Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Last Week in Event SPACE: Vedanta, Evergrande Auto, Cocokara, Leyou, Mitsu Lease/Hitachi Cap

Travis Lundy

<p>In May 2016, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)</a>  <a href="https://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2016/05/f_160513a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a transaction whereby they sold a stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-capital-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14410:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Capital (8586 JP)</a> to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-lease-finance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1467:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP)</a> to de-consolidate their holding, but would retain a 'negative control' stake of 33.4%. The result was a business and capital alliance designed to achieve more scale for the leasing companies and to improve the capital efficiency of Hitachi itself. </p><p>The moves by Hitachi to improve its capital efficiency have come fast and furious the last few years with sales of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-kokusai-electric-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2523:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Kokusai Electric (6756 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-koki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18359:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Koki (6581 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14457:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Chemical (4217 JP)</a>, a buy-in of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-high-tech-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7046:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi High-Tech (8036 JP)</a>, and a selldown to de-consolidate <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-transport-system-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2395:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Transport System (9086 JP)</a> in 2016, and now more recently there is media speculation about the eventual disposition of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-metals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8561:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Metals (5486 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-construction-machinery" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19433:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP)</a>.</p><p>When earnings were presented in May this year, there was a small section in the presentation deck on the bottom half of p15 of the Update on the Mid-Term Management Plan <a href="http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2020/05/200529a/f_200529apre.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presentation </a>(the <a href="http://www.hitachi.co.jp/New/cnews/month/2020/05/0529a/f_0529apre.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japanese</a> version has an extra word which helps clarify) talking about sales of property and assets and this got people excited. I went through it in some detail in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hitachi-s-capital-case-liquidating-land-policy-holdings-what-about-the-subs" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:39920" rel="noopener">Hitachi's Capital Case - Liquidating Land &amp; Policy Holdings? What About the Subs?</a> and that indicated there was time for the remaining subs.</p><h2>The NEW News</h2><p>Today during business hours, there was a news story out on Diamond Online followed by a quick story on Bloomberg saying that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-capital-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14410:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Capital (8586 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-lease-finance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1467:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP)</a> had decided to merge, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> would each own 20% of the new merged company. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.hitachi-capital.co.jp/hcc/english/newsrelease/2020/20200924e.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> came after the close. The two companies would merge at a share exchange ratio of 1.0:5.1, with the effective date of the Merger on 1 April 2021, and shareholder meetings for each company to approve the deal in late February 2021, but it does not discuss the idea of Mitsubishi Corp owning 20% of the combined company (it already owns 20% of MUFJ Lease but its stake would be diluted in the merger.</p><p>As always, more below the fold.</p>

In May 2016, Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)  announced a transaction whereby they sold a stake in Hitachi Capital (8586 JP) to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP) to de-consolidate their holding, but would retain a 'negative control' stake of 33.4%. The result was a business and capital alliance designed to achieve more scale for the leasing companies and to improve the capital efficiency of Hitachi itself. The moves by Hitachi to improve its capital efficiency have come fast and furious the last few years with sales of Hitachi Kokusai Electric (6756 JP), Hitachi Koki (6581 JP), Hitachi Chemical (4217 JP), a buy-in of Hitachi High-Tech (8036 JP), and a selldown to de-consolidate Hitachi Transport System (9086 JP) in 2016, and now more recently there is media speculation about the eventual disposition of Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) and Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP).When earnings were presented in May this year, there was a small section in the presentation deck on the bottom half of p15 of the Update on the Mid-Term Management Plan presentation (the Japanese version has an extra word which helps clarify) talking about sales of property and assets and this got people excited. I went through it in some detail in Hitachi's Capital Case - Liquidating Land &amp; Policy Holdings? What About the Subs? and that indicated there was time for the remaining subs.The NEW NewsToday during business hours, there was a news story out on Diamond Online followed by a quick story on Bloomberg saying that Hitachi Capital (8586 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP) had decided to merge, and Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) would each own 20% of the new merged company. The announcement came after the close. The two companies would merge at a share exchange ratio of 1.0:5.1, with the effective date of the Merger on 1 April 2021, and shareholder meetings for each company to approve the deal in late February 2021, but it does not discuss the idea of Mitsubishi Corp owning 20% of the combined company (it already owns 20% of MUFJ Lease but its stake would be diluted in the merger.As always, more below the fold.

