Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Event-Driven

The local news outlets report that the KRX is considering applying the 30% cap on Samsung Electronics as early as March, possibly right after the futures contract expiration date of March, which is March 13. Samsung's index market capitalization weight in KOSPI 200 currently stands at 33.35%. The KRX says that it can't wait until the upcoming adjustment period, as the current distortion level is too high.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/114/629/original/1.png?1579645595" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="114629"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/114/630/original/chart.png?1579646101" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="114630"></figure>The adjustment cycle is bi-annual: June and December. It is to become in effect on the next trading day in June and December after KOSPI 200 futures contracts are due, which is the second Thursday of the month. The reference date of the 30% cap is the last trading day of May and November. The period for the calculation is three months before June or December. It is a simple daily average of three months. But the KRX says that it can't wait. And it says it has the special provision allowing itself to apply the 30% cap rule at any point of the year.

The local news outlets report that the KRX is considering applying the 30% cap on Samsung Electronics as early as March, possibly right after the futures contract expiration date of March, which is March 13. Samsung's index market capitalization weight in KOSPI 200 currently stands at 33.35%. The KRX says that it can't wait until the upcoming adjustment period, as the current distortion level is too high.The adjustment cycle is bi-annual: June and December. It is to become in effect on the next trading day in June and December after KOSPI 200 futures contracts are due, which is the second Thursday of the month. The reference date of the 30% cap is the last trading day of May and November. The period for the calculation is three months before June or December. It is a simple daily average of three months. But the KRX says that it can't wait. And it says it has the special provision allowing itself to apply the 30% cap rule at any point of the year.

KRX Considers a 30% Cap on Samsung in March: Impact Estimation

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>It was reported by several news media outlets that Samsung Electronics is investing INR35bn (US$492m) to set up a display manufacturing unit in India as an attempt to expand smartphone production in India.</li>
<li>Under the plan, Samsung Electronics will offer an INR35bn loan and transfer a parcel of land in Noida for INR920m to its Display unit.</li>
<li>The company has already started making smartphones in Noida (the outskirts of New Delhi) in 2018. For this purpose, Samsung Electronics had incorporated a Group entity, Samsung Display Noida which will focus on manufacturing, assembling, processing and sales of displays (including their parts, accessories and components) for all types and sizes of electronic devices.</li>
<li>In September last year, the iPhone maker Apple partnered with its primary assembler Foxconn Technology to invest US$1bn to ramp up its manufacturing in India.</li>
<li>The tech companies have been moving their production facilities away from China due to the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China. Furthermore, increasing labour costs and saturating demand for smartphones have also caused smartphone makers to shift their production away from China to countries such as India, Vietnam and Thailand.</li>
<li>Sony too announced that it was closing its smartphone plant in Beijing and moving production into Thailand.</li>
</ul>


It was reported by several news media outlets that Samsung Electronics is investing INR35bn (US$492m) to set up a display manufacturing unit in India as an attempt to expand smartphone production in India.
Under the plan, Samsung Electronics will offer an INR35bn loan and transfer a parcel of land in Noida for INR920m to its Display unit.
The company has already started making smartphones in Noida (the outskirts of New Delhi) in 2018. For this purpose, Samsung Electronics had incorporated a Group entity, Samsung Display Noida which will focus on manufacturing, assembling, processing and sales of displays (including their parts, accessories and components) for all types and sizes of electronic devices.
In September last year, the iPhone maker Apple partnered with its primary assembler Foxconn Technology to invest US$1bn to ramp up its manufacturing in India.
The tech companies have been moving their production facilities away from China due to the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China. Furthermore, increasing labour costs and saturating demand for smartphones have also caused smartphone makers to shift their production away from China to countries such as India, Vietnam and Thailand.
Sony too announced that it was closing its smartphone plant in Beijing and moving production into Thailand.


