Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Independent Insight Provider

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

*Another Weak Number: Waterdrop, Inc. (WDH.US) [Waterdrop] reported its second set of earnings results since its IPO, coming in at a negative CNY 656 mn  - declining CNY 286 mn or 77.3% linked quarter bringing cumulative losses since the IPO to over CNY 1.0 bn or about 38% of IPO funds raised. Challenges came from overall cost growth of CNY 411 mn (30.6%) due primarily to sales and marketing spend; and    *”Notice” To Online Insurers: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) roll out of the internet insurance revision plan “Notice on Carrying out Special Rectification of Internet Insurance Disorders”, aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms, ordering firms and agencies to end improper marketing and pricing practices, and improve privacy protections. This will be a direct challenge for Waterdrop and other mainland Chinese insurers.

*Another Weak Number: Waterdrop, Inc. (WDH.US) [Waterdrop] reported its second set of earnings results since its IPO, coming in at a negative CNY 656 mn  - declining CNY 286 mn or 77.3% linked quarter bringing cumulative losses since the IPO to over CNY 1.0 bn or about 38% of IPO funds raised. Challenges came from overall cost growth of CNY 411 mn (30.6%) due primarily to sales and marketing spend; and    *”Notice” To Online Insurers: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) roll out of the internet insurance revision plan “Notice on Carrying out Special Rectification of Internet Insurance Disorders”, aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms, ordering firms and agencies to end improper marketing and pricing practices, and improve privacy protections. This will be a direct challenge for Waterdrop and other mainland Chinese insurers. 

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

This Original aims to showcase the leading Insurtech companies in the three insurance markets with the highest growth potential in Asia - China, India, and Southeast Asia.Insurtech companies can be broadly divided into three categories - full-stack Inustech, Insurtech marketplace, and Insurtech enablers. As such, the Original also presents the Insurtech companies based on these categories by showing their company overview, how they leverage tech to do things differently, their product offerings, and financial information (capital raise and valuation in case of no financial information).The Insurtech companies presented are:<ul><li>Full-stack Insurtech: ZhongAn Online (China), Acko (India), SingLife (Singapore)</li><li>Insurtech marketplace: Waterdrop (China), Huize (China), Policybazaar (India), Coverfox (India), Turtlemint (India), PasarPolis (Indonesia), PolicyStreet (Malaysia)</li><li>Insurtech enablers: eBaoTech (China), Turtlemint (India), CXA Group (Singapore)  </li></ul>By analyzing the key Insurtech companies and their development in these countries/regions, we have further identified the following key trends/themes in the sector:<ul><li>In the near future, Insurtech is unlikely a threat to traditional (re)insurers who have also been actively investing in Insurtech themselves.</li><li>Insurtech marketplace is expanding offline and will likely embrace a hybrid model, especially in less developed insurance markets.</li><li>L&amp;H full-stack Insurtech companies are yet to be common in less developed insurance markets.</li><li>Insurtech is going to promote differentiated growth in insurance markets of different maturity.</li><li>“ReInsurtech” is currently still a blind spot.</li></ul><h2>What is Original?</h2>A deep dive into 12 (mostly private) leading Insurtech companies, under each Insurtech category from China, India, and Southeast Asia, is presented in this Original. Key investment thesis and risks are also developed for each company.  Based on the company analysis and the broader insurance and Insurtech development in these countries/regions, five key Insurtech trends and themes are further identified.