Hitachi's Hitachi Capital Capital Case - A Merger With MUFG Lease

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

GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk PT / Private Capital Markets

<p>Recent news suggests that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> have restarted discussions on a possible merger backed by SoftBank CEO and founder Masayoshi Son. Our view is that it seems this ride-hailing mega-merger becomes less-likely should <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> take a stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a>. It was recently reported that it would invest US$3bn into the ride-hailing company, with some of this stake potentially coming out of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/uber-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:430:1" rel="noopener">Uber (UBER US).</a></p>
<p>Quite apart from the fact that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> has only recently received investment from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/facebook-inc-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:665:1" rel="noopener">Facebook Inc A (FB US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paypal-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4747:1" rel="noopener">Paypal Holdings (PYPL US),</a> the company is also viewed as a  national champion in Indonesia, with high-profile shareholders such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International (ASII IJ)</a> and Djarum Group, who may object to the deal, under which <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a> may come out on top being the bigger company currently, in terms of recent valuations. </p>
<p>There has been much debate surrounding the incessant competition between so-called Super Apps Indonesia-based <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> and Singapore headquartered <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP),</a> as they vie for position in the former's home market and across the rest of South-East Asia.  Although originally both App-based ride-hailing companies, both now offer a much wider variety of services including food-delivery and crucially, digital payments, and other financial services. Gojek through Go-Pay and Grab through GrabPay regionally, and OVO in Indonesia, where it has a stake. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a> backed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> dominates in its home market of Indonesia, which makes up 90% of its revenues but it is also presenting some challenges to Grab in Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and possibly soon to be the Philippines and even Malaysia. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a> has been making in-roads into the App-based motorcycle and taxi business in Indonesia, as well as the food-delivery business through GrabFood with the use of heavy promotions and subsidies. Given a more recent focus on profitability plus the impact of COVID-19 PSBB (large scale social distancing) measures on all businesses, especially ride-hailing, it is undoubtedly feeling the pressure in Indonesia.</p>
<p>Both companies have formidable funding war chests, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> managing to complete its latest US$2.5bn round in the midst of the pandemic and topping this up again only a couple of months ago. Grab raised a whopping US$4.5bn in its last round and potentially another US$3bn round from <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> though some of this may be existing shares. </p>
<p>In some ways, money is not the issue and it is the winning strategy that counts. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> has a history of frugality but has made a number of missteps in the last year, withdrawing some of its GoLife services, withdrawing GoMart, and a failed attempt at entering the Philippines. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a> has been very aggressive in providing subsidies in its food businesses in Indonesia to gain share. It remains to be seen how this approach will pan out in the longer-term, especially in light of COVID-19, which has hit ride-hailing hard.</p>
<p>Future funding is another longer-term issue, despite the recent amounts that have been raised. In this respect, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> is better positioned after its very recent funding round, which brought in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/facebook-inc-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:665:1" rel="noopener">Facebook Inc A (FB US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paypal-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4747:1" rel="noopener">Paypal Holdings (PYPL US)</a>. For <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a>, it was less certain until recently, at a time when Softbank is reeling from the WeWork and OYO experiences. Valuations of global comparable such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/uber-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:430:1" rel="noopener">Uber (UBER US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lyft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24423:1" rel="noopener">Lyft Inc (LYFT US)</a> have also come under pressure, which suggests that we could see some markdown on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP),</a> especially with its higher exposure to ride-hailing. </p>