Now Samsung Is Setting Up a Display Manufacturing Unit in India

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div>The Korea Exchange (KRX) publishes outstanding short position data daily with a two day lag. The data below is of the close of 17 January 2020.  </div><div>Current short notional on the KOSPI market is KRW 11,141bn (US$9.55bn) with the largest short notionals in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-biologics-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22932:1">Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amorepacific-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20854:1">Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amorepacific-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20854:1"></a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electro-mechanics-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:539:1">Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1"></a></div><div>Stocks with the largest increase in short interest over the week were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-chem-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3583:1">LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a> while shorts were covered in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electro-mechanics-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:539:1">Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-sdi-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:503:1">Samsung Sdi (006400 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1">LG Display (034220 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:393:1">SK Holdings (034730 KS)</a>.  </div><div>We also take a look at some prominent names including the Celltrion group, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electro-mechanics-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:539:1">Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-sdi-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:503:1">Samsung Sdi (006400 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:393:1">SK Holdings (034730 KS)</a>.  </div>

The Korea Exchange (KRX) publishes outstanding short position data daily with a two day lag. The data below is of the close of 17 January 2020.  Current short notional on the KOSPI market is KRW 11,141bn (US$9.55bn) with the largest short notionals in Celltrion Inc (068270 KS), Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS), Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS), Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS) and Samsung Electronics (005930 KS). Stocks with the largest increase in short interest over the week were Celltrion Inc (068270 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS) and Kakao Corp (035720 KS) while shorts were covered in Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS), Samsung Sdi (006400 KS), LG Display (034220 KS) and SK Holdings (034730 KS).  We also take a look at some prominent names including the Celltrion group, Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS), Samsung Sdi (006400 KS) and SK Holdings (034730 KS).  

Korea - Celltrion Shorts Increase, Semco Covering Continues

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Samsung Elec has made a great run lately, and so did Hynix. Then, we have to ask ourselves this question. Was it a part of a rerating on entire Korea? Well, it doesn't seem that it was the case. During the same period, KOSPI 200 has gone up only 2.71%, whereas Samsung has climbed nearly 10%.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/114/331/original/1.png?1579457250" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="114331"></figure>So, it should have been more of a decoupling situation for Korea's memory chip stocks. Well, it isn't the first time that we see this kind of decoupling. Entire Korea is more correlated with China than the US; however, Samsung and Hynix are still going more in line with NASDAQ, specifically PHLX SS. The latest liquidity-fueled frenzy in the US has primarily pushed up the US tech stocks. Samsung and Hynix must have also benefited from it as well. Then, this dynamic has invited arb traders who wanted to capitalize on this specific hedge position: long Samsung/Hynix and short KOSPI 200. This approach is reasonable as there is no reason to believe entire Korea is moving up on a rerating.Well, the strategy seems to have paid off nicely. The gain of each entry point since December 20 until January 7, if holding until January 17, is still sitting at least above 3%. It peaks as high as 5% if you entered the position on December 24. If you took higher leverage as Samsung and Hynix carry one of the few sufficiently liquid futures, your gain would have been in a much more pleasant area. <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/114/333/original/chart.png?1579460169" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="114333"></figure></figure>

Samsung Elec has made a great run lately, and so did Hynix. Then, we have to ask ourselves this question. Was it a part of a rerating on entire Korea? Well, it doesn't seem that it was the case. During the same period, KOSPI 200 has gone up only 2.71%, whereas Samsung has climbed nearly 10%.So, it should have been more of a decoupling situation for Korea's memory chip stocks. Well, it isn't the first time that we see this kind of decoupling. Entire Korea is more correlated with China than the US; however, Samsung and Hynix are still going more in line with NASDAQ, specifically PHLX SS. The latest liquidity-fueled frenzy in the US has primarily pushed up the US tech stocks. Samsung and Hynix must have also benefited from it as well. Then, this dynamic has invited arb traders who wanted to capitalize on this specific hedge position: long Samsung/Hynix and short KOSPI 200. This approach is reasonable as there is no reason to believe entire Korea is moving up on a rerating.Well, the strategy seems to have paid off nicely. The gain of each entry point since December 20 until January 7, if holding until January 17, is still sitting at least above 3%. It peaks as high as 5% if you entered the position on December 24. If you took higher leverage as Samsung and Hynix carry one of the few sufficiently liquid futures, your gain would have been in a much more pleasant area. 

Recent Long Short on Samsung/Hynix & KOSPI 200,,, & 30% KOSPI 200 Cap

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

<figure>
 <img src='https://api2.sgx.com/sites/default/files/2020-01/DiSa-CEO.jpg' alt='DiSa CEO' />
 </figure>
 <div class='content-caption'>DiSa CEO</div>
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It all began with a shoplifting incident in a German supermarket.

