Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>SAMR’s RMB18.2bn fine for abuse of market dominance could potentially be seen as a watershed marking that the worst of regulatory risk is past</li>
<li>In terms of Alibaba’s relative share performance, since the start of November 2020, it has clearly underperformed Tencent as well as Meituan and Pinduoduo</li>
<li>Relative to these peers, <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> trades at a discount on the core valuation metrics; versus its closest competitor <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> , Alibaba trades at a 28% discount to 2022E PE multiple and at a 21% discount to 2022E EV/EBITDA ratio</li>
<li>Nonetheless, in terms of long term growth potential, Alibaba’s PEG ratio discount of 5% to Tencent is low</li>
<li>In our view, Alibaba’s outlook, especially relating to regulatory risks, remain unclear, especially with regard to the future of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Financial Services Group (6688 HK)</a>, its value and its potential IPO</li>
<li>Risks to our bearish view on Alibaba include a better than expected performance versus its core competitors and a fast resolution to regulatory risks with SAMR</li>
</ul>


SAMR’s RMB18.2bn fine for abuse of market dominance could potentially be seen as a watershed marking that the worst of regulatory risk is past
In terms of Alibaba’s relative share performance, since the start of November 2020, it has clearly underperformed Tencent as well as Meituan and Pinduoduo
Relative to these peers, Alibaba Group (BABA US) trades at a discount on the core valuation metrics; versus its closest competitor Tencent Holdings (700 HK) , Alibaba trades at a 28% discount to 2022E PE multiple and at a 21% discount to 2022E EV/EBITDA ratio
Nonetheless, in terms of long term growth potential, Alibaba’s PEG ratio discount of 5% to Tencent is low
In our view, Alibaba’s outlook, especially relating to regulatory risks, remain unclear, especially with regard to the future of Ant Financial Services Group (6688 HK), its value and its potential IPO
Risks to our bearish view on Alibaba include a better than expected performance versus its core competitors and a fast resolution to regulatory risks with SAMR


Alibaba (BABA) Fine – Close, but No Cigar

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

<p><strong><em>*Focus On Positives: </em></strong>Given the scrutiny that Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [Tencent] has come under, it comes as no surprise that Tencent wanted to highlight its positive developments such as international expansion and tailwinds in gaming, potential ad load expansion in Video Accounts, and Mini Programs enrichment; and</p><p><strong><em>*Elephant In The Room: </em></strong><strong>Over time, </strong>it is our belief that Tencent likely will be required to create a financial holding company for all of its banking, insurance, and payment services businesses – and be regulated along the lines of the banking sector. For Tencent, WeChat Pay and the broader lending/deposit taking business are likely to be reined-in. No matter what spin that Tencent wants to place on its other businesses, an FHC represents significant downside risks.</p>

*Focus On Positives: Given the scrutiny that Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [Tencent] has come under, it comes as no surprise that Tencent wanted to highlight its positive developments such as international expansion and tailwinds in gaming, potential ad load expansion in Video Accounts, and Mini Programs enrichment; and*Elephant In The Room: Over time, it is our belief that Tencent likely will be required to create a financial holding company for all of its banking, insurance, and payment services businesses – and be regulated along the lines of the banking sector. For Tencent, WeChat Pay and the broader lending/deposit taking business are likely to be reined-in. No matter what spin that Tencent wants to place on its other businesses, an FHC represents significant downside risks.

China and US Equity Analyst

Roger Xie

<ul>
<li>HKEx is rising as a global trading venue as secondary-listing Chinese companies are moving to swap their US ADRs to Hong Kong shares. Since <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> pioneered the secondary listing scheme in Hong Kong in 2018, the share fungibility has opened the door for swapping its US ADR to Hong Kong. We estimated that 20% of outstanding shares of Alibaba have been moved to Hong Kong.</li>
<li>Some top institutional investors, such as Temasek, Baillie Gifford, and Matthews Asia, are among the major shareholders that have swapped stakes in <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> US ADRs. This has reflected some strategic consideration to  avoid US sanction and delisting of Chinese tech companies. We expect this trend will likely accelerate in the future. For current 13 dual-listing Chinese ADRs, we expect 30% of total trading volume will be shifted to Hong Kong from US in next 2 years. This is a significant jump from around 18% of trading volume at Hong Kong now. Dual-listing Chinese ADRs at Hong Kong will likely accelerate as well. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a>  serves as the only offshore gateway to China capital market. HKEx has consistently enjoyed the superior margin and profitability, given that it can charge higher trading fee rates than other bourses. We forecast Securities ADT of HK$240bn in FY 21 (Hong Kong and Stock Connect Northbound). Given the acceleration of US ADRs conversion, there is risk to the upside of the Securities ADT forecast. We continue to favor <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a> and reiterate HKEx TP HKD 550. </li>
</ul>


HKEx is rising as a global trading venue as secondary-listing Chinese companies are moving to swap their US ADRs to Hong Kong shares. Since Alibaba Group (BABA US) pioneered the secondary listing scheme in Hong Kong in 2018, the share fungibility has opened the door for swapping its US ADR to Hong Kong. We estimated that 20% of outstanding shares of Alibaba have been moved to Hong Kong.
Some top institutional investors, such as Temasek, Baillie Gifford, and Matthews Asia, are among the major shareholders that have swapped stakes in Alibaba Group (BABA US) US ADRs. This has reflected some strategic consideration to  avoid US sanction and delisting of Chinese tech companies. We expect this trend will likely accelerate in the future. For current 13 dual-listing Chinese ADRs, we expect 30% of total trading volume will be shifted to Hong Kong from US in next 2 years. This is a significant jump from around 18% of trading volume at Hong Kong now. Dual-listing Chinese ADRs at Hong Kong will likely accelerate as well. 

