Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy, Urbem (HK) Limited

Steven Chen

Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The Shenzhen-based game developer trades at an attractive valuation;</li>
<li>Meanwhile, the business has been growing at a nearly triple-digit rate while maintaining an above 30% return on equity and invested capital;</li>
<li>Should investors buy into this (seemingly quality) growth story?  We want to take a deep dive.</li>
</ul>


The Shenzhen-based game developer trades at an attractive valuation;
Meanwhile, the business has been growing at a nearly triple-digit rate while maintaining an above 30% return on equity and invested capital;
Should investors buy into this (seemingly quality) growth story?  We want to take a deep dive.


Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

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.

This is the second of a series of reports on the Chinese streaming platform <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iqiyi-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26755:1" rel="noopener">iQIYI Inc (IQ US)</a>  where we will be discussing the company’s valuation. In our previous insight on the company, we discussed the company’s business model, segments and valuation.In our previous insight, we highlighted that the membership services is the only segment that has seen YoY growth in revenues whereas the company’s second largest segment, online advertising services is seeing continued decrease in revenues.iQiyi’s average revenue per paid subscriber has remained stable while the number of paid subscribers has dropped over the last two quarters. Given the intense competition in the Chinese online streaming market, we believe it will be difficult for the company to increase ARPU without compromising on the number of subscribers.Moreover, the company has been able to turn profitable at the gross margin line during the last two quarters, and the company’s operating expenses are strongly correlated with revenues and we believe the company trying to reduce these costs will impact its top line.Read our previous insight on the company:<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/iqiyi-placement-searching-for-additional-revenues-amidst-deepening-losses" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:46452" rel="noopener">IQIYI Placement: Searching for Additional Revenues Amidst Deepening Losses</a>

This is the second of a series of reports on the Chinese streaming platform iQIYI Inc (IQ US)  where we will be discussing the company’s valuation. In our previous insight on the company, we discussed the company’s business model, segments and valuation.In our previous insight, we highlighted that the membership services is the only segment that has seen YoY growth in revenues whereas the company’s second largest segment, online advertising services is seeing continued decrease in revenues.iQiyi’s average revenue per paid subscriber has remained stable while the number of paid subscribers has dropped over the last two quarters. Given the intense competition in the Chinese online streaming market, we believe it will be difficult for the company to increase ARPU without compromising on the number of subscribers.Moreover, the company has been able to turn profitable at the gross margin line during the last two quarters, and the company’s operating expenses are strongly correlated with revenues and we believe the company trying to reduce these costs will impact its top line.Read our previous insight on the company:IQIYI Placement: Searching for Additional Revenues Amidst Deepening Losses 

IQIYI Valuation: Netflix of China Seems Overvalued; No Growth Without Sacrificing Profits

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

At long last, Hang Seng Indexes (HSIL) has released the consultation paper on the "Proposal to enhance the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> as regards continuing to serve as the most representative and important benchmark of the Hong Kong stock market". Market participants have until 24 January to submit their views to the HSIL.There are 5 main proposals in the consultation paper:<ol>
<li>Select constituents by industry group based on a target coverage for each industry group</li>
<li>Increase the number of constituents to between 65 to 80</li>
<li>Removal of the Minimum Listing History requirement for eligible candidates</li>
<li>Maintain a certain number of constituents classified as Hong Kong companies to sustain the level of representation of Hong Kong portion in the index</li>
<li>Lower the weighting cap of individual constituents from 10% to 8%, and increase the weighting cap of WVRs and Secondary Listings from 5% to 8%.</li>
</ol>The simulated one-way turnover of increasing the number of constituents to between 65-80 is estimated at 15-20% and HSIL proposes to implement the transition to the enhanced methodology within one year.In this Insight, we look at the impact on the index from the proposed changes.

At long last, Hang Seng Indexes (HSIL) has released the consultation paper on the "Proposal to enhance the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) as regards continuing to serve as the most representative and important benchmark of the Hong Kong stock market". Market participants have until 24 January to submit their views to the HSIL.There are 5 main proposals in the consultation paper:
Select constituents by industry group based on a target coverage for each industry group
Increase the number of constituents to between 65 to 80
Removal of the Minimum Listing History requirement for eligible candidates
Maintain a certain number of constituents classified as Hong Kong companies to sustain the level of representation of Hong Kong portion in the index
Lower the weighting cap of individual constituents from 10% to 8%, and increase the weighting cap of WVRs and Secondary Listings from 5% to 8%.
The simulated one-way turnover of increasing the number of constituents to between 65-80 is estimated at 15-20% and HSIL proposes to implement the transition to the enhanced methodology within one year.In this Insight, we look at the impact on the index from the proposed changes.

