In this briefing:
- Thai Telcos Struggle as All Three Seek to Gain Share While Spectrum Risk Looms Again in 2019.
- Snippets #19: Marijuana, Mergers, and More
- China – Eurozone Negative Feedback Loop.
- The Week that Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma – Asian Currencies, Indonesian Media, and Shopee
- JKN: 4Q18 Earnings Grew Both YoY and QoQ
1. Thai Telcos Struggle as All Three Seek to Gain Share While Spectrum Risk Looms Again in 2019.
Chris Hoare met the Thai telcos recently but did not come away particularly enthused. His view is that the market probably remains tough this year. The good news is that the low priced, limited speed with unlimited usage, offers have mostly been withdrawn. It will take 2-3 quarters for this to work through, as these were 12 month plans, but it does suggest improved data monetization as the year progresses. A lack of data monetization was the key reason behind the revenue slowdown in 2H18. However, with data usage now so high (around 10GB/month), and content services unlikely to lead to revenue growth in the foreseeable future, overall revenue recovery is likely to be modest.
2. Snippets #19: Marijuana, Mergers, and More
Five interesting trends/developments that could impact Thai equities in the recent period:
- Legalization of medicinal marijuana. Thailand legalized medicinal use of marijuana at end of February and has already received immense interest from potential growers. At some point, pharma and healthcare companies could be beneficiaries of this trend.
- Rumbles in the airline industry. Asia Aviation (AAV TB) , parent company of Thai Air Asia, acquires a stake in competitor Nok Air. This is one of the few signs of industry consolidation in this sector.
- MOU signed between TMB and Thanachart. The deal may take longer than initially expected, but the two sides have agreed on some basics such as 70% equity financing and deal size of roughly Bt130-140bn.
- Read-through from US Election 2020. Some of the Democrat policies advocated by candidates in 2020 could turn out to be positive for Asian equities.
- BGrimm acquires Glow SPP1 for a bargain price of Bt3.3bn, or 55% of the expected price, opening the way for the GPSC-Glow merger, potentially the largest deal of 2019.
3. China – Eurozone Negative Feedback Loop.
Historically, Germany and China have depended on exports to lead growth. With the US unwilling to play the role of consumer of last resort and being determined to limit its current account deficit, this avenue is not available anymore. In the absence of a rethink by German policy makers as to how to make German growth more self -sustaining a deflationary feedback loop is developing between the EU and China.
4. The Week that Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma – Asian Currencies, Indonesian Media, and Shopee
This week’s offering of Insights across ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with another eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive and actionable insights from across South East Asia and includes macro, top-down and thematic pieces, as well as actionable equity bottom-up pieces. Please find a brief summary below, with a fuller write up in the detailed section.
Macro Insights
In Widodo’s Generals Take Fire / Anti-Foreign Rhetoric Takes Toll / Land Hampers Adhi’s LRT / MRT Near, CrossASEAN Insight Provider Kevin O’Rourke provides his value-added views on political and economic developments in Indonesia over the last week.
In Asia’s External Balances Signal Safety for Investors, Dr Jim Walker takes a close look at Asian currencies, their performance over the last year and highlights some interesting misperceptions.
Equity Bottom-Up Insights
In the second company piece in a Smartkarma Originals series, Indonesia Property – In Search of the End of the Rainbow – Part 2 – Bumi Serpong Damai (BSDE IJ), CrossASEAN Insight ProviderAngus Mackintosh looks in detail at leading township developer Bumi Serpong Damai (BSDE IJ), which has exposure ranging from landed housing, shophouses, condominiums, as well as the defensive and growing buffer of nearly 20% of revenues coming from recurrent rental income.
In Procurri: Exit DeClout, Enter Novo Tellus. Company Remains Highly Undervalued at 4.4x 2018 EV/EBITDA, CrossASEAN Insight provider Nicolas Van Broekhoven revisits Procurri Corporation (PROC SP) and finds an overhang lifted for the stock.
In Surya Citra Media (SCMA IJ) – Digital Revolution in the Spring, Angus Mackintosh revisits this leading Indonesian media company and finds it on the cusp of a more digital future.
In Blue Bird (BIRD IJ) – Transport Wizzard with a Twist, Angus Mackintosh revisits Indonesia’s leading taxi company after a meeting with management and comes back with some positive newsflow.
In Sea Ltd: Further Share Re-Rating After a 35% Daily Gain? Why Not?, Johannes Salim, CFA circles back to Sea Ltd (SE US) after the post-results call with management.
In Bank Danamon Goes Ex-Rights, Travis Lundy circles back to the ongoing merger between Bank Danamon Indonesia (BDMN IJ) and Mitsubishi Ufj Financial (8306 JP).
In BIMB: Market Gives Thumbs-Up to Results, Paul Hollingworth takes a close look at this Malaysian Bank. Bimb Holdings (BIMB MK) or BHB commands two subsidiaries, Bank Islam and Takaful Malaysia.
In Golden Land: Less An Offer, More A Consolidation Of Interests, event-driven specialist David Blennerhassett revisits this ongoing takeover situation.
In Ho Bee Land – 4Q Earnings Hit by Unexpected Tax Provision, Royston Foo revisits the company post recent results.
In SYNEX: New Smartphone Launches Help Drive Earnings Momentum in 2019, our friend at Country Group comment on Synnex Thailand (SYNEX TB) following recent numbers.
In PRM: Thai Largest Tanker Fleets Assured of Consistent Growth, Country Group initiates coverage on Prima Marine PCL (PRM TB) with a BUY rating.
Sector and Thematic Insights
In INDO Snippets: Second Presidential Debate, BNLI & PNBN – This Time Is Real?, CrossASEAN Insight provider Jessica Irene provides us with substantive and significant on the ground chatter that may potentially have a meaningful impact on the Indonesian Equity Market. This week she comments on the second presidential debate, Bank Permata (BNLI IJ) stake sale rumours, as well as ANZ’s potential disposal of its stake in Bank Pan Indonesia (PNBN IJ).
In Jakarta Trip – On the Ground Insight Feb 2019, CrossASEAN Insight Provider Henry Soediarko provides us with his value-added on the ground comments following a trip to Jakarta.
In Singapore Real Deals (Issue 4): Purpose Built Workers Accommodation, an Alternative Asset Class, Anni Kum puts out her fortnightly property digest that takes you through the peculiarities of Singapore’s real estate market. In this issue, she examines Singapore’s Purpose Built Workers Accommodation (PBWA) industry landscape in light of the nation’s foreign workforce policy.
5. JKN: 4Q18 Earnings Grew Both YoY and QoQ
The company’s 4Q18 net profit was at Bt46m (+298%YoY and +8%QoQ). The result was in line with our 2018 forecast and accounted for 97% of our full-year forecast.
- A YoY surge in earnings was due to a 30% increase in revenue to Bt360m, mainly from export revenue (50% revenue contribution in 3Q18 from 0% in 4Q17). A QoQ gain was caused a reduction in extra expenses for holding an annual event ‘JKN mega showcase’ in early August.
- 2019 earnings outlook is still decent on the back of 1.) higher revenue contribution from export market especially South East Asia (26% of revenue in 2018), 2.) CNBC studio commencement in 2Q19, and, 3.) revenue recognition from new channel subscribers (No.5, Thairath, Spring news, True4U, Nation and MONO)
We maintain our forecast and BUY rating for JKN with a target price of Bt8.80 based on 14.8xPE’19E mean of the Asia ex-Japan Consumer Discretionary Sector.
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