Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

A chartered management accountant with more than 10 years of rich experience in investment research and financial analysis. Worked as an equity analyst for one of the world's largest asset managers with USD2.5trn in AUM covering numerous sectors including chemicals, retail, tech, autos, telco, real-estate and banks, globally. Experienced in fundamental equity research, industry research, commodity studies, forensic accounting, and due diligence reviews.

Equity Analyst

Pop Mart IPO: 1H20 Impacted by Covid-19 but New Launches and Online Channels Should Support Earnings

Xiaomi 3Q: Strong Smartphone Demand Across Domestic and Overseas Markets, Shares Are Still Expensive

Kuaishou IPO: Advertising and E-Commerce Businesses to Drive Future Growth

Apple and Sony Music Compete to Buy Wondery to Take on Rival Spotify’s Podcast Offerings

Bilibili: Early Thoughts on Bilibili’s Secondary Listing

Battle Lines Drawn As BABA Builds Out First/Last-Mile Capacity; But Who Will Fund 75+ Bn CNY CapEx?

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>On 16<sup>th</sup> November, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a>  announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/joyy-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:285:1" rel="noopener">JOYY (YY US)</a>  to acquire its domestic video-based entertainment live streaming business in China (known as YY Live). JOYY will retain its overseas business.</li>
<li>The deal includes YY mobile app, YY.com website and PC YY, among others, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately US$3.6bn in cash and the transaction is expected to occur in 1H2021 subject to certain conditions.</li>
<li>According to Baidu, YY Live stands to benefit from the company’s large traffic and thriving mobile ecosystem while Baidu will receive immediate operational experience and knowhow for large-scale video-based social media development, as well as a creator network that will further strengthen Baidu's massive content provider network.</li>
<li>Baidu has been a late entrant to the thriving short video app market in China which is currently dominated by Douyin and Kuaishou. Baidu has been attempting to reduce its dependence on core advertising revenues, however, these efforts are yet to make any meaningful impact on the company’s top line and margins.</li>
</ul>


On 16th November, Baidu (BIDU US)  announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with JOYY (YY US)  to acquire its domestic video-based entertainment live streaming business in China (known as YY Live). JOYY will retain its overseas business.
The deal includes YY mobile app, YY.com website and PC YY, among others, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately US$3.6bn in cash and the transaction is expected to occur in 1H2021 subject to certain conditions.
According to Baidu, YY Live stands to benefit from the company’s large traffic and thriving mobile ecosystem while Baidu will receive immediate operational experience and knowhow for large-scale video-based social media development, as well as a creator network that will further strengthen Baidu's massive content provider network.
Baidu has been a late entrant to the thriving short video app market in China which is currently dominated by Douyin and Kuaishou. Baidu has been attempting to reduce its dependence on core advertising revenues, however, these efforts are yet to make any meaningful impact on the company’s top line and margins.


Baidu: Acquisition of YY Live Is More Beneficial to JOYY than Baidu