Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

The US Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) ordered its ports to begin seizing all disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/top-glove-corp-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20759:1" rel="noopener">Top Glove Corp (TOPG MK)</a>, citing that CBP has found sufficient evidence to determine that the imported goods were produced using forced labour practices. Top Glove shares sank 5.3% yesterday and another 5.4% today to close at MYR 4.52 per share.Even though the immediate financial impact from the above order is some what limited, we believe the order to have a significant impact on Top Glove’s financial performance in the post COVID era. Moreover, it could affect the company’s proposed Hong Kong Offering and also risk getting thrown out of ESG indices.

The US Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) ordered its ports to begin seizing all disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by Top Glove Corp (TOPG MK), citing that CBP has found sufficient evidence to determine that the imported goods were produced using forced labour practices. Top Glove shares sank 5.3% yesterday and another 5.4% today to close at MYR 4.52 per share.Even though the immediate financial impact from the above order is some what limited, we believe the order to have a significant impact on Top Glove’s financial performance in the post COVID era. Moreover, it could affect the company’s proposed Hong Kong Offering and also risk getting thrown out of ESG indices.

CBP to Seize Goods Over Forced Labour: The Impact Limited in The Short Run & Severe in The Long Run

Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

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

Macroeconomics

Trade data for February 2021 (due next week), the first for the Biden era, will be scrutinized for bilateral deficits. In 2020, the US' bilateral deficits with only 3 of its top-10 trade partners declined -- Canada, Japan and Germany -- suggesting that Trump tariffs on steel and aluminium had worked partially. The US deficit with China declined sharply in 2019 and in Jan-Oct 2020, but mysteriously widened in the next 3 months. The US suspects that big deficits with Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia reflect transshipment of mainland-China products via those countries, and they are consequently already coming under some pressure. The trade war may not heat up further under Biden, but it will not cool down anytime soon. The US had a trade deficit of US$916 billion in 2020, 6% larger than in 2019, with exports down 14.1% YoY and imports down 6.6% YoY. But with net tourist and student inflows to the US down sharply, the current account deficit widened by as much as 35% to US$647 billion or 3.1% of GDP in 2020 (the largest in a decade, but much lower than the 2006 peak of 6% of GDP). US bilateral trade deficits with Canada, Japan and Germany (which are among top-5 trade partners) declined in 2020, suggesting that the impact of the steel and aluminium tariffs imposed early in the Trump term were beginning to finally pay off at least partly. Importantly, for the second consecutive year, the bilateral trade deficit with China declined (by a modest 3.6% YoY) to US$311 billion, the lowest since 2011. That bilateral deficit had widened in 2017 and 2018 (while Trump was only threatening but not actually imposing any tariffs). The imposition of tariffs on China's imports in 2019 (extended in 2020 to nearly half of goods imports from China) did contribute to reducing the US bilateral trade deficit with China. However, US imports from China increased 23.8% YoY in November-December 2020 (immediately after the US election), having declined in 9 of the first 10 months of 2020, and rose 17.5% YoY in Jan 2021.  The beneficiaries of export diversion from China were Vietnam, Switzerland, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia, who saw US imports from them rise significantly in 2020 -- thereby also widening the US' bilateral trade deficits with them in 2020. The US believes that at least some of these countries' widening trade surpluses with the US reflect Chinese exports being transshipped to the US via those countries. So the Biden administration is likely to pay increased attention not only to the bilateral trade deficit with China (which has mysteriously risen sharply again since the election), but also bilateral deficits with Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, etc., which may reflect the impact of transshipment of mainland-Chinese products into the US.

Trade data for February 2021 (due next week), the first for the Biden era, will be scrutinized for bilateral deficits. In 2020, the US' bilateral deficits with only 3 of its top-10 trade partners declined -- Canada, Japan and Germany -- suggesting that Trump tariffs on steel and aluminium had worked partially. The US deficit with China declined sharply in 2019 and in Jan-Oct 2020, but mysteriously widened in the next 3 months. The US suspects that big deficits with Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia reflect transshipment of mainland-China products via those countries, and they are consequently already coming under some pressure. The trade war may not heat up further under Biden, but it will not cool down anytime soon. The US had a trade deficit of US$916 billion in 2020, 6% larger than in 2019, with exports down 14.1% YoY and imports down 6.6% YoY. But with net tourist and student inflows to the US down sharply, the current account deficit widened by as much as 35% to US$647 billion or 3.1% of GDP in 2020 (the largest in a decade, but much lower than the 2006 peak of 6% of GDP). US bilateral trade deficits with Canada, Japan and Germany (which are among top-5 trade partners) declined in 2020, suggesting that the impact of the steel and aluminium tariffs imposed early in the Trump term were beginning to finally pay off at least partly. Importantly, for the second consecutive year, the bilateral trade deficit with China declined (by a modest 3.6% YoY) to US$311 billion, the lowest since 2011. That bilateral deficit had widened in 2017 and 2018 (while Trump was only threatening but not actually imposing any tariffs). The imposition of tariffs on China's imports in 2019 (extended in 2020 to nearly half of goods imports from China) did contribute to reducing the US bilateral trade deficit with China. However, US imports from China increased 23.8% YoY in November-December 2020 (immediately after the US election), having declined in 9 of the first 10 months of 2020, and rose 17.5% YoY in Jan 2021.  The beneficiaries of export diversion from China were Vietnam, Switzerland, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia, who saw US imports from them rise significantly in 2020 -- thereby also widening the US' bilateral trade deficits with them in 2020. The US believes that at least some of these countries' widening trade surpluses with the US reflect Chinese exports being transshipped to the US via those countries. So the Biden administration is likely to pay increased attention not only to the bilateral trade deficit with China (which has mysteriously risen sharply again since the election), but also bilateral deficits with Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, etc., which may reflect the impact of transshipment of mainland-Chinese products into the US. 

