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

Several news media outlets reported today that the Chinese antitrust regulators are preparing to impose a fine of US$1bn on the country’s food delivery giant <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> for abusing its market position. The above fine is supposed to be announced over the coming weeks and Meituan will be ordered to make changes to its business operations.An antitrust fine of US$1bn will account for approx. 5.7% of Meituan’s FY12/2020 revenues whereas <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a>  record antitrust fine of US$2.75bn in April this year was around 3.6% of its consolidated FY2020 revenues. If Meituan is imposed with an antitrust fine of US$1bn, it will mark the second largest antitrust fine in China after Alibaba’s US$2.75bn (Qualcomm was imposed a fine of US$975m in 2015).

Several news media outlets reported today that the Chinese antitrust regulators are preparing to impose a fine of US$1bn on the country’s food delivery giant Meituan (3690 HK) for abusing its market position. The above fine is supposed to be announced over the coming weeks and Meituan will be ordered to make changes to its business operations.An antitrust fine of US$1bn will account for approx. 5.7% of Meituan’s FY12/2020 revenues whereas Alibaba Group (BABA US)  record antitrust fine of US$2.75bn in April this year was around 3.6% of its consolidated FY2020 revenues. If Meituan is imposed with an antitrust fine of US$1bn, it will mark the second largest antitrust fine in China after Alibaba’s US$2.75bn (Qualcomm was imposed a fine of US$975m in 2015).

Meituan: Is the US$1bn Fine the End of the Regulatory Probe on Meituan?

Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

To be the richest man in communist China is a dangerous perch. Jack Ma of Alibaba and Ant Financial was only the latest in a long line of those answering to the title of "China's richest person" who have had their assets either expropriated outright or suffered severe value-destruction through sudden, arbitrary regulatory actions by the Chinese authorities. Huang Guangyu of the electronics-retail group Gome was arrested in 2011 (when he was China's richest man) and spent a decade in prison/detention before returning to his company earlier this year. Alibaba, "China's Amazon" but with a bigger valuation given the size of its market opportunity -- and its celebrated fintech subsidiary Ant Financial (creator of Alipay, and an increasingly sophisticated payments infrastructure and internet-based bank) -- had clearly become too big for the CCP (Chinese communist party) to control. For millennia, China's rulers have prized centralized control above all else (hence the perceived need to stamp out fissiparous tendencies in Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia -- and the outlandish claims that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China). Independent privately-owned companies that dominate the technology frontier (like Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu) are clearly seen as threats to that centralized control by the CCP.The latest victims of China's arbitrary regulatory actions are shareholders of the ride-hailing company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi Global (DIDI US)</a>; a couple of days after its New York IPO, Didi Chuxing was ordered to stop signing up new users, and numerous other regulatory actions were taken against the company (including removing its app from all domestic app stores). Later in July, the entire US$100 billion tutoring business in China came under severe regulatory pressure, forcing companies in the sector to operate purely on a "non-profit" basis. Companies listing abroad are facing increasingly severe regulatory scrutiny. Investors need to be aware that expropriation risk for private businesses is very real in communist China, and the valuations of all privately-owned companies need to incorporate a significant "China premium" (i.e., valuations that are 30-40% of what they might be without that expropriation risk) before investors can safely hold onto them.

