China

In this briefing:

1. Tencent (700 HK): The Worst Part Online Game Recovered in Q4 Before Restarting License Approval
2. Navitas Gets An Agreed Deal with BGH
3. Up Fintech (Tiger Brokers) IPO Trading Update – First Day Volume Was Higher than Futu, Close to QTT
4. Tencent Music: A Case of Failing to Live up to Hyped Expectations
5. Tencent Music (TME): Problems Come from Corporate Clients and In-House Contents, 35% Downside

1. Tencent (700 HK): The Worst Part Online Game Recovered in Q4 Before Restarting License Approval

• The worst business, online game, recovered in 4Q2018, because small competitors died.
• The growth rate of game broadcast also bounced up in 4Q2018, as an important competitor Panda TV went bankrupt.
• In fact, games are only a small part of Tencent and other businesses have been growing strongly.
• The re-organization in October 2018 controlled expenses well.
• The 5-year P/E band suggests that Tencent’s stock price has upside of 26%.

2. Navitas Gets An Agreed Deal with BGH

After 6 months of haggling and due diligence, debt negotiation, and structuring, global education company Navitas Ltd (NVT AU) has now signed a Board-recommended Scheme Implementation Deed with a consortium led by Australian Private Equity firm BGH Capital consortium which includes Navitas Founder Rod Jones (also the largest holder at 13%) and AustralianSuper.

The agreed Scheme Price of A$5.825 is a 6% uplift from the original A$5.50 offered in the preliminary, indicative, non-binding offer announced on 10 October 2018 and a 34% premium to the undisturbed price of 9 October 2018 of A$4.35/share.

This history is that the consortium came in at A$5.50 (plus another cash+RollCo scrip offer), a month or so later the company effectively rejected it by not allowing the consortium to do due diligence after management lifted earnings guidance. This upset a number of shareholders. In November the share price ranged from A$4.95-5.25 or so and Chairman Tracey Horton got only 51% support at the AGM that month. The shares fell briefly below A$4.70 in early January this year before BGH came back in mid-January with a “revised indicative offer” of A$5.825 whereupon the shares bounced from about A$4.90 to about A$5.50 then climbed to A$5.60+ on 10mm shares volume in 3 days. 

The shares hovered around A$5.58-5.62 for 6-7 weeks until the beginning of March, briefly traded into the A$5.70s, and then traded back down the last few days this week to the A$5.59-5.63 area.

On Thursday 21 March the shares were halted for the day, StreetTalk had an article about the deal being imminent, and late in the afternoon, the BGH SID was announced. 

Now we start the official process. The Scheme document is expected to be dispatched in May 2019 with a deal completed by end-June or early July. I expect this deal gets up.

3. Up Fintech (Tiger Brokers) IPO Trading Update – First Day Volume Was Higher than Futu, Close to QTT

Up Fintech (TIGR US)‘s IPO was priced at US$8/share, above its range of US$5-7/ADS raising at total of US$111m, including the proceeds from the private placement with Interactive Brokers Group, Inc (IBKR US). 

In my earlier insights, I looked at the company’s background,  past financial performance, scored the deal on our IPO framework and compared it to Futu Holdings Ltd (FHL US): 

• Futu Holdings IPO Quick Note – Comparison with Tiger Brokers – Same Market, Different Economics
• Up Fintech (Tiger Brokers) Pre-IPO Quick Note – Much Too Reliant on IBKR
• Up Fintech (Tiger Brokers) IPO Quick Take – It’s Not like Futu, Won’t Perform like It Either

In this insight, I will re-visit some of the deal dynamics, comment on share price drivers and provide a table with implied valuations.

4. Tencent Music: A Case of Failing to Live up to Hyped Expectations

• One word to describe Tencent Music Entertainment’s (TME US) first conference call post IPO is uninspiring.
• Management does not provide concrete 2019/1Q19 guidance, but hints margin pressures persist largely due to investments in music contents.
• We expect that consensus still has to revise down TME’s 2019-20E net profits forecast by 17-26%.
• On our earnings forecast, TME unattractively trades at 46.3x/37x 2019-20E PE, a whopping 48-52% premium to peers average.

