Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Singapore based internet company, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a>, benefitted from the COVID-19 pandemic as Sea’s three main businesses lines, mobile gaming platform called Garena, an e-commerce platform called Shopee and a fintech business called SeaMoney experienced a rapid acceleration of revenue growth following the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, the company’s share price surged over 400% during 2020.</li>
<li>In two previous insights on Sea Ltd, we analysed the fundamentals and long-term prospects of the company’s main business lines. This insight focuses on Sea’s valuation.</li>
</ul>


Singapore based internet company, Sea Ltd (SE US), benefitted from the COVID-19 pandemic as Sea’s three main businesses lines, mobile gaming platform called Garena, an e-commerce platform called Shopee and a fintech business called SeaMoney experienced a rapid acceleration of revenue growth following the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, the company’s share price surged over 400% during 2020.
In two previous insights on Sea Ltd, we analysed the fundamentals and long-term prospects of the company’s main business lines. This insight focuses on Sea’s valuation.


Sea Ltd Valuation: SOTP Suggests Over 40% Downside Risk

<ul>
<li>Jack Ma’s internet empire has been in disarray recently. It began when Chinese regulators halted the $35 billion IPO of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> spinoff, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a>, the world's largest financial technology company.</li>
<li>Earlier in the month, China’s top antitrust watchdog, The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), fined Alibaba RMB 500,000 for not making adequate declarations to authorities about past acquisitions.</li>
<li>Last week, SAMR filled an investigation into Alibaba’s suspected monopolistic practices and The People's Bank of China ordered Ant group to formulate a rectification plan and an implementation timetable to comply with new regulatory and anti-monopoly requirements.</li>
</ul>


Jack Ma’s internet empire has been in disarray recently. It began when Chinese regulators halted the $35 billion IPO of Alibaba Group (9988 HK) spinoff, Ant Group (6688 HK), the world's largest financial technology company.
Earlier in the month, China’s top antitrust watchdog, The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), fined Alibaba RMB 500,000 for not making adequate declarations to authorities about past acquisitions.
Last week, SAMR filled an investigation into Alibaba’s suspected monopolistic practices and The People's Bank of China ordered Ant group to formulate a rectification plan and an implementation timetable to comply with new regulatory and anti-monopoly requirements.


Jack Ma in Xi’s Crosshairs: Alibaba Could Be Collateral Damage

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<p>This week in StubWorld ...</p>
<p>Tech-giants such as <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> are under the hammer as investors second-guess whether Chinese regulators are targeting only <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> or a wider anti-trust mandate. </p>
<hr>
<div>
<p>Preceding my comments on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naspers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21085:1" rel="noopener">Naspers (NPN SJ)</a> / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/prosus-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28104:1" rel="noopener">Prosus (PRX NA)</a> / Tencent are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.</p>
</div>

This week in StubWorld ...
Tech-giants such as Tencent Holdings (700 HK) are under the hammer as investors second-guess whether Chinese regulators are targeting only Alibaba Group (9988 HK) or a wider anti-trust mandate. 


Preceding my comments on Naspers (NPN SJ) / Prosus (PRX NA) / Tencent are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.


These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.


StubWorld: Tencent Under Pressure From Antitrust Push

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

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.

<ul>
<li>The State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) formally started the investigation into the anti-monopoly of Alibaba (BABA) and Summoned Ant Group's management again.</li>
<li>JD Digits (JDD) changed CEO in the process of IPO due to the situation its competitor, Ant Group, is facing.</li>
<li>Youzu.com (002174 CN)’s founder was poisoned to death by his subordinate.</li>
<li>Baidu (BIDU) made a poster to call on students and their parents to boycott TikTok.</li>
</ul>


The State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) formally started the investigation into the anti-monopoly of Alibaba (BABA) and Summoned Ant Group's management again.
JD Digits (JDD) changed CEO in the process of IPO due to the situation its competitor, Ant Group, is facing.
Youzu.com (002174 CN)’s founder was poisoned to death by his subordinate.
Baidu (BIDU) made a poster to call on students and their parents to boycott TikTok.


