China and US Equity Analyst

Roger Xie

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>China digital Yuan has made a splash to expand its pioneer program to 10 cities since the initial launch in May 2020. So far, more than 750,000 early recipients have already spent digital Yuan and total transaction has exceed RMB 1 billion. China digital Yuan will likely form a disruptive payment system given its advantage over other app-based payments such as Alipay and WeChat. It is widely believed that China government will raise the amount of digital currency in the future and lower physical cash in circulation. </li>
<li>Compared with cryptocurrency, China digital Yuan has a couple of distinctions: 1) China Digital Currency/Electronic Payment (DC/EP) system will feature two-tier issuance, with the PBOC issuing digital currency for both commercial banks and customers; (2) controllable anonymity, with DC/EP wallets independent of bank accounts for smaller transactions; and (3) centralized processing instead of a distributed ledger.</li>
<li>Digital economy has accounted 36% in China and pandemic has accelerated its acceptance. The rising of China Digital Currency/Electronic Payment (DC/EP) system could be disruptive to financial system. We believe it will lead the changes in payment, risk control, user data and credit history etc. in financial system.  Not only tech giant such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK), </a>but Chinese banks need to renovate their infrastructure for digital transformation. </li>
</ul>


China digital Yuan has made a splash to expand its pioneer program to 10 cities since the initial launch in May 2020. So far, more than 750,000 early recipients have already spent digital Yuan and total transaction has exceed RMB 1 billion. China digital Yuan will likely form a disruptive payment system given its advantage over other app-based payments such as Alipay and WeChat. It is widely believed that China government will raise the amount of digital currency in the future and lower physical cash in circulation. 
Compared with cryptocurrency, China digital Yuan has a couple of distinctions: 1) China Digital Currency/Electronic Payment (DC/EP) system will feature two-tier issuance, with the PBOC issuing digital currency for both commercial banks and customers; (2) controllable anonymity, with DC/EP wallets independent of bank accounts for smaller transactions; and (3) centralized processing instead of a distributed ledger.
Digital economy has accounted 36% in China and pandemic has accelerated its acceptance. The rising of China Digital Currency/Electronic Payment (DC/EP) system could be disruptive to financial system. We believe it will lead the changes in payment, risk control, user data and credit history etc. in financial system.  Not only tech giant such as Alibaba Group (BABA US) and Tencent Holdings (700 HK), but Chinese banks need to renovate their infrastructure for digital transformation. 


China Digital Currency: Leading the Innovation in Financial System

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

*Yongcheng Coal Default: According to Shanghai Clearing House, Yongcheng Coal and Electricity (YCE) in Henan Province failed to repay a CNY 1 bn (USD 151 mn) short-term bond despite being given the highest rating by one of mainland China’s awful domestic credit ratings agencies; and*Watch Your Banks: The yield on benchmark five-year “AAA” rated mainland Chinese corporates was 3.99% - up over 100 bp from their April 2020 low. Investor flight is pushing financing costs higher and squeezing local corporate funding in a market which is just barely recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns remain over higher problem loans as debt service risk is heightened over higher rates, unreliable financial statements and ratings agency reports, and now an inability to refinance public debt with a number of bond sales being canceled. Further, the degradation of corporate bond values is limiting their usage as collateral.

*Yongcheng Coal Default: According to Shanghai Clearing House, Yongcheng Coal and Electricity (YCE) in Henan Province failed to repay a CNY 1 bn (USD 151 mn) short-term bond despite being given the highest rating by one of mainland China’s awful domestic credit ratings agencies; and*Watch Your Banks: The yield on benchmark five-year “AAA” rated mainland Chinese corporates was 3.99% - up over 100 bp from their April 2020 low. Investor flight is pushing financing costs higher and squeezing local corporate funding in a market which is just barely recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns remain over higher problem loans as debt service risk is heightened over higher rates, unreliable financial statements and ratings agency reports, and now an inability to refinance public debt with a number of bond sales being canceled. Further, the degradation of corporate bond values is limiting their usage as collateral.

*High Court Ruling: The United Kingdom High Court ruled on a test case brought forth by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicates that the "COVID-19 pandemic and the government and public response were a single cause of the covered loss, which is a key requirement for claims to be paid even if the policy provides cover". The decision on th Business Interruption (BI) case against the insurance industry is mostly in favorable to policyholders; and *Asia-Pac To Follow: As many countries in Asia-Pacific are Common Law nations, High Court rulings such as this have a tendency to set precedent. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see significant capital raises given the challenges to solvency.

*High Court Ruling: The United Kingdom High Court ruled on a test case brought forth by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicates that the "COVID-19 pandemic and the government and public response were a single cause of the covered loss, which is a key requirement for claims to be paid even if the policy provides cover". The decision on th Business Interruption (BI) case against the insurance industry is mostly in favorable to policyholders; and *Asia-Pac To Follow: As many countries in Asia-Pacific are Common Law nations, High Court rulings such as this have a tendency to set precedent. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see significant capital raises given the challenges to solvency.  