5. Tencent Music (TME): Problems Come from Corporate Clients and In-House Contents, 35% Downside

• Stripping music subscription revenues, we find TME’s revenues from corporate clients are not stable.
• We believe in-house products will negatively impact margin in 2019.
• We believe the main business line, social entertainment, will grow strongly. However, we also believe the market is over optimistic about the margin.
• We believe the stock price has downside of 35%.

In this briefing:

1. Foldable Smartphones to Debut in 2019; Will It Aid an Industry Turnaround?
2. MabPharma (迈博医药) IPO: Assembled for a Trade?

1. Foldable Smartphones to Debut in 2019; Will It Aid an Industry Turnaround?

Plans regarding Samsung and Huawei’s foldable smartphones are out. The companies, which happen to be two of the largest contenders in the smartphone landscape are expected to unveil their foldable smartphone prototypes this month. In 4Q2018, Samsung, coming in first place, held a market share of 18.7% while Huawei, in third place, held a market share of 16.1%. Both companies are following different strategies when it comes to their foldable phone models.

The concept of foldable phones revolves around devices that can be folded into the size of a smartphone or opened up in to the size of a tablet. Huawei is said to be planning to introduce their foldable smartphone with 5G compatibility while Samsung is planning to release their foldable model with 4G compatibility. The market leader aims to leverage the expertise it has gained on its display technologies in its foldable smartphones.

2. MabPharma (迈博医药) IPO: Assembled for a Trade?

MabPharma, backed by Chinese private equity investor CDH, is seeking to list in Hong Kong. In this insight, we will discuss the following topics:

• The company’s background
• Details of pipeline drug candidates, the potential market of these products and the competition
• Shareholders and investors
• Questions for management meetings
• Summary of our likes and concerns

We will leave the discussion of valuation for our next insight.

• CStone Pharma (基石药业) IPO: Strong Assembly and Backing (Part 1)

• Viva Biotech (维亚生物) IPO: When CRO Becomes Early Stage Biotech Investor

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: Takeaways from Recent 4+7 City Centralized Tender Results

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: A Leading Generic Player with Regulatory Overhang (Part 1)
• WuXi Apptec (药明康德) IPO: This A+H Listing Will Be Different

• Frontage Holding (方达控股) IPO: More Disclosure Needed to Understand Moat and Growth Prospect
• Ascentage Pharma (亚盛医药) IPO: Too Early for an IPO
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation (Part 2)
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Early in Application but Behind in Key Indications (Part 1)
• CanSino Biologics (康希诺) IPO: Promising Pre-Clinical Results but Vaccine Scandal Weighs (Part 1)

• AOBiome Therapeutics IPO: Hope for Natural Therapeutic Treatment
• Stealth Biotherapeutics IPO: Cure the Symptoms but Not the Cause (Part 1)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: Pricing the PD-1 and Biosimilars Competition (Part 2)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: A Major PD-1 MAb Competitor Might Have Just Emerged (Part 1)
• MicuRx Pharma (盟科医药) IPO: Betting on Single Drug in the Not so Attractive Antibiotic Segment
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Reviving Roche’s Failed Attempt?
• BeiGene (百济神州) IPO: Dual-Listing with Upside Capped in the Near Term
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Valuation Not Justified by Ganovo and Ravidasvir NPV (Part 3)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Three Valuation Risk Factors (Part 2)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Emerging Player in the Crowded HCV Drug Market
• China Isotope & Radiation IPO: Oligopoly, Visible Growth and High Barrier to Entry
• Zai Lab IPO: Thoughts on Valuation, Risks and Upsides (Part 2)
• Zai Lab IPO: Experienced Team, Promising In-Licensing Drug Pipeline (Part 1)

In this briefing:

1. Foldable Smartphones to Debut in 2019; Will It Aid an Industry Turnaround?
2. MabPharma (迈博医药) IPO: Assembled for a Trade?
3. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short

1. Foldable Smartphones to Debut in 2019; Will It Aid an Industry Turnaround?

Plans regarding Samsung and Huawei’s foldable smartphones are out. The companies, which happen to be two of the largest contenders in the smartphone landscape are expected to unveil their foldable smartphone prototypes this month. In 4Q2018, Samsung, coming in first place, held a market share of 18.7% while Huawei, in third place, held a market share of 16.1%. Both companies are following different strategies when it comes to their foldable phone models.

