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.

Equity Bottom-Up

While the battle for payment systems between Epic and Apple will continue with Epic filing an appeal, the rather mild ruling against Apple has some interesting implications, as do the responses of both companies to the ruling. In the context of regulatory upheaval in the key gaming space in China and a slew of regulatory moves in other Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, there is plenty worth mulling as new winners and losers could emerge.

While the battle for payment systems between Epic and Apple will continue with Epic filing an appeal, the rather mild ruling against Apple has some interesting implications, as do the responses of both companies to the ruling. In the context of regulatory upheaval in the key gaming space in China and a slew of regulatory moves in other Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, there is plenty worth mulling as new winners and losers could emerge.

Latest News from the World’s Leading Innovators

Granite Bay Capital

An innovation focussed investment company

Granite Bay Capital is an innovation focussed investment company with a deep focus on the companies at the leading edge of innovation across major themes such as AI, ubiquitous computing, sustainability, automation and longevity.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Headline Developments As has been widely expected, China has moved to greatly reduce the time under-18s spend playing computer games.  Under the new rule, younger gamers will be restricted to one hour (8 pm - 9 pm) of online games on Fridays, weekends and holidays, with online gaming companies barred from providing gaming services to minors in any form outside of those hours.

Headline Developments As has been widely expected, China has moved to greatly reduce the time under-18s spend playing computer games.  Under the new rule, younger gamers will be restricted to one hour (8 pm - 9 pm) of online games on Fridays, weekends and holidays, with online gaming companies barred from providing gaming services to minors in any form outside of those hours.

Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Capital Markets

The Walt Disney Co / Equity Capital Markets

<ul><li>With the gradual resumption of theme park and cruise activity, Disney was able to report a strong third fiscal quarter with adjusted earnings per share increasing ten folds to $0.80 as compared to $0.08 from 2020.</li><li>The management has made significant investments in state-of-the-art tools and technology, creating a revolutionary new multi-tiered service – Disney Genie.</li><li>Given its current valuation, we are optimistic about Disney and maintain our 'Buy' rating with a revised target price.</li></ul>

With the gradual resumption of theme park and cruise activity, Disney was able to report a strong third fiscal quarter with adjusted earnings per share increasing ten folds to $0.80 as compared to $0.08 from 2020.The management has made significant investments in state-of-the-art tools and technology, creating a revolutionary new multi-tiered service – Disney Genie.Given its current valuation, we are optimistic about Disney and maintain our 'Buy' rating with a revised target price.

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<ul>
<li>Disney+ finally plans to make its long-awaited launch in Korea in November 2021. There are millions of Disney fans in Korea and it is near-certain that Disney+ will become a big success. Disney+ will compete heads on with other leading OTT services available in Korea including Netflix and Wavve.</li>
<li>Disney will be pursuing its own mobile app service in Korea, similar to Netflix. However, it will partner with the local telcos for Internet TV services. On 24 August, it was reported in the local Korean media that KT's OTT service <a href="http://www.digitaltoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=414324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seezn</a> plans to provide numerous Disney+ contents. Apparently, LG Uplus is still negotiating with Disney for a potential partnership as well for the OTT service. However, Disney plans to partner with LG Uplus for providing its contents on its IPTV services. </li>
<li>There will likely be two groups of companies that could benefit from the launch of Disney+ 'OTT services and Disney contents in Korea. They include the two local telcos (KT Corp and LG Uplus) as well as the major Korean drama producers such as Jcontentree Corp., Studio Dragon, and Astory.</li>
</ul>


Disney+ finally plans to make its long-awaited launch in Korea in November 2021. There are millions of Disney fans in Korea and it is near-certain that Disney+ will become a big success. Disney+ will compete heads on with other leading OTT services available in Korea including Netflix and Wavve.
Disney will be pursuing its own mobile app service in Korea, similar to Netflix. However, it will partner with the local telcos for Internet TV services. On 24 August, it was reported in the local Korean media that KT's OTT service Seezn plans to provide numerous Disney+ contents. Apparently, LG Uplus is still negotiating with Disney for a potential partnership as well for the OTT service. However, Disney plans to partner with LG Uplus for providing its contents on its IPTV services. 
There will likely be two groups of companies that could benefit from the launch of Disney+ 'OTT services and Disney contents in Korea. They include the two local telcos (KT Corp and LG Uplus) as well as the major Korean drama producers such as Jcontentree Corp., Studio Dragon, and Astory.


Disney+ to Launch in Korea in November: Winners & Losers?

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.

After breaking out Disney+Hotstar's business and Hulu's advertising contribution, we come away with a valuation~20-25% lower than we used to ascribe to Disney's streaming portfolio. As a result, we think Disney is more than fully valued at $180 / share post 3Q21 earnings. <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>

After breaking out Disney+Hotstar's business and Hulu's advertising contribution, we come away with a valuation~20-25% lower than we used to ascribe to Disney's streaming portfolio. As a result, we think Disney is more than fully valued at $180 / share post 3Q21 earnings. 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.  

