Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>South African allocations have fallen to record lows among active GEM investors.  Over the last 6-months, weights have fallen by 0.77% to just 2.82% after fund outflows of $2.78bn.</li>
<li>Naspers was the driver following the Prosus exchange offer.  28 of the 126 pre-existing holders of Naspers sold down their positions , totalling $2.45bn in combined outflows</li>
<li>Strip out Naspers and South Africa looks to be bottoming out.  Selected stocks are starting to attract interest from active EM managers, led by FirstRand, MTN and Capitec.</li>
</ul>


South African allocations have fallen to record lows among active GEM investors.  Over the last 6-months, weights have fallen by 0.77% to just 2.82% after fund outflows of $2.78bn.
Naspers was the driver following the Prosus exchange offer.  28 of the 126 pre-existing holders of Naspers sold down their positions , totalling $2.45bn in combined outflows
Strip out Naspers and South Africa looks to be bottoming out.  Selected stocks are starting to attract interest from active EM managers, led by FirstRand, MTN and Capitec.


Naspers Drives South Africa Positioning to All-Time Lows, but Bright Spots Emerge

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

This summer saw the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/prosus-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28104:1" rel="noopener">Prosus (PRX NA)</a> Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naspers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21085:1" rel="noopener">Naspers (NPN SJ)</a> complete in early August, with Prosus now owning just under 50% of Naspers and Naspers owning ~38% of Prosus in what <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/david-blennerhassett" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:840" rel="noopener">David Blennerhassett</a> called the new <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/naspers-prosus-south-african-keswicks" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51401" rel="noopener">South African "Keswicks"</a> (a reference to the circular relationship of the Jardines complex, recently unwound, where for years/decades it just went on as the Keswick family thought was in their own interests.
Pre-Offer results, I reco'd going long the Naspers-Prosus spread where it was trading ex-Offer at 670bp or so in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/naspers-deal-done-flex-participation-and-pro-ration-misunderstandings-and-index-changes-galore" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:56011" rel="noopener">Naspers Deal Done - Flex Participation and Pro-Ration, Misunderstandings, and INDEX CHANGES GALORE!</a> 
Just after the offer results were out and the initial index changes were made, the spread between Naspers and Prosus widened significantly to near (and briefly above) 20% against Offer Terms. I recommended unwinding the spread-widening trade and putting on a spread-narrowing trade in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/naspers-prosus-initial-index-changes-done-now-to-reverse-the-trade" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:56256" rel="noopener">Naspers/Prosus Initial Index Changes Done, Now To Reverse the Trade</a>.
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So what next?

This summer saw the Prosus (PRX NA) Offer for Naspers (NPN SJ) complete in early August, with Prosus now owning just under 50% of Naspers and Naspers owning ~38% of Prosus in what David Blennerhassett called the new South African "Keswicks" (a reference to the circular relationship of the Jardines complex, recently unwound, where for years/decades it just went on as the Keswick family thought was in their own interests.
Pre-Offer results, I reco'd going long the Naspers-Prosus spread where it was trading ex-Offer at 670bp or so in Naspers Deal Done - Flex Participation and Pro-Ration, Misunderstandings, and INDEX CHANGES GALORE! 
Just after the offer results were out and the initial index changes were made, the spread between Naspers and Prosus widened significantly to near (and briefly above) 20% against Offer Terms. I recommended unwinding the spread-widening trade and putting on a spread-narrowing trade in Naspers/Prosus Initial Index Changes Done, Now To Reverse the Trade.






So what next? 

I said on Monday that I would have wanted to be long the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naspers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21085:1" rel="noopener">Naspers (NPN SJ)</a> discount to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/prosus-nv-2e2a2230-64b0-4044-b797-a3880fcb487a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28301:1" rel="noopener">Prosus NV (PRX SJ)</a> Exchange Offer Terms (i.e. short Naspers vs PRX) at 670bp which is where it was as I published <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/naspers-deal-done-flex-participation-and-pro-ration-misunderstandings-and-index-changes-galore" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:56011" rel="noopener">Naspers Deal Done - Flex Participation and Pro-Ration, Misunderstandings, and INDEX CHANGES GALORE!</a>That turned out OK.It traded to the 1600-1700bp level late in the day and appears to have closed at ~19% on a sharp move in both names at the South African close. The Dutch ticker for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/prosus-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28104:1" rel="noopener">Prosus (PRX NA)</a> saw a substantial pick-up in volume after the South African close and the final print was on roughly €2.7bn of volume but the shares fell 1% in the last five minutes then 2.5%+ on the final print.  So that's done. It was good to be bearish. Now we look at the NEXT step. First, there will be SOME DATA collected on 20 August. It is not clear whether it will be disclosed on 23-24 Aug (some people will know it because it is paid data, but it may not be that publicly known, and I may not know it, even if I have a pretty good idea) or if it will be disclosed only on the first of September when OTHER DATA will be disclosed. At that time, I expect some people will be mildly surprised. There is a chance of STILL OTHER INPUT to be disruptive. If that happens, then there could be a flip-flop on the September event, and I will be surprised. But I rather expect any decision on STILL OTHER INPUT will be left until Q4 at the very earliest. Weirdly, the SOME DATA and OTHER DATA will cause Some People to do Some Things which will, interestingly, cause NEXT STAGE OTHER DATA to be created. That will in turn cause the above-mentioned Some People to do Some of the Same Things again in December.It is weirdly recursive, but that is the way the cookie crumbles.It is worth looking at how this shakes out.

