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 Half Profits:</em></strong> ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance (6060.HK) [ZhongAn] reported positive 1H21 bottom-line results of CNY 604.1 mn, an increase of CNY 840.2 mn over losses of CNY 236.1 mn in 2H20. Results were primarily driven by P&amp;C, which delivered profits of CNY 1.0 bn - tracking the improvement in underwriting profits (combined ratio of 99.4%) and investment performance (up 43.2% HOH); and </p><p><strong><em>*Heavy Handed Government: </em></strong>Increased scrutiny of the online insurance segment by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) intimates the near wipeout of this current generation of online insurers. This regulatory onslaught is stifling innovation and likely will push business returns to well below the cost of equity.</p>

*First Half Profits: ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance (6060.HK) [ZhongAn] reported positive 1H21 bottom-line results of CNY 604.1 mn, an increase of CNY 840.2 mn over losses of CNY 236.1 mn in 2H20. Results were primarily driven by P&amp;C, which delivered profits of CNY 1.0 bn - tracking the improvement in underwriting profits (combined ratio of 99.4%) and investment performance (up 43.2% HOH); and *Heavy Handed Government: Increased scrutiny of the online insurance segment by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) intimates the near wipeout of this current generation of online insurers. This regulatory onslaught is stifling innovation and likely will push business returns to well below the cost of equity.

ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance – Loss Ratio Improvement

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/geely-automobile-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:127:1" rel="noopener">Geely Auto (175 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/postal-savings-bank-of-china" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22848:1" rel="noopener">Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cansino-biologics-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27739:1" rel="noopener">CanSino Biologics Inc (6185 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhongan-online-p-c-insurance-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23681:1" rel="noopener">ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance (6060 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netease" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29030:1" rel="noopener">NetEase (9999 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/country-garden-services-holdings-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27343:1" rel="noopener">Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-overseas-land-invest" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:419:1" rel="noopener">China Overseas Land &amp; Investment Ltd (688 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in the Consumer Discretionary, Health Care, Information Technology and Financials sectors while decreasing in the Communication Services, Real Estate and Consumer Staples sectors.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:838:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Bank (7182 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yaskawa-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2458:1" rel="noopener">Yaskawa Electric (6506 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/odakyu-electric-railway-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5405:1" rel="noopener">Odakyu Electric Railway (9007 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsui-osk-lines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20717:1" rel="noopener">Mitsui Osk Lines (9104 JP)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">freee (4478 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sharp-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:391:1" rel="noopener">Sharp Corp (6753 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kawasaki-kisen-kaisha-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3548:1" rel="noopener">Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (9107 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nabtesco-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13176:1" rel="noopener">Nabtesco Corp (6268 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-electric-power-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15457:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501 JP)</a>. Shorts increased in the Industrials, Financials and Information Technology sectors.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ncsoft-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5169:1" rel="noopener">NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netmarble-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22839:1" rel="noopener">Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/db-hitek-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18926:1" rel="noopener">DB Hitek Co., Ltd. (000990 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-telecom-co-ltd-bbccd86c-474d-4a4d-946d-10e911a225a2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:395:1" rel="noopener">SK Telecom (017670 KS)</a> and <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> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amorepacific-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20854:1" rel="noopener">Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-innovation-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1268:1" rel="noopener">SK Innovation (096770 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-household-health-care" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6501:1" rel="noopener">LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kt-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1112:1" rel="noopener">KT Corp (030200 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>In Taiwan, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mediatek-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:772:1" rel="noopener">Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergreen-marine-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15428:1" rel="noopener">Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innolux-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4509:1" rel="noopener">Innolux Corp (3481 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nuvoton-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15913:1" rel="noopener">Nuvoton Technology (4919 TT)</a> while shorts covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-cement" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19736:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Cement (1101 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ctbc-financial-holding-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:436:1" rel="noopener">Ctbc Financial Holding (2891 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yang-ming-marine-transport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8502:1" rel="noopener">Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nanya-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3269:1" rel="noopener">Nanya Technology (2408 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wan-hai-lines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14262:1" rel="noopener">Wan Hai Lines (2615 TT)</a>.</p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Meituan (3690 HK), Geely Auto (175 HK), Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK), CanSino Biologics Inc (6185 HK) and ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance (6060 HK) while there was short covering on Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK), NetEase (9999 HK), Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK) and China Overseas Land &amp; Investment Ltd (688 HK). Shorts increased in the Consumer Discretionary, Health Care, Information Technology and Financials sectors while decreasing in the Communication Services, Real Estate and Consumer Staples sectors.In Japan, stocks increased on Japan Post Bank (7182 JP), Toshiba Corp (6502 JP), Yaskawa Electric (6506 JP), Odakyu Electric Railway (9007 JP) and Mitsui Osk Lines (9104 JP) while there was short covering on freee (4478 JP), Sharp Corp (6753 JP), Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (9107 JP), Nabtesco Corp (6268 JP) and Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501 JP). Shorts increased in the Industrials, Financials and Information Technology sectors.In Korea, shorts increased on NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS), Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS), DB Hitek Co., Ltd. (000990 KS), SK Telecom (017670 KS) and Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) while shorts were covered on Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS), Kakao Corp (035720 KS), SK Innovation (096770 KS), LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS) and KT Corp (030200 KS).In Taiwan, shorts increased on Yageo Corporation (2327 TT), Mediatek Inc (2454 TT), Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT), Innolux Corp (3481 TT) and Nuvoton Technology (4919 TT) while shorts covered on Taiwan Cement (1101 TT), Ctbc Financial Holding (2891 TT), Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT), Nanya Technology (2408 TT) and Wan Hai Lines (2615 TT).