The concept of foldable phones revolves around devices that can be folded into the size of a smartphone or opened up in to the size of a tablet. Huawei is said to be planning to introduce their foldable smartphone with 5G compatibility while Samsung is planning to release their foldable model with 4G compatibility. The market leader aims to leverage the expertise it has gained on its display technologies in its foldable smartphones.

2. MabPharma (迈博医药) IPO: Assembled for a Trade?

MabPharma, backed by Chinese private equity investor CDH, is seeking to list in Hong Kong. In this insight, we will discuss the following topics:

• The company’s background
• Details of pipeline drug candidates, the potential market of these products and the competition
• Shareholders and investors
• Questions for management meetings
• Summary of our likes and concerns

We will leave the discussion of valuation for our next insight.

• CStone Pharma (基石药业) IPO: Strong Assembly and Backing (Part 1)

• Viva Biotech (维亚生物) IPO: When CRO Becomes Early Stage Biotech Investor

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: Takeaways from Recent 4+7 City Centralized Tender Results

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: A Leading Generic Player with Regulatory Overhang (Part 1)
• WuXi Apptec (药明康德) IPO: This A+H Listing Will Be Different

• Frontage Holding (方达控股) IPO: More Disclosure Needed to Understand Moat and Growth Prospect
• Ascentage Pharma (亚盛医药) IPO: Too Early for an IPO
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation (Part 2)
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Early in Application but Behind in Key Indications (Part 1)
• CanSino Biologics (康希诺) IPO: Promising Pre-Clinical Results but Vaccine Scandal Weighs (Part 1)

• AOBiome Therapeutics IPO: Hope for Natural Therapeutic Treatment
• Stealth Biotherapeutics IPO: Cure the Symptoms but Not the Cause (Part 1)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: Pricing the PD-1 and Biosimilars Competition (Part 2)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: A Major PD-1 MAb Competitor Might Have Just Emerged (Part 1)
• MicuRx Pharma (盟科医药) IPO: Betting on Single Drug in the Not so Attractive Antibiotic Segment
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Reviving Roche’s Failed Attempt?
• BeiGene (百济神州) IPO: Dual-Listing with Upside Capped in the Near Term
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Valuation Not Justified by Ganovo and Ravidasvir NPV (Part 3)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Three Valuation Risk Factors (Part 2)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Emerging Player in the Crowded HCV Drug Market
• China Isotope & Radiation IPO: Oligopoly, Visible Growth and High Barrier to Entry
• Zai Lab IPO: Thoughts on Valuation, Risks and Upsides (Part 2)
• Zai Lab IPO: Experienced Team, Promising In-Licensing Drug Pipeline (Part 1)

3. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short

Central banks around the world have signaled their willingness to return back to the Easy Money Playbook in their quest to re-stimulate economic growth and inflation. This significant shift in market expectations has been the key factor driving the recent rally in Gold (GOLD COMDTY) prices, and it appears to have legs.  As such, we are closing our Spdr Gold Shares (GLD US) short.

In this briefing:

1. Foldable Smartphones to Debut in 2019; Will It Aid an Industry Turnaround?
2. MabPharma (迈博医药) IPO: Assembled for a Trade?
3. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short
4. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping

1. Foldable Smartphones to Debut in 2019; Will It Aid an Industry Turnaround?

Plans regarding Samsung and Huawei’s foldable smartphones are out. The companies, which happen to be two of the largest contenders in the smartphone landscape are expected to unveil their foldable smartphone prototypes this month. In 4Q2018, Samsung, coming in first place, held a market share of 18.7% while Huawei, in third place, held a market share of 16.1%. Both companies are following different strategies when it comes to their foldable phone models.

The concept of foldable phones revolves around devices that can be folded into the size of a smartphone or opened up in to the size of a tablet. Huawei is said to be planning to introduce their foldable smartphone with 5G compatibility while Samsung is planning to release their foldable model with 4G compatibility. The market leader aims to leverage the expertise it has gained on its display technologies in its foldable smartphones.

2. MabPharma (迈博医药) IPO: Assembled for a Trade?

MabPharma, backed by Chinese private equity investor CDH, is seeking to list in Hong Kong. In this insight, we will discuss the following topics:

• The company’s background
• Details of pipeline drug candidates, the potential market of these products and the competition
• Shareholders and investors
• Questions for management meetings
• Summary of our likes and concerns

We will leave the discussion of valuation for our next insight.