Recent news suggests that Grab (0967655D SP) and Gojek (1379371D IJ) have restarted discussions on a possible merger backed by SoftBank CEO and founder Masayoshi Son. Our view is that it seems this ride-hailing mega-merger becomes less-likely should Alibaba Group (BABA US) take a stake in Grab (0967655D SP). It was recently reported that it would invest US$3bn into the ride-hailing company, with some of this stake potentially coming out of Uber (UBER US).
Quite apart from the fact that Gojek (1379371D IJ) has only recently received investment from Facebook Inc A (FB US) and Paypal Holdings (PYPL US), the company is also viewed as a  national champion in Indonesia, with high-profile shareholders such as Astra International (ASII IJ) and Djarum Group, who may object to the deal, under which Grab (0967655D SP) may come out on top being the bigger company currently, in terms of recent valuations. 
There has been much debate surrounding the incessant competition between so-called Super Apps Indonesia-based Gojek (1379371D IJ) and Singapore headquartered Grab (0967655D SP), as they vie for position in the former's home market and across the rest of South-East Asia.  Although originally both App-based ride-hailing companies, both now offer a much wider variety of services including food-delivery and crucially, digital payments, and other financial services. Gojek through Go-Pay and Grab through GrabPay regionally, and OVO in Indonesia, where it has a stake. 
Tencent Holdings (700 HK) backed Gojek (1379371D IJ) dominates in its home market of Indonesia, which makes up 90% of its revenues but it is also presenting some challenges to Grab in Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and possibly soon to be the Philippines and even Malaysia. 
Grab (0967655D SP) has been making in-roads into the App-based motorcycle and taxi business in Indonesia, as well as the food-delivery business through GrabFood with the use of heavy promotions and subsidies. Given a more recent focus on profitability plus the impact of COVID-19 PSBB (large scale social distancing) measures on all businesses, especially ride-hailing, it is undoubtedly feeling the pressure in Indonesia.
Both companies have formidable funding war chests, with Gojek (1379371D IJ) managing to complete its latest US$2.5bn round in the midst of the pandemic and topping this up again only a couple of months ago. Grab raised a whopping US$4.5bn in its last round and potentially another US$3bn round from Alibaba Group (BABA US) though some of this may be existing shares. 
In some ways, money is not the issue and it is the winning strategy that counts. Gojek (1379371D IJ) has a history of frugality but has made a number of missteps in the last year, withdrawing some of its GoLife services, withdrawing GoMart, and a failed attempt at entering the Philippines. Grab (0967655D SP) has been very aggressive in providing subsidies in its food businesses in Indonesia to gain share. It remains to be seen how this approach will pan out in the longer-term, especially in light of COVID-19, which has hit ride-hailing hard.
Future funding is another longer-term issue, despite the recent amounts that have been raised. In this respect, Gojek (1379371D IJ) is better positioned after its very recent funding round, which brought in Facebook Inc A (FB US) and Paypal Holdings (PYPL US). For Grab (0967655D SP), it was less certain until recently, at a time when Softbank is reeling from the WeWork and OYO experiences. Valuations of global comparable such as Uber (UBER US) and Lyft Inc (LYFT US) have also come under pressure, which suggests that we could see some markdown on Grab (0967655D SP), especially with its higher exposure to ride-hailing. 

Gojek and Grab - A Merger of the Super Apps on the Offing? We Think Not.

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <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-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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cnooc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:175:1" rel="noopener">CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-cayman-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27983:1" rel="noopener">ESR Cayman (1821 HK)</a>, while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan Dianping (3690 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com (HK) (9618 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/semiconductor-manufacturing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14231:1" rel="noopener">Semiconductor Manufacturing (981 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in Industrials and Energy and were covered in Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Communication Services and Financials.</p></div><div><p>Japan saw an increase in shorts on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27445:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Corp (9434 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sumitomo-mitsui-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:217:1" rel="noopener">Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316 JP)</a> and a reduction in shorts on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-gas-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2332:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Gas (9531 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rohm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2953:1" rel="noopener">ROHM Co Ltd (6963 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12933:1" rel="noopener">Kao Corp (4452 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl Corp (4921 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased in almost all sectors led by Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Financials, Information Technology, Industrials and Consumer Staples. With the September ex-dividend date coming up, a large part of the increase in short interest could be due to dividend enhancement trades.</p></div><div><p>Stocks in Korea that saw the most short covering were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-oil-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1667:1" rel="noopener">S Oil Corp (010950 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netmarble-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22839:1" rel="noopener">Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinpoong-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7296:1" rel="noopener">Shinpoong Pharmaceutical (019170 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1" rel="noopener">LG Display (034220 KS)</a>. </p></div><div><p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alchip-technologies-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20219:1" rel="noopener">Alchip Technologies (3661 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/genius-electronic-optical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9632:1" rel="noopener">Genius Electronic Optical (3406 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/txc-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5212:1" rel="noopener">Txc Corp (3042 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/au-optronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6704:1" rel="noopener">Au Optronics (2409 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asmedia-technology-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15732:1" rel="noopener">Asmedia Technology (5269 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elan-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19789:1" rel="noopener">Elan Microelectronics (2458 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>.</p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK), China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK), CNOOC Ltd (883 HK) and ESR Cayman (1821 HK), while there was short covering on Meituan Dianping (3690 HK), Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), JD.com (HK) (9618 HK) and Semiconductor Manufacturing (981 HK). Shorts increased in Industrials and Energy and were covered in Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Communication Services and Financials.Japan saw an increase in shorts on Softbank Corp (9434 JP), Fast Retailing (9983 JP), Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316 JP) and a reduction in shorts on Tokyo Gas (9531 JP), ROHM Co Ltd (6963 JP), Kao Corp (4452 JP) and Fancl Corp (4921 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased in almost all sectors led by Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Financials, Information Technology, Industrials and Consumer Staples. With the September ex-dividend date coming up, a large part of the increase in short interest could be due to dividend enhancement trades.Stocks in Korea that saw the most short covering were S Oil Corp (010950 KS), Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS), Shinpoong Pharmaceutical (019170 KS) and LG Display (034220 KS). Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Alchip Technologies (3661 TT), TSMC (2330 TT), Genius Electronic Optical (3406 TT) and Txc Corp (3042 TT) while shorts were covered on Au Optronics (2409 TT), Asmedia Technology (5269 TT), Elan Microelectronics (2458 TT) and Yageo Corporation (2327 TT).

