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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US listed China companies.</li>
<li>The Hong Kong visit was on the back of the 26th Aug 2022 announcement by PCAOB and CSRC that they had entered into an agreement with US authorities for access.</li>
<li>In this note, we'll talk about the latest developments, possible outcomes and implications.</li>
</ul>


PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US listed China companies.
The Hong Kong visit was on the back of the 26th Aug 2022 announcement by PCAOB and CSRC that they had entered into an agreement with US authorities for access.
In this note, we'll talk about the latest developments, possible outcomes and implications.


China ADRs Delisting - Friday Could Be Judgment Day for over US$800bn Mcap of Stocks

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The PCAOB has not, despite a cooperation agreement with the CSRC signed in 2013, been able to conduct on-site investigations of a HK or mainland-based company since 2010.</li>
<li>On Friday, the CSRC published a new Strengthening Confidentiality and File Management Related to Overseas Issuance to replace 2009 rules. </li>
<li>Importantly, the revised Provisions deletes the stipulation that “on-site inspections shall be dominated by domestic regulators or depend on the conclusions of inspections by domestic regulators.” Will it be enough?</li>
</ul>


The PCAOB has not, despite a cooperation agreement with the CSRC signed in 2013, been able to conduct on-site investigations of a HK or mainland-based company since 2010.
On Friday, the CSRC published a new Strengthening Confidentiality and File Management Related to Overseas Issuance to replace 2009 rules. 
Importantly, the revised Provisions deletes the stipulation that “on-site inspections shall be dominated by domestic regulators or depend on the conclusions of inspections by domestic regulators.” Will it be enough?


New CSRC "Provisions" Take a Step Towards Meeting PCAOB Requirements

David Blennerhassett

<div>
Back in May 2016, a buyout group comprising <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a>'s founder Lei Jun terminated its US$2.5bn Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/joyy-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:285:1" rel="noopener">JOYY (YY US)</a>, on account of heightened regulatory scrutiny. At the time, Lei was JOYY's chairman. The buyout group also comprised CEO David Xueling Li. The non-binding Offer price for ~64% of shares out not held by the buyout group was US$68.50/share.  
Fast forward to 16 November last year, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc-a55ca720-5968-48f0-8194-ac94390d065c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32212:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (9888 HK)</a> <a href="https://ir.baidu.com/news-releases/news-release-details/baidu-acquire-joyys-live-streaming-business-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it had entered into definitive agreements with JOYY to acquire its domestic video-based entertainment live streaming business in China ("YY Live"), for US$3.6bn. 
Two days later, Muddy Water had a <a href="https://www.muddywatersresearch.com/research/yy/1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slightly less favourable</a> take on Baidu "buying growth". 
JOYY and certain of its current and former officers and directors were named as defendants in a federal putative securities class action filed on the 20 November 2020, alleging that they made material misstatements and omissions in documents filed with the SEC regarding certain of the allegations contained in the MW report.
On the 8 February, JOYY <a href="https://ir.joyy.sg/static-files/0aeb5b77-b567-4621-bb81-dea6177cdfa6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disclosed</a> the conclusion of the independent review, which concluded that the allegations raised and conclusions reached in that MW report about JOYY's YY Live business were not substantiated.
The Baidu sale has been substantially completed, with certain customary matters remaining to be completed  - namely SAMR. 
The New News
Reuters is reporting that Chairman David Li and Lei Jun are reloading an Offer for JOYY. Reportedly they are looking to offer US$75-$100/share, or a market cap of US$7.8bn at the top end of that range.
More below the fold.
</div>