Asian Insurers – High Court Ruling A Harbinger For Region

Equity Bottom-Up

* Solid Result: Despite the net transaction loss increase of AUD 20.6 mn (93%), we note particular improvement in Afterpay’s fundamental metrics: sales improved AUD 5.9 bn (112%) YOY to AUD 11.1 bn in FY 2020; gross losses to sales declined 20 bp (24%) to 0.9%; EBITDA improved AUD 18.7 mn (73%) to AUD 44.4 mn; active customers increased 5.3 mn (116%) to 9.9 mn; and active merchants increased 23.1 thousand (72%) 55.4 thousand;  *Asian Launch Underway: The earnings announcement was also chock full of recent positive developments as well, which include its Asia expansion. Afterpay is set to acquire a Singapore’s, Empatkali, which is a small buy now pay later provider in Indonesia and will be used as Afterpay’s Asia launching pad with Tencent (700.HK) providing further regional expansion guidance; and*Magic Fairy Dust: While no transaction particulars were disclosed, we calculate an average share purchase price of AUD 22.47 per share for the 5% stake or a hefty 6.8x P/BV for a company which is loss-making and where Tencent hasn’t control. Tencent has already earned 146% on this stake.

* Solid Result: Despite the net transaction loss increase of AUD 20.6 mn (93%), we note particular improvement in Afterpay’s fundamental metrics: sales improved AUD 5.9 bn (112%) YOY to AUD 11.1 bn in FY 2020; gross losses to sales declined 20 bp (24%) to 0.9%; EBITDA improved AUD 18.7 mn (73%) to AUD 44.4 mn; active customers increased 5.3 mn (116%) to 9.9 mn; and active merchants increased 23.1 thousand (72%) 55.4 thousand;  *Asian Launch Underway: The earnings announcement was also chock full of recent positive developments as well, which include its Asia expansion. Afterpay is set to acquire a Singapore’s, Empatkali, which is a small buy now pay later provider in Indonesia and will be used as Afterpay’s Asia launching pad with Tencent (700.HK) providing further regional expansion guidance; and*Magic Fairy Dust: While no transaction particulars were disclosed, we calculate an average share purchase price of AUD 22.47 per share for the 5% stake or a hefty 6.8x P/BV for a company which is loss-making and where Tencent hasn’t control. Tencent has already earned 146% on this stake. 

*Another Material Developments At Afterpay: Afterpay Touch (APT.AU) confirmed another material development. The launch of its global rewards system called “Pulse” commenced in the US, and is set to be launched in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand in the coming months. In short, Afterpay is looking to reward regular users who pay on time (five purchases every six months) which turns the credit card model on its head, as it relies solely on increasing customer spend for points; *Other Recently Announced Positives: In addition to the update provided on Pulse, Afterpay has provided a solid update on its growth and traction post-deal; expressed its interest in a capital raise; and onboarded Apple Pay (AAPL.US) and Alphabet (GOOG.US) Google Pay; and*Magic Fairy Dust: While no transaction particulars were disclosed, we calculate an average share purchase price of AUD 22.47 per share for the 5% stake or a hefty 6.8x P/BV for a company which is loss-making and where Tencent hasn’t control. Tencent has already earned 146% on this stake.

*Another Material Developments At Afterpay: Afterpay Touch (APT.AU) confirmed another material development. The launch of its global rewards system called “Pulse” commenced in the US, and is set to be launched in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand in the coming months. In short, Afterpay is looking to reward regular users who pay on time (five purchases every six months) which turns the credit card model on its head, as it relies solely on increasing customer spend for points; *Other Recently Announced Positives: In addition to the update provided on Pulse, Afterpay has provided a solid update on its growth and traction post-deal; expressed its interest in a capital raise; and onboarded Apple Pay (AAPL.US) and Alphabet (GOOG.US) Google Pay; and*Magic Fairy Dust: While no transaction particulars were disclosed, we calculate an average share purchase price of AUD 22.47 per share for the 5% stake or a hefty 6.8x P/BV for a company which is loss-making and where Tencent hasn’t control. Tencent has already earned 146% on this stake. 

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Alipay (ALI HK)

China Digital Currency: Leading the Innovation in Financial System

The rising of China Digital Yuan system could be disruptive to financial system. We believe it will lead the changes in payment, risk control, user...

Roger Xie

Another Day, Another Default

MAINLAND CHINA DEFAULT: Yongcheng Coal Defaulted On Its Debt, Leading To Concerns About The Credibility Of AAA Rated Corporates In Mainland China...

Thomas J. Monaco

Asian Insurers – High Court Ruling A Harbinger For Region

*High Court Ruling: The United Kingdom High Court ruled on a test case brought forth by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicates that the...

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent - We’re Down With APT

* Solid Result: Despite the net transaction loss increase of AUD 20.6 mn (93%), we note particular improvement in Afterpay’s fundamental metrics:...

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent – Well Timed Transaction

*Another Material Developments At Afterpay: Afterpay Touch (APT.AU) confirmed another material development. The launch of its global rewards system...

Thomas J. Monaco

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