Asia Short Interest Weekly: Meituan, JD, PingAn, SMIC, Japan Divs, Netmarble, Shinpoong, Genius, TXC

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

<p><strong><em>*Kudos For Better Bottom-line:</em></strong>HSBC North America (5.HK/HSBA.LN) [HSBCNA] HSBCNA deserves some kudos for its positive 2Q20 earnings result of USD 48.7 mn during the height of the pandemic against a 1Q20 loss of USD 1.2 bn. The problem with these results, in our view, is that they appear incredibly managed, as revenues are increasingly reliant on lower quality capital markets revenue sources at 36.0% (27.6% in 1Q20). In other words, we do not believe 2Q20 these results are sustainable;</p><p><strong><em>*Hong Kong Tax Rate Continues To Mask Management’s Global Mistakes: </em></strong>When your core subsidiary in Hong Kong has a statutory corporate tax rate of 16.5% and the organization is not subject to global taxation, low taxes can mask the many mistakes that HSBC makes – particularly in the USA; and</p><p><strong><em>*HSBCNA Should Be Sold: </em></strong>HSBCNA is a chronic mess, and there is absolutely no need for HSBC to maintain a full commercial/retail banking presence in the US. It cannot earn a positive return under its current structure; credit is again about to fall off a cliff; does not earning; NIMs are among the lowest in the USA; and capital is shortly about to fall below regulatory guidance. Further, the bad acquisitions and regulatory headaches should spur management to cut and run in the US. Knowing HSBC management as we do, they will continue making the same mistakes over and over again.   </p>

*Kudos For Better Bottom-line:HSBC North America (5.HK/HSBA.LN) [HSBCNA] HSBCNA deserves some kudos for its positive 2Q20 earnings result of USD 48.7 mn during the height of the pandemic against a 1Q20 loss of USD 1.2 bn. The problem with these results, in our view, is that they appear incredibly managed, as revenues are increasingly reliant on lower quality capital markets revenue sources at 36.0% (27.6% in 1Q20). In other words, we do not believe 2Q20 these results are sustainable;*Hong Kong Tax Rate Continues To Mask Management’s Global Mistakes: When your core subsidiary in Hong Kong has a statutory corporate tax rate of 16.5% and the organization is not subject to global taxation, low taxes can mask the many mistakes that HSBC makes – particularly in the USA; and*HSBCNA Should Be Sold: HSBCNA is a chronic mess, and there is absolutely no need for HSBC to maintain a full commercial/retail banking presence in the US. It cannot earn a positive return under its current structure; credit is again about to fall off a cliff; does not earning; NIMs are among the lowest in the USA; and capital is shortly about to fall below regulatory guidance. Further, the bad acquisitions and regulatory headaches should spur management to cut and run in the US. Knowing HSBC management as we do, they will continue making the same mistakes over and over again.   

Japan

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is a holding company established through the merger of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group and UFJ Holdings. As a financial group, the Company provides a variety of financial and investment services including commercial banking, trust banking, international finance, and assets management services.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)

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Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)

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HSBC Holdings – FSBO

*Kudos For Better Bottom-line: HSBC North America (5.HK/HSBA.LN) [HSBCNA] HSBCNA deserves some kudos for its positive 2Q20 earnings result of USD...

Thomas J. Monaco

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