Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

Melco Resorts (MLCO)'s H1/23 results were soft, mainly as its Macau properties underperformed in Q1. That said, the company regained some market share in Q2, as GGR from its Macau properties climbed 43% q-o-q. Q2/23 mass market GGR reached 84% of the Q2/19 level, albeit still marginally below the industry figure of 86%. We expect MLCO's mass market GGR in Macau to continue improving going forward, supported by the opening of Studio City Phase 2. In our view, the main credit concern is the company's aggressive stance towards shareholder returns. This is evidenced by MLCO's small share repurchases throughout the COVID-19 pandemic (between FY 2020 and FY 2022), despite its severely deteriorated balance sheet. Moreover, the company has a history of providing cash support to parent Melco International.

  Melco Resorts (MLCO)'s H1/23 results were soft, mainly as its Macau properties underperformed in Q1. That said, the company regained some market share in Q2, as GGR from its Macau properties climbed 43% q-o-q. Q2/23 mass market GGR reached 84% of the Q2/19 level, albeit still marginally below the industry figure of 86%. We expect MLCO's mass market GGR in Macau to continue improving going forward, supported by the opening of Studio City Phase 2.   In our view, the main credit concern is the company's aggressive stance towards shareholder returns. This is evidenced by MLCO's small share repurchases throughout the COVID-19 pandemic (between FY 2020 and FY 2022), despite its severely deteriorated balance sheet. Moreover, the company has a history of providing cash support to parent Melco International. 

Melco Resorts - Earnings Flash - H1 FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

Global Gaming and Casinos Industry Specialist, Casino Business Review LLC

Howard J Klein

Global Gaming and Casinos Industry Specialist

Casino Business Review LLC

Extensive experience in marketing and development in the Asian gaming market

Global Gaming and Casinos Industry

Equity Bottom-Up

Melco Resorts & Entertainment / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>From 2022 loss in period, MLCO earnings could come in anywhere between a profit of $0.06 to $0.70 indicative of recovery in Macau, Manila and opening of Cyprus.</li>
<li>Revenue could come in above $1.2b. This is a forerunner of a solid recovery year.</li>
<li>MLCO has a global vision beyond Asia that makes it attractive at its current price.</li>
</ul>


From 2022 loss in period, MLCO earnings could come in anywhere between a profit of $0.06 to $0.70 indicative of recovery in Macau, Manila and opening of Cyprus.
Revenue could come in above $1.2b. This is a forerunner of a solid recovery year.
MLCO has a global vision beyond Asia that makes it attractive at its current price.


Melco Resorts: Upcoming Earnings Release Next Month Could Beat Due to Macau, Manila, Cyprus Upsides

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<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> had serious data problems. It still listed itself, against the wishes of the regulators. Then it got in serious hot water. And it's been getting hotter. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ramsay-health-care-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:673:1" rel="noopener">Ramsay Health Care (RHC AU)</a> announced an unsolicited, non-binding Offer from KKR (and HISTA), at A$88.00/share, a 36.7% premium to last close, however, earnings have been left bedridden by the pandemic.</li>
<li>Post-Deal, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12:1" rel="noopener">Keppel Corp (KEP SP)</a> will look more like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sembcorp-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1087:1" rel="noopener">Sembcorp Industries (SCI SP)</a>. More engineering, less power generation infra assets, more other infra assets and more data centres. </li>
</ul>



DiDi Global (DIDI US) had serious data problems. It still listed itself, against the wishes of the regulators. Then it got in serious hot water. And it's been getting hotter. 

Ramsay Health Care (RHC AU) announced an unsolicited, non-binding Offer from KKR (and HISTA), at A$88.00/share, a 36.7% premium to last close, however, earnings have been left bedridden by the pandemic.
Post-Deal, Keppel Corp (KEP SP) will look more like Sembcorp Industries (SCI SP). More engineering, less power generation infra assets, more other infra assets and more data centres. 


