Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst

KT Capital Group

Principal investments and advisory firm that focuses on connecting the CIS countries with East Asia.

Principal investments and advisory firm

Equity Bottom-Up

China Merchants China Direct Investments / Equity Bottom-Up

China Merchants China Direct Investments Limited is a close-ended investment company. It invests principally in unlisted enterprises in China. It also invests in hi-tech projects, including initial public offerings and/or pre-listing placements and any shares listed in Hong Kong.

China Merchants China Direct Investments (133 HK)

<ul>
<li>ASM is a hedge fund with a strong track record of investor activism in taking over distressed assets and closed-end funds. </li>
<li>Lazard, the second largest CMCDI shareholder, bought shares last week at a multi-year high sending a strong message to the market.</li>
<li>CMCDI can also explore announcing a discount management program besides agreeing to ASM's claim to sell assets to pay dividends and offer a share buyback to reduce the NAV discount.</li>
</ul>


ASM is a hedge fund with a strong track record of investor activism in taking over distressed assets and closed-end funds. 
Lazard, the second largest CMCDI shareholder, bought shares last week at a multi-year high sending a strong message to the market.
CMCDI can also explore announcing a discount management program besides agreeing to ASM's claim to sell assets to pay dividends and offer a share buyback to reduce the NAV discount.


The Battle of CMCDI: What Is the Endgame?

<ul>
<li>While Elizabeth Kan barely survived the AGM vote, ASM has effectively mobilized minority shareholders.</li>
<li>Lazard (owns 15% of CMCDI) probably voted alongside ASM (owns 9%). Other than China Merchants Group and Victor Chu, almost no "outside shareholders" voted in favor of Kan, .</li>
<li>The next battleground is a vote in November when CMCDI needs to renew its investment management agreement. Intense behind-the-scene negotiations are expected, given the bargaining power ASM now demonstrated.</li>
</ul>


While Elizabeth Kan barely survived the AGM vote, ASM has effectively mobilized minority shareholders.
Lazard (owns 15% of CMCDI) probably voted alongside ASM (owns 9%). Other than China Merchants Group and Victor Chu, almost no "outside shareholders" voted in favor of Kan, .
The next battleground is a vote in November when CMCDI needs to renew its investment management agreement. Intense behind-the-scene negotiations are expected, given the bargaining power ASM now demonstrated.


CMCDI Update: Warning Shot Fired At AGM Despite Kan’s Successful Re-Election

iFast Corporation Ltd. operates a funds and investments distribution platform in the Asia Pacific region.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://smartkarma.zoom.us/rec/share/greN_IcTNbNIKfXkLUrkLPlmSXvDzuNh6Oad7iFT39LMx6BL5WsQXTLHfLErBwPT.Xt9FLCjm5WkeCCsj" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:131779" rel="noopener">A recent Smartkarma Corporate Webinar | iFAST: Stellar Performance of Singapore's Global Fintech Player</a> introduced one of the few Fintech players in Asia that has been making profits since 2011.</li>
<li>The successful launch of its HK ePension platform can be highly scalable and is expected to be an important growth driver for the company in 2024 and 2025. </li>
<li>IFast Global Bank is expected to break even in Q4 this year and to be an important growth driver for the group's next 3-year plan (2025 and beyond). </li>
</ul>
<p><em>This Insight is part of the Smartkarma Corporate Webinar series, supported by SGX through the Investor Education Fund.</em></p>



A recent Smartkarma Corporate Webinar | iFAST: Stellar Performance of Singapore's Global Fintech Player introduced one of the few Fintech players in Asia that has been making profits since 2011.
The successful launch of its HK ePension platform can be highly scalable and is expected to be an important growth driver for the company in 2024 and 2025. 
IFast Global Bank is expected to break even in Q4 this year and to be an important growth driver for the group's next 3-year plan (2025 and beyond). 

This Insight is part of the Smartkarma Corporate Webinar series, supported by SGX through the Investor Education Fund.

IFast: A Profitable Fintech Player that Deserves More Investor Attention

Prudential Public Limited Company provides long term savings and protection products. The Company offers life and health insurance for long term business including asset management services. Prudential serves customers in Asia and Africa.

<ul>
<li>PICC P&amp;C's Q3 underwriting profitability deteriorated due to typhoon/catastrophe-related losses in both motor and non-motor business.</li>
<li>Samsung Life's new business growth momentum continued in Q3'23; new business CSM margin slightly improved QoQ.</li>
<li>Prudential disclosed limited details in its Q3 results but we can see the growth trend of new business volume and profits continuing in the quarter.</li>
</ul>


PICC P&amp;C's Q3 underwriting profitability deteriorated due to typhoon/catastrophe-related losses in both motor and non-motor business.
Samsung Life's new business growth momentum continued in Q3'23; new business CSM margin slightly improved QoQ.
Prudential disclosed limited details in its Q3 results but we can see the growth trend of new business volume and profits continuing in the quarter.


APAC Insurers Series (#4): How We See the 3 Insurance Stocks in 2024

Lifenet Insurance Company / Equity Bottom-Up

LIFENET INSURANCE COMPANY provides a wide range of life insurance products and services. The company mainly provides the products and services through the internet. The company also provides asset management services.

<ul>
<li>Oasis Management has become a major shareholder in Lifenet in November. Together with another activist investor, Effissimo Capital (the largest shareholder), they now control &gt;30% of the company.</li>
<li>Company announced some new partnerships/initiatives to drive growth but they don't seem to be materially different from what it has been doing to turn around its declining VoNB.</li>
<li>Unless we can see a sustained trend of improving VoNB, it's difficult to justify the premium valuation vs. the other more established peer.</li>
</ul>


Oasis Management has become a major shareholder in Lifenet in November. Together with another activist investor, Effissimo Capital (the largest shareholder), they now control &gt;30% of the company.
Company announced some new partnerships/initiatives to drive growth but they don't seem to be materially different from what it has been doing to turn around its declining VoNB.
Unless we can see a sustained trend of improving VoNB, it's difficult to justify the premium valuation vs. the other more established peer.


Lifenet: Oasis Management Is Now Another Major Shareholder Besides Effissimo

Alec is a partner in KT Capital Group and has acted as the interim CFO for a few Fintech and Web 3 companies.

He currently also serves the Research & Investments Partner at Re:base Ventures (rebase.vc), a Web3 and DeFi investment firm with a strong focus on building and incubation. 

Previously, he spent time with Tencent, where he was responsible for the group's investments in the overseas markets (Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe). 

Prior to Tencent, he was in the Principal Investments team at Swiss Re, where he focused on driving the group's investments into financial services and Fintech sectors in APAC. 

He has been responsible for a wide range of investments and transactions (venture/growth, buyout, direct secondaries, etc.) totaling >$5 billion. Alec started his career with Bank of America Merrill Lynch.