SmartHR Inc., a Japanese human resources platform backed by KKR, is said to be delaying its planned IPO in Tokyo until next year at the earliest. Multiple sources indicate the company’s original timing is being pushed back after investors raised concerns about SmartHR’s targeted valuation. One report says investors viewed the valuation as too high, contributing to the decision to postpone. Another source adds that broader market concerns also play a role, pointing to apprehension about how AI-driven disruption may affect the software-as-a-service (SaaS) sector. Together, the reports suggest the IPO timetable is under review as SmartHR adjusts expectations in response to investor feedback. While the sources differ slightly in emphasis—one focusing primarily on valuation and the other highlighting AI-related uncertainty in SaaS—both describe a shift from an IPO schedule within the current year to a later window. No official details or a confirmed new listing date are provided in the reports.