Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>In the spirit of the long-awaited UEFA Euro 2020, we present our inaugural "China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook", which summarizes our views on the names that are best positioned to navigate an environment of progressively slower credit growth, tighter liquidity and rising defaults. </p>
<p><strong>Our screen consists of 100+ stocks in the A/H share universe, as well as a select number of international / non-traditional names that have significant exposures to China's financial system. </strong>We have a preference for larger-cap and liquid names, which are then filtered by our opinions on their fundamentals, value, momentum and recent trading volumes. We also try to make our selections versatile and less vulnerable to single-factor movements.</p>
<p><strong>Each player's position on the pitch and the team formation itself convey incremental information about our thoughts on the sector's performance over a three to six-month horizon. </strong>To the extent possible, we intend to update our ideas on a periodic basis. This provides a feedback loop with our other ongoing research on the industry.</p>
<p><strong>However, our team selections are not investment recommendations. </strong>Instead, they are meant to give structure to our analysis. The playbook allows us to articulate our views on the sector in a timely, concise manner. Our objective is to ensure we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as sentiments on the sector remain bleak.</p>
<p><strong>With that out of the way, the following is our starting XI.</strong> We will dive deeper into our rationale for our selections in the remainder of this insight (Exhibit 1).</p>
<table class="table table-striped">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 726.047px;"><strong>Exhibit 1: China Financials | Silver Linings Playbook</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 726.047px;">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/213/768/original/image_768460236451623962508577.png?1623962508" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="213768"></figure>
<p></p>
<p>Source: Our analysis</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Related Insights</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-consumers-remain-on-the-sidelines-as-their-home-equity-grows" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53210" rel="noopener">China Macro: Consumers Remain on the Sidelines, as Their Home Equity Grows</a> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/glut-and-famine-we-might-see-snow-in-china-this-summer" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52840" rel="noopener">Glut and Famine: We Might See Snow in China This Summer</a> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-ppi-peaks-while-cpi-eases-tightening-fears" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52778" rel="noopener">China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears</a> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-exports-disappoint-but-it-s-still-early-in-the-game" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52728" rel="noopener">China Macro: Exports Disappoint, but It's Still Early in the Game</a> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/glut-and-famine-china-s-monetary-conditions-a-notch-tighter-in-may" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51799" rel="noopener">Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May</a> </p>
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<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/boc-aviation-2588-hk-the-stars-don-t-look-bigger-but-they-do-look-brighter" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52283" rel="noopener">BOC Aviation (2588 HK): The Stars Don't Look Bigger, but They Do Look Brighter</a></p>

In the spirit of the long-awaited UEFA Euro 2020, we present our inaugural "China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook", which summarizes our views on the names that are best positioned to navigate an environment of progressively slower credit growth, tighter liquidity and rising defaults. 
Our screen consists of 100+ stocks in the A/H share universe, as well as a select number of international / non-traditional names that have significant exposures to China's financial system. We have a preference for larger-cap and liquid names, which are then filtered by our opinions on their fundamentals, value, momentum and recent trading volumes. We also try to make our selections versatile and less vulnerable to single-factor movements.
Each player's position on the pitch and the team formation itself convey incremental information about our thoughts on the sector's performance over a three to six-month horizon. To the extent possible, we intend to update our ideas on a periodic basis. This provides a feedback loop with our other ongoing research on the industry.
However, our team selections are not investment recommendations. Instead, they are meant to give structure to our analysis. The playbook allows us to articulate our views on the sector in a timely, concise manner. Our objective is to ensure we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as sentiments on the sector remain bleak.
With that out of the way, the following is our starting XI. We will dive deeper into our rationale for our selections in the remainder of this insight (Exhibit 1).



Exhibit 1: China Financials | Silver Linings Playbook





Source: Our analysis




Related Insights
China Macro: Consumers Remain on the Sidelines, as Their Home Equity Grows 
Glut and Famine: We Might See Snow in China This Summer 
China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears 
China Macro: Exports Disappoint, but It's Still Early in the Game 
Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May 
ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story 
BOC Aviation (2588 HK): The Stars Don't Look Bigger, but They Do Look Brighter

China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

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.