SGX-listed digital security firm DiSa Ltd was born from a germ of an idea in entrepreneur Eddie Chng’s mind 10 years ago after seeing a thief in action. “It was September 2009, and we were in Berlin for the IFA consumer electronics trade show,” he recalled.

“On our way to dinner, we had stopped by a supermarket to buy batteries. That was when I saw a man slip some SD cards into the pockets of his winter jacket, and walk out of the store without paying.”

A pithy comment then by a friend – “Shoplifting is rampant in Europe, and if anyone can solve this problem, it will be big business!” – lingered in Chng’s mind long after the incident.

“As an engineer, my inspiration has always been fixing a problem with a solution that no one has thought of yet,” he said. “So a year later, after much research, we came up with an anti-theft technology for retailers that makes electronic devices non-functional, until they are activated by a PIN code at the point of purchase.”

However, getting retailers to adopt the technology proved to be an uphill battle. The small retail stores in Germany were reluctant to pay, and after nearly two years of fruitless cold calls and knocking on doors, Chng turned his attention to the US market.

DiSa charges manufacturers and suppliers for the technology, but to get manufacturers to sign on, the company focused on reaching out to retailers, since the latter stand to lose most from theft. If retailers are keen to use the technology, their manufacturers will have to include it in their products, Chng reasoned.

“We changed our strategy to focus on the big boys in the US – it was a tough journey, but it was the right decision. As the Chinese proverb goes, first the bitter, then the sweet,” he smiled. 
 

Overcoming Hurdles

It took a year of pitching and canvassing before he secured a meeting with the country’s largest retailer, and another 12 months before the first proof-of-concept testing took place in September 2016. Finally, in May 2017, after proving the technology worked, the retail giant implemented DiSa’s Point-of-Sale Activation (PoSA) solution in its 5,000 stores across the US, for products ranging from tablets and GPS devices to digital cameras and TV sets.

“You have to overcome a myriad of obstacles to succeed in the US, and for a Chinaman like me entering the market, it’s been really fulfilling and gruelling at the same time,” Chng said.

“We believe that if we can secure the top five retailers in the US as our clients, we will be able to set the standard for retail security in the country.”

Retail theft – known as shrink – has a huge financial impact on the world’s largest economy. In 2018, the average shrink rate was 1.38%, costing the US an estimated US$50.6 billion. About two-thirds of shrink came from shoplifting, organised retail crime and employee theft, according to data from the 2015-2019 National Retail Security Survey.

“DiSa has essentially reinvented the retail experience for customers, suppliers and retailers, as our technology enables a true open-sell experience, reduces shrink and eliminates return fraud,” he noted.

This also allows for better product placement in stores, as the items are not encumbered by physical locks, bulky cables or glass cabinets. Traditional locks and cables can also be broken easily with the right tools. “Stores that have implemented this open-sell experience effectively see a 20% average sales lift,” he added.

“While it may be too early to say that DiSa has succeeded, we certainly have secured a ticket to embark on a successful journey in this market.”

Making A Comeback

This could constitute the beginnings of a comeback for Chng, who faced several setbacks with his business ventures two decades ago. In 2003, he emerged as a white knight for financially troubled garment retailer and property developer Heshe Holdings. The company was subsequently renamed Equation Summit, and then DiSa.

This milestone marked a new chapter in his entrepreneurial journey. “Basically, in this brutal world of entrepreneurship, you need tenacity, perseverance and belief in what you can do.”

“Passion keeps you going, yes. But at the end of the day, it’s all about your product having commercial value,” he added.

DiSa’s name is coined from the first two syllables of the word “digital safety”. Listed on SGX Catalist since 1992, it has a current market capitalisation of about S$20 million. Chng, who has held leadership roles in diverse fields spanning product research and development, innovation, marketing and sales, was appointed DiSa’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in February 2005.

The Group’s PoSA solution, which incorporates Smart Barcodes, fully protects a product from manufacturing through to point-of-sale, making the device non-functional until purchased and activated. Its Smart Gates sensors allow retailers to set alarms and display unpaid items, while Smart Checkout lets shoppers complete their purchases by digitally scanning their products without having to remove items from their cart.

The Group has also introduced Smart Barcodes to the food retail sector. This tool empowers both retailers and consumers to track expiry dates, production batches and ingredients, so as to prevent food spoilage.

