LY's Kakaku bid escalates as core profit and PayPay surge
LY outbids EQT for Kakaku.com with shareholder backing LY formally offered 3,384 yen per Kakaku.com share, topping EQT's 3,000 yen, and major holder Oasis agreed to tender its 19.52% stake. Winning Kakaku would add a profitable price-comparison and shopping site, lifting LY's growth story.
The bidding war is the period's main new event and directly affects LY's acquisition prospects.
LY and Bain weigh even higher Kakaku bid LY and Bain are considering a fresh joint offer above EQT's 3,450 yen, and LY already raised its own price. Paying more raises the cash or debt needed and could dilute near-term returns, a real cost against the strategic benefit.
Shows the counterweight: escalating price tags mean higher acquisition cost for LY.
Q1 revenue up 13.1%, profit up 23.1% LY reported quarterly revenue of 553.9 billion yen, up 13.1%, with adjusted EBITDA up 23.1% and margin at 28%. Media, Commerce and fintech all grew, and management said full-year guidance should be beaten, supporting the share price.
Core earnings beat is the strongest fundamental driver for the stock this period.
PayPay allies with Seven & i to link payments and stores PayPay agreed a capital alliance with Seven & i, SoftBank and LY to connect its 75 million users with about 22,000 7-Eleven stores. This expands PayPay's reach into everyday shopping, a long-term growth driver for LY as a PayPay shareholder.
New partnership extends PayPay's growth, a key value driver for LY.