Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>On 2nd Apr 2022, CSRC put out a draft for public comments on the revision of certain provisions which would allow easier access by overseas regulators to China ADRs audits.</li>
<li>On 8th Mar 2022, Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) had added five China ADR names to its provisional list of issuers under HFCAA, which set the clock ticking for their delisting.</li>
<li>In this note, we'll talk about the latest developments and its implications.</li>
</ul>


On 2nd Apr 2022, CSRC put out a draft for public comments on the revision of certain provisions which would allow easier access by overseas regulators to China ADRs audits.
On 8th Mar 2022, Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) had added five China ADR names to its provisional list of issuers under HFCAA, which set the clock ticking for their delisting.
In this note, we'll talk about the latest developments and its implications.


China ADRs Delisting - Tide Is Turning with CSRC Showing Signs of a Compromise

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF / Event-Driven

KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB US)

<ul>
<li>The PCAOB has not, despite a cooperation agreement with the CSRC signed in 2013, been able to conduct on-site investigations of a HK or mainland-based company since 2010.</li>
<li>On Friday, the CSRC published a new Strengthening Confidentiality and File Management Related to Overseas Issuance to replace 2009 rules. </li>
<li>Importantly, the revised Provisions deletes the stipulation that “on-site inspections shall be dominated by domestic regulators or depend on the conclusions of inspections by domestic regulators.” Will it be enough?</li>
</ul>


The PCAOB has not, despite a cooperation agreement with the CSRC signed in 2013, been able to conduct on-site investigations of a HK or mainland-based company since 2010.
On Friday, the CSRC published a new Strengthening Confidentiality and File Management Related to Overseas Issuance to replace 2009 rules. 
Importantly, the revised Provisions deletes the stipulation that “on-site inspections shall be dominated by domestic regulators or depend on the conclusions of inspections by domestic regulators.” Will it be enough?


New CSRC "Provisions" Take a Step Towards Meeting PCAOB Requirements

Forensic Analyst

Jason Yap, CFA

Forensic Accounting

<ul>
<li>As a forensic accountant doing equity research, I strive to publish differentiated insights that augment rather than replace the traditional research feed of institutional investors</li>
<li>Fraud risks, aggressive revenue recognition, balance sheet health, quality of earnings and accounting policy changes underpinned a significant majority of my research</li>
<li>In this Insight, I will do a breakdown of my performance in the past half a year including a recap, key statistics and top insight highlights</li>
</ul>


As a forensic accountant doing equity research, I strive to publish differentiated insights that augment rather than replace the traditional research feed of institutional investors
Fraud risks, aggressive revenue recognition, balance sheet health, quality of earnings and accounting policy changes underpinned a significant majority of my research
In this Insight, I will do a breakdown of my performance in the past half a year including a recap, key statistics and top insight highlights


2021 Year in Review - Forensic Accounting in Equity Research

<ul>
<li>Didi's announced that it would delist from US and prepare for a public listing in Hongkong</li>
<li>Didi is racing against time to do so due to various factors such as, lock-up expiry, HK Stock Exchange review of listing applications, and potential cybersecurity review for HK issuers</li>
<li>There could be parallels in terms of key risks for other non-dual listed China ADSs</li>
</ul>


Didi's announced that it would delist from US and prepare for a public listing in Hongkong
Didi is racing against time to do so due to various factors such as, lock-up expiry, HK Stock Exchange review of listing applications, and potential cybersecurity review for HK issuers
There could be parallels in terms of key risks for other non-dual listed China ADSs