Last Week in Event SPACE: Didi Global, Ramsay Health, Keppel Corp, Melco, Toshiba, Twitter

<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

Forensic Analyst

Jason Yap, CFA

Forensic Accounting

Macau's top gaming stocks <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/macau-casinos-see-188-billion-wipeout-as-china-tightens-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> a record USD18 billion in combined market value on 15 September 2021 after the Macau administration <a href="https://www.ggrasia.com/public-consultation-re-gaming-law-review-from-sept-15/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a><a href="https://www.ggrasia.com/macau-may-end-casino-sub-concessions-directly-monitor-ops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> a 45 day public consultation period to discuss revisions to Gaming Laws, which comes as the June 2022 expiration deadline for existing gaming concessions loomed. Amongst others, the abolishment of the sub-concession framework (which could reduce current 6 operators to 3 operators), restriction on distribution of dividend, and Macau government's direct supervision of casino operations drew the most consternation from investors and analysts. The sweeping revisions compound the woes of Macau's casino operators, such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wynn-macau-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:473:1" rel="noopener">Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK) </a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sands-china-ltd-088dbd12-a0e9-4516-a68f-6a3cf8aa065d" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28515:1" rel="noopener">Sands China Ltd (SCHYY US)</a>, which had already been badly affected by pandemic driven travel restrictions, and which obliterated their gaming revenues.While there were some improvements due to easing of travel restrictions for Mainland travelers in September 2020, gross gaming revenues (GGR) remain a shadow of its past.  The daily average of visitors to Macau during October's Golden Week was <a href="https://www.ggrasia.com/macau-oct-golden-week-daily-average-visits-dip-93pct-y-o-y/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down 93.7%</a> on daily average in 2020. The decline coincided with new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Macau around the same period. Amongst its peers, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wynn-macau-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:473:1" rel="noopener">Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)</a>  is the most highly levered and had already dodged a bullet by securing covenant waivers in April 2020 at the peak of the pandemic.In this Insight, we discuss the impact of the proposed revisions and subdued GGR recovery on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wynn-macau-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:473:1" rel="noopener">Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)</a>'s cash reserves, debt servicing ability, and whether there may be potential breaches of its financial covenants.

Macau's top gaming stocks lost a record USD18 billion in combined market value on 15 September 2021 after the Macau administration announced a 45 day public consultation period to discuss revisions to Gaming Laws, which comes as the June 2022 expiration deadline for existing gaming concessions loomed. Amongst others, the abolishment of the sub-concession framework (which could reduce current 6 operators to 3 operators), restriction on distribution of dividend, and Macau government's direct supervision of casino operations drew the most consternation from investors and analysts. The sweeping revisions compound the woes of Macau's casino operators, such as Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)  and Sands China Ltd (SCHYY US), which had already been badly affected by pandemic driven travel restrictions, and which obliterated their gaming revenues.While there were some improvements due to easing of travel restrictions for Mainland travelers in September 2020, gross gaming revenues (GGR) remain a shadow of its past.  The daily average of visitors to Macau during October's Golden Week was down 93.7% on daily average in 2020. The decline coincided with new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Macau around the same period. Amongst its peers, Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)  is the most highly levered and had already dodged a bullet by securing covenant waivers in April 2020 at the peak of the pandemic.In this Insight, we discuss the impact of the proposed revisions and subdued GGR recovery on Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)'s cash reserves, debt servicing ability, and whether there may be potential breaches of its financial covenants.

Wynn Macau (1128 HK) - Gaming Law Revisions and Impact on Financial Covenants

Hong Kong

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited develops, owns, and operates casinos. The Company offers casino gaming, restaurants, bars, and resorts facilities. Melco Resorts & Entertainment serves customers in Asia.

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Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO US)

Melco Resorts - Earnings Flash - H1 FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

Melco Resorts (MLCO)'s H1/23 results were soft, mainly as its Macau properties underperformed in Q1. That said, the company regained some market...

Lucror Analytics

Melco Resorts: Upcoming Earnings Release Next Month Could Beat Due to Macau, Manila, Cyprus Upsides

The shares of MLCO have lagged the recovery cycle of Macau peers. We believe they have overcome some structural problems and now present...

Howard J Klein

Last Week in Event SPACE: Didi Global, Ramsay Health, Keppel Corp, Melco, Toshiba, Twitter

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

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

Wynn Macau (1128 HK) - Gaming Law Revisions and Impact on Financial Covenants

Macau's gaming stocks lost USD18 billion in market value after the Macau administration announced proposed revisions to Gaming Laws. We discuss the...

Jason Yap, CFA

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