HKEX (388 HK)  serves as the only offshore gateway to China capital market. HKEx has consistently enjoyed the superior margin and profitability, given that it can charge higher trading fee rates than other bourses. We forecast Securities ADT of HK$240bn in FY 21 (Hong Kong and Stock Connect Northbound). Given the acceleration of US ADRs conversion, there is risk to the upside of the Securities ADT forecast. We continue to favor HKEX (388 HK) and reiterate HKEx TP HKD 550. 


Hong Kong Market: Conversion of US ADRs Will Boost HKEx as Global Trading Venue

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>Trip.com plans to raise around US$1.2bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. We have looked at the background of the deal in our earlier note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/trip-com-secondary-listing-probably-needs-to-correct" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trip.com Secondary Listing - Probably Needs to Correct</a>.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>In this note, we’ll take a look at the final deal terms and talk about the impact of the raising.</p>
</div>


Trip.com plans to raise around US$1.2bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. We have looked at the background of the deal in our earlier note, Trip.com Secondary Listing - Probably Needs to Correct.


In this note, we’ll take a look at the final deal terms and talk about the impact of the raising.


Trip.com Secondary Listing Quick Take - Doing the Bare Minimum - Needs Some More Correction

Event-Driven

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/prosus-nv-75c7a0c4-16ff-4433-a40f-25ae5b24077d" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28498:1" rel="noopener">Prosus NV (PROSY US)</a> aims to raise around US$14.5bn via selling a 2% stake in <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> overnight in Hong Kong.</p>
<p>We spoke about the placement in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tencent-placement-another-reluctant-but-well-flagged-sell-down-lifting-the-us-14-5bn-overhang" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tencent Placement - Another Reluctant but Well-Flagged Sell Down, Lifting the US$14.5bn Overhang.</a></p>
</div><div><p>We have been covering the lock-up expiry since Feb 2021 in:</p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tencent-placement-lock-up-expiry-us-10bn-block-and-buyback-linked-holdco-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tencent Placement Lock-Up Expiry - US$10bn+ Block and Buyback Linked Holdco Trade, and</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tencent-placement-lock-up-expiry-block-and-buyback-linked-holdco-trade-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tencent Placement Lock-Up Expiry -  Block and Buyback Linked Holdco Trade Update</a></li>
</ul></div><div><p>While the overall cash being raised should be positive for Prosus and Naspers, not all aspects of the deal will be viewed positively. </p></div>


Prosus NV (PROSY US) aims to raise around US$14.5bn via selling a 2% stake in Tencent Holdings (700 HK) overnight in Hong Kong.
We spoke about the placement in Tencent Placement - Another Reluctant but Well-Flagged Sell Down, Lifting the US$14.5bn Overhang.
We have been covering the lock-up expiry since Feb 2021 in:
Tencent Placement Lock-Up Expiry - US$10bn+ Block and Buyback Linked Holdco Trade, and
Tencent Placement Lock-Up Expiry -  Block and Buyback Linked Holdco Trade Update
While the overall cash being raised should be positive for Prosus and Naspers, not all aspects of the deal will be viewed positively. 

Tencent Placement and the Holdco Implications - Deal Almost Done, Now What?

China

PDD Holdings Inc. is a multinational commerce group that owns and operates a portfolio of businesses. The Company focuses on digital economy so that local communities and small businesses can benefit from the increased productivity and new opportunities. PDD Holdings has built a network of sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment capabilities for its underlying businesses.

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PDD Holdings (PDD US)

Alibaba (BABA) Fine – Close, but No Cigar

SAMR's fine on Alibaba is a positive step in the process of resolving regulatory risk, but we are not there yet, in our view; unresolved issues...

Victor Galliano

Tencent Holdings – What Wasn’t Said

TENCENT HOLDINGS: Tencent receives a premium valuation which will be eroded over time, as it likely will be required to create an FHC. No matter...

Thomas J. Monaco

Hong Kong Market: Conversion of US ADRs Will Boost HKEx as Global Trading Venue

We expect 30% of total dual-list China ADR trading volume will be shifted to Hong Kong from US in next 2 years, a significant jump from current...

Roger Xie

Trip.com Secondary Listing Quick Take - Doing the Bare Minimum - Needs Some More Correction

Trip.com plans to raise around US$1.2bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. In this note, we’ll take a look at the final deal terms and talk...

Sumeet Singh

Tencent Placement and the Holdco Implications - Deal Almost Done, Now What?

Prosus NV aims to raise around US$14.5bn via selling a 2% stake in Tencent. While the overall raising should be positive for Prosus and Naspers,...

Sumeet Singh

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