Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Insight Provider

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

Equity Bottom-Up

Micro Mechanics (Holdings) / Equity Bottom-Up

Micro-Mechanics Holdings Limited designs and manufactures precision tools.  The Company also provides effective solutions and total support services to its customers.

<ul>
<li>We attended <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/micro-mechanics-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19384:1" rel="noopener">Micro Mechanics (Holdings) (MMH SP)</a> AGM in Singapore on 30 October.</li>
<li>Management also released 1Q25 results on the same day which showed QoQ improvements and the first green shoots after 3 years of falling results.</li>
<li>Micro Mechanics has zero debt, yet posts consistent high ROE's and pays impressive dividends</li>
</ul>


We attended Micro Mechanics (Holdings) (MMH SP) AGM in Singapore on 30 October.
Management also released 1Q25 results on the same day which showed QoQ improvements and the first green shoots after 3 years of falling results.
Micro Mechanics has zero debt, yet posts consistent high ROE's and pays impressive dividends


Micro-Mechanics AGM: Green Shoots Emerging

Entree Resources Ltd. operates as a mining company. The Company develops and discovers gold and copper resources. Entree Resources is currently conducting exploration on its mineral concessions in Mongolia.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/entree-resources-ltd-3aeeb68c-80d0-4ada-822e-898883fbb28e" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26727:1" rel="noopener">Entree Resources (ETG CN)</a> has been roaring over the past three weeks on the back of ...no official news!</li>
<li>As we highlighted in our prior insights we expected an arbitration ruling by late 3Q24, but there has been no news published by Entree or <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a> </li>
<li>Volume spike and price action remind us of Turquoise Hill buyout in 2022.</li>
</ul>



Entree Resources (ETG CN) has been roaring over the past three weeks on the back of ...no official news!
As we highlighted in our prior insights we expected an arbitration ruling by late 3Q24, but there has been no news published by Entree or Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) 
Volume spike and price action remind us of Turquoise Hill buyout in 2022.


Entree Resources: +84% YTD on Arbitration Leak? Or Rio Tinto M&A Speculation?

Arras Minerals Corp. is an exploration stage company. The Company manages portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan.

<ul>
<li>Over the past week we visited parts of Kazakhstan, the 9th largest country in the world.</li>
<li>Long a favorite of the oil and uranium industry the country is now attracting more metals and mining exploration activity.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arras-minerals-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40384:1" rel="noopener">Arras Minerals (ARK V EQUITY) has assembled the 4th largest exploration package and is looking for elephant sized gold/copper deposits. Success at any of its projects could catapult shares higher.</a></li>
</ul>


Over the past week we visited parts of Kazakhstan, the 9th largest country in the world.
Long a favorite of the oil and uranium industry the country is now attracting more metals and mining exploration activity.
Arras Minerals (ARK V EQUITY) has assembled the 4th largest exploration package and is looking for elephant sized gold/copper deposits. Success at any of its projects could catapult shares higher.


Arras Minerals: Looking for Elephant Sized Gold/Copper Deposits in Kazakhstan

PC Partner Group Ltd. is principally engaged in the design, development and manufacture of video graphics cards. The Group manufactures various electronics components and products for customers under its electronics manufacturing services division and also manufactures other personal computers related products.

<ul>
<li>PC Partner showed a significant improvement in its 1H24 results YoY.</li>
<li>The company will be relocating HQ to Singapore and move its primary listing from HK to Singapore. If this move is successful, it will improve AI chips allocation from Nvidia.</li>
<li>Why Singapore? PC Partner is preparing itself for a future where China/USA political relationship does not improve.</li>
</ul>


PC Partner showed a significant improvement in its 1H24 results YoY.
The company will be relocating HQ to Singapore and move its primary listing from HK to Singapore. If this move is successful, it will improve AI chips allocation from Nvidia.
Why Singapore? PC Partner is preparing itself for a future where China/USA political relationship does not improve.