Equity Capital Markets

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/waterdrop-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33018:1" rel="noopener">Waterdrop Inc (WDH US)</a>, a technology platform for insurance and healthcare services in China, aims to raise around US$500m in its US IPO. <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> owned 22.1% and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/swiss-re-ag-1f83dcbc-730e-46fa-82f2-bfe7e8e361a1" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27914:1" rel="noopener">Swiss Re AG (SREN SW)</a> owned 5.7% of the company prior to its listing.</p></div><div><p>In our previous note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/waterdrop-pre-ipo-the-positives-fast-growth-strong-backers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Waterdrop Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Strong Backers</a>, we spoke about the positive aspects of the deal. </p></div><div><p>In this note, we will talk about the not so flattering aspects</p></div>

Waterdrop Inc (WDH US), a technology platform for insurance and healthcare services in China, aims to raise around US$500m in its US IPO. Tencent Holdings (700 HK) owned 22.1% and Swiss Re AG (SREN SW) owned 5.7% of the company prior to its listing.In our previous note, Waterdrop Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Strong Backers, we spoke about the positive aspects of the deal. In this note, we will talk about the not so flattering aspects

Waterdrop Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Scandals, Shutdowns, Competing with Giants, Regulation

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<div>
<p>This week in StubWorld ...</p>
</div>
<div>
<div class="content-highlight">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intouch-holdings-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17638:1" rel="noopener">Intouch Holdings (INTUCH TB)</a>'s long-term discount to NAV and the simple ratio (Intouch over <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/advanced-info-service-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:947:1" rel="noopener">Advanced Info Service (ADVANC TB)</a>) are at all-time extremes.  <br><br><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/8122" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8122:1" rel="noopener"></a>And <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/people-s-insurance-co-grou-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:362:1" rel="noopener">People's Insurance Co (PICC) (1339 HK)</a> is coming up "cheap" after fully correcting last years' narrowing.</div>
<div>Preceding my comments on Intouch and PICC, are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div>
<p>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.</p>
</div>


This week in StubWorld ...



Intouch Holdings (INTUCH TB)'s long-term discount to NAV and the simple ratio (Intouch over Advanced Info Service (ADVANC TB)) are at all-time extremes.    And People's Insurance Co (PICC) (1339 HK) is coming up "cheap" after fully correcting last years' narrowing.
Preceding my comments on Intouch and PICC, are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.



These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.


StubWorld: Reverse Intouch's Stub; (Potentially) Set Up PICC (1339 HK)'s

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

ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance C / Equity Bottom-Up

<p><strong><em>*First Year Of Profitability: </em></strong>ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance (6060.HK) [ZhongAn] reported full year 2020 bottom-line results of CNY 554 mn, an increase of CNY 1.0 bn over losses of CNY 454 mn in 2019. Much of the turnaround in what amounts to ZhongAn’s first year of profitability can be attributed to the YOY volume growth in net earned premium of CNY 3.4 bn (26.7%) to CNY 16.7 bn; and </p><p><strong><em>*Credit Insurance &amp; Investment Concerns: </em></strong>The YOY combined ratio improvement of 10.8% to 102.5%, in pur view, is due largely to the improvement in credit insurance whose loss ratio declined from 97% in 2019 to 63%. We have a difficult time believing that little old ZhongAn has figured out the secret sauce to credit insurance risk. With value challenges ahead in ZhongAn’s illiquid securities portfolio (Challenged Tier 2/3 bank negotiable CDs and alternatives) and the CBIRC’s enabling of insurers to increase their concentration in equities, we question solvency margins and future ZhongAn dividends.</p>

*First Year Of Profitability: ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance (6060.HK) [ZhongAn] reported full year 2020 bottom-line results of CNY 554 mn, an increase of CNY 1.0 bn over losses of CNY 454 mn in 2019. Much of the turnaround in what amounts to ZhongAn’s first year of profitability can be attributed to the YOY volume growth in net earned premium of CNY 3.4 bn (26.7%) to CNY 16.7 bn; and *Credit Insurance &amp; Investment Concerns: The YOY combined ratio improvement of 10.8% to 102.5%, in pur view, is due largely to the improvement in credit insurance whose loss ratio declined from 97% in 2019 to 63%. We have a difficult time believing that little old ZhongAn has figured out the secret sauce to credit insurance risk. With value challenges ahead in ZhongAn’s illiquid securities portfolio (Challenged Tier 2/3 bank negotiable CDs and alternatives) and the CBIRC’s enabling of insurers to increase their concentration in equities, we question solvency margins and future ZhongAn dividends.

ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance – Don’t Believe The Hype

Last Week in Event SPACE: Capitaland, Languang Justbon, Fast Retailing, Crown Resorts, Adani Power

China

China Pacific Insurance (Group) Company, Ltd. is an integrated insurance services provider. The Company offers life and property insurance products through its subsidiaries.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Limited provides products and services through its five ecosystems in financial services, healthcare, auto services, real estate services and Smart City solutions. The Group's insurance business writes property, casualty, and life insurance products.