I said on Monday that I would have wanted to be long the Naspers (NPN SJ) discount to Prosus NV (PRX SJ) Exchange Offer Terms (i.e. short Naspers vs PRX) at 670bp which is where it was as I published Naspers Deal Done - Flex Participation and Pro-Ration, Misunderstandings, and INDEX CHANGES GALORE!That turned out OK.It traded to the 1600-1700bp level late in the day and appears to have closed at ~19% on a sharp move in both names at the South African close. The Dutch ticker for Prosus (PRX NA) saw a substantial pick-up in volume after the South African close and the final print was on roughly €2.7bn of volume but the shares fell 1% in the last five minutes then 2.5%+ on the final print.  So that's done. It was good to be bearish. Now we look at the NEXT step. First, there will be SOME DATA collected on 20 August. It is not clear whether it will be disclosed on 23-24 Aug (some people will know it because it is paid data, but it may not be that publicly known, and I may not know it, even if I have a pretty good idea) or if it will be disclosed only on the first of September when OTHER DATA will be disclosed. At that time, I expect some people will be mildly surprised. There is a chance of STILL OTHER INPUT to be disruptive. If that happens, then there could be a flip-flop on the September event, and I will be surprised. But I rather expect any decision on STILL OTHER INPUT will be left until Q4 at the very earliest. Weirdly, the SOME DATA and OTHER DATA will cause Some People to do Some Things which will, interestingly, cause NEXT STAGE OTHER DATA to be created. That will in turn cause the above-mentioned Some People to do Some of the Same Things again in December.It is weirdly recursive, but that is the way the cookie crumbles.It is worth looking at how this shakes out. 

Naspers/Prosus Initial Index Changes Done, Now To Reverse the Trade

Today is the last day of trading for the Naspers Exchange Offer before it goes ex- tomorrow. A number of investors and traders will find it impossible to buy and offer their shares through normal settlement mechanisms and could only do so on swap as normal corporate action windows would have closed.That said, after a brief hiccup this morning, the spread is trading quite stably where it was yesterday at 4.8-5.3%. <section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/223/127/original/Screenshot+2021-08-10+at+7.16.18+PM.png?1628594193" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="223127"></figure></section>Going forward, the process of spread change, and flow impacts will hop around a bit, and this is a brief guide to that timing and expected influence.

Today is the last day of trading for the Naspers Exchange Offer before it goes ex- tomorrow. A number of investors and traders will find it impossible to buy and offer their shares through normal settlement mechanisms and could only do so on swap as normal corporate action windows would have closed.That said, after a brief hiccup this morning, the spread is trading quite stably where it was yesterday at 4.8-5.3%. Going forward, the process of spread change, and flow impacts will hop around a bit, and this is a brief guide to that timing and expected influence.

Today, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naspers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21085:1" rel="noopener">Naspers (NPN SJ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/prosus-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28104:1" rel="noopener">Prosus (PRX NA)</a> surprised most of us by announcing a Proposed Voluntary Share Exchange Offer to Naspers Shareholders. The deal involves offering Naspers shareholders the chance to convert their Naspers shares to Prosus shares at a premium to the last trade and recent value, and offer "value" to Prosus shareholders via accretion.The resulting complexity is, however, less attractive. The initial response was to see the Naspers-Prosus spread tighten. The next response is to widen back out a bit. The coming days will tell you what the real response is. The response of the Prosus:NAV ratio is the more informative of the two. Eventually, the model accretion plus buyback accretion at Prosus should win shareholders over, and domestic Naspers shareholders should find the structure slightly attractive, but the call made clear that despite executives having spent a LOT of time on this, they clearly hadn't thought everything through.

Today, Naspers (NPN SJ) and Prosus (PRX NA) surprised most of us by announcing a Proposed Voluntary Share Exchange Offer to Naspers Shareholders. The deal involves offering Naspers shareholders the chance to convert their Naspers shares to Prosus shares at a premium to the last trade and recent value, and offer "value" to Prosus shareholders via accretion.The resulting complexity is, however, less attractive. The initial response was to see the Naspers-Prosus spread tighten. The next response is to widen back out a bit. The coming days will tell you what the real response is. The response of the Prosus:NAV ratio is the more informative of the two. Eventually, the model accretion plus buyback accretion at Prosus should win shareholders over, and domestic Naspers shareholders should find the structure slightly attractive, but the call made clear that despite executives having spent a LOT of time on this, they clearly hadn't thought everything through. 

Naspers & Prosus Exchange Offer - Accretion Vs Complexity

China

JD.com Inc is an online direct sales company in China.  The Company offers a wide selection of products through its website and mobile applications.  JD.com sells appliances, computers, digital products, communication products, garments, books, and household items to consumers and vendors.

