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

<p>Reuters reported yesterday that the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) in China is preparing a substantial fine for <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>  as part of its ongoing antitrust probe.</p><p>The SAMR imposed a fine of RMB18.2bn on Alibaba for violating anti-monopoly rules and abusing its market dominant position on 10<sup>th</sup> April. Reuters states that the fine on Tencent will be less than that which was imposed on Alibaba, but that Tencent should expect a penalty of at least RMB10bn.</p><p>The antitrust investigation on Tencent is partly focused on its past acquisitions and investments while other areas include anticompetitive practices in some of its businesses with a particular focus on Tencent Music Entertainment (TME).</p><p>In our previous insight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tencent-only-fintech-restructuring-or-losing-the-edge-on-wechat-user-data" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50540" rel="noopener">Tencent: Only Fintech Restructuring or Losing the Edge on WeChat User Data?</a> , we highlighted that Tencent’s past M&amp;A deals could attract regulatory scrutiny and in March 2021, the company was fined RMB500k for its investment in online education app Yuanfudao in 2018 for not seeking prior approval for the deal, which was in violation of the country’s anti-monopoly laws. The fines for not properly reporting past M&amp;A deals are capped at RMB500k per case in China.</p>

Reuters reported yesterday that the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) in China is preparing a substantial fine for Tencent Holdings (700 HK)  as part of its ongoing antitrust probe.The SAMR imposed a fine of RMB18.2bn on Alibaba for violating anti-monopoly rules and abusing its market dominant position on 10th April. Reuters states that the fine on Tencent will be less than that which was imposed on Alibaba, but that Tencent should expect a penalty of at least RMB10bn.The antitrust investigation on Tencent is partly focused on its past acquisitions and investments while other areas include anticompetitive practices in some of its businesses with a particular focus on Tencent Music Entertainment (TME).In our previous insight Tencent: Only Fintech Restructuring or Losing the Edge on WeChat User Data? , we highlighted that Tencent’s past M&amp;A deals could attract regulatory scrutiny and in March 2021, the company was fined RMB500k for its investment in online education app Yuanfudao in 2018 for not seeking prior approval for the deal, which was in violation of the country’s anti-monopoly laws. The fines for not properly reporting past M&amp;A deals are capped at RMB500k per case in China.

Tencent: Regulators Probe TME’s Previous Deals; The Battering Has Just Begun

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst, Obex Capital Research

Aaron Gabin

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research

Obex Capital Research

“Obex” is Latin for Barriers to Entry. Obex Capital Management’s investment philosophy is driven by an intense focus on which business model’s Barriers to Entry are able to withstand the ever increasing competitive disruption in the TMT and Consumer Sectors.

<p>Spotify printed a 1Q21 miss on MAUs and mediocre guidance update for 2021. We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again…Spotify strikes us as one of the worst business models of a large cap TMT company we’ve ever seen. The future bliss of podcasting driven profitability is clearly just that…future bliss. Management has NEVER explained how podcasting will translate into a more profitable business other than through hazy comments about “holistic nature of churn reduction and new users”…it reminds us of Reed Hastings when he promised that one day Netflix would be FCF positive years ago…but at least Netflix had an operating model with inherent operating leverage and pricing power, neither of which is present with Spotify. We can justify downside to $125, but realistically think $200 is a reasonable price target. Stay Short.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</p></div>

Spotify printed a 1Q21 miss on MAUs and mediocre guidance update for 2021. We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again…Spotify strikes us as one of the worst business models of a large cap TMT company we’ve ever seen. The future bliss of podcasting driven profitability is clearly just that…future bliss. Management has NEVER explained how podcasting will translate into a more profitable business other than through hazy comments about “holistic nature of churn reduction and new users”…it reminds us of Reed Hastings when he promised that one day Netflix would be FCF positive years ago…but at least Netflix had an operating model with inherent operating leverage and pricing power, neither of which is present with Spotify. We can justify downside to $125, but realistically think $200 is a reasonable price target. Stay Short.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

Spotify 1Q21 Earnings: What Is an Audio Platform Worth? 2-3x Sales?

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

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 Capital Markets

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> aims to raise around US$10bn via a combination of an equity placement and convertible bond issuance. </p><p>Along with the US$6.6bn top-up placement, its largest shareholder <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> will chip in another US$400m. In this note, we will run the deal through our framework and talk about deal dynamics.</p>

Meituan (3690 HK) aims to raise around US$10bn via a combination of an equity placement and convertible bond issuance. Along with the US$6.6bn top-up placement, its largest shareholder Tencent Holdings (700 HK) will chip in another US$400m. In this note, we will run the deal through our framework and talk about deal dynamics.

Meituan Placement - Might Not Do a Tencent but Low-End Looks Enticing

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

<ul>
<li>On April 15, Tencent began to reorganize its PCG (Platform and Content Group).</li>
<li>Tencent merged Tencent Video and WeSee, but has not merged Tencent News and Kandian so far.</li>
<li>We believe this is a sequel to the reorganization in 2018.</li>
<li>We also believe this further reorganization will help improve margins in 2022.</li>
</ul>


On April 15, Tencent began to reorganize its PCG (Platform and Content Group).
Tencent merged Tencent Video and WeSee, but has not merged Tencent News and Kandian so far.
We believe this is a sequel to the reorganization in 2018.
We also believe this further reorganization will help improve margins in 2022.


Tencent (700 HK): Further Reorganization as Sequel to 2018

<div>
<p>Trip.com plans to raise around US$1.2bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. We have looked at the background of the deal in our earlier note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/trip-com-secondary-listing-probably-needs-to-correct" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trip.com Secondary Listing - Probably Needs to Correct</a>.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>In this note, we’ll take a look at the final deal terms and talk about the impact of the raising.</p>
</div>


Trip.com plans to raise around US$1.2bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. We have looked at the background of the deal in our earlier note, Trip.com Secondary Listing - Probably Needs to Correct.


In this note, we’ll take a look at the final deal terms and talk about the impact of the raising.


Trip.com Secondary Listing Quick Take - Doing the Bare Minimum - Needs Some More Correction

China

Tencent Music Entertainment operates an online music entertainment platform in China. The Company offers platform that comprises of online music, recording, music-centric live streaming enabling users to discover, listen, sing, watch, perform, and socialize music.

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Tencent Music (TME US)

Tencent: Regulators Probe TME’s Previous Deals; The Battering Has Just Begun

Reuters reported yesterday that SAMR in China is preparing a substantial fine of about RMB10bn onTencent as part of its ongoing antitrust probe.

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Spotify 1Q21 Earnings: What Is an Audio Platform Worth? 2-3x Sales?

Spotify printed a 1Q21 miss on MAUs and mediocre guidance update for 2021. Spotify is one of the worst business models of a large cap TMT company...

Aaron Gabin

Meituan Placement - Might Not Do a Tencent but Low-End Looks Enticing

Meituan aims to raise around US$10bn via a combination of an equity placement and convertible bond issuance. In this note, we will run the deal...

Sumeet Singh

Tencent (700 HK): Further Reorganization as Sequel to 2018

Tencent began to reorganize its PCG (Platform and Content Group) We believe this is a sequel to the reorganization in 2018. We also believe this...

Ming Lu

Trip.com Secondary Listing Quick Take - Doing the Bare Minimum - Needs Some More Correction

Trip.com plans to raise around US$1.2bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. In this note, we’ll take a look at the final deal terms and talk...

Sumeet Singh

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