• CStone Pharma (基石药业) IPO: Strong Assembly and Backing (Part 1)

• Viva Biotech (维亚生物) IPO: When CRO Becomes Early Stage Biotech Investor

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: Takeaways from Recent 4+7 City Centralized Tender Results

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: A Leading Generic Player with Regulatory Overhang (Part 1)
• WuXi Apptec (药明康德) IPO: This A+H Listing Will Be Different

• Frontage Holding (方达控股) IPO: More Disclosure Needed to Understand Moat and Growth Prospect
• Ascentage Pharma (亚盛医药) IPO: Too Early for an IPO
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation (Part 2)
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Early in Application but Behind in Key Indications (Part 1)
• CanSino Biologics (康希诺) IPO: Promising Pre-Clinical Results but Vaccine Scandal Weighs (Part 1)

• AOBiome Therapeutics IPO: Hope for Natural Therapeutic Treatment
• Stealth Biotherapeutics IPO: Cure the Symptoms but Not the Cause (Part 1)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: Pricing the PD-1 and Biosimilars Competition (Part 2)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: A Major PD-1 MAb Competitor Might Have Just Emerged (Part 1)
• MicuRx Pharma (盟科医药) IPO: Betting on Single Drug in the Not so Attractive Antibiotic Segment
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Reviving Roche’s Failed Attempt?
• BeiGene (百济神州) IPO: Dual-Listing with Upside Capped in the Near Term
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Valuation Not Justified by Ganovo and Ravidasvir NPV (Part 3)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Three Valuation Risk Factors (Part 2)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Emerging Player in the Crowded HCV Drug Market
• China Isotope & Radiation IPO: Oligopoly, Visible Growth and High Barrier to Entry
• Zai Lab IPO: Thoughts on Valuation, Risks and Upsides (Part 2)
• Zai Lab IPO: Experienced Team, Promising In-Licensing Drug Pipeline (Part 1)

3. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short

Central banks around the world have signaled their willingness to return back to the Easy Money Playbook in their quest to re-stimulate economic growth and inflation. This significant shift in market expectations has been the key factor driving the recent rally in Gold (GOLD COMDTY) prices, and it appears to have legs.  As such, we are closing our Spdr Gold Shares (GLD US) short.

4. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping

• Our analysis of how Spotify Technology Sa (SPOT US) turned profitable in 4Q18 reveals three key ingredients: critical mass in sales, GM progression, and core business diversification.
• With sales reaching critical mass, this would allow fixed costs to be spread out in such a way that opex/unit is lower than GP/unit.
• Progression in GM and core business diversification strategy are worth monitoring.
• Implication: Meituan Dianping’s (3690 HK) core business is ahead of iQIYI Inc (IQ US) in terms of profitability inflection point timeline.

In this briefing:

1. Gold May Rise on Lower Real Ylds; Canada Leads Fall in Real Ylds; Aust Inflation Expectations Slump
2. RRG Weekly – Fed Highlights Headwinds – Greece Greases Growth – Thai Election Sun Too Close to Call
3. A List of Major Korean Companies Shutting Down or Restructuring Their Operations in China
4. CATL Could Be Tesla’s New Battery Supplier- Panasonic in Trouble?
5. Tencent (700 HK): The Worst Part Online Game Recovered in Q4 Before Restarting License Approval

1. Gold May Rise on Lower Real Ylds; Canada Leads Fall in Real Ylds; Aust Inflation Expectations Slump

• The broad decline in global bond yields and curve flattening suggest that the market has become more concerned about weak global economic growth.
• The fall in yields is at odds with the rise in equity and commodity prices this year, but the later may have lost upward momentum.
• Safe haven currencies, gold and JPY, have strengthened this week and are likely to perform well if yields remain low.
• US real yields have fallen more than nominal yields this year, with a partial recovery in inflation expectations from their fall in Q4 last year. Lower real yields point to weaker fundamental support for the USD, and further support safe havens like gold.
• Canadian real long term yields have fallen more abruptly than in the USA, into negative territory, suggesting the outlook for the Canadian economy has deteriorated more than most. This may relate to concern over a peaking in the Canadian housing market. The fall in real yields suggests further downside risk for the CAD.
• Long term inflation breakevens have fallen in Australia sharply since September last year to now well below the RBA’s 2.5% inflation target.
• Australian leading indicators of the labour market have turned lower, albeit from solid levels, and may be enough, combined with broader evidence of weaker growth, for the RBA to announce an easing bias as soon as April.
• Asian trade data and flash PMI data for major countries point to ongoing and significant weakness in global trade.