Disney 3Q21: We’re Cautious on Streaming

United States

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. broadcasts various channels of audio from its satellites. The Company provides its services throughout the continental United States for a monthly subscription fee. Sirius delivers various streams of commercial-free music in every genre, as well as streams of  news, sports, weather, talk, comedy, and public radio.

News Corporation operates in the publishing industry. The Company provides publications consisting of newspapers, magazines, books and promotional inserts.

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. produces live concerts and sells tickets to those events over the Internet. The Company also offers ticketing services for leading arenas, stadiums, professional sports franchises and leagues, college sports teams, performing arts venues, museums and theaters.

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. is an organization of advertising agencies and marketing service companies.  The Company operates globally in the sectors of advertising, independent media buying, direct marketing, healthcare communications, interactive consulting services, marketing research, promotions, experiential marketing, public relations, and sports marketing.

Omnicom Group Inc. provides advertising, marketing and corporate communications services. The Company's agencies, which operate in major markets around the world, provide a comprehensive range of services including traditional media advertising; customer relationship management ("CRM"); public relations; and specialty communications.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. is a professional sports company that owns and operates sports franchises.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSGS US)

The New York Times Company operates media businesses.  The Company publishes daily newspapers and operates Internet websites.  The newspapers and websites distribute news and entertainment.

Liberty Global plc owns interests in broadband, distribution, and content companies operating outside the continental United States, principally in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Liberty Broadband Corporation invests in communication companies. The Company has principal assets in TruePosition and Time Warner Cable.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc, is a television broadcasting company focused on the acquisition, development, and operation of television stations in medium using traditional media, e-MEDIA, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc offers its services in the central east part of United States.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc (NXST US)

REA Group Limited provides online property listings, web development and internet related technology services to the real estate industry along with providing advertising services to Australian companies.  The Company also offers online real estate search services to the Australian public.

Publicis Groupe SA offers advertising services.  The Company develops advertising campaigns and sells advertising on billboards and urban furniture, in newspapers and magazines, on radio, and in movie theaters.  Publicis offers direct marketing, customer relationship marketing, sales promotion, public relations and human resources services, and operates retail drugstores.

Informa PLC provides business information on a worldwide basis.  The Company provides information in the finance and insurance, maritime transport and trade, law and tax, telecom and media, commodities and energy, and biomedical and pharmaceutical global markets.  Informa provides its information through newspapers, magazines, electronic media, books, and journals.

Pearson plc provides education products and services to institutions, governments and individual learners in over 80 countries. The Company's major revenue markets are North America, 'Core' including the UK, Italy and Australia and 'Growth' including Brazil, China and South Africa. It also owns the Financial Times, 50% of the Economist and 47% of Penguin Random House.

TOHO CO., LTD. produces and distributes motion pictures for cinema, television, and video.  The Company also sells character merchandise based on their media productions, distributes foreign films, operates musical theaters, and produces musical shows. In addition, Toho manages movie theaters in urban areas.

DENTSU INC. mainly provides comprehensive advertising services.  The Company also provides marketing and event planning & promotion services.  Dentsu has associated companies in the US, Europe, and Asia.

TOKYO BROADCASTING SYSTEM HOLDINGS, INC. is a media company that broadcasts television and radio programs nationally.  The Company offers a variety of TV programs & film production, visual & music software production, and cable television programming.  Tokyo Broadcasting System provides digital satellite broadcasting services and also operates real estate business.

Compagnie du Cambodge is an investment holding company that invests in companies active in agriculture, industry, real estate and finance.  The Company owns and operates plantations in Malaysia and forests in Cameroon.

JC Decaux SA offers advertising services.  The Company sells advertising on street furniture such as bus shelters, free standing panels, columns, and automatic toilets, billboards, and posters on buses, trains, and subways, and at railroad stations and airports.

CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA produces, sells, brokers and distributes entry tickets for concerts, theater productions, artistic, sporting and similar events. The Company operates an online booking system that allows event promoters to sell their tickets over a variety of distribution channels. CTS also sells tickets directly over the Internet and a call center and offers system support services.

The Walt Disney Company is an entertainment company that conducts operations in media networks, studio entertainment, theme parks and resorts, consumer products, and interactive media. The Company produces motion pictures, television programs, and musical recordings, as well as books and magazines.

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The Walt Disney Co (DIS US)

Not an Epic Ruling Against Apple

We examine developments in Epic's legal battle with Apple to identify potential long-term implications and winners and losers.

Mio Kato

Weekly Innovation Review (WIRE) #47

Headline Developments: As has been widely expected, China has moved to greatly reduce the time under-18s spend playing computer games. Under the...

Granite Bay Capital

Walt Disney Co - Investment Thesis

With the gradual resumption of theme park and cruise activity, Disney was able to report a strong third fiscal quarter with adjusted earnings per...

Baptista Research

Disney+ to Launch in Korea in November: Winners & Losers?

Disney+ finally plans to make its long-awaited launch in Korea in November 2021. Disney+ will compete heads on with other leading OTT services...

Douglas Kim

Disney 3Q21: We’re Cautious on Streaming

After breaking out Disney+Hotstar's business and Hulu's advertising contribution, we have a valuation~20-25% lower than we used to ascribe to...

Aaron Gabin

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