Back in May 2016, a buyout group comprising Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)'s founder Lei Jun terminated its US$2.5bn Offer for JOYY (YY US), on account of heightened regulatory scrutiny. At the time, Lei was JOYY's chairman. The buyout group also comprised CEO David Xueling Li. The non-binding Offer price for ~64% of shares out not held by the buyout group was US$68.50/share.  
Fast forward to 16 November last year, Baidu (9888 HK) announced it had entered into definitive agreements with JOYY to acquire its domestic video-based entertainment live streaming business in China ("YY Live"), for US$3.6bn. 
Two days later, Muddy Water had a slightly less favourable take on Baidu "buying growth". 
JOYY and certain of its current and former officers and directors were named as defendants in a federal putative securities class action filed on the 20 November 2020, alleging that they made material misstatements and omissions in documents filed with the SEC regarding certain of the allegations contained in the MW report.
On the 8 February, JOYY disclosed the conclusion of the independent review, which concluded that the allegations raised and conclusions reached in that MW report about JOYY's YY Live business were not substantiated.
The Baidu sale has been substantially completed, with certain customary matters remaining to be completed  - namely SAMR. 
The New News
Reuters is reporting that Chairman David Li and Lei Jun are reloading an Offer for JOYY. Reportedly they are looking to offer US$75-$100/share, or a market cap of US$7.8bn at the top end of that range.
More below the fold.


Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In 1Q24, Revenues of Xpeng, Tongcheng, Kanzhun, and Gaotu grew by 62% YoY, 50%, YoY, 43% YoY and 34% YoY.</li>
<li>KE’s revenue decreased by 20% YoY in 1Q24 due to the weak property market.</li>
<li>Bilibili’s value added services revenue grew by 17% YoY and advertising revenue grew by 31% YoY.</li>
</ul>


In 1Q24, Revenues of Xpeng, Tongcheng, Kanzhun, and Gaotu grew by 62% YoY, 50%, YoY, 43% YoY and 34% YoY.
KE’s revenue decreased by 20% YoY in 1Q24 due to the weak property market.
Bilibili’s value added services revenue grew by 17% YoY and advertising revenue grew by 31% YoY.


China Consumption Weekly (27 May 2024): Xpeng, Tongcheng, Kanzhun, Gaotu, KE, Bilibili, and Weibo

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/weibo-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35280:1" rel="noopener">Weibo (9898 HK)</a> is an inexpensive profitable large social media company in China</li>
<li>Weibo generates a large cash flow which it uses to pay a 9% dividend yield</li>
<li>Weibo has synergies with Alibaba's core e-commerce business and fits well within its other media company ecosystem</li>
</ul>



Weibo (9898 HK) is an inexpensive profitable large social media company in China
Weibo generates a large cash flow which it uses to pay a 9% dividend yield
Weibo has synergies with Alibaba's core e-commerce business and fits well within its other media company ecosystem


BABA's Babies: They're All Grown Now! Weibo the Twitter of China

China

JOYY Inc. operates a global social media platform. The Company offers platform which enables users to interact with each other in real time through online live media by creating, sharing, and enjoying a vast range of entertainment content and activities. JOYY serves customers in China.

Beijing TRS Information Technology Company Limited develops and markets software and technology services for unstructured data management. The Company provides software products that are enterprise search, content management and text mining.

Focus Technology Co Ltd. provides business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce solutions. The Company provides the supply and the demand sides for the release, search and management services of the transaction information.

Hangzhou Shunwang Technology Co., Ltd. develops and sells Internet entertainment networking platforms.  The Company's products provide safety management, system maintenance service, and entertainment content update service.

Hangzhou Shunwang Technology A (300113 CH)

Shanghai Ganglian E-Commerce Holdings Company Limited provides market information and B2B e-commerce services for steel and steel-related industries. The Company provides market information, research services and also offers business promotion to customers.

Hubei Century Network Technology Co. Ltd. provides internet content and service aggregation platforms. The Company delivers music, games, and other related products.

INESA Intelligent Tech Inc. operates in the IT industry. The Company designs and manages cloud servers and big data applications for businesses. INESA Intelligent also manufactures electronic components.

Longmaster Information & Technology Company Limited provides community-based phonic value-added services. The Company's main product is a large-scale telephone phonic social and entertainment platform.