US: Trump's Record Card on Trade Mixed; China Trade Already Challenging Biden

Equity Capital Markets

Last Friday (26th Feb 2021), Malaysia and Singapore listed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/top-glove-corp-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20759:1" rel="noopener">Top Glove Corp (TOPG MK)</a>, the world’s largest rubber glove maker, provided additional details to its 12th October 2020 announcement regarding the proposed dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.Top Glove is expected to issue 1,495m new ordinary shares (including the over-allotment option of 195m shares) to raise approximately US$ 1.9bn via this dual primary listing. The requests for relevant approvals will be made within one month from the date of the announcement and the dual primary listing is expected to be completed by 2Q21.

Last Friday (26th Feb 2021), Malaysia and Singapore listed Top Glove Corp (TOPG MK), the world’s largest rubber glove maker, provided additional details to its 12th October 2020 announcement regarding the proposed dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.Top Glove is expected to issue 1,495m new ordinary shares (including the over-allotment option of 195m shares) to raise approximately US$ 1.9bn via this dual primary listing. The requests for relevant approvals will be made within one month from the date of the announcement and the dual primary listing is expected to be completed by 2Q21.

Top Glove Hong Kong Offering: From Supply Shortage to Oversupply

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

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.

Intco Medical Technology  Lt / Equity Capital Markets

Intco Medical, a leading glove manufacturer in China, is planning to raise at least USD 1bn from a Hong Kong listing. The company is a strong player in the PVC glove market but is currently a small player in the nitrile glove segment. With the strong demand of nitrile gloves brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand of nitrile gloves surged multiple times. The company has set a plan to expand its nitrile glove capacity by 6 times over the next four years. Based on its current plan, its total glove production capacity (nitrile and PVC) will rank in second place by the end of 2021E.Besides expanding its glove production plants, the company has also invested in the upstream thermal plants to reduce energy costs and nitrile latex manufacturing plants to secure supply of the key raw materials, further increasing its lead in the unit costs. We think the company's A-share valuation is not demanding and note that the stock has done well since the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Having said that, the industry has the issue of peaking ASP which justifies the undemanding valuation.

Intco Medical, a leading glove manufacturer in China, is planning to raise at least USD 1bn from a Hong Kong listing. The company is a strong player in the PVC glove market but is currently a small player in the nitrile glove segment. With the strong demand of nitrile gloves brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand of nitrile gloves surged multiple times. The company has set a plan to expand its nitrile glove capacity by 6 times over the next four years. Based on its current plan, its total glove production capacity (nitrile and PVC) will rank in second place by the end of 2021E.Besides expanding its glove production plants, the company has also invested in the upstream thermal plants to reduce energy costs and nitrile latex manufacturing plants to secure supply of the key raw materials, further increasing its lead in the unit costs. We think the company's A-share valuation is not demanding and note that the stock has done well since the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Having said that, the industry has the issue of peaking ASP which justifies the undemanding valuation.

Intco Medical (英科医疗) A+H: From China No.1 to Global No. 1

Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity indices. Companies mentioned this week:<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/huawei-technologies-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8231:1" rel="noopener">Huawei Technology (40978Z CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/top-glove-corp-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20759:1" rel="noopener">Top Glove Corp (TOPG MK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bytedance-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27936:1" rel="noopener">ByteDance (1460967D CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-telecom-corp-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1015:1" rel="noopener">China Telecom Corp Ltd (H) (728 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-unicom-hong-kong-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1016:1" rel="noopener">China Unicom Hong Kong (762 HK)</a>

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity indices. Companies mentioned this week:Huawei Technology (40978Z CH), Top Glove Corp (TOPG MK), Naver Corp (035420 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), ByteDance (1460967D CH), Alibaba Group (9988 HK), Baidu (BIDU US), China Mobile (941 HK), China Telecom Corp Ltd (H) (728 HK), China Unicom Hong Kong (762 HK) 

Global Emerging Markets Weekly: 22 January 2021

Malaysia

Hartalega Holdings Bhd. manufactures a wide range of latex gloves. The Company's products include natural rubber examination gloves, nitrile examination gloves, nitrile clean room gloves and natural rubber surgical gloves.