This Original aims to showcase the leading Insurtech companies in the three insurance markets with the highest growth potential in Asia - China, India, and Southeast Asia.Insurtech companies can be broadly divided into three categories - full-stack Inustech, Insurtech marketplace, and Insurtech enablers. As such, the Original also presents the Insurtech companies based on these categories by showing their company overview, how they leverage tech to do things differently, their product offerings, and financial information (capital raise and valuation in case of no financial information).The Insurtech companies presented are:Full-stack Insurtech: ZhongAn Online (China), Acko (India), SingLife (Singapore)Insurtech marketplace: Waterdrop (China), Huize (China), Policybazaar (India), Coverfox (India), Turtlemint (India), PasarPolis (Indonesia), PolicyStreet (Malaysia)Insurtech enablers: eBaoTech (China), Turtlemint (India), CXA Group (Singapore)  By analyzing the key Insurtech companies and their development in these countries/regions, we have further identified the following key trends/themes in the sector:In the near future, Insurtech is unlikely a threat to traditional (re)insurers who have also been actively investing in Insurtech themselves.Insurtech marketplace is expanding offline and will likely embrace a hybrid model, especially in less developed insurance markets.L&amp;H full-stack Insurtech companies are yet to be common in less developed insurance markets.Insurtech is going to promote differentiated growth in insurance markets of different maturity.“ReInsurtech” is currently still a blind spot.What is Original?A deep dive into 12 (mostly private) leading Insurtech companies, under each Insurtech category from China, India, and Southeast Asia, is presented in this Original. Key investment thesis and risks are also developed for each company.  Based on the company analysis and the broader insurance and Insurtech development in these countries/regions, five key Insurtech trends and themes are further identified. 

Asian Insurtech: The New Golden Child in Town?

*Regulatory Onslaught Continues: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) announced that it is investigating Ping An Insurance’ (2318.HK) [Ping An] property investments. Regulatory scrutiny of Ping An is occurring against the backdrop of the country’s skyrocketing real estate market and excessive leverage to the sector. This is on top of the CBIRC’s roll out of the internet insurance revision plan, which aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms to which Ping An too has exposure; and*Improving Overall Fundamentals: Ping An’s reported 1H21 results of CNY 58.0 bn, declined CNY 16.4 bn (22.0%) HOH related to the above real estate risk. Excluding the real estate write-downs, we note that Ping An’s HOH operating result would have actually improved CNY 8.2 bn or 11.0% on the back of insurance fundamental improvement nearly across the board.

*Regulatory Onslaught Continues: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) announced that it is investigating Ping An Insurance’ (2318.HK) [Ping An] property investments. Regulatory scrutiny of Ping An is occurring against the backdrop of the country’s skyrocketing real estate market and excessive leverage to the sector. This is on top of the CBIRC’s roll out of the internet insurance revision plan, which aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms to which Ping An too has exposure; and*Improving Overall Fundamentals: Ping An’s reported 1H21 results of CNY 58.0 bn, declined CNY 16.4 bn (22.0%) HOH related to the above real estate risk. Excluding the real estate write-downs, we note that Ping An’s HOH operating result would have actually improved CNY 8.2 bn or 11.0% on the back of insurance fundamental improvement nearly across the board.

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

The upcoming rebalances for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> and <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> will be implemented at the close of trading on 3 September. The rebalance will use data from todays close to cap the stocks in the index at a maximum of 8% of the index weight.In this Insight, we show the flows after capping stocks using the close on 30 August. The final numbers will be marginally different based on todays closing prices.For the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> there are 3 inclusions - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinyi-glass-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11940:1" rel="noopener">Xinyi Glass Holdings (868 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/li-ning-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6047:1" rel="noopener">Li Ning Co Ltd (2331 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a> and 1 exclusion - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-communications-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:659:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of Communications Co H (3328 HK)</a>.For the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a>, the inclusions are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (2618 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/li-ning-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6047:1" rel="noopener">Li Ning Co Ltd (2331 HK)</a> while the deletions are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shimao-property-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8375:1" rel="noopener">Shimao Property Holdings (813 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)</a>.For the <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> there is one set of changes with Trip.com (9961 HK) / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> replacing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/koolearn-technology-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27796:1" rel="noopener">Koolearn (1797 HK)</a>.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>'s weight in all 3 indices is higher than 8% following the increase in the number of index shares at the July monthly rebalance. The stock will have the largest passive selling due to capping back to 8%.Capping and float changes will lead to passive buying on <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/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a>, while there will be passive selling on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:516:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (5 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14895:1" rel="noopener">AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-construction-bank-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45:1" rel="noopener">China Construction Bank H (939 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a> and <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>.There will be selling on a lot of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> constituents due to funding flows.

