Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>4QFY22 saw the best result for the Vision Funds since 3QFY21; SVF private companies saw minimal valuation write-downs last quarter, and we suspect valuations may still be too optimistically marked</li>
<li>Masa’s debts to SoftBank stand at USD5.2bn in 4QFY22; in addition, the group’s credit risk exposure to troubled company WeWork was over USD1.1bn at fiscal year end and going higher</li>
<li>Softbank shares trade at a 46% discount to the stated NAV; with the Alibaba valuation “cushion” largely consumed, the potential Arm IPO is critical but private company valuations remain questionable</li>
</ul>


4QFY22 saw the best result for the Vision Funds since 3QFY21; SVF private companies saw minimal valuation write-downs last quarter, and we suspect valuations may still be too optimistically marked
Masa’s debts to SoftBank stand at USD5.2bn in 4QFY22; in addition, the group’s credit risk exposure to troubled company WeWork was over USD1.1bn at fiscal year end and going higher
Softbank shares trade at a 46% discount to the stated NAV; with the Alibaba valuation “cushion” largely consumed, the potential Arm IPO is critical but private company valuations remain questionable


Softbank (9984 JP): Private Company Valuations Still in Question

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Softbank Vision Funds 1 and 2 were the biggest combined holdings at December 2022, accounting for 30% of group equity value; SVF private companies accounted for 73% of equity value</li>
<li>To December-end 2022, public companies in SVF2 were marked down by 52% versus investment cost, whereas SVF2 private companies were marked down by a more modest 33% versus investment cost</li>
<li>We believe that SVF2 private company valuations are at risk of further markdowns in 4QFY22 results, with many of these investments made close to the period of peak pandemic valuations</li>
</ul>


Softbank Vision Funds 1 and 2 were the biggest combined holdings at December 2022, accounting for 30% of group equity value; SVF private companies accounted for 73% of equity value
To December-end 2022, public companies in SVF2 were marked down by 52% versus investment cost, whereas SVF2 private companies were marked down by a more modest 33% versus investment cost
We believe that SVF2 private company valuations are at risk of further markdowns in 4QFY22 results, with many of these investments made close to the period of peak pandemic valuations


Softbank (9984 JP) – Focus on the SVFs, Are the Private Companies Appropriately Marked?

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

<ul>
<li>The market cap of Vision Fund portfolio company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/the-we-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28061:1" rel="noopener">The We Company (WeWork) (WE US)</a> has fallen decisively below that of rival <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iwg-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28219:1" rel="noopener">IWG PLC (IWG LN)</a> for the first time</li>
<li>Still despite WeWork's constant drag on portfolio returns including c. $500mn this quarter, Vision Fund remains on track to end the quarter in the black (+$2bn QTD)</li>
<li>The holding company discount appears to have stabilized at 35% but this seems a bit steep with markets volatile again and a move to 40% would not surprise</li>
</ul>


The market cap of Vision Fund portfolio company The We Company (WeWork) (WE US) has fallen decisively below that of rival IWG PLC (IWG LN) for the first time
Still despite WeWork's constant drag on portfolio returns including c. $500mn this quarter, Vision Fund remains on track to end the quarter in the black (+$2bn QTD)
The holding company discount appears to have stabilized at 35% but this seems a bit steep with markets volatile again and a move to 40% would not surprise


Softbank Group - Requiem for WeWork’s Premium Valuation

<ul>
<li>Softbank Group’s share price has been supported by the share buyback programme since late September, but 2Q FY2022 results are likely act as a negative catalyst for Softbank shares</li>
<li>Alibaba and its core listed holdings in the Vision Funds have seen market values go lower in recent months; see the diverging market price chart trends in this report</li>
<li>In addition, valuations among the unlisted holdings are also under pressure into October, so 2Q results may not capture the full extent of the down rounds</li>
</ul>


Softbank Group’s share price has been supported by the share buyback programme since late September, but 2Q FY2022 results are likely act as a negative catalyst for Softbank shares
Alibaba and its core listed holdings in the Vision Funds have seen market values go lower in recent months; see the diverging market price chart trends in this report
In addition, valuations among the unlisted holdings are also under pressure into October, so 2Q results may not capture the full extent of the down rounds


Softbank Group (9984 JP) – Defying Gravity into 4Q 2022

<ul>
<li>Vision Fund head Rajeev Misra will step down from Vision Fund 2 to take a new gig managing money for Midde Eastern partners. His VF1 role is unchanged for now</li>
<li>Structurally, this does not change very much as Son-san has always been the decision maker on investments and we never considered Misra as a candidate for succession</li>
<li>After surviving $47bn in public equity losses over the last year, it surprisingly looks like Misra's departure is voluntary</li>
</ul>


Vision Fund head Rajeev Misra will step down from Vision Fund 2 to take a new gig managing money for Midde Eastern partners. His VF1 role is unchanged for now
Structurally, this does not change very much as Son-san has always been the decision maker on investments and we never considered Misra as a candidate for succession
After surviving $47bn in public equity losses over the last year, it surprisingly looks like Misra's departure is voluntary


United States

WeWork Inc. provides co-working spaces for individuals and entrepreneurs. The Company offers private offices, office suites, headquarters, and custom build out options to fit a variety of office needs, as well as desk spaces and conference rooms. WeWork serves customers worldwide.

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WeWork (WEWKQ US)

Softbank (9984 JP): Private Company Valuations Still in Question

The key challenges for SoftBank; the Alibaba valuation “cushion” has been largely consumed, the group has big exposure to WeWork and the spectre of...

Victor Galliano

Softbank (9984 JP) – Focus on the SVFs, Are the Private Companies Appropriately Marked?

The NAV could be 10%-15% lower than stated now at the mid-May results release, due to a further squeeze in private company valuations; this would...

Victor Galliano

Softbank Group - Requiem for WeWork’s Premium Valuation

WeWork’s market cap has fallen decisively below that of rival IWG for the first time as concerns on operating losses and free cash flow rise. It’s...

Kirk Boodry

Softbank Group (9984 JP) – Defying Gravity into 4Q 2022

Softbank's share price has defied gravity of late, diverging from the trends of its listed holdings but we see clear hurdles going forward from the...

Victor Galliano

Softbank Group - Business as Usual

Vision Fund head Rajeev Misra is departing to run Middle Eastern money. Operationally, not much changes as Son-san has always been the Softbank...

Kirk Boodry

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