To be the richest man in communist China is a dangerous perch. Jack Ma of Alibaba and Ant Financial was only the latest in a long line of those answering to the title of "China's richest person" who have had their assets either expropriated outright or suffered severe value-destruction through sudden, arbitrary regulatory actions by the Chinese authorities. Huang Guangyu of the electronics-retail group Gome was arrested in 2011 (when he was China's richest man) and spent a decade in prison/detention before returning to his company earlier this year. Alibaba, "China's Amazon" but with a bigger valuation given the size of its market opportunity -- and its celebrated fintech subsidiary Ant Financial (creator of Alipay, and an increasingly sophisticated payments infrastructure and internet-based bank) -- had clearly become too big for the CCP (Chinese communist party) to control. For millennia, China's rulers have prized centralized control above all else (hence the perceived need to stamp out fissiparous tendencies in Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia -- and the outlandish claims that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China). Independent privately-owned companies that dominate the technology frontier (like Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu) are clearly seen as threats to that centralized control by the CCP.The latest victims of China's arbitrary regulatory actions are shareholders of the ride-hailing company DiDi Global (DIDI US); a couple of days after its New York IPO, Didi Chuxing was ordered to stop signing up new users, and numerous other regulatory actions were taken against the company (including removing its app from all domestic app stores). Later in July, the entire US$100 billion tutoring business in China came under severe regulatory pressure, forcing companies in the sector to operate purely on a "non-profit" basis. Companies listing abroad are facing increasingly severe regulatory scrutiny. Investors need to be aware that expropriation risk for private businesses is very real in communist China, and the valuations of all privately-owned companies need to incorporate a significant "China premium" (i.e., valuations that are 30-40% of what they might be without that expropriation risk) before investors can safely hold onto them. 

China Premium: Expropriation Risk Needs to Be Priced in to Privately-Owned Companies

Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity indices. Companies mentioned this week:<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-music-entertainment" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27255:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Music (TME US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi Global (DIDI US)</a>

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity indices. Companies mentioned this week:Tencent (700 HK), Tencent Music (TME US), TSMC (2330 TT), DiDi Global (DIDI US)

Global Emerging Markets Weekly: 30 July 2021

Event-Driven

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> shares have lost 18% to HK$478.80 by the end of today’s close since the beginning of July 2021 and has lost 35.0% since its peak in February this year. Tencent’s shares continue to slide over regulatory scrutiny over Chinese internet stocks. The Chinese regulators have widened their crackdown on the country’s internet sector with the latest crackdown aimed at the county’s education sector.Tencent has been making into headlines over the past few days with its music streaming arm <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-music-entertainment" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27255:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Music (TME US)</a> being ordered to give up exclusive music licensing rights alongside a fine, its investments in online education and tutoring platforms such as Yuanfudao being targeted by Beijing regulators and the company suspending new user registrations on WeChat.As we have discussed in our previous insights, there is no sign that the Chinese regulators are slowing down with its antitrust crackdown on the country’s tech platforms and though the ongoing regulatory crackdown has already been priced into Tencent’s share price, we would strongly recommend being on the side lines as the ongoing probe could have a material impact on the company’s future earnings.

Tencent (700 HK) shares have lost 18% to HK$478.80 by the end of today’s close since the beginning of July 2021 and has lost 35.0% since its peak in February this year. Tencent’s shares continue to slide over regulatory scrutiny over Chinese internet stocks. The Chinese regulators have widened their crackdown on the country’s internet sector with the latest crackdown aimed at the county’s education sector.Tencent has been making into headlines over the past few days with its music streaming arm Tencent Music (TME US) being ordered to give up exclusive music licensing rights alongside a fine, its investments in online education and tutoring platforms such as Yuanfudao being targeted by Beijing regulators and the company suspending new user registrations on WeChat.As we have discussed in our previous insights, there is no sign that the Chinese regulators are slowing down with its antitrust crackdown on the country’s tech platforms and though the ongoing regulatory crackdown has already been priced into Tencent’s share price, we would strongly recommend being on the side lines as the ongoing probe could have a material impact on the company’s future earnings.

