Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The SEC has finalised the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act rules. Under the current timeframe, the SEC may force the delisting of foreign companies in three years if in contravention.</li>
<li>Amid <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>'s intention to delist from the US, the CSRC refutes it is pushing for VIEs to drop their listings in the United States.</li>
<li>Expect continued volatility as the ~248 US-listed China plays seek to avoid delisting if they don’t comply with auditing rules.</li>
</ul>


The SEC has finalised the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act rules. Under the current timeframe, the SEC may force the delisting of foreign companies in three years if in contravention.
Amid DiDi Global (DIDI US)'s intention to delist from the US, the CSRC refutes it is pushing for VIEs to drop their listings in the United States.
Expect continued volatility as the ~248 US-listed China plays seek to avoid delisting if they don’t comply with auditing rules.


Delisting Chinese ADRs: High Foreign-Holding, With No Fixed Abode, Most At Risk

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.

<ul>
<li>On 13th Apr 2021, Grab (0967655D SP) announced that it plans to go public in the US in partnership with Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US) at an equity valuation of US$39.6bn.</li>
<li>The merger and listing will be completed on 2nd Dec 2021.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about valuations and the lock-up release schedule.</li>
</ul>


On 13th Apr 2021, Grab (0967655D SP) announced that it plans to go public in the US in partnership with Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US) at an equity valuation of US$39.6bn.
The merger and listing will be completed on 2nd Dec 2021.
In this note, we will talk about valuations and the lock-up release schedule.


Grab SPAC Listing - Thoughts on Valuation, Lock-Up Release

Forensic Analyst

Jason Yap, CFA

Forensic Accounting

The State Administration for Market Regulation, China's antitrust regulator, imposed a fine of RMB3.4 billion (USD530 million) on food delivery group <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 and ordered the company to rectify its operations.Amongst other required remedial actions, Meituan was ordered to return deposit money to merchants. Merchant had reportedly used deposits, algorithms, and data to ensure that its restaurant merchants remained loyal to the platform, according to an <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/8862b118-75ad-45b1-85df-b3fa09d26ac3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FT article</a>. This begs the question. Why are merchant deposits required by e-commerce companies like Meituan, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)</a>? After all, most of the merchant transactions are 3P, which means the platforms do not carry any inventory risk and therefore do not need merchant deposits to offset risks. Could it be to increase switching costs or even to hold merchants ransom as the FT article suggests. In this Insight, we discuss how merchant deposits and merchant payables have been used as a means to pad operating cashflows (even though they are not strictly free cashflows), particularly for fast growing e-commerce platforms.Further, we have seen the "walled gardens" of China's tech giants <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3148572/big-techs-walled-gardens-start-crack-tencent-vows-follow-beijings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">start to crack</a> - in other words, merchants can freely switch platforms taking away merchant deposits with them, which could potentially affect cashflows.

The State Administration for Market Regulation, China's antitrust regulator, imposed a fine of RMB3.4 billion (USD530 million) on food delivery group Meituan (3690 HK) for abusing its market position and ordered the company to rectify its operations.Amongst other required remedial actions, Meituan was ordered to return deposit money to merchants. Merchant had reportedly used deposits, algorithms, and data to ensure that its restaurant merchants remained loyal to the platform, according to an FT article. This begs the question. Why are merchant deposits required by e-commerce companies like Meituan, Alibaba Group (9988 HK) and Pinduoduo (PDD US)? After all, most of the merchant transactions are 3P, which means the platforms do not carry any inventory risk and therefore do not need merchant deposits to offset risks. Could it be to increase switching costs or even to hold merchants ransom as the FT article suggests. In this Insight, we discuss how merchant deposits and merchant payables have been used as a means to pad operating cashflows (even though they are not strictly free cashflows), particularly for fast growing e-commerce platforms.Further, we have seen the "walled gardens" of China's tech giants start to crack - in other words, merchants can freely switch platforms taking away merchant deposits with them, which could potentially affect cashflows.  

Merchant Deposits and Payables to Pad Cashflows - Who's Culpable?

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

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

Private Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/carousell-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28154:1" rel="noopener">Carousell Pte Ltd (1040620D SP)</a> is South East Asia's largest  "classifieds marketplace" and it claims to make selling as easy as taking a photo and buying as simple as chatting. The traffic through Carousell is impressive but the question is can it monetize this huge potential?
Founded in August 2012, Carousell began in Singapore and is now one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds marketplaces, with a presence in eight markets across South East Asia, together with Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Carousell offers through classified listings a diverse range of products across a variety of categories, including lifestyle, gadgets, and fashion accessories but has been moving to more profitable and big-ticket areas, such as autos, property, and job ads.
The company is backed by a number of large-sized investors including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telenor-asa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22258:1" rel="noopener">Telenor ASA (TEL NO)</a>, Rakuten Ventures <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a>, Naver, Sequoia Capital (India), OLX, and most recently STIC investments giving the company strong backing with the most recent valuation at US$1.1bn, sealing its entry to the unicorn club. 
The company was reportedly exploring a potential listing in the US through a SPAC listing which could value the company at as much as US$1.5bn but management has said that it is considering all options to grow the company including an IPO. Carousel this year appointed a former <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/razer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24380:1" rel="noopener">Razer Inc (1337 HK)</a> executive Edwin Chan as its CFO. Chan oversaw a gaming hardware company’s public listing in Hong Kong in 2017. We see this company as one of the most ESG-friendly investments available given its exposure to the circular economy.