Prosus N.V. provides internet based services. The Company focuses on investments in internet, digital media, e-commerce retailing, and consumer internet companies. Prosus serves customers worldwide.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited provides online sales services. The Company provides internet infrastructure, electronic commerce, online financial, and internet content services through its subsidiaries. Alibaba Group Holding offers its products and services worldwide.

Hainan Island Construction Co Ltd.  is a property development company. The Company also operates regional malls and hotels.

Guangzhou Friendship Group Co., Ltd operates supermarkets and department stores in Guangzhou, China.  The Company sells a variety of consumer products, including apparel, food and beverages, electronics, jewelry, cosmetics, and electric appliances.  Guangzhou Friendship also leases real estate properties.

Guangzhou Friendship Group Co, Ltd. (000987 CH)

Golden Eagle Retail Group Limited operates department stores in China. The Company's stores target mid-range and high-end market segments in China, and contain various functions and amenities such as dining, entertainment, beauty and personal care, cinemas, and preschool education in addition to their core function as an international department store.

Tianjin Quanye Bazaar (Group) Co., Ltd. owns and operates department stores and supermarkets, as well as sells general merchandise on a wholesale basis. Tianjin Quanye also provides storage and cargo delivery services, and invests in real estate and interior decoration businesses.

Xian International Medical Investment Co Ltd is principally engaged in the medical services industry.

Xian International Medical Invest (000516 CH)

Wangfujing Group Co., Ltd. owns and operates department stores in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, and other cities in China.  The Company also develops residential real estate.

Nanjing Xinjiekou Department Store Co. Ltd. operates department stores in Nanjing, Jiangsu.  Through its subsidiaries, the Company also develops real estate and manufactures pharmaceuticals.

Nanjing Xinjiekou Department S (600682 CH)

Dollar General Corporation operates a chain of discount retail stores located primarily in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern United States. The Company offer a broad selection of merchandise, including consumable products such as food, paper and cleaning products, health, beauty, pet supplies, and non-consumables such as seasonal merchandise.

Trent Limited operates a chain of retail stores that sell fashion apparel, cosmetics, perfumery products and toiletry items. The Company sells apparel for men, women and children. Trent sells its cosmetics products under the "Westside" and "Trent" brand names.

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates a discount variety store chain in the United States. The Company sells an assortment of everyday general merchandise at the $1.00 price point.

Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation operates discount stores which sell consumer electronics, daily necessities, groceries, watches, and sporting goods. The Company mostly operates small scale stores based in Tokyo.

Pan Pacific International Holdings (7532 JP)

Target Corporation operates general merchandise discount stores. The Company focuses on merchandising operations which includes general merchandise and food discount stores and a fully integrated online business. Target also offers credit to qualified applicants through its branded proprietary credit cards.

Naspers Limited operates in the technology industry. The Company invests in global internet companies across the world.

Next Plc conducts retailing, home shopping, and customer services management operations.  The Company's retail stores sell ladies wear, mens wear, childrens wear, and housewares.

Avenue Supermarts Ltd. (ASL) owns and operates hypermarkets and supermarkets. The Company offers products such as garments, footwears, toys and games, bed and bath linen, stationery, grocery, household, and electronic products. ASL operates throughout India.

Dollarama Inc. operates as an online marketplace. The Company offers cleaning, school, office, home, kitchen, food, health, beauty, hardware, electronics, toys, and pets products, as well as provides delivery services. Dollarama serves customers in Canada.

MercadoLibre, Inc. operates an online trading site for the Latin American markets. The Company's website allows businesses and individuals to list items, conduct sales, and purchases online in either a fixed-price and auction format. MercadoLibre offers classified advertisements for motor vehicles, vessels, aircraft, and real estate, as well as online payment services.

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Prosus NV (PRX SJ)

Naspers Drives South Africa Positioning to All-Time Lows, but Bright Spots Emerge

Heavy selling in Naspers has driven South Africa exposure to record lows following the Prosus exchange offer. EM active managers turn instead to...

Steven Holden

Naspers/Prosus Spread - What Next?

The Naspers/Prosus reorg/Offer/Crossholding Structure was completed in early August. Index changes in mid-August, buyback program on Prosus started...

Travis Lundy

Naspers/Prosus Initial Index Changes Done, Now To Reverse the Trade

The short Naspers long Prosus trade on the back end Monday worked a charm. Now it's time to reverse it. This was a trade of steps. Still is.

Travis Lundy

Naspers/Prosus - Now We Go Ex-Offer

Naspers goes ex-Offer on Wednesday 11 August. The Offer closes 13 August. We could see a price dip on NPN between, which could encourage pro-ration...

Travis Lundy

Naspers & Prosus Exchange Offer - Accretion Vs Complexity

Naspers and Prosus propose an Exchange Offer for 45.4% of Naspers to receive Prosus shares. Prosus will own 49.5% of Naspers. There is accretion,...

Travis Lundy

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