So far, DiSa has made good progress in its efforts to boost adoption of its asset protection technology. In 2018, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics equipped its state-of-the-art Galaxy Tab A 8.0 model with the DiSa Smart Lock protection, which renders stolen tablets non-operational. Swagtron, a maker of electric rideables in the US, also uses DiSa’s Smart Barcode technology in its classic hoverboards to combat retail theft and return fraud.

Last March, US organic produce supplier Bailey Produce tagged its bananas with Smart Barcode technology, which tracks each fruit bunch from farm to table. Singapore telco M1 has also partnered with DiSa to roll out the first-of-its-kind mobile phone warranty programme protecting phone users against cyber theft. If phone users suffer financial losses from theft of their e-wallets, they can make a claim on DiSa’s website for an amount up to the retail cost of the phone. Every device under the warranty programme will also be equipped with DiSa’s Smart Barcode system.

Dreaming Big

 

Looking ahead, the Group plans to proliferate its technology and platform across US retail stores to build its footprint. “We want to be the standard for asset protection in the country. It’s a very big dream, it’s a very tough dream, but I think we have a good shot at achieving it.”

“There are also high barriers of entry to this market, and we have the first-mover advantage,” he added.

Another factor in DiSa’s favour is that, despite the rapid acceleration of e-commerce sales, the US market remains dominated by brick-and-mortar retail stores. “The majority of consumers still prefer to drive to stores to shop. There’s also the P-U-T or Pick Up Today trend, where shoppers buy online and collect their items offline,” Chng noted.

With the roll-out of 5G wireless networks gaining traction globally, the disruption of normal routines is inevitable. “DiSa is ready to harness opportunities arising from disruptive technologies,” he added.

And with greater deployment of artificial intelligence in all aspects of daily life, DiSa remains optimistic that adoption rates for PoSA, serialisation – an anti-theft solution for non-electronics items like apparel, shoes and bags – as well as other asset protection solutions, will grow.

“We’ve disrupted retail shrink with our technology, and we’re confident it will see widespread adoption in the US.”

The biggest challenge, however, is stemming the flow of red ink, Chng admitted. “We’re in investment mode and still burning cash. With our existing cash resources, we’re confident that the 2020/2021 financial year will be a better one.”

For the financial year ended 30 June 2019, DiSa reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of S$17.0 million. Cash and cash equivalents stood at about S$13 million, which includes S$50,000 in pledged deposits.

Outside the office, Chng can be found with his two daughters, aged 21 and 23, and his son, 25. “I want my kids to grow up to be well-rounded and holistic individuals. I don’t need them to score straight As or be overly focused on grades – education is about progression, not perfection.”

He emphasises simple values – don’t judge, always respect others. “I always believe that you must focus on the fundamentals first,” he said.

“You will be able to accomplish the bigger things only after you get the basics right.”

DiSa Ltd

DiSa, listed on SGX Catalist since 1992, focuses on leveraging in-house R&amp;D capabilities to innovate and digitalise new products and services using disruptive technologies. Since 2006, the Group, which has offices in Singapore, China and the US, has actively reviewed its businesses to focus on high-value services with long-term potential, while divesting non-core segments to complement its growth. Its technology solutions for the retail industry include the Point-of-Sale Activation (PoSA) Smart Lock, the world’s first digital asset-protection solution that discourages theft by making consumer electronics products non-functional until purchased and activated.  
The company website is: <a href="https://digital-safety.com/">digital-safety.com.</a> 
Click <a href="https://www2.sgx.com/securities/equities/532">here</a> for the company's StockFacts page. 
For the three months ended 30 September 2019 financial results, click <a href="https://links.sgx.com/1.0.0/corporate-announcements/CGWODPEXR8KU1XGQ/2019-11-08%20-%20DL%20-%201Q2020%20Results.pdf">here</a>.

About kopi-C: the Company brew

Text: Jennifer LH Tan Photo: Company file kopi-C is a regular column on the SGX Research website that features C-level executives of leading companies listed on Singapore Exchange. These interviews are profiles of senior management aimed at helping investors better understand the individuals who run these corporations. 
For previous editions of kopi-C: the Company brew, please click <a href="http://edm.sgx.com/a/hBd-CspB86%24MfB90noBAABR54ZH/link10">here</a>.   
For more information, or if you would like your senior executives to be featured on SGX Market Dialogues, please send suggestions to <a href="jennifer.t@sgx.com">jennifer.t@sgx.com</a>.
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    DiSa CEO


It all began with a shoplifting incident in a German supermarket.