Carousell Pte Ltd (1040620D SP) is South East Asia's largest  "classifieds marketplace" and it claims to make selling as easy as taking a photo and buying as simple as chatting. The traffic through Carousell is impressive but the question is can it monetize this huge potential?
Founded in August 2012, Carousell began in Singapore and is now one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds marketplaces, with a presence in eight markets across South East Asia, together with Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Carousell offers through classified listings a diverse range of products across a variety of categories, including lifestyle, gadgets, and fashion accessories but has been moving to more profitable and big-ticket areas, such as autos, property, and job ads.
The company is backed by a number of large-sized investors including Telenor ASA (TEL NO), Rakuten Ventures Rakuten Inc (4755 JP), Naver, Sequoia Capital (India), OLX, and most recently STIC investments giving the company strong backing with the most recent valuation at US$1.1bn, sealing its entry to the unicorn club. 
The company was reportedly exploring a potential listing in the US through a SPAC listing which could value the company at as much as US$1.5bn but management has said that it is considering all options to grow the company including an IPO. Carousel this year appointed a former Razer Inc (1337 HK) executive Edwin Chan as its CFO. Chan oversaw a gaming hardware company’s public listing in Hong Kong in 2017. We see this company as one of the most ESG-friendly investments available given its exposure to the circular economy.

Carousell - Champion of the Circular Economy

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst

Equity Bottom-Up

D-MARKET Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi / Equity Bottom-Up

D-MARKET Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi

The tech sector in Turkey is at an inflection point with its large, young, and tech-savvy population. We view that the market deserves a lot more attention from global investors, especially with its tech leaders planning to be listed in the international capital markets in the next 2 - 3 years. In this note, we present one of the major e-commerce players in the country, Hepsiburada, which is in the process of developing its super-app ecosystem. The company was listed on NASDAQ in July and is the very first and only Turkish (tech) company listed in the US so far.Although we view that it might still be a bit early to play the Turkish (tech) market, Hepsiburada is worth noting and following since it offers insights to keen investors about Turkey's evolving competitive landscape in the e-commerce sector and consumer habits.

The tech sector in Turkey is at an inflection point with its large, young, and tech-savvy population. We view that the market deserves a lot more attention from global investors, especially with its tech leaders planning to be listed in the international capital markets in the next 2 - 3 years. In this note, we present one of the major e-commerce players in the country, Hepsiburada, which is in the process of developing its super-app ecosystem. The company was listed on NASDAQ in July and is the very first and only Turkish (tech) company listed in the US so far.Although we view that it might still be a bit early to play the Turkish (tech) market, Hepsiburada is worth noting and following since it offers insights to keen investors about Turkey's evolving competitive landscape in the e-commerce sector and consumer habits.  

Hepsiburada: The Very First and Only US-Listed Turkish Tech Company

China

Alibaba Group Holding Limited provides online sales services. The Company provides internet infrastructure, electronic commerce, online financial, and internet content services through its subsidiaries. Alibaba Group Holding offers its products and services worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Alibaba Group Holding (BABA US)

Delisting Chinese ADRs: High Foreign-Holding, With No Fixed Abode, Most At Risk

This does not strike me as the time to be bargain hunting. Not when there remains confusion as to how and when delistings will unfold. The focus...

David Blennerhassett

Grab SPAC Listing - Thoughts on Valuation, Lock-Up Release

On 13th Apr 21, Grab announced that it plans to go public in the US in partnership with Altimeter Growth Corp at an equity val of US$39.6bn. In...

Sumeet Singh

Merchant Deposits and Payables to Pad Cashflows - Who's Culpable?

Merchant deposits and merchant payables have been used to pad operating cashflows (even though they are not free cashflows), particularly for fast...

Jason Yap, CFA

Carousell - Champion of the Circular Economy

Carousell is South-East Asia's largest classifieds marketplace which recently entered the uniform club with a valuation of US$1.1bn. It is a unique...

Angus Mackintosh

Hepsiburada: The Very First and Only US-Listed Turkish Tech Company

Hepsiburada, the very first and only Turkish (tech) company listed in the US, is worth noting and following since Turkish tech is currently at an...

Alec Tseung

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)