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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The 2023 vintage of "5 High Conviction Ideas" was commodity heavy with 4 of our 5 picks coming from this sector. Three out of five declined between 15-25%. </li>
<li>Our best performer was unloved <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mongolian-mining-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4382:1" rel="noopener">Mongolian Mining (975 HK)</a> which returned 234% even beating <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nvidia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5891:1" rel="noopener">NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US)</a> YTD performance.  Miracles happen: Coal mining beats AI.</li>
<li>Our 2024 vintage of top ideas for the year will hopefully have a higher hit ratio. See below for more details which are our five high conviction ideas for 2024.</li>
</ul>


The 2023 vintage of "5 High Conviction Ideas" was commodity heavy with 4 of our 5 picks coming from this sector. Three out of five declined between 15-25%. 
Our best performer was unloved Mongolian Mining (975 HK) which returned 234% even beating NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US) YTD performance.  Miracles happen: Coal mining beats AI.
Our 2024 vintage of top ideas for the year will hopefully have a higher hit ratio. See below for more details which are our five high conviction ideas for 2024.


Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2023...and 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2024

Chief Executive Officer, Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Chief Executive Officer

Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Emmer Capital Partners is an Asia Pacific focused financial advisory firm engaging in strategic financial asset allocation advice, bespoke thematic research and advising early-stage companies and connecting them to investors. Emmer Capital provides macro-economic and multi-asset investment strategy inputs to institutions, family offices, private wealth managers, private equity, and corporate boards directly and through independent research platforms. Emmer Capital also advises a wide range of startup companies on fund raising and business strategy. Emmer Capital's active engagement with the print and electronic media reaches a broad spectrum of investors across the globe.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>ASEAN has underperformed Asia in 2026, but Singapore (up 24%) and Thailand (up 28%) are stand-out outperformers. Both have benefitted from AI capex, but many other drivers have supported Singapore.</li>
<li>Both Markets have had significant EPS estimate upgrades driven by tech hardware, industrials and process industries. For Thailand, basic materials and energy have also chipped in significantly.</li>
<li>Screening stocks on strong growth, reasonable valuations, healthy balance sheets and EPS upgrades over past 6 months, we highlight 5 stocks in Singapore and 6 in Thailand.</li>
</ul>


ASEAN has underperformed Asia in 2026, but Singapore (up 24%) and Thailand (up 28%) are stand-out outperformers. Both have benefitted from AI capex, but many other drivers have supported Singapore.
Both Markets have had significant EPS estimate upgrades driven by tech hardware, industrials and process industries. For Thailand, basic materials and energy have also chipped in significantly.
Screening stocks on strong growth, reasonable valuations, healthy balance sheets and EPS upgrades over past 6 months, we highlight 5 stocks in Singapore and 6 in Thailand.


ASEAN Champions of 2026: Singapore and Thailand - Deep Dive Yields Interesting Stock Ideas

Independent Fund Manager, Swaen Capital

Swaen Capital

Independent Fund Manager

Swaen Capital is a Singapore based licensed independent fund manager with an open architecture, a non bias financial platform creating access to the best custodians and investment managers. Our focus lies within the wealth management business, covering client relationships, financial planning, advisory, as well as discretionary portfolio management. We have developed strategic alliances with other leading independent firms to complement and extend our offerings to clients (global hedge fund research capability, alternative investment offerings, corporate finance, fund structuring & administration, etc). Our know-how, extensive global network and long standing presence in Asia allows us to provide a global footprint and at the same time enables us to capitalize on regional opportunities.

<ul>
<li>The copper wall is here. Above ~200Gbps per lane, copper can no longer carry signals more than a few metres without prohibitive power and signal-integrity penalties. The industry's answer is to move the optics off the faceplate and onto the chip package itself — Co Packaged Optics (CPO).</li>
<li>Adoption is switch-first. NVIDIA and Broadcom are shipping CPO switches in 2026 on external-laser designs; the XPU side and an in-package laser are deferred by packaging and reliability limits, not yet solved.</li>
<li>Money moves with the architecture. As the optical engine moves into the package, value migrates away from module assemblers toward the layers that fabricate the optical engine itself.</li>
</ul>


The copper wall is here. Above ~200Gbps per lane, copper can no longer carry signals more than a few metres without prohibitive power and signal-integrity penalties. The industry's answer is to move the optics off the faceplate and onto the chip package itself — Co Packaged Optics (CPO).
Adoption is switch-first. NVIDIA and Broadcom are shipping CPO switches in 2026 on external-laser designs; the XPU side and an in-package laser are deferred by packaging and reliability limits, not yet solved.
Money moves with the architecture. As the optical engine moves into the package, value migrates away from module assemblers toward the layers that fabricate the optical engine itself.


