Investment Advisors, JL Warren Capital

Junheng Li

Investment Advisors

JL Warren Capital

JL Warren Capital LLC is a leading independent equity research firm focused on Chinese companies and listed multinationals in China. We employ a bottom-up research approach that takes great care to avoid the acquisition of material non-public information. Through investigative due diligence including channel surveys and interviews, our research helps clients to pinpoint the dislocations in the market.

Forensic Accounting

<p style="text-align: justify;">Muddy Waters’ short selling report on YY is technically detailed and logical.  It showcases its team’s cyber capability to collect user activity data and analyze them.  While the report is credible, we believe that the data used to make its arguments are snapshots of activities during specific periods (i.e. during the annual <em>talent show</em> from November 2019 to January 2020). The lack of a continuum has created biases, and ultimately results in an inappropriate conclusion that YY is 90% fraudulent.  Our due diligence primarily involves speaking with the agencies that have helped to build the YY video streaming business, leads us to conclude that YY Live is “mostly” real.  It is a massively lucrative cash machine monetizing on fandom-ship and virtual relationships among individuals across China. While the virtual gifting phenomenon is difficult for certain American investors to comprehend, it is prevalent in China. </p>

Muddy Waters’ short selling report on YY is technically detailed and logical.  It showcases its team’s cyber capability to collect user activity data and analyze them.  While the report is credible, we believe that the data used to make its arguments are snapshots of activities during specific periods (i.e. during the annual talent show from November 2019 to January 2020). The lack of a continuum has created biases, and ultimately results in an inappropriate conclusion that YY is 90% fraudulent.  Our due diligence primarily involves speaking with the agencies that have helped to build the YY video streaming business, leads us to conclude that YY Live is “mostly” real.  It is a massively lucrative cash machine monetizing on fandom-ship and virtual relationships among individuals across China. While the virtual gifting phenomenon is difficult for certain American investors to comprehend, it is prevalent in China. 

YY Due Diligence Suggesting a Lucrative Cash Machine with Unique Ecosystem

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul class="">
<li>Huya (HUYA)’s security guard carried an employee out of the office by force.</li>
<li>Shenzhen Municipal Anti-Pornography Office suspended Tencent Music (TME)’s karaoke platform for 30 days.</li>
<li>Alibaba (BABA) is facing class action for the investment in Ant Group.</li>
<li>Baidu (BAIDU) acquired Joyy (YY)’s business in China, which is a short target.</li>
</ul>


Huya (HUYA)’s security guard carried an employee out of the office by force.
Shenzhen Municipal Anti-Pornography Office suspended Tencent Music (TME)’s karaoke platform for 30 days.
Alibaba (BABA) is facing class action for the investment in Ant Group.
Baidu (BAIDU) acquired Joyy (YY)’s business in China, which is a short target.


China Internet Weekly (23Nov2020): HUYA’s Violence, TME’s Porn, and BIDU Acquired a Short Target

<ul>
<li>Revenue increased by 28% YoY in 3Q20.</li>
<li>The worst business lines stopped declining.</li>
<li>The growth rate of financial revenue accelerated.</li>
<li>Video competitor, iQiyi, ceased the price war.</li>
<li>The draft of online antitrust law does not target Tencent.</li>
<li>The 5-year P/E band suggests an upside of 15%. Upgrade to Buy.</li>
</ul>


Revenue increased by 28% YoY in 3Q20.
The worst business lines stopped declining.
The growth rate of financial revenue accelerated.
Video competitor, iQiyi, ceased the price war.
The draft of online antitrust law does not target Tencent.
The 5-year P/E band suggests an upside of 15%. Upgrade to Buy.


Tencent (700 HK): Every Business Line Looks Great in 3Q20, Upgrade to Buy

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

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

<p>We commented previously that while a merger between Huya and Douyu made a lot of sense, we believed Huya was a noticeably superior company and that a merger of near equals situation seemed a poor deal for Huya shareholders. Comparing Huya and Douyu’s recent results reinforces that image.</p>

We commented previously that while a merger between Huya and Douyu made a lot of sense, we believed Huya was a noticeably superior company and that a merger of near equals situation seemed a poor deal for Huya shareholders. Comparing Huya and Douyu’s recent results reinforces that image.