HSI Market Consultation - Wide Ranging Changes Proposed

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>China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association announced the Age Rating of Online Game.</li>
<li>Many online platforms stopped selling cash deposit products.</li>
<li>Online payment amount grew by 28% YoY on the shopping season “December 12”.</li>
</ul>


China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association announced the Age Rating of Online Game.
Many online platforms stopped selling cash deposit products.
Online payment amount grew by 28% YoY on the shopping season “December 12”.


China Internet Weekly (21Dec2020): Online Games Rated by Age, Online Platforms Banned from Deposit

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/tokopedia-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24239:1" rel="noopener">Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ)</a> has confirmed that it has hired Morgan Stanley and Citigroup as advisers to help accelerate its plan to go public. The company has not yet decided which route to take to come to market, whether through a straightforward IPO or a SPAC listing, potentially through Richard Li and Peter Thiel's Bridgetown Holdings Ltd.
The company had previously stated that it would definitely seek a listing in its home market of Indonesia, with a potential dual listing in the US, although these statements were made pre-pandemic. 
Valuations for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokopedia-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24239:1" rel="noopener">Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ)</a> range from US$8-10bn, although after the last round of funding it was valued at US$7.5bn, making it Indonesia's second most valuation start-up after <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a>, which was last valued at US$10bn.
An IPO would help the company realize a higher valuation, providing a currency to drive future growth, given it would be an alternative to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US), </a>as the number 2 e-commerce player in Indonesia. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> trades at 13x FY21E EV/Sales currently and just raised more than US$2bn through a placement of new ADS's. We look at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokopedia-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24239:1" rel="noopener">Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ)</a> and its positioning in more detail below the fold.

Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ) has confirmed that it has hired Morgan Stanley and Citigroup as advisers to help accelerate its plan to go public. The company has not yet decided which route to take to come to market, whether through a straightforward IPO or a SPAC listing, potentially through Richard Li and Peter Thiel's Bridgetown Holdings Ltd.
The company had previously stated that it would definitely seek a listing in its home market of Indonesia, with a potential dual listing in the US, although these statements were made pre-pandemic. 
Valuations for Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ) range from US$8-10bn, although after the last round of funding it was valued at US$7.5bn, making it Indonesia's second most valuation start-up after Gojek (1379371D IJ), which was last valued at US$10bn.
An IPO would help the company realize a higher valuation, providing a currency to drive future growth, given it would be an alternative to Sea Ltd (SE US), as the number 2 e-commerce player in Indonesia. Sea Ltd (SE US) trades at 13x FY21E EV/Sales currently and just raised more than US$2bn through a placement of new ADS's. We look at Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ) and its positioning in more detail below the fold. 

Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ) - From Private to Public by Hook or by Crook

China

NetEase, Inc. is an Internet technology company that develops applications, services and other Internet technologies in China. The Company's core businesses consist of email service, web portal and online entertainment, including online gaming services. NetEase also offers online advertising, search, mobile applications and e-commerce.

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NetEase Inc (NTES US)

Fire Rock: A Value Play or Value Trap?

Another superior-return, fast-growing gaming business trading at an attractive level. Should investors buy into this (seemingly quality) growth...

Steven Chen

IQIYI Valuation: Netflix of China Seems Overvalued; No Growth Without Sacrificing Profits

This is the second of a series of reports on the Chinese streaming platform iQiyi where we will be discussing the company’s valuation.

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

HSI Market Consultation - Wide Ranging Changes Proposed

HSIL has announced the market consultation for the Hang Seng Index. The conclusions should be announced in February. If the market agrees to most...

Brian Freitas

China Internet Weekly (21Dec2020): Online Games Rated by Age, Online Platforms Banned from Deposit

Authorities announced the Age Rating of Online Game. Many online platforms stopped selling cash deposit products. Online payment amount grew by 28%...

Ming Lu

Tokopedia PT (1087142D IJ) - From Private to Public by Hook or by Crook

Tokopedia has confirmed that it is looking to go public and has enlisted Investment Banks to speed the process. This will give investors an...

Angus Mackintosh

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