The upcoming rebalances for the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX), Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) and Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH INDEX) will be implemented at the close of trading on 3 September. The rebalance will use data from todays close to cap the stocks in the index at a maximum of 8% of the index weight.In this Insight, we show the flows after capping stocks using the close on 30 August. The final numbers will be marginally different based on todays closing prices.For the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) there are 3 inclusions - Xinyi Glass Holdings (868 HK), Li Ning Co Ltd (2331 HK) and China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) and 1 exclusion - Bank Of Communications Co H (3328 HK).For the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX), the inclusions are JD Logistics (2618 HK) and Li Ning Co Ltd (2331 HK) while the deletions are Shimao Property Holdings (813 HK) and Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK).For the Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH INDEX) there is one set of changes with Trip.com (9961 HK) / Trip.com (TCOM US) replacing Koolearn (1797 HK).Alibaba Group (9988 HK)'s weight in all 3 indices is higher than 8% following the increase in the number of index shares at the July monthly rebalance. The stock will have the largest passive selling due to capping back to 8%.Capping and float changes will lead to passive buying on Tencent (700 HK), Meituan (3690 HK) and Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK), while there will be passive selling on HSBC Holdings (5 HK), AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK), China Construction Bank H (939 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) and HKEX (388 HK).There will be selling on a lot of the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) constituents due to funding flows.

HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH: September Rebalance Flows Post Capping

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 250 active Global Emerging Market funds with combined AUM of $500bn.  Highlights:<ul>
<li>Asia the dominant region but also net underweight.  Managers move to underweight EMEA and strengthen overweight in the Americas.</li>
<li>China the dominant weight but allocations move lower.  Mexico and Russia the key overweights, China, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan the largest underweights.</li>
<li>Allocations in China Consumer Discretionary continue to head lower from their peak in October 2020 of 13.9%.  The underweight of -2.33% is towards the lowest on record and is driven by lighter than benchmark holdings in <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nio-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27399:1" rel="noopener">NIO Inc (NIO US)</a>.</li>
<li>The rise in Russian Consumer Discretionary ownership driven by Fix Price Group, with 16.1% of funds buying in to the stock after it's IPO back in March.  A quarter of funds now have exposure to the sector, the largest in its history.</li>
<li>Turkish Financials exposure continues to dwindle, with only 16.1% of funds invested.  The most widely held stocks in the sector are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haci-omer-sabanci-holding-as" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27708:1" rel="noopener">Haci Omer Sabanci Holding AS (SAHOL TI)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/akbank-tas" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25033:1" rel="noopener">Akbank TAS (AKBNK TI)</a>, but both are held by just 6% of the funds in our analysis.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/turkiye-garanti-bankasi-as" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25026:1" rel="noopener">Turkiye Garanti Bankasi As (GARAN TI)</a> is now held by 4% of funds after 4% closed positions in the last 6-months. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contemporary-amperex-techn-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24404:1" rel="noopener">CATL (A) (300750 CH).</a> Ownership continues to rise among EM managers, with today's investment levels the highest on record across all metrics.  Recent buyers in to the name include JP Morgan, TT International and American Century.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a>.  Ownership remains on an upward trajectory with no signs of that slowing down.  Over the last 6-months, a further 6.8% of funds added exposure, including Fidelity EM Opportunity, Aberdeen Emerging Markets and Ashmore EM Active Equity.  GQG Partners was the only closure after cashing in on a position held since early 2020.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)</a>. Outflows have been severe, with 26.9% of funds invested 6-months ago, now down to just 16.9%.  Among those closing positions were Ashmore Emerging Markets Active, Pictet EM Sustainable and Dunham Emerging Markets.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US).  </a>Once among the larger holdings in EM active portfolios, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a> has moved out of favour with EM fund managers.  In a slide that started in late 2019, the percentage of funds with investment in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a> fell a further 6.4% over the last 6-months.  Closures were led by Liontrust, Matthews and HSBC.</li>
</ul>