Asia Shorts: Meituan, Geely, Kuaishou, COLI, Toshiba, Freee, NCSOFT, SK Tel, Yang Ming, Wan Hai, EMC

<p><strong><em>*Better, But Off A Low Base: </em></strong>AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] released its 1H21 results. Operating profit amounted to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 5% YOY, while VONB improved 22% YOY to USD 1.8 bn due to a combination of higher new sales volume (ANP up across all markets ex-Hong Kong which declined 11% YOY) and VONB margin expansion from (up 4.6% to 59.0%). Net profit improved to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 47% YOY due to the large negative investment variance in 1H20; and</p><p><strong><em>* China And Hong Kong Risks Still Need To Be Addressed:</em></strong> Concerned about weakening organic growth, AIA has gone on a deal-making spree: Bank of East Asia’s (23.HK) [BEA] wholly-owned life insurance unit, BEA Life; an exclusive 15-year bancassurance relationship with BEA; acquisition of Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance’s underwritten closed life insurance; a strategic digital partnership with ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance’ (6060.HK) [ZhongAn]; and received CBIRC approval to restructure its Shanghai-based life insurance branch into a wholly-owned subsidiary. In addition to the massive managerial distractions with so many deals at one time, there are challenges of bogusly rated AAA mainland Chinese bonds; no end in sight with its flailing Hong Kong flagship; and getting the BEA Life team on the same with AIA Hong Kong. </p>

*Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] released its 1H21 results. Operating profit amounted to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 5% YOY, while VONB improved 22% YOY to USD 1.8 bn due to a combination of higher new sales volume (ANP up across all markets ex-Hong Kong which declined 11% YOY) and VONB margin expansion from (up 4.6% to 59.0%). Net profit improved to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 47% YOY due to the large negative investment variance in 1H20; and* China And Hong Kong Risks Still Need To Be Addressed: Concerned about weakening organic growth, AIA has gone on a deal-making spree: Bank of East Asia’s (23.HK) [BEA] wholly-owned life insurance unit, BEA Life; an exclusive 15-year bancassurance relationship with BEA; acquisition of Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance’s underwritten closed life insurance; a strategic digital partnership with ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance’ (6060.HK) [ZhongAn]; and received CBIRC approval to restructure its Shanghai-based life insurance branch into a wholly-owned subsidiary. In addition to the massive managerial distractions with so many deals at one time, there are challenges of bogusly rated AAA mainland Chinese bonds; no end in sight with its flailing Hong Kong flagship; and getting the BEA Life team on the same with AIA Hong Kong. 

<p><strong><em>*CBIRC Now Taking On Online Insurers: </em></strong>The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) roll out of the internet insurance revision plan “<em>Notice on Carrying out Special Rectification of Internet Insurance Disorders</em>” aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms, ordering firms and agencies to end improper marketing and pricing practices, and improve privacy protections; and</p><p><strong><em>*Very Negative Implications For Insurers And Broader Market: </em></strong>This move by the CBIRC would intimate the near wipeout of the current generation of online insurers. This regulatory onslaught is stifling innovation and likely push business returns to well below the cost of equity. This heavy-handed approach is causing the outflow of foreign capital from mainland China to be sustainably heavy for an extended period of time.</p>

*CBIRC Now Taking On Online Insurers: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) roll out of the internet insurance revision plan “Notice on Carrying out Special Rectification of Internet Insurance Disorders” aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms, ordering firms and agencies to end improper marketing and pricing practices, and improve privacy protections; and*Very Negative Implications For Insurers And Broader Market: This move by the CBIRC would intimate the near wipeout of the current generation of online insurers. This regulatory onslaught is stifling innovation and likely push business returns to well below the cost of equity. This heavy-handed approach is causing the outflow of foreign capital from mainland China to be sustainably heavy for an extended period of time.

ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance – Tapped By The Ugly Stick

Smartkarma Research Team, Smartkarma

Smartkarma Research

Smartkarma Research Team

Smartkarma

Smartkarma unites the fragmented investment industry, connecting institutional investors, independent research providers, and corporates within a single network.

Research Reinvented

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>For our next Webinar, we welcome Insight Provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/stanley-tsai-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1116" rel="noopener">Stanley Tsai, CFA</a>, who will present his views on positioning in China financials for the remainder of 2021 in the face of a slowing economy, renewed concerns over Covid-19, and asset quality challenges.</p><div><div><h3>The webinar will be hosted on Wednesday, 18 August 2021, 17:00 SGT/HKT.</h3></div></div><div><div>
<div class="content-highlight"><h2><a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1H9pFZOB-RF2J00kbvMmxcw2c5gj?zoom_webinar_id=82322164524" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register for the Webinar here</a></h2></div>
<p>Stanley Tsai has over two decades' experience as a financials specialist across equities and fixed income. He is currently an advisor to a private investment fund and a non-executive director of a US VC fund.</p>
</div></div>

For our next Webinar, we welcome Insight Provider Stanley Tsai, CFA, who will present his views on positioning in China financials for the remainder of 2021 in the face of a slowing economy, renewed concerns over Covid-19, and asset quality challenges.The webinar will be hosted on Wednesday, 18 August 2021, 17:00 SGT/HKT.
Register for the Webinar here
Stanley Tsai has over two decades' experience as a financials specialist across equities and fixed income. He is currently an advisor to a private investment fund and a non-executive director of a US VC fund.


Smartkarma Webinar | China Banks: Silver Linings Playbook

China

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.

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ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance C (6060 HK)

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