2. RRG Weekly – Fed Highlights Headwinds – Greece Greases Growth – Thai Election Sun Too Close to Call

• US: Fed Sees Tailwinds from Global Growth Shifting to Headwinds from China and Europe.
• Greece: Growth supported by ‘Golden Visa’ (5-year visa for investing 250,000 Euro) and strong tourism arrivals. 2.3% GDP in 2020.
• Thailand: Sunday election between Shinawatra-linked Pheu Thai Party and military backed Palang Pracharat Party. Too close to call.
• Brazil: Former Brazilian President Michel Temer has been arrested in São Paulo as part of the Car Wash corruption investigation. Brazil stocks fell on the news.

3. A List of Major Korean Companies Shutting Down or Restructuring Their Operations in China

In this report, we provide a list of major Korean companies that are either shutting down or restructuring their operations in China. The pace of major Korean companies that are discontinuing part or all of their operations in China in the past year has been UNPRECEDENTED in the past two decades. This trend is very concerning since it suggests deteriorating business conditions and reduced employment in China. 

Of the Korean companies that are pulling out of China, we identified 10 companies below, including Hyundai Motor, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, and Clio that have announced their intentions to pull out most or a portion of their operations in China in the past three months. These ten stocks are up on average 13.5% YTD, compared to KOSPI which is up only 7.1% during the same period.

If we had to make a guess, the potential job losses from the Korean companies mentioned in this report that are pulling out part/all of their operations in China could be about 20,000 to 30,000+. If we add all the other suppliers and companies that are involved in these companies’ value chains in China, the total number of job losses in China could stretch several hundred thousand.

4. CATL Could Be Tesla’s New Battery Supplier- Panasonic in Trouble?

The news released on the 11^th of March, about Tesla Motors (TSLA US) choosing CATL (A) (300750 CH) as battery supplier has focused much attention on the two companies and other battery suppliers. CATL which grabbed Panasonic Corp (6752 JP)’s leading position in the industry last year now seems to be grabbing the latter’s key customer as well. The news circulating states that, CATL could power Tesla’s Model 3 cars which Tesla is planning to start assembling at Tesla’s new factory near Shanghai. Following the release of this supposed deal, the stocks of the two companies moved positively, with CATL surging by almost 6.7% while Tesla rose by almost 2.4% during the day.  However, both parties have not commented on this news yet or made any formal announcement regarding such a potential deal. In our Insight, Tesla Drifting Away Could Leave Panasonic Struggling to Gain Traction in China, we mentioned that Tesla was looking to locally source its batteries in China and that CATL could potentially be one such supplier. However, in January this year, it was reported that Tesla had signed a preliminary agreement with China’s Tianjin Lishen to supply batteries for its new Shanghai car factory, making the current news look less believable. Although it seems like the ongoing news about a Tesla-CATL pair up lacks integrity, with CATL sort of denying its intend to work with Tesla (according to an updated news release), the news does look interesting and its effect upon the related companies seems noteworthy.

5. Tencent (700 HK): The Worst Part Online Game Recovered in Q4 Before Restarting License Approval

• The worst business, online game, recovered in 4Q2018, because small competitors died.
• The growth rate of game broadcast also bounced up in 4Q2018, as an important competitor Panda TV went bankrupt.
• In fact, games are only a small part of Tencent and other businesses have been growing strongly.
• The re-organization in October 2018 controlled expenses well.
• The 5-year P/E band suggests that Tencent’s stock price has upside of 26%.

In this briefing:

1. MabPharma (迈博医药) IPO: Assembled for a Trade?
2. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short
3. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping

1. MabPharma (迈博医药) IPO: Assembled for a Trade?

MabPharma, backed by Chinese private equity investor CDH, is seeking to list in Hong Kong. In this insight, we will discuss the following topics:

• The company’s background
• Details of pipeline drug candidates, the potential market of these products and the competition
• Shareholders and investors
• Questions for management meetings
• Summary of our likes and concerns

We will leave the discussion of valuation for our next insight.

