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. 

*Why Do They Always Do This?: At a competitor conference, management ridiculously diminished government allegations. Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [Tencent] should simply answer “yes, we made mistakes and pushed the envelope but we are actively rectifying these issues. Its going to be painful for investors as we address the government's numerous over the near-term”;  
*Elephant In The Room: Mainland China's crackdown on capital markets activities has rapidly expanded under the broad narrative of "financial stability". There remains no doubt, in our view, that Tencent will follow Alibaba Group (BABA.US) [Alibaba] in the formation of a financial holding company. It’s pretty surprising that Tencent refuses to discuss this matter when financial services are the largest component of earnings and growth; and    
*Results Have Also Deteriorated As Distractions Mount: Tencent’s 2Q21 GAAP net income declined CNY 5.2 bn (10.8%) linked quarter – and were of poor quality. Results were challenged by: cost of revenue increase; operating expense increase; losses in associates; higher impairment charges; and weaker online games. Were it not for the artificially lower tax rate, results would have been even more challenged.

*Why Do They Always Do This?: At a competitor conference, management ridiculously diminished government allegations. Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [Tencent] should simply answer “yes, we made mistakes and pushed the envelope but we are actively rectifying these issues. Its going to be painful for investors as we address the government's numerous over the near-term”;  
*Elephant In The Room: Mainland China's crackdown on capital markets activities has rapidly expanded under the broad narrative of "financial stability". There remains no doubt, in our view, that Tencent will follow Alibaba Group (BABA.US) [Alibaba] in the formation of a financial holding company. It’s pretty surprising that Tencent refuses to discuss this matter when financial services are the largest component of earnings and growth; and    
*Results Have Also Deteriorated As Distractions Mount: Tencent’s 2Q21 GAAP net income declined CNY 5.2 bn (10.8%) linked quarter – and were of poor quality. Results were challenged by: cost of revenue increase; operating expense increase; losses in associates; higher impairment charges; and weaker online games. Were it not for the artificially lower tax rate, results would have been even more challenged.       

Tencent Holdings – Incredulous Management

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

*The Hits Just Keep On Coming: Various media outlets have reported that Alibaba Holdings (BABA.US) [BABA] is planning to spend CNY 100 bn (USD 15.4 bn or nearly 2/3 of 2020 earnings) through 2025 in order to support the government's "common prosperity" initiatives – implying another significant earnings hit; and
*FHC Challenges Ahead As Well: BABA’s Ant Group subsidiary is also reorganizing as a financial holding company, and will now be regulated more along the lines of a commercial bank by the China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC). As a result, Ant Financial needs to adhere to minimum CAR capital requirements, and follow other bank regulatory guidelines.

*The Hits Just Keep On Coming: Various media outlets have reported that Alibaba Holdings (BABA.US) [BABA] is planning to spend CNY 100 bn (USD 15.4 bn or nearly 2/3 of 2020 earnings) through 2025 in order to support the government's "common prosperity" initiatives – implying another significant earnings hit; and
*FHC Challenges Ahead As Well: BABA’s Ant Group subsidiary is also reorganizing as a financial holding company, and will now be regulated more along the lines of a commercial bank by the China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC). As a result, Ant Financial needs to adhere to minimum CAR capital requirements, and follow other bank regulatory guidelines.

*Creation of New Beijing Exchange: The establishment of a new Beijing Exchange will support small-to-medium sized enterprises (SME) exchange listings. The Beijing Exchange will only manage the highest-quality SMEs, with investment being made very accessible to small retail investors (minimum CNY 1 mn in liquid assets) – virtually ensuring success of the new Beijing Exchange; and
*HKEx Continues To Be Hollowed Out: Coupled with mainland China’s establishment of a new stock exchange to attract overseas-listed firms, mainland China continues to reinforce the notion that Shanghai will become the pre-eminent global financial center in Asia - limiting Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing’s (388.HK) [HKEx] ability to attract up and coming mainland Chinese IPOs over longer-term. In other words, if HKEx's mainland China story goes away so should HKEX’s exorbitant valuation.

*Creation of New Beijing Exchange: The establishment of a new Beijing Exchange will support small-to-medium sized enterprises (SME) exchange listings. The Beijing Exchange will only manage the highest-quality SMEs, with investment being made very accessible to small retail investors (minimum CNY 1 mn in liquid assets) – virtually ensuring success of the new Beijing Exchange; and
*HKEx Continues To Be Hollowed Out: Coupled with mainland China’s establishment of a new stock exchange to attract overseas-listed firms, mainland China continues to reinforce the notion that Shanghai will become the pre-eminent global financial center in Asia - limiting Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing’s (388.HK) [HKEx] ability to attract up and coming mainland Chinese IPOs over longer-term. In other words, if HKEx's mainland China story goes away so should HKEX’s exorbitant valuation.

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – China Plays Long Game With HKEx

*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.

China

iShares FTSE A50 China Index ETF is an exchanged-traded fund established in Hong Kong. The investment objective of the iShares FTSE A50 China Index ETF is to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of A50 Index.

iShares FTSE/Xinhua A50 China (2823 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

Tencent Holdings – Incredulous Management

TENCENT: At a competitor virtual conference, Tencent discussed the impact of regulatory changes but didn’t discuss its targeted financial services...

Thomas J. Monaco

Alibaba Group Holdings - Penance

ALIBABA: BABA is apparently launching a plan to spend CNY 100 bn (nearly 2/3 of 2020 earnings) by 2025 to the "common prosperity" – implying a...

Thomas J. Monaco

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – China Plays Long Game With HKEx

HKEX: The establishment of a new Beijing Exchange will support SME exchange listings. Coupled with establishment of a new exchange, HKEx continues...

Thomas J. Monaco

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