and factory / 7035 COVERAGE INITIATED ON: 2019.04.12 LAST UPDATE: 2021.07.21 Shared Research Inc. has produced this report by request from the company discussed in the report. The aim is to provide an “owner’s manual” to investors. We at Shared Research Inc. make every effort to provide an accurate, objective, and neutral analysis. In order to highlight any biases, we clearly attribute our data and findings. We will always present opinions from company management as such. Our views are ours where stated. We do not try to convince or influence, only inform. We appreciate your suggestions and feedback. Write to us at [email protected] or find us on Bloomberg. Research Coverage Report by Shared Research Inc. and factory/7035 RCoverage LAST UPDATE: 2021.07.21 Research Coverage Report by Shared Research Inc. | https://sharedresearch.jp INDEX How to read a Shared Research report: This report begins with the trends and outlook section, which discusses the company’s most recent earnings. First-time readers should start at the business section later in the report. Executive summary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Key financial data ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Recent updates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Highlights ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 Trends and outlook ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Quarterly trends and results ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Q3 FY08/21 results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Business ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19 Business description -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 Segment overview and business model ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 Smartphone Apps business (FY08/20 sales of JPY2.5bn, operating profit of JPY352mn) ------------------------------------------------ 22 IoT business (FY08/20 sales of JPY337mn, operating loss of JPY187mn) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 Advertising Agency business (FY08/20 sales of JPY79mn) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 Market and value chain---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 Japan’s e-book market ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 Internet advertising industry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 IoT industry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 Hotel industry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 Competitors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40 Strengths and weaknesses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 42 Historical results and financial statements -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43 Income statement ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43 Balance sheet ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44 Cash flow statement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 45 Historical performance ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 1H FY08/21 results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 Q1 FY08/21 results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 Other information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 History -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 Mission -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56 News and topics ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56 Corporate governance and top management --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 58 Dividend policy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59 Major shareholders (as of end-August 2020) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59 Employees --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 60 Glossary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 60 Profile ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62 02/63 and factory/7035 RCoverage LAST UPDATE: 2021.07.21 Research Coverage Report by Shared Research Inc. | https://sharedresearch.jp Executive summary Business overview ◤ A startup company with businesses in two areas, smartphone apps and IoT. In FY08/20, sales were JPY2.9bn (-24.8% YoY), and operating loss was JPY203mn (profit of JPY512mn in FY08/19). Earnings primarily come from manga apps in the Smartphone Apps business. The IoT business was severely impacted by delays and cancellations of in-house development projects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the previous target customer base for the &AND HOSTEL smart hostels were inbound tourists. ◤ In the Smartphone Apps business (FY08/20 sales of JPY2.5bn, +41.4% YoY; operating profit of JPY352mn, -41.4% YoY), the company primarily develops and offers manga apps. The company has developed free-to-use manga apps with Square Enix and large publishers such as Hakusensha, Shueisha, and Shogakukan. In manga apps, the company obtains revenue by charging e-comic download fees (rental fees). These apps also draw advertising revenue based on the number of clicks made on banner ads placed through ad networks. Monthly active users (MAUs) in Q2 FY08/21 numbered 10.54mn, mainly young people, ranking it first in the industry despite its late entry. Average revenue per user, or ARPU, after revenue sharing is approximately JPY20 for manga apps. ◤ In the IoT business (FY08/20 sales of JPY337mn, -83.6% YoY; operating loss of JPY187mn, versus profit of JPY194mn in FY08/19), the company plans, develops, and operates the &AND HOSTEL brand of smart hostels, where visitors can experience services made possible by IoT. In this segment, the company also provides IoT solutions for lodging facilities, including innto (a property management system), tabii (a tablet-based service), and totono (a tenant communication app). &AND HOSTEL (eight locations as of end-March 2021) breaks down into two business categories. The first category encompasses planning and developing &AND HOSTEL facilities on property owned by other parties. The company receives planning- and development-related compensation through consulting, real estate brokerage, and other means. The company manages the hostels and receives compensation from hostel owners in return. Outside of the hostel business, innto (installed at 292 locations on a contract basis as of end-February 2021) revenue comes from proceeds from sales and system maintenance and operation fees, which are shared with business partner Almex. tabii (5,181 tablets on a contract basis) also draws advertising