• CStone Pharma (基石药业) IPO: Strong Assembly and Backing (Part 1)

• Viva Biotech (维亚生物) IPO: When CRO Becomes Early Stage Biotech Investor

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: Takeaways from Recent 4+7 City Centralized Tender Results

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: A Leading Generic Player with Regulatory Overhang (Part 1)
• WuXi Apptec (药明康德) IPO: This A+H Listing Will Be Different

• Frontage Holding (方达控股) IPO: More Disclosure Needed to Understand Moat and Growth Prospect
• Ascentage Pharma (亚盛医药) IPO: Too Early for an IPO
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation (Part 2)
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Early in Application but Behind in Key Indications (Part 1)
• CanSino Biologics (康希诺) IPO: Promising Pre-Clinical Results but Vaccine Scandal Weighs (Part 1)

• AOBiome Therapeutics IPO: Hope for Natural Therapeutic Treatment
• Stealth Biotherapeutics IPO: Cure the Symptoms but Not the Cause (Part 1)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: Pricing the PD-1 and Biosimilars Competition (Part 2)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: A Major PD-1 MAb Competitor Might Have Just Emerged (Part 1)
• MicuRx Pharma (盟科医药) IPO: Betting on Single Drug in the Not so Attractive Antibiotic Segment
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Reviving Roche’s Failed Attempt?
• BeiGene (百济神州) IPO: Dual-Listing with Upside Capped in the Near Term
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Valuation Not Justified by Ganovo and Ravidasvir NPV (Part 3)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Three Valuation Risk Factors (Part 2)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Emerging Player in the Crowded HCV Drug Market
• China Isotope & Radiation IPO: Oligopoly, Visible Growth and High Barrier to Entry
• Zai Lab IPO: Thoughts on Valuation, Risks and Upsides (Part 2)
• Zai Lab IPO: Experienced Team, Promising In-Licensing Drug Pipeline (Part 1)

2. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short

Central banks around the world have signaled their willingness to return back to the Easy Money Playbook in their quest to re-stimulate economic growth and inflation. This significant shift in market expectations has been the key factor driving the recent rally in Gold (GOLD COMDTY) prices, and it appears to have legs.  As such, we are closing our Spdr Gold Shares (GLD US) short.

3. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping

• Our analysis of how Spotify Technology Sa (SPOT US) turned profitable in 4Q18 reveals three key ingredients: critical mass in sales, GM progression, and core business diversification.
• With sales reaching critical mass, this would allow fixed costs to be spread out in such a way that opex/unit is lower than GP/unit.
• Progression in GM and core business diversification strategy are worth monitoring.
• Implication: Meituan Dianping’s (3690 HK) core business is ahead of iQIYI Inc (IQ US) in terms of profitability inflection point timeline.

In this briefing:

1. RRG Weekly – Fed Highlights Headwinds – Greece Greases Growth – Thai Election Sun Too Close to Call
2. A List of Major Korean Companies Shutting Down or Restructuring Their Operations in China
3. CATL Could Be Tesla’s New Battery Supplier- Panasonic in Trouble?
4. Tencent (700 HK): The Worst Part Online Game Recovered in Q4 Before Restarting License Approval
5. Navitas Gets An Agreed Deal with BGH

1. RRG Weekly – Fed Highlights Headwinds – Greece Greases Growth – Thai Election Sun Too Close to Call

• US: Fed Sees Tailwinds from Global Growth Shifting to Headwinds from China and Europe.
• Greece: Growth supported by ‘Golden Visa’ (5-year visa for investing 250,000 Euro) and strong tourism arrivals. 2.3% GDP in 2020.
• Thailand: Sunday election between Shinawatra-linked Pheu Thai Party and military backed Palang Pracharat Party. Too close to call.
• Brazil: Former Brazilian President Michel Temer has been arrested in São Paulo as part of the Car Wash corruption investigation. Brazil stocks fell on the news.

2. A List of Major Korean Companies Shutting Down or Restructuring Their Operations in China

In this report, we provide a list of major Korean companies that are either shutting down or restructuring their operations in China. The pace of major Korean companies that are discontinuing part or all of their operations in China in the past year has been UNPRECEDENTED in the past two decades. This trend is very concerning since it suggests deteriorating business conditions and reduced employment in China. 