China and US Equity Analyst

Roger Xie

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>China’s tech sector has been in the spotlight in recent days. Beijing has released a series of rules aiming to remake private education and tech sectors. to curb cost pressure and better serve ordinary people.  we believe the magnitude of policy change on private education sector is unprecedent, which could surprise investors. This negative sentiments further spurs the fear of  anti-trust and unfair competition scrutiny on China Internet sector. It has led to capital flight from China tech sector. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-tech-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31367:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH INDEX)</a> has declined 40% from its high in February this year.</li>
<li>In the newly released policy, the State Council banned foreign capital from investing in education institutions through any approach, including VIE (Variable Interest Entity) structure. This has led to investor concerns whether the ban on foreign investments through VIE will be extended to other sectors. VIE is considered to be the foundation of offshore China ADR listing structure. Our assessment shows that the VIE structure will remain to stay, but the new oversea listings could face more scrutiny from regulators. The paradigm shift could fundamentally benefit <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a> as the preferred listing venue for offshore China ADR. And the dual-listing status for many China tech giants will remain. </li>
<li>China central bank lowered bank reserve requirement ratio early this month and free up US$154bn from the system. The benchmark 10-year treasury  yield hovered around 2.9%  past few weeks indicating plenty of liquidity. Investors have been speculating that LPR (Loan Prime Rate) might be cut further to stimulate the growth. We believe structural monetary policy operations will continue. Likely, more support will be provided toward green energy, innovations and industry upgrade, but it might remain tightening for property and overcapacity sectors. The upcoming Politburo Meeting in end of July could give more hints about monetary policy stance. More than 40% of China A-share companies have released their 1H earning preview, which delivered 120% year-over-year growth (due to low base by pandemic in 2020). We remain sanguine on China equity market outlook in 2H 2021, but would recommend more clarity on policy for China tech giants.</li>
</ul>


China’s tech sector has been in the spotlight in recent days. Beijing has released a series of rules aiming to remake private education and tech sectors. to curb cost pressure and better serve ordinary people.  we believe the magnitude of policy change on private education sector is unprecedent, which could surprise investors. This negative sentiments further spurs the fear of  anti-trust and unfair competition scrutiny on China Internet sector. It has led to capital flight from China tech sector. Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH INDEX) has declined 40% from its high in February this year.
In the newly released policy, the State Council banned foreign capital from investing in education institutions through any approach, including VIE (Variable Interest Entity) structure. This has led to investor concerns whether the ban on foreign investments through VIE will be extended to other sectors. VIE is considered to be the foundation of offshore China ADR listing structure. Our assessment shows that the VIE structure will remain to stay, but the new oversea listings could face more scrutiny from regulators. The paradigm shift could fundamentally benefit HKEX (388 HK) as the preferred listing venue for offshore China ADR. And the dual-listing status for many China tech giants will remain. 
China central bank lowered bank reserve requirement ratio early this month and free up US$154bn from the system. The benchmark 10-year treasury  yield hovered around 2.9%  past few weeks indicating plenty of liquidity. Investors have been speculating that LPR (Loan Prime Rate) might be cut further to stimulate the growth. We believe structural monetary policy operations will continue. Likely, more support will be provided toward green energy, innovations and industry upgrade, but it might remain tightening for property and overcapacity sectors. The upcoming Politburo Meeting in end of July could give more hints about monetary policy stance. More than 40% of China A-share companies have released their 1H earning preview, which delivered 120% year-over-year growth (due to low base by pandemic in 2020). We remain sanguine on China equity market outlook in 2H 2021, but would recommend more clarity on policy for China tech giants.


China Equity Strategy: Tug of War, Policy Uncertainty and Plenty Liquidity

China

DiDi Chuxing Incorporated operates passenger transportation platforms. The Company provides mobility solutions, cloud computing and other application based services. DiDi Chuxing serves customers worldwide.

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DiDi Global (DIDI US)

Meituan: Is the US$1bn Fine the End of the Regulatory Probe on Meituan?

The Chinese antitrust regulators are preparing to impose a fine of US$1bn (about 5.7% of FY12/2020 revenues) on the country’s food delivery giant...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

China Premium: Expropriation Risk Needs to Be Priced in to Privately-Owned Companies

July21 provided many reminders (Didi, education) that Ant Financial isn't the exception but the rule. Expropriation risk is real in the PRC, and...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Global Emerging Markets Weekly: 30 July 2021

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity...

Wium Malan, CFA

Tencent: All Bets Are Off

Tencent’s shares went down quickly where it dropped 13.0% over the last few days and were oversold as investors reacted harshly to the ongoing...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

China Equity Strategy: Tug of War, Policy Uncertainty and Plenty Liquidity

We remain sanguine on China equity market outlook in 2H 2021 given the earning growth and plenty liquidity, but would wait for more clarity on...

Roger Xie

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