Huya – As We Suspected, Huya Shareholders Probably Got a Raw Deal

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<div>
<p>Back on the 27 August, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/leyou-technologies-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5831:1" rel="noopener">Leyou Technologies (1089 HK)</a>  <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0827/2020082701826.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a take-private transaction by way of a Scheme from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a> at $3.3219/share, a 30.27% premium over the closing price of HK$2.55/share on 19 September 2019, the last trading day prior to Leyou's <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0525/2020052501310.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcing</a> it was in preliminary discussions with various independent potential investors.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>70.02% of shares out - primarily comprising chairman Charles Yuk's stake - have given irrevocables to vote in favour of the Scheme. Disinterested Shareholders comprise all shares out, therefore the blocking stake at the Scheme Meeting is 308.5mn shares or 10% of shares out. No single shareholder has such a stake. The headcount test applies. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>This is a very clean deal. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>Leyou's shares wobbled a little in September after gaming companies were asked by Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on their security protocols in handling Americans' personal data. Those concerns were unfounded, and Canadian and US regulatory bodies <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1008/2020100801134.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed off</a> on the Offer on the 8 October.</p>
<p>The Scheme Document has now been <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1111/2020111100047.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">despatched</a>. The Court Meeting/EGM will be held on the 11 December. Assuming all falls into place, consideration under the Offer will be paid on or before the 31 December.</p>
<p>The IFA (Optima Capital) considers the Offer to be fair and reasonable.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>More below the fold.</p>
</div>


Back on the 27 August, Leyou Technologies (1089 HK)  announced a take-private transaction by way of a Scheme from Tencent Holdings (700 HK) at $3.3219/share, a 30.27% premium over the closing price of HK$2.55/share on 19 September 2019, the last trading day prior to Leyou's announcing it was in preliminary discussions with various independent potential investors.


70.02% of shares out - primarily comprising chairman Charles Yuk's stake - have given irrevocables to vote in favour of the Scheme. Disinterested Shareholders comprise all shares out, therefore the blocking stake at the Scheme Meeting is 308.5mn shares or 10% of shares out. No single shareholder has such a stake. The headcount test applies. 


This is a very clean deal. 


Leyou's shares wobbled a little in September after gaming companies were asked by Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on their security protocols in handling Americans' personal data. Those concerns were unfounded, and Canadian and US regulatory bodies signed off on the Offer on the 8 October.
The Scheme Document has now been despatched. The Court Meeting/EGM will be held on the 11 December. Assuming all falls into place, consideration under the Offer will be paid on or before the 31 December.
The IFA (Optima Capital) considers the Offer to be fair and reasonable.


More below the fold.


Leyou Tech (1089 HK): Offer Doc Despatched

United States

HUYA Inc. operates as a game live streaming platform. The Company offers interactive video broadcast services including e-sports, music, reality show, entertainment genres, talent shows, and anime and outdoor activities. HUYA serves customers in China.

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HUYA (HUYA US)

YY Due Diligence Suggesting a Lucrative Cash Machine with Unique Ecosystem

YY's live streaming is a massively lucrative cash machine monetizing on fandom-ship and virtual relationships among individuals across China.

JL Warren Capital

China Internet Weekly (23Nov2020): HUYA’s Violence, TME’s Porn, and BIDU Acquired a Short Target

Huya security guard carried an employee out of office by force. Shenzhen Authorities suspended Tencent Music ’s karaoke for 30 days. Baidu acquired...

Ming Lu

Tencent (700 HK): Every Business Line Looks Great in 3Q20, Upgrade to Buy

The worst business lines stopped declining. The growth rate of financial revenue accelerated. Video competitor, iQiyi, ceased the price war. The...

Ming Lu

Huya – As We Suspected, Huya Shareholders Probably Got a Raw Deal

While the Huya - Douyu merger is likely to create value, we have been saying that Huya shareholders probably deserved a larger share of that value...

Mio Kato

Leyou Tech (1089 HK): Offer Doc Despatched

The Court Meeting will be held on the 9 December. There's not a lot left on the table for around 6 weeks of work. If you can get in below $3.30, do...

David Blennerhassett

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