Of the Korean companies that are pulling out of China, we identified 10 companies below, including Hyundai Motor, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, and Clio that have announced their intentions to pull out most or a portion of their operations in China in the past three months. These ten stocks are up on average 13.5% YTD, compared to KOSPI which is up only 7.1% during the same period.

If we had to make a guess, the potential job losses from the Korean companies mentioned in this report that are pulling out part/all of their operations in China could be about 20,000 to 30,000+. If we add all the other suppliers and companies that are involved in these companies’ value chains in China, the total number of job losses in China could stretch several hundred thousand.

3. CATL Could Be Tesla’s New Battery Supplier- Panasonic in Trouble?

The news released on the 11^th of March, about Tesla Motors (TSLA US) choosing CATL (A) (300750 CH) as battery supplier has focused much attention on the two companies and other battery suppliers. CATL which grabbed Panasonic Corp (6752 JP)’s leading position in the industry last year now seems to be grabbing the latter’s key customer as well. The news circulating states that, CATL could power Tesla’s Model 3 cars which Tesla is planning to start assembling at Tesla’s new factory near Shanghai. Following the release of this supposed deal, the stocks of the two companies moved positively, with CATL surging by almost 6.7% while Tesla rose by almost 2.4% during the day.  However, both parties have not commented on this news yet or made any formal announcement regarding such a potential deal. In our Insight, Tesla Drifting Away Could Leave Panasonic Struggling to Gain Traction in China, we mentioned that Tesla was looking to locally source its batteries in China and that CATL could potentially be one such supplier. However, in January this year, it was reported that Tesla had signed a preliminary agreement with China’s Tianjin Lishen to supply batteries for its new Shanghai car factory, making the current news look less believable. Although it seems like the ongoing news about a Tesla-CATL pair up lacks integrity, with CATL sort of denying its intend to work with Tesla (according to an updated news release), the news does look interesting and its effect upon the related companies seems noteworthy.

4. Tencent (700 HK): The Worst Part Online Game Recovered in Q4 Before Restarting License Approval

• The worst business, online game, recovered in 4Q2018, because small competitors died.
• The growth rate of game broadcast also bounced up in 4Q2018, as an important competitor Panda TV went bankrupt.
• In fact, games are only a small part of Tencent and other businesses have been growing strongly.
• The re-organization in October 2018 controlled expenses well.
• The 5-year P/E band suggests that Tencent’s stock price has upside of 26%.

5. Navitas Gets An Agreed Deal with BGH

After 6 months of haggling and due diligence, debt negotiation, and structuring, global education company Navitas Ltd (NVT AU) has now signed a Board-recommended Scheme Implementation Deed with a consortium led by Australian Private Equity firm BGH Capital consortium which includes Navitas Founder Rod Jones (also the largest holder at 13%) and AustralianSuper.

The agreed Scheme Price of A$5.825 is a 6% uplift from the original A$5.50 offered in the preliminary, indicative, non-binding offer announced on 10 October 2018 and a 34% premium to the undisturbed price of 9 October 2018 of A$4.35/share.

This history is that the consortium came in at A$5.50 (plus another cash+RollCo scrip offer), a month or so later the company effectively rejected it by not allowing the consortium to do due diligence after management lifted earnings guidance. This upset a number of shareholders. In November the share price ranged from A$4.95-5.25 or so and Chairman Tracey Horton got only 51% support at the AGM that month. The shares fell briefly below A$4.70 in early January this year before BGH came back in mid-January with a “revised indicative offer” of A$5.825 whereupon the shares bounced from about A$4.90 to about A$5.50 then climbed to A$5.60+ on 10mm shares volume in 3 days. 

The shares hovered around A$5.58-5.62 for 6-7 weeks until the beginning of March, briefly traded into the A$5.70s, and then traded back down the last few days this week to the A$5.59-5.63 area.

On Thursday 21 March the shares were halted for the day, StreetTalk had an article about the deal being imminent, and late in the afternoon, the BGH SID was announced. 

Now we start the official process. The Scheme document is expected to be dispatched in May 2019 with a deal completed by end-June or early July. I expect this deal gets up.

In this briefing:

1. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short
2. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping

1. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short

Central banks around the world have signaled their willingness to return back to the Easy Money Playbook in their quest to re-stimulate economic growth and inflation. This significant shift in market expectations has been the key factor driving the recent rally in Gold (GOLD COMDTY) prices, and it appears to have legs.  As such, we are closing our Spdr Gold Shares (GLD US) short.

2. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping

• Our analysis of how Spotify Technology Sa (SPOT US) turned profitable in 4Q18 reveals three key ingredients: critical mass in sales, GM progression, and core business diversification.
• With sales reaching critical mass, this would allow fixed costs to be spread out in such a way that opex/unit is lower than GP/unit.
• Progression in GM and core business diversification strategy are worth monitoring.
• Implication: Meituan Dianping’s (3690 HK) core business is ahead of iQIYI Inc (IQ US) in terms of profitability inflection point timeline.

In this briefing:

1. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short
2. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping
3. New Century Hotel Mgmt IPO Preview: Two-Speed Businesses

1. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short

Central banks around the world have signaled their willingness to return back to the Easy Money Playbook in their quest to re-stimulate economic growth and inflation. This significant shift in market expectations has been the key factor driving the recent rally in Gold (GOLD COMDTY) prices, and it appears to have legs.  As such, we are closing our Spdr Gold Shares (GLD US) short.

2. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping

• Our analysis of how Spotify Technology Sa (SPOT US) turned profitable in 4Q18 reveals three key ingredients: critical mass in sales, GM progression, and core business diversification.
• With sales reaching critical mass, this would allow fixed costs to be spread out in such a way that opex/unit is lower than GP/unit.
• Progression in GM and core business diversification strategy are worth monitoring.
• Implication: Meituan Dianping’s (3690 HK) core business is ahead of iQIYI Inc (IQ US) in terms of profitability inflection point timeline.

3. New Century Hotel Mgmt IPO Preview: Two-Speed Businesses

Zhejiang New Century Hotel Management Group (ZHEKAIH HK)  is a leading hotel group in China engaged in the operation and management of mid-scale and upscale hotel chains. New Century has started pre-marketing for a Hong Kong IPO to raise up to $200 million, according to press reports.

In this briefing:

1. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short
2. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping
3. New Century Hotel Mgmt IPO Preview: Two-Speed Businesses
4. Naspers: Softbank Buyback a Guide for Naspers?

1. Gold: Dovish Central Banks May Sustain Rally; Closing Our GLD Short

Central banks around the world have signaled their willingness to return back to the Easy Money Playbook in their quest to re-stimulate economic growth and inflation. This significant shift in market expectations has been the key factor driving the recent rally in Gold (GOLD COMDTY) prices, and it appears to have legs.  As such, we are closing our Spdr Gold Shares (GLD US) short.

2. Spotify: Playbook for Online Platforms to Turn Profitable – Implications for Meituan Dianping

• Our analysis of how Spotify Technology Sa (SPOT US) turned profitable in 4Q18 reveals three key ingredients: critical mass in sales, GM progression, and core business diversification.
• With sales reaching critical mass, this would allow fixed costs to be spread out in such a way that opex/unit is lower than GP/unit.
• Progression in GM and core business diversification strategy are worth monitoring.
• Implication: Meituan Dianping’s (3690 HK) core business is ahead of iQIYI Inc (IQ US) in terms of profitability inflection point timeline.

3. New Century Hotel Mgmt IPO Preview: Two-Speed Businesses

Zhejiang New Century Hotel Management Group (ZHEKAIH HK)  is a leading hotel group in China engaged in the operation and management of mid-scale and upscale hotel chains. New Century has started pre-marketing for a Hong Kong IPO to raise up to $200 million, according to press reports.

4. Naspers: Softbank Buyback a Guide for Naspers?

Recently, Softbank’s (9984 JP) shares jumped +18% after announcing a $5.5bn share buyback. Using Smartkarma’s holdco monitor, the discount to NAV had widened to around 55% prior to the announcement but is now sitting around 40-45%. There were a few key reasons for the buyback: (1) the Softbank Corp (9434 JP) (KK) IPO netted $20bn, giving the company the flexibility to do the buyback, and (2) Softbank is taking a more disciplined approach to further platform investments.

Both these arguments are also available to Naspers (NPN SJ) management and a move to buy back 5% of market cap is feasible and we believe would narrow the discount. The question is whether management are listening. They have been dismissive of buybacks in the past but this could change.