Longmaster Information&Technology (300288 CH)

21Vianet Group, Inc. provides carrier-neutral Internet data center services. The Company hosts its customers' servers and networking equipment, as well as provides interconnectivity and managed network services to enable customers to deliver data across the Internet. 21Vianet conducts business in Beijing, China.

Beijing Sinnet Technology Company Limited provides customers with broadband access services, IDC and its value-added services, and other internet integrated services. The Company's core business are broadband access services, IDC and its value-added services.

mixi, Inc. operates community style website, mixi.  The Company sells advertising spaces on its website.  mixi also runs online recruiting services for IT related positions.

DeNA Co., Ltd. operates social media site, auction and shopping web site such as Mobage-town and Bidders.  DeNA also provides mobile-related services such as mobile game and community site.

Gogo Inc. provides in-flight connectivity systems and services. The Company offers online aircraft systems, wireless digital entertainment and other services in the commercial and business aviation markets.

Shutterstock Inc. operates a global marketplace for commercial digital imagery. The Company's online marketplace provides a freely searchable library of commercial digital images that our users can pay to license, download and incorporate into their work.

SMS CO.,LTD. is a website operator regarding elderly care.  On its websites, the company provides a variety of information contents related to employment placements for senior care assistants and doctors, as well as medical and nursing qualifications.

Megaport Limited operates as a software-based elastic connectivity provider. The Company develops an elastic connectivity platform that provides customers interconnectivity and flexibility between other networks and cloud providers connected to the platform. Megaport serves customers worldwide.

Cars.com Inc. operates an online automotive platform. The Company offers new and used vehicle listings, expert and consumer reviews, research tools, and other information which helps shoppers to buy, sell, and service their vehicles. Cars.com serves customers in the United States.

SUNeVision Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates Internet services centers and Information Technology (IT) facilities.  The Company also designs and installs SMATV, structural cabling and security systems as well as provides system development, solutions, and management services.  In addition, Sunevision invests in properties.

QuinStreet Inc. specializes in vertical marketing and media on the Internet. The Company focuses on clients in the education and financial services industries, as well as has a presence in the home services, business-to-business, or B2B, and healthcare industries.

Just Dial Ltd. operates a local search engine that provides comprehensive updated information. The Company offers a search engine that includes a variety of categories such as movies, hotels and resorts, taxis and car rentals, insurance, bars, and nightclubs. Just Dial markets its search engine to users throughout India.

Weibo Corp is a social media platform for people to create, distribute and discover Chinese-language content.  The Company offers users public self-expression in real time with a powerful platform for social interaction, as well as content aggregation and distribution.

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Weibo Corp (WB US)

China ADRs Delisting - Friday Could Be Judgment Day for over US$800bn Mcap of Stocks

PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US...

Sumeet Singh

New CSRC "Provisions" Take a Step Towards Meeting PCAOB Requirements

CSRC has published new Provisions putting the onus of info management on companies, making it easier for the PCAOB to conduct on-site audits. It...

Travis Lundy

JOYY (JOYY US): Rumoured Privatisation

A little over three years after entering into an SPA, Baidu (9888 HK) has now terminated discussions with JOYY (YY US) as the closing conditions...

David Blennerhassett

China Consumption Weekly (27 May 2024): Xpeng, Tongcheng, Kanzhun, Gaotu, KE, Bilibili, and Weibo

In 1Q24, Xpeng, Tongcheng, Kanzhun, and Gaotu grew by 62% YoY, 50%, YoY, 43% YoY and 34% YoY. KE’s revenue decreased by 20% YoY in 1Q24 due to the...

Ming Lu

BABA's Babies: They're All Grown Now! Weibo the Twitter of China

Weibo is trading at low valuations and it has potential synergies with its parent Alibaba. Weibo can benefit from Alibaba's social media ecosystem...

David Mudd

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