Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Supun Walpola

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 Capital Markets

<p>The best move for Ant currently seems to be to negotiate with the authorities to get the suspended IPO up and running as soon as possible. However, given the nature of the provisions of the newly proposed regulations on online lending, we believe that this alone might not be sufficient to make Ant attractive again in the eyes of investors. Ant will also need to find a way to fight off the incoming regulations if it wants to continue to leverage the Chinese consumer credit boom.</p>

The best move for Ant currently seems to be to negotiate with the authorities to get the suspended IPO up and running as soon as possible. However, given the nature of the provisions of the newly proposed regulations on online lending, we believe that this alone might not be sufficient to make Ant attractive again in the eyes of investors. Ant will also need to find a way to fight off the incoming regulations if it wants to continue to leverage the Chinese consumer credit boom.

Ant Group: A Suspended IPO Could Be Only the Start of Ant’s Woes

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a> was due to start trading on Shanghai Stock Exchange’s STAR board and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 5<sup>th</sup> November</li>
<li>Shanghai Stock Exchange has temporarily suspended the listing, and the H shares listing on HKEX has also been halted</li>
<li>At an interview on Monday with regulators, Ant’s senior executives were informed that the Group may not meet Shanghai Stock Exchange’s listing or disclosure requirements, and also stressed important changes in the fintech regulatory environment</li>
<li>The Chinese regulators are justifying their actions by emphasizing the importance of financial stability, ahead of innovation; yet we believe that the timing  of this move by the authorities is intended to send a message to Ant chairman Jack Ma</li>
<li>The message implies that regulatory requirements for Ant Group are tightening, and that the most obvious constraint and revision to its business model would be in the credit (CreditTech) division, where we expect the regulator could impose higher capital requirements</li>
<li>In addition, we also believe that there is a “big data” angle to the confrontation between state and Ant Group, given that the PBoC is trialling its own central bank digital currency</li>
<li>Potential IPO Investors will be looking for clearer regulatory guidelines, especially in the credit operations, to have a greater degree of comfort and confidence in the group’s profitability and growth prospects, and this may require comprehensive revisions to the prospectus</li>
<li>The risks to the Ant Group IPO’s success and its fundamental are largely regulatory, along with a worsening of geo-political tensions and any potential worsening of the Chinese macro-economic outlook</li>
</ul>



Ant Group (6688 HK) was due to start trading on Shanghai Stock Exchange’s STAR board and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 5th November
Shanghai Stock Exchange has temporarily suspended the listing, and the H shares listing on HKEX has also been halted
At an interview on Monday with regulators, Ant’s senior executives were informed that the Group may not meet Shanghai Stock Exchange’s listing or disclosure requirements, and also stressed important changes in the fintech regulatory environment
The Chinese regulators are justifying their actions by emphasizing the importance of financial stability, ahead of innovation; yet we believe that the timing  of this move by the authorities is intended to send a message to Ant chairman Jack Ma
The message implies that regulatory requirements for Ant Group are tightening, and that the most obvious constraint and revision to its business model would be in the credit (CreditTech) division, where we expect the regulator could impose higher capital requirements
In addition, we also believe that there is a “big data” angle to the confrontation between state and Ant Group, given that the PBoC is trialling its own central bank digital currency
Potential IPO Investors will be looking for clearer regulatory guidelines, especially in the credit operations, to have a greater degree of comfort and confidence in the group’s profitability and growth prospects, and this may require comprehensive revisions to the prospectus
The risks to the Ant Group IPO’s success and its fundamental are largely regulatory, along with a worsening of geo-political tensions and any potential worsening of the Chinese macro-economic outlook


Ant Group: IPO Suspension and the Big Data Angle

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

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>Shanghai Stock Exchange postponed Ant Group’s IPO.</li>
<li>Four financial authorities warned Ant Group.</li>
<li>We believe Jack Ma’s speech offended the Financial Working Committee.</li>
<li>We also believe it is hard to reach a compromise between Ant Group and the authoritiies.</li>
</ul>


Shanghai Stock Exchange postponed Ant Group’s IPO.
Four financial authorities warned Ant Group.
We believe Jack Ma’s speech offended the Financial Working Committee.
We also believe it is hard to reach a compromise between Ant Group and the authoritiies.


Ant Group (蚂蚁集团): Facing Hostile Authorities After Jack Ma's Speech

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a> almost raised US$35bn in the largest IPO in history. While the IPO may eventually proceed, we are unsure of the valuations the company could demand the next time around.</p><p>Following the suspension of listing on the STAR Market by the Shanghai Stock Exchange due to a 'major event', <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a> announced the suspension of the H-share listing too. The company also said that the refund of the application monies will be made as soon as possible to Hong Kong retail investors.</p><p>This 'major event' will have knock-on implications for a host of other trades/strategies as well. In this Insight, we take a look at some of them.</p>

Ant Group (6688 HK) almost raised US$35bn in the largest IPO in history. While the IPO may eventually proceed, we are unsure of the valuations the company could demand the next time around.Following the suspension of listing on the STAR Market by the Shanghai Stock Exchange due to a 'major event', Ant Group (6688 HK) announced the suspension of the H-share listing too. The company also said that the refund of the application monies will be made as soon as possible to Hong Kong retail investors.This 'major event' will have knock-on implications for a host of other trades/strategies as well. In this Insight, we take a look at some of them.