Didi (Didi US)'s Delisting and Its Implications for Non-Dual Listed China ADS

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/futu-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27858:1" rel="noopener">Futu Holdings Ltd (FUTU US)</a>  is China’s largest online brokerage, both by revenue and market cap, and backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/up-fintech-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27957:1" rel="noopener">UP Fintech (TIGR US)</a>, also known as Tiger Brokers, is backed by veteran American investor Jim Rogers, smartphone giant <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a>, and U.S. brokerage giant Interactive Brokers Group Inc. Both had looked to cash in on the growing amount of Chinese retail investor money pouring into U.S. stocks following a banner year in 2020.
On 14 October 2021, the People's Daily <a href="http://sh.people.com.cn/n2/2021/1014/c139965-34956684.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> that online brokerages, naming Futu and Up Fintech specifically, that operate across borders run the risk of violating data privacy rules and personal information protection laws, the latter taking effect from 1 November 2021. 
On the same day, Futu’s shares plummeted more than 13% to USD73.11, down 62% from the peak in February. UP Fintech fell more than 20% to USD8.19, down 78% from its February high. 
The additional regulatory scrutiny compounds the woes of China's online brokerages following a torrid 2 quarters, where investor appetite and trading volumes slumped, particularly for US ADRs and HK tech stocks, amidst a weak market environment.
In statements issued last Friday (15 Oct), both firms affirmed that they have pro-actively complied with relevant regulations and addressed issues raised by the Special Task Force on the Regulation of Apps since July 2019, seeking to quell investor concerns following the People's Daily Report. 
In this Insight, we discuss the following: 
<ol>
<li>What are the Relevant Data Laws?</li>
<li>What was new in the People's Daily report? </li>
<li>How have the Online Brokerages sought to mitigate Data Regulations?</li>
<li>Can Online Brokerages Allow Mainland Investors to Trade Offshore Assets in the First Place? </li>
</ol>
More details below the fold.

Futu Holdings Ltd (FUTU US)  is China’s largest online brokerage, both by revenue and market cap, and backed by Tencent (700 HK). UP Fintech (TIGR US), also known as Tiger Brokers, is backed by veteran American investor Jim Rogers, smartphone giant Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK), and U.S. brokerage giant Interactive Brokers Group Inc. Both had looked to cash in on the growing amount of Chinese retail investor money pouring into U.S. stocks following a banner year in 2020.
On 14 October 2021, the People's Daily stated that online brokerages, naming Futu and Up Fintech specifically, that operate across borders run the risk of violating data privacy rules and personal information protection laws, the latter taking effect from 1 November 2021. 
On the same day, Futu’s shares plummeted more than 13% to USD73.11, down 62% from the peak in February. UP Fintech fell more than 20% to USD8.19, down 78% from its February high. 
The additional regulatory scrutiny compounds the woes of China's online brokerages following a torrid 2 quarters, where investor appetite and trading volumes slumped, particularly for US ADRs and HK tech stocks, amidst a weak market environment.
In statements issued last Friday (15 Oct), both firms affirmed that they have pro-actively complied with relevant regulations and addressed issues raised by the Special Task Force on the Regulation of Apps since July 2019, seeking to quell investor concerns following the People's Daily Report. 
In this Insight, we discuss the following: 

What are the Relevant Data Laws?
What was new in the People's Daily report? 
How have the Online Brokerages sought to mitigate Data Regulations?
Can Online Brokerages Allow Mainland Investors to Trade Offshore Assets in the First Place? 

More details below the fold.

China Online Brokerages - "No Critical and Sensitive Personal Data to See Here!"

United States

Futu Holdings Limited operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, offers an online brokerage platform that enables individual investors to trade in listed stocks. Futu Holdings serves customers in the United States, China, and Hong Kong.

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Futu Holdings Ltd (FUTU US)

China ADRs Delisting - Tide Is Turning with CSRC Showing Signs of a Compromise

On 2nd Apr 2022, CSRC put out a draft for public comments on the revision of certain provisions which would allow easier access by overseas...

Sumeet Singh

New CSRC "Provisions" Take a Step Towards Meeting PCAOB Requirements

CSRC has published new Provisions putting the onus of info management on companies, making it easier for the PCAOB to conduct on-site audits. It...

Travis Lundy

2021 Year in Review - Forensic Accounting in Equity Research

As a forensic accountant doing equity research, I strive to publish differentiated insights that augment investment research. I look back at 2021's...

Jason Yap, CFA

Didi (Didi US)'s Delisting and Its Implications for Non-Dual Listed China ADS

As Didi races against time to delist from US, it faces, amongst others, lock-up expiry, HK listing review, and potential cybersecurity review. What...

Jason Yap, CFA

China Online Brokerages - "No Critical and Sensitive Personal Data to See Here!"

China's online brokerages risk running afoul of new data privacy rules and personal information protection laws. This is compounded by poor trading...

Jason Yap, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)