SGX-listed digital security firm DiSa Ltd was born from a germ of an idea in entrepreneur Eddie Chng’s mind 10 years ago after seeing a thief in action. “It was September 2009, and we were in Berlin for the IFA consumer electronics trade show,” he recalled.

“On our way to dinner, we had stopped by a supermarket to buy batteries. That was when I saw a man slip some SD cards into the pockets of his winter jacket, and walk out of the store without paying.”

A pithy comment then by a friend – “Shoplifting is rampant in Europe, and if anyone can solve this problem, it will be big business!” – lingered in Chng’s mind long after the incident.

“As an engineer, my inspiration has always been fixing a problem with a solution that no one has thought of yet,” he said. “So a year later, after much research, we came up with an anti-theft technology for retailers that makes electronic devices non-functional, until they are activated by a PIN code at the point of purchase.”

However, getting retailers to adopt the technology proved to be an uphill battle. The small retail stores in Germany were reluctant to pay, and after nearly two years of fruitless cold calls and knocking on doors, Chng turned his attention to the US market.

DiSa charges manufacturers and suppliers for the technology, but to get manufacturers to sign on, the company focused on reaching out to retailers, since the latter stand to lose most from theft. If retailers are keen to use the technology, their manufacturers will have to include it in their products, Chng reasoned.

“We changed our strategy to focus on the big boys in the US – it was a tough journey, but it was the right decision. As the Chinese proverb goes, first the bitter, then the sweet,” he smiled. 
 

Overcoming Hurdles

It took a year of pitching and canvassing before he secured a meeting with the country’s largest retailer, and another 12 months before the first proof-of-concept testing took place in September 2016. Finally, in May 2017, after proving the technology worked, the retail giant implemented DiSa’s Point-of-Sale Activation (PoSA) solution in its 5,000 stores across the US, for products ranging from tablets and GPS devices to digital cameras and TV sets.

“You have to overcome a myriad of obstacles to succeed in the US, and for a Chinaman like me entering the market, it’s been really fulfilling and gruelling at the same time,” Chng said.

“We believe that if we can secure the top five retailers in the US as our clients, we will be able to set the standard for retail security in the country.”

Retail theft – known as shrink – has a huge financial impact on the world’s largest economy. In 2018, the average shrink rate was 1.38%, costing the US an estimated US$50.6 billion. About two-thirds of shrink came from shoplifting, organised retail crime and employee theft, according to data from the 2015-2019 National Retail Security Survey.

“DiSa has essentially reinvented the retail experience for customers, suppliers and retailers, as our technology enables a true open-sell experience, reduces shrink and eliminates return fraud,” he noted.

This also allows for better product placement in stores, as the items are not encumbered by physical locks, bulky cables or glass cabinets. Traditional locks and cables can also be broken easily with the right tools. “Stores that have implemented this open-sell experience effectively see a 20% average sales lift,” he added.

“While it may be too early to say that DiSa has succeeded, we certainly have secured a ticket to embark on a successful journey in this market.”

Making A Comeback

This could constitute the beginnings of a comeback for Chng, who faced several setbacks with his business ventures two decades ago. In 2003, he emerged as a white knight for financially troubled garment retailer and property developer Heshe Holdings. The company was subsequently renamed Equation Summit, and then DiSa.

This milestone marked a new chapter in his entrepreneurial journey. “Basically, in this brutal world of entrepreneurship, you need tenacity, perseverance and belief in what you can do.”

“Passion keeps you going, yes. But at the end of the day, it’s all about your product having commercial value,” he added.

DiSa’s name is coined from the first two syllables of the word “digital safety”. Listed on SGX Catalist since 1992, it has a current market capitalisation of about S$20 million. Chng, who has held leadership roles in diverse fields spanning product research and development, innovation, marketing and sales, was appointed DiSa’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in February 2005.

The Group’s PoSA solution, which incorporates Smart Barcodes, fully protects a product from manufacturing through to point-of-sale, making the device non-functional until purchased and activated. Its Smart Gates sensors allow retailers to set alarms and display unpaid items, while Smart Checkout lets shoppers complete their purchases by digitally scanning their products without having to remove items from their cart.

The Group has also introduced Smart Barcodes to the food retail sector. This tool empowers both retailers and consumers to track expiry dates, production batches and ingredients, so as to prevent food spoilage.