Co-Packaged Optics 101: The Future of High-Density AI Interconnects

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Last week <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nvidia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5891:1" rel="noopener">NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US)</a> announced a 5 billion USD investment into <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1" rel="noopener">Intel Corp (INTC US)</a>. </li>
<li>If the collaboration between the two tech giants is successful, it could lead to a revival of the entire Intel supply chain.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aem-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11019:1" rel="noopener">AEM (AEM SP)</a> has historically been closely linked to Intel, so any revival of Intel has the potential to benefit AEM substantially.</li>
</ul>


Last week NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US) announced a 5 billion USD investment into Intel Corp (INTC US). 
If the collaboration between the two tech giants is successful, it could lead to a revival of the entire Intel supply chain.

AEM (AEM SP) has historically been closely linked to Intel, so any revival of Intel has the potential to benefit AEM substantially.


AEM Holdings: Nvidia's Investment in Intel to Drive AEM Re-Rating?

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aem-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11019:1" rel="noopener">AEM (AEM SP)</a> released 3Q24 numbers and bumped its guidance higher as its key customer pulled forward some orders.</li>
<li>In 2025 it will be the first year where customers outside of Intel will make up the majority of AEM's revenues. This is a big milestone for AEM.</li>
<li>Continued business from Intel and growth in new key accounts means we should expect FY25 revenue growth. Guidance for FY25 will come by February 2025. </li>
</ul>



AEM (AEM SP) released 3Q24 numbers and bumped its guidance higher as its key customer pulled forward some orders.
In 2025 it will be the first year where customers outside of Intel will make up the majority of AEM's revenues. This is a big milestone for AEM.
Continued business from Intel and growth in new key accounts means we should expect FY25 revenue growth. Guidance for FY25 will come by February 2025. 


Singapore

AEM is a global leader in providing customized, application-specific test and handling solutions for the semiconductor and electronics industries. The company's offerings, including handlers and test inserts, are crucial for ensuring the quality and reliability of advanced chips used in AI and high-performance computing. AEM was established in 1990 and is headquartered in Singapore.

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AEM (AEM SP)

Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2023...and 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2024

Our stand-out performer in FY23 was little loved Mongolia Mining. For FY24 we provide five new names which we think can perform strongly.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

ASEAN Champions of 2026: Singapore and Thailand - Deep Dive Yields Interesting Stock Ideas

ASEAN has underperformed in 2026, but SG & TH stand out with strong performance driven by AI capex and industrial boost. Our screen reveals 5...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Co-Packaged Optics 101: The Future of High-Density AI Interconnects

The copper wall is here. Above ~200Gbps per lane, copper can no longer carry signals more than a few metres without prohibitive power and...

Swaen Capital

AEM Holdings: Nvidia's Investment in Intel to Drive AEM Re-Rating?

NVIDIA's $5 billion investment in Intel could revive Intel's supply chain, benefiting companies like AEM linked to Intel.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Aem: Hoping for Better 2025

AEM increased guidance for FY24 signals a shift towards revenue from non-Intel customers, setting the stage for growth in FY25.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

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Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2023...and 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2024

Our stand-out performer in FY23 was little loved Mongolia Mining. For FY24 we provide five new names which we think can perform strongly.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

ASEAN Champions of 2026: Singapore and Thailand - Deep Dive Yields Interesting Stock Ideas

​ASEAN has underperformed in 2026, but SG & TH stand out with strong performance driven by AI capex and industrial boost. Our screen reveals 5...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Co-Packaged Optics 101: The Future of High-Density AI Interconnects

The copper wall is here. Above ~200Gbps per lane, copper can no longer carry signals more than a few metres without prohibitive power and...

Swaen Capital

AEM Holdings: Nvidia's Investment in Intel to Drive AEM Re-Rating?

​NVIDIA's $5 billion investment in Intel could revive Intel's supply chain, benefiting companies like AEM linked to Intel.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Aem: Hoping for Better 2025

​AEM increased guidance for FY24 signals a shift towards revenue from non-Intel customers, setting the stage for growth in FY25.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

ASEAN has underperformed in 2026, but SG & TH stand out with strong performance driven by AI capex and industrial boost. Our screen reveals 5...

NVIDIA's $5 billion investment in Intel could revive Intel's supply chain, benefiting companies like AEM linked to Intel.

AEM increased guidance for FY24 signals a shift towards revenue from non-Intel customers, setting the stage for growth in FY25.