PC Partner: Relocating HQ and Listing to Singapore, 81% of Market Cap Is Cash

<ul>
<li>The acquisition of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/filo-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:42545:1" rel="noopener">Filo (FIL CN)</a> by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lundin-mining-corp-92352503-3781-4fcb-a4db-62e6f6343783" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25356:1" rel="noopener">Lundin Mining (LUN CN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bhp-group-ltd-832e22a7-7a1d-49cf-b992-c6347084cbf8" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21840:1" rel="noopener">BHP Group Ltd (BHP LN) could be the start of a much larger M&amp;A wave.</a>
</li>
<li>Many juniors trade at 0.1x to 0.2x NAV while transactions typically happen at 0.8x-1x NAV. Filo was acquired at 0.81x NAV so right within this range.</li>
<li>We continue to like a basket of junior copper mines to get exposure to M&amp;A copper dynamics</li>
</ul>


The acquisition of Filo (FIL CN) by Lundin Mining (LUN CN) and BHP Group Ltd (BHP LN) could be the start of a much larger M&amp;A wave.

Many juniors trade at 0.1x to 0.2x NAV while transactions typically happen at 0.8x-1x NAV. Filo was acquired at 0.81x NAV so right within this range.
We continue to like a basket of junior copper mines to get exposure to M&amp;A copper dynamics


Rio Tinto: Open to Major Copper M&A; Entree Resources Logical Target

Was on the buyside for 15 years, most recently at a medium-sized boutique asset management firm. I grew up in Europe, went to university in the US and have been living in Singapore for the last 7 years which has given me a broad scope on the world and investing in general.

Consider myself a generalist investor with a preference for small and mid-cap companies and special situations. However, a large cap that has gone temporarily out of favor might also pique my interest. 

My style of investing could be categorized as more of value investor, rather than growth at any cost. Learning from Charlie Munger on the importance of quality of a company has been of tremendous value over the years.I like businesses with real earnings, cash flows, dividends, book value and insider ownership.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven
Insight Provider
• CrossASEAN Research

Micro-Mechanics AGM: Green Shoots Emerging

Micro Mechanics (Holdings) AGM reveals Q1 results with first signs of improvement after 3 years of decline, showcasing strong financials with zero...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Entree Resources: +84% YTD on Arbitration Leak? Or Rio Tinto M&A Speculation?

Entree Resources (ETG CN) surges without official news, reminiscent of Turquoise Hill buyout in 2022, as investors await arbitration ruling with...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Arras Minerals: Looking for Elephant Sized Gold/Copper Deposits in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, a top destination for oil and uranium, now seeing increased interest in metals and mining exploration, with Arras Minerals holding...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

PC Partner: Relocating HQ and Listing to Singapore, 81% of Market Cap Is Cash

PC Partner sees strong YoY growth in 1H24 results, plans HQ relocation to Singapore for better AI chip allocation amid uncertain China/USA relations.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Rio Tinto: Open to Major Copper M&A; Entree Resources Logical Target

The acquisition of Filo by Lundin Mining and BHP Group could signal the beginning of a significant M&A wave in the mining industry, with potential...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Micro-Mechanics AGM: Green Shoots Emerging

​Micro Mechanics (Holdings) AGM reveals Q1 results with first signs of improvement after 3 years of decline, showcasing strong financials with zero...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Entree Resources: +84% YTD on Arbitration Leak? Or Rio Tinto M&A Speculation?

​Entree Resources (ETG CN) surges without official news, reminiscent of Turquoise Hill buyout in 2022, as investors await arbitration ruling with...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Arras Minerals: Looking for Elephant Sized Gold/Copper Deposits in Kazakhstan

​Kazakhstan, a top destination for oil and uranium, now seeing increased interest in metals and mining exploration, with Arras Minerals holding...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

PC Partner: Relocating HQ and Listing to Singapore, 81% of Market Cap Is Cash

​PC Partner sees strong YoY growth in 1H24 results, plans HQ relocation to Singapore for better AI chip allocation amid uncertain China/USA relations.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Rio Tinto: Open to Major Copper M&A; Entree Resources Logical Target

​The acquisition of Filo by Lundin Mining and BHP Group could signal the beginning of a significant M&A wave in the mining industry, with potential...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Micro Mechanics (Holdings) AGM reveals Q1 results with first signs of improvement after 3 years of decline, showcasing strong financials with zero...

Entree Resources (ETG CN) surges without official news, reminiscent of Turquoise Hill buyout in 2022, as investors await arbitration ruling with...

Kazakhstan, a top destination for oil and uranium, now seeing increased interest in metals and mining exploration, with Arras Minerals holding...

PC Partner sees strong YoY growth in 1H24 results, plans HQ relocation to Singapore for better AI chip allocation amid uncertain China/USA relations.

The acquisition of Filo by Lundin Mining and BHP Group could signal the beginning of a significant M&A wave in the mining industry, with potential...