next Move</a> we stated that one of the key events to be expected as early as September 2021, was the IPO of the firms 40% stake in Kioxia Holdings Corporation (Kioxia). Kioxia was due to be listed in 2020, but did not occur due to “the coronavirus pandemic and market volatility.” At the time of pulling the IPO in 2020, Toshiba was expecting a valuation of around $16 billion. </p><p>Several media sources, including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, have alluded to the fact that a potential merger of Kioxia with Western Digital to the value of US$20bn may be on the cards. They have cited a possible transaction using shares as opposed to cash or a combination. This is news that shareholders and in particular the activist shareholders have wanted to hear for some time and a transaction that is expected to be welcomed. </p><p>We examine several of the key questions surrounding the Kioxia news and what is next for Toshiba - including the potential for a full PE bid. </p>


Examining key questions from the Kioxia &amp; PE news flow
In our July 2021 note Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) Chapter 5: Assessing the Next Move we stated that one of the key events to be expected as early as September 2021, was the IPO of the firms 40% stake in Kioxia Holdings Corporation (Kioxia). Kioxia was due to be listed in 2020, but did not occur due to “the coronavirus pandemic and market volatility.” At the time of pulling the IPO in 2020, Toshiba was expecting a valuation of around $16 billion. Several media sources, including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, have alluded to the fact that a potential merger of Kioxia with Western Digital to the value of US$20bn may be on the cards. They have cited a possible transaction using shares as opposed to cash or a combination. This is news that shareholders and in particular the activist shareholders have wanted to hear for some time and a transaction that is expected to be welcomed. We examine several of the key questions surrounding the Kioxia news and what is next for Toshiba - including the potential for a full PE bid. 

Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) Chapter 6: Potential for Value Creation

South Korea

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. manufactures a wide range of consumer and industrial electronic equipment and products such as semiconductors, personal computers, peripherals, monitors, televisions, and home appliances including air conditioners and microwave ovens. The Company also produces Internet access network systems and telecommunications equipment including mobile phones.

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Samsung Electronics (SMSN LI)

Kakao Pay IPO - Peer Comparison - Local and International

Kakao Pay, one of South Korea’s largest payment apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to...

Sumeet Singh

Kakao Pay IPO - Guided by Ant Financial to Be a Mini Ant

Kakao Pay, one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao holds a...

Sumeet Singh

Asia Shorts: Alibaba, CMB, Tencent, Anta, Shiseido, Odakyu, Keio, NC Soft, LGD, SK Tel, Evergreen

The Insight looks at movements in short interest across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

Samsung Electronics Special Dividend Situation Checkup for This Year

This post estimates Samsung Electronics' special dividends for this year and discusses why this may explain the recent decline in the 1P discount.

Sanghyun Park

Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) Chapter 6: Potential for Value Creation

@Toshiba (6502.JP) activists might applaud a Wester Digital Merger, but this is just one alternative - PE bids still viable. Perhaps value...

David Lepper

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