Kossan Rubber Industries Berhad manufactures and sells rubber products. Through its subsidiaries, the Company also manufactures and trades latex examination gloves as well as fabricates and installs machinery.

Supermax Corporation Berhad is an investment holding company whose subsidiaries manufacture, sell, and export various type of latex gloves around the world.

KPJ Healthcare Berhad is an investment holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the Company operates specialist medical centers and also provides pathology and laboratory services, hospital management services, drug and medical distribution along with operating a nursing college.

Careplus Group Berhad is an investment holding company. The Company's subsidiaries manufacture, process, and trade gloves, including latex, nitrile, and vinyl gloves. Careplus Group also provides other disposable protection products such as facemasks, respirators, gowns, and caps.

Adventa Berhad is an investment holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes sterile surgical and medical examination gloves as well as distributes medical and hospital related products. Adventa also generates and supplies energy and electricity using biomass technology.

TMC Life Sciences Bhd provides health care services.  The Company offers human infertility consulting and treatment services.

Pharmaniaga Berhad is an investment holding company.  The Company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes pharmaceutical and medical products to government hospitals and private institutions. Pharmaniaga also provides web portal services for online trading of health care products.

Focus Point Holdings Bhd owns and operates eye care centers. The Company also franchises eye care centers and provides medical eye care surgery and services.

Apex Healthcare Berhad is an investment holding company.  The Company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and retails pharmaceutical products.

Osstem Implant Co., Ltd. manufactures dental implant system. The Company also markets dental management software. Osstem Implant provides products for dental surgery and exports abroad.

Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited, through its subsidiaries, researches and develops, produces, and sells single-use aseptic polymer medical products.

Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co (1066 HK)

JEOL Ltd. manufactures electron optics instruments and analytical instruments including electron microscope, X-ray diffractometer and spectrometer and thermographs.  The Company also makes semiconductor manufacturing equipment, medical equipment and industrial equipment.

Sinocare Inc. develops, manufactures, sells biosensor technology real-time detection products. The Company's main products include rapid trace blood glucose testers, and supporting blood glucose testing strips.

Poly Medicure Limited manufactures disposable healthcare products. The Company offers a wide range of products for infusion therapy, anesthesia, urology, gastroenterology, blood management, surgery and drainage, and catheters.

CONMED Corporation provides orthopedic products, specializing in arthroscopy and powered surgical instruments.  The Company develops, manufactures, and supplies surgical instruments and systems used in a range of surgical procedures.  CONMED's products include arthroscopic surgery devices and powered surgical instruments, electrosurgery systems, and ECG electrodes for heart monitoring.

QuidelOrtho Corporation provides health care services. The Company offers technologies and platforms to benefit customers with expanded access to clinical chemistry, immunoassay, molecular diagnostics, immunohematology, donor screening, and point-of-care diagnostics offerings.

Shandong Pharmaceutical Glass Co., Ltd. manufactures and markets a variety of pharmaceutical glass products including molded vials, tube vials, ampoule, amber vials, infusion vials, and glass tubes.  The Company also manufactures paper packaging boxes and invests in petrochemical industry.

Shandong Pharmaceutical Glass Co., Ltd. A (600529 CH)

Shandong Pharmaceutical Glass Co., Ltd. A

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. manufactures medical devices for vascular surgeons and interventionists.  The Company develops, produces, and markets disposable and implantable devices for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, such as stent grafts, anastomotic clips, valvulotomes, radiopaque marking tape, shunts, and embolectomy catheters.

Veracyte, Inc. develops molecular tests for oncology. The Company offers molecular cytology and tests for the diagnostic accuracy of cytology samples. Veracyte provides its products and services to healthcare and molecular diagnostic companies in the United States.

Top Glove Corporation Bhd manufactures a wide range of latex gloves.  The Company's products include latex examination powdered, latex examination powderfree, nitrile examination gloves,soft nitrile examination gloves, vinyl examination gloves, surgical gloves, and other related products.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Top Glove Corp (TOPG MK)

CBP to Seize Goods Over Forced Labour: The Impact Limited in The Short Run & Severe in The Long Run

The immediate financial impact from the CBP order is limited. Yet we believe it to have a significant impact on Top Glove’s financial performance...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

US: Trump's Record Card on Trade Mixed; China Trade Already Challenging Biden

The US bilateral trade deficit with China declined in 2019 & Jan-Oct 20, but rose in the 3 post-election months. Focus is turning to transshipment...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Top Glove Hong Kong Offering: From Supply Shortage to Oversupply

Top Glove is expected to issue 1,495m new ordinary shares to raise approximately US$ 1.9bn via a dual primary listing in HK. The requests for...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Intco Medical (英科医疗) A+H: From China No.1 to Global No. 1

We think the company's valuation is not demanding and note that the stock has done well since the COVID-19 pandemic last year with only the issue...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Global Emerging Markets Weekly: 22 January 2021

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity...

Wium Malan, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)