In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 250 active Global Emerging Market funds with combined AUM of $500bn.  Highlights:
Asia the dominant region but also net underweight.  Managers move to underweight EMEA and strengthen overweight in the Americas.
China the dominant weight but allocations move lower.  Mexico and Russia the key overweights, China, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan the largest underweights.
Allocations in China Consumer Discretionary continue to head lower from their peak in October 2020 of 13.9%.  The underweight of -2.33% is towards the lowest on record and is driven by lighter than benchmark holdings in Alibaba Group (BABA US), Meituan (3690 HK) and NIO Inc (NIO US).
The rise in Russian Consumer Discretionary ownership driven by Fix Price Group, with 16.1% of funds buying in to the stock after it's IPO back in March.  A quarter of funds now have exposure to the sector, the largest in its history.
Turkish Financials exposure continues to dwindle, with only 16.1% of funds invested.  The most widely held stocks in the sector are Haci Omer Sabanci Holding AS (SAHOL TI) and Akbank TAS (AKBNK TI), but both are held by just 6% of the funds in our analysis.  Turkiye Garanti Bankasi As (GARAN TI) is now held by 4% of funds after 4% closed positions in the last 6-months. 

CATL (A) (300750 CH). Ownership continues to rise among EM managers, with today's investment levels the highest on record across all metrics.  Recent buyers in to the name include JP Morgan, TT International and American Century.
Sea Ltd (SE US).  Ownership remains on an upward trajectory with no signs of that slowing down.  Over the last 6-months, a further 6.8% of funds added exposure, including Fidelity EM Opportunity, Aberdeen Emerging Markets and Ashmore EM Active Equity.  GQG Partners was the only closure after cashing in on a position held since early 2020.

Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK). Outflows have been severe, with 26.9% of funds invested 6-months ago, now down to just 16.9%.  Among those closing positions were Ashmore Emerging Markets Active, Pictet EM Sustainable and Dunham Emerging Markets.

Credicorp Ltd (BAP US).  Once among the larger holdings in EM active portfolios, Credicorp Ltd (BAP US) has moved out of favour with EM fund managers.  In a slide that started in late 2019, the percentage of funds with investment in Credicorp Ltd (BAP US) fell a further 6.4% over the last 6-months.  Closures were led by Liontrust, Matthews and HSBC.


EM Fund Positioning:  All You Need to Know

Hong Kong

AIA Group Limited offers insurance and financial services. The Company writes life insurance for individuals, businesses, accident, and health insurance, as well as retirement planning and wealth management services.

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AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)

Waterdrop – Someone Plug The Dike

WATERDROP: WDH reported its second set of earnings since the IPO, coming in at a negative CNY 656 mn - declining 77.3% QOQ bringing cumulative...

Thomas J. Monaco

Asian Insurtech: The New Golden Child in Town?

A deep dive into 12 Insurtech companies in China, India, and Southeast Asia is presented in this Original. The key Insurtech trends and themes in...

Alec Tseung

Ping An Insurance - Ugggh

PING AN INSURANCE: The CBIRC is investigating Ping An's property investments against the backdrop of the country’s skyrocketing real estate market...

Thomas J. Monaco

HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH: September Rebalance Flows Post Capping

There are some pretty large flows across the HSI, HSCEI and HSTECH at the September rebalance due to name/float/capping changes. Impact on some...

Brian Freitas

EM Fund Positioning: All You Need to Know

In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 250 active Global Emerging Market funds with combined AUM of $500bn.

Steven Holden

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