So far, DiSa has made good progress in its efforts to boost adoption of its asset protection technology. In 2018, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics equipped its state-of-the-art Galaxy Tab A 8.0 model with the DiSa Smart Lock protection, which renders stolen tablets non-operational. Swagtron, a maker of electric rideables in the US, also uses DiSa’s Smart Barcode technology in its classic hoverboards to combat retail theft and return fraud.

Last March, US organic produce supplier Bailey Produce tagged its bananas with Smart Barcode technology, which tracks each fruit bunch from farm to table. Singapore telco M1 has also partnered with DiSa to roll out the first-of-its-kind mobile phone warranty programme protecting phone users against cyber theft. If phone users suffer financial losses from theft of their e-wallets, they can make a claim on DiSa’s website for an amount up to the retail cost of the phone. Every device under the warranty programme will also be equipped with DiSa’s Smart Barcode system.

Dreaming Big

 

Looking ahead, the Group plans to proliferate its technology and platform across US retail stores to build its footprint. “We want to be the standard for asset protection in the country. It’s a very big dream, it’s a very tough dream, but I think we have a good shot at achieving it.”

“There are also high barriers of entry to this market, and we have the first-mover advantage,” he added.

Another factor in DiSa’s favour is that, despite the rapid acceleration of e-commerce sales, the US market remains dominated by brick-and-mortar retail stores. “The majority of consumers still prefer to drive to stores to shop. There’s also the P-U-T or Pick Up Today trend, where shoppers buy online and collect their items offline,” Chng noted.

With the roll-out of 5G wireless networks gaining traction globally, the disruption of normal routines is inevitable. “DiSa is ready to harness opportunities arising from disruptive technologies,” he added.

And with greater deployment of artificial intelligence in all aspects of daily life, DiSa remains optimistic that adoption rates for PoSA, serialisation – an anti-theft solution for non-electronics items like apparel, shoes and bags – as well as other asset protection solutions, will grow.

“We’ve disrupted retail shrink with our technology, and we’re confident it will see widespread adoption in the US.”

The biggest challenge, however, is stemming the flow of red ink, Chng admitted. “We’re in investment mode and still burning cash. With our existing cash resources, we’re confident that the 2020/2021 financial year will be a better one.”

For the financial year ended 30 June 2019, DiSa reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of S$17.0 million. Cash and cash equivalents stood at about S$13 million, which includes S$50,000 in pledged deposits.

Outside the office, Chng can be found with his two daughters, aged 21 and 23, and his son, 25. “I want my kids to grow up to be well-rounded and holistic individuals. I don’t need them to score straight As or be overly focused on grades – education is about progression, not perfection.”

He emphasises simple values – don’t judge, always respect others. “I always believe that you must focus on the fundamentals first,” he said.

“You will be able to accomplish the bigger things only after you get the basics right.”

DiSa Ltd

DiSa, listed on SGX Catalist since 1992, focuses on leveraging in-house R&amp;D capabilities to innovate and digitalise new products and services using disruptive technologies. Since 2006, the Group, which has offices in Singapore, China and the US, has actively reviewed its businesses to focus on high-value services with long-term potential, while divesting non-core segments to complement its growth. Its technology solutions for the retail industry include the Point-of-Sale Activation (PoSA) Smart Lock, the world’s first digital asset-protection solution that discourages theft by making consumer electronics products non-functional until purchased and activated.   
The company website is: digital-safety.com.  
Click here for the company's StockFacts page.  
For the three months ended 30 September 2019 financial results, click here.

About kopi-C: the Company brew

Text: Jennifer LH Tan Photo: Company file  kopi-C is a regular column on the SGX Research website that features C-level executives of leading companies listed on Singapore Exchange. These interviews are profiles of senior management aimed at helping investors better understand the individuals who run these corporations.  
For previous editions of kopi-C: the Company brew, please click here.    
For more information, or if you would like your senior executives to be featured on SGX Market Dialogues, please send suggestions to jennifer.t@sgx.com.



South Korea

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. manufactures a wide range of consumer and industrial electronic equipment and products such as semiconductors, personal computers, peripherals, monitors, televisions, and home appliances including air conditioners and microwave ovens. The Company also produces Internet access network systems and telecommunications equipment including mobile phones.

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