New China Life Insurance Company Limited provides life insurance in local and foreign currencies, acts as an insurance agent, provides checks, claims and insurance consulting. The Company's main products include life insurance, accident insurance, health insurance products and services.

The People's Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited, through its subsidiaries, offers a range of property and casualty insurance products. The Company also offers asset management services for a variety of customers throughout China.

China Life Insurance Company Ltd. offers a wide range of life, accident, and health insurance products and services.

China Reinsurance (Group) Corporation is a reinsurance company. The company operates four principal business segments, consisting of P&C reinsurance, life and health reinsurance, primary P&C insurance and asset management businesses.

ZhongAn Online P & C Insurance Co., Ltd. operates as an insurance company. The Company develops and sells health, airline, and automotive insurance, and other products. ZhongAn Online P & C Insurance also offers online consumer finance services.

Fanhua, Inc. operates an independent insurance agency and brokerage company. The Company provides wealth management, property, casualty, and life products, as well as consumer finance, insurance claims adjusting services,such as damage assessments, surveys, authentications, and loss estimations.

CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. provides securities brokerage, trading, underwriting, investment banking, asset management, and investment consulting services.

Ping An Bank Co Ltd provides a full range of commercial banking services including RMB and foreign currency deposit, loan, international and domestic settlement, discount, currency trading, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and other related services.

Sompo Holdings, Inc, is a holding company established through the integration of Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. and NIPPONKOA Insurance Company Limited. Through subsidiaries, the Company provides non-life insurance including marine, fire, and automobile, as well as life insurance.

The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd. underwrites and sells life, health and annuity insurance to groups and individuals. The Company offers a wide variety of insurance products to suit different needs, ranging from children's school tuition to emergency funds for the elderly.

Arch Capital Group Ltd. is a Bermuda-based insurance and financial services company that provides reinsurance and insurance products on a worldwide basis.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, offers property and casualty and life insurance.  The Company markets a variety of insurance products and provides leasing and financing services.

Markel Corporation markets and underwrites specialty insurance products and programs to a variety of niche markets.  The Company also underwrites a diverse property, casualty, marine, and aviation insurance and reinsurance business on a worldwide basis.

W. R. Berkley Corporation, an insurance holding company, conducts operations in various segments of the property casualty insurance business.  Segments include specialty lines of insurance, alternative markets, reinsurance, regional property casualty insurance, and international.

Principal Financial Group, Inc. offers businesses, individuals and institutional clients a range of financial products and services.  The Company offers retirement solutions, life and health insurance, wellness programs, and investment and banking products.

Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd. is a holding company.  Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides traditional life, health care, and accident insurances, as well as banking, security underwriting, and brokerage services.

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. provides a range of insurance products.  The Company's products include property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds.  Hartford Financial is based and operates in the U.S.

Brown & Brown, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide a range of insurance and reinsurance products and services.  The Company also provides risk management, employee benefit administration, and managed health care services.  Brown & Brown operates offices across the United States.

PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited provides insurance services. The Company provides property loss insurances, liability insurances, credit insurances, accidental injury insurances, short term health insurances, guarantee insurances, and other insurance products. PICC Property and Casualty also operates investment businesses.

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PICC Property & Casualty H (2328 HK)

China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook

Our Silver Linings Playbook outlines our views on the China financials names that are most likely to remain resilient in the face of macro...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Waterdrop Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Scandals, Shutdowns, Competing with Giants, Regulation

Waterdrop, a technology platform for insurance and healthcare services in China, aims to raise around US$500m in its US IPO. Tencent owned 22.1%...

Sumeet Singh

StubWorld: Reverse Intouch's Stub; (Potentially) Set Up PICC (1339 HK)'s

Intouch Holdings (INTUCH TB)'s long-term discount to NAV and the simple ratio (Intouch over Advanced Info Service (ADVANC TB)) are at all-time...

David Blennerhassett

ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance – Don’t Believe The Hype

ZHONGAN ONLINE P&C INSURANCE: ZhongAn reported full year 2020 bottom-line results of CNY 554 mn. We have a difficult time believing that ZhongAn...

Thomas J. Monaco

Last Week in Event SPACE: Capitaland, Languang Justbon, Fast Retailing, Crown Resorts, Adani Power

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

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