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Financial (1051260D CH)</a> has almost raised around USD35bn via a dual listing on both Hong Kong Exchange and Shanghai STAR board. </p></div><div><p>We have covered various aspects of the deal in our earlier notes, link to which are below.</p></div><div><p>In this note, I'll talk about the latest updates coming out about the STAR market listing.</p></div><div><div><h3>Our previous coverage on Ant Group</h3></div></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-financial-ipo-early-thought-what-s-new-about-the-listing-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Financial IPO Early Thought: Understand the Fintech Empire, Growth and Risk Factors</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-financial-ipo-early-thought-understand-the-fintech-empire-growth-and-risk-factors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Financial (蚂蚁金服) IPO Early Thought: What’s New About the Listing News</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-first-take-no-1-fintech-from-all-angles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO First-Take: No. 1 Fintech from All Angles</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-numbers-suggest-it-s-more-tech-than-financials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO: Numbers Suggest It’s More Tech than Financials</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-things-to-clarify-questions-to-ask-falling-fees-margins-cash-flow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Things to Clarify/​Questions to Ask - Falling Fees, Margins, Cash Flow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-dual-listing-makes-early-index-inclusion-tricky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Dual Listing Makes Early Index Inclusion Tricky</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/alipay-s-advantage-over-wechat-pay-in-physical-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AliPay’s Advantage over WeChat Pay in Physical Stores</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-running-neck-and-neck-with-tencent-in-direct-financial-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Running Neck and Neck with Tencent in Direct Financial Services</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-impact-assessment-of-the-new-rule-for-financial-holding-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Impact Assessment of the New Rule for Financial Holding Companies</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-payments-baffling-scale-small-tweaks-for-large-profits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - Payments - Baffling Scale, Small Tweaks for Large Profits</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-credittech-larger-scale-similar-growth-lower-credit-risk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - CreditTech - Larger Scale, Similar Growth, Lower Credit Risk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-first-stab-at-valuation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: First Stab at Valuation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-quick-take-on-ftse-and-msci-s-clearer-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Quick Take on FTSE and MSCI’s Clearer Guidelines</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-deal-structure-phip-updates-short-term-trades" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Deal Structure, PHIP Updates, Short-Term Trades</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-updated-valuation-it-s-going-higher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Updated Valuation. It’s Going Higher.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-final-say-strategics-index-impact" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group IPO: Final Say. Strategics, Index Impact</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-star-market-trading-stats-a-h-spread" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group IPO:  STAR Market Trading Stats, A/​H Spread</a></li>
</ul></div>

Ant Financial (1051260D CH) has almost raised around USD35bn via a dual listing on both Hong Kong Exchange and Shanghai STAR board. We have covered various aspects of the deal in our earlier notes, link to which are below.In this note, I'll talk about the latest updates coming out about the STAR market listing.Our previous coverage on Ant Group
Ant Financial IPO Early Thought: Understand the Fintech Empire, Growth and Risk Factors
Ant Financial (蚂蚁金服) IPO Early Thought: What’s New About the Listing News
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO First-Take: No. 1 Fintech from All Angles
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO: Numbers Suggest It’s More Tech than Financials
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Things to Clarify/​Questions to Ask - Falling Fees, Margins, Cash Flow
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Dual Listing Makes Early Index Inclusion Tricky
AliPay’s Advantage over WeChat Pay in Physical Stores
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Running Neck and Neck with Tencent in Direct Financial Services
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Impact Assessment of the New Rule for Financial Holding Companies
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - Payments - Baffling Scale, Small Tweaks for Large Profits
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - CreditTech - Larger Scale, Similar Growth, Lower Credit Risk
Ant Group Pre-IPO: First Stab at Valuation
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Quick Take on FTSE and MSCI’s Clearer Guidelines
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Deal Structure, PHIP Updates, Short-Term Trades
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Updated Valuation. It’s Going Higher.
Ant Group IPO: Final Say. Strategics, Index Impact
Ant Group IPO:  STAR Market Trading Stats, A/​H Spread


Ant Group IPO - Quick Note - Shanghai Suspends STAR Market Listing

China

Ant Group Co., Ltd. develops online payment platforms. The Company produces credit system and financial services platforms which provide consumers and small businesses with safe and convenient inclusive financial services globally. Ant Group provides its services worldwide.

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Ant Group (6688 HK)

Ant Group: A Suspended IPO Could Be Only the Start of Ant’s Woes

On the back of Ant's IPO suspension, we take a look at how potential regulatory changes could materially affect Ant’s business.

Supun Walpola

Ant Group: IPO Suspension and the Big Data Angle

Ant Group's suspension is a reminder to Jack Ma that the Chinese authorities can exert regulatory power; expect higher capital ratios for credit,...

Victor Galliano

Ant Group (蚂蚁集团): Facing Hostile Authorities After Jack Ma's Speech

Shanghai Stock Exchange postponed Ant Group’s IPO, because four financial authorities warned Ant Group. We believe Jack Ma’s speech offended the...

Ming Lu

Ant Group: IPO Suspension Implications

With Ant Group suspending the H-share listing following SSE's suspension of the A-share listing, there will be multiple implications for trades and...

Brian Freitas

Ant Group IPO - Quick Note - Shanghai Suspends STAR Market Listing

Ant Group has almost raised around USD35bn via a dual listing in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. In this note, I'll talk about the latest updates...

Sumeet Singh

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