China Internet Weekly (28Dec2020): BABA Investigated, Ant Warned, Youzu Founder Poisoned to Death

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The investor rotation into value focusing in on EM and DM banks; our key picks are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/turkiye-garanti-bankasi-as" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25026:1" rel="noopener">Turkiye Garanti Bankasi As (GARAN TI)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commercial-international-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27625:1" rel="noopener">Commercial International Bank (COMI EY)</a> in EM banks, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unicredit-spa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21234:1" rel="noopener">UniCredit SpA (UCG IM)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/caixabank-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21255:1" rel="noopener">CaixaBank SA (CABK SM)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bper-banca-s-p-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21165:1" rel="noopener">BPER Banca S.p.A (BPE IM)</a> in Southern Europe banks</li>
<li>Exchanges and Big Data, the convergence; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intercontinental-exchange-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10221:1" rel="noopener">Intercontinental Exchange (ICE US)</a> is strong on recurring revenues, and both ICE and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-global-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9735:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P Global Inc. (SPGI US)</a> should deliver shareholder value creation from transformative M&amp;A</li>
<li>Potential for premium growth and returns in digital payments; we like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nexi-spa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28921:1" rel="noopener">Nexi SpA (NEXI IM)</a>, where we see clear benefits from its M&amp;A, and we see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paypal-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4747:1" rel="noopener">Paypal Holdings (PYPL US)</a> as a core holding</li>
<li>Digital wealth managers focus on the mass affluent; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/finecobank-banca-fineco-spa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21188:1" rel="noopener">Finecobank Banca Fineco (FBK IM)</a> stands out in Europe, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xp-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28619:1" rel="noopener">XP Inc (XP US)</a> is the leader in Brazil but looks over-valued and exposed to increased competition, in our view</li>
<li>Risks to our positive views on our themes includes slower than expected growth in digital payments, transactions and increased regulation on big data; a slower than expected global GDP recovery also could adversely impact bank fundamentals</li>
</ul>


The investor rotation into value focusing in on EM and DM banks; our key picks are Credicorp Ltd (BAP US), Turkiye Garanti Bankasi As (GARAN TI), Commercial International Bank (COMI EY) in EM banks, and UniCredit SpA (UCG IM), CaixaBank SA (CABK SM), and BPER Banca S.p.A (BPE IM) in Southern Europe banks
Exchanges and Big Data, the convergence; Intercontinental Exchange (ICE US) is strong on recurring revenues, and both ICE and S&amp;P Global Inc. (SPGI US) should deliver shareholder value creation from transformative M&amp;A
Potential for premium growth and returns in digital payments; we like Nexi SpA (NEXI IM), where we see clear benefits from its M&amp;A, and we see Paypal Holdings (PYPL US) as a core holding
Digital wealth managers focus on the mass affluent; Finecobank Banca Fineco (FBK IM) stands out in Europe, XP Inc (XP US) is the leader in Brazil but looks over-valued and exposed to increased competition, in our view
Risks to our positive views on our themes includes slower than expected growth in digital payments, transactions and increased regulation on big data; a slower than expected global GDP recovery also could adversely impact bank fundamentals


FinTech & Financial Investment Themes 2021

China

Ant Group Co., Ltd. develops online payment platforms. The Company produces credit system and financial services platforms which provide consumers and small businesses with safe and convenient inclusive financial services globally. Ant Group provides its services worldwide.

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Ant Group (6688 HK)

Sea Ltd Valuation: SOTP Suggests Over 40% Downside Risk

The total EV of Sea’s three main segments is US$ 57.6 billion compared to Sea’s current EV of US$ 100.4 billion. Our SOTP valuation implies 42%...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Jack Ma in Xi’s Crosshairs: Alibaba Could Be Collateral Damage

The growing discord between Jack Ma and the government makes us second guess an investment in any Jack Ma related business regardless of their...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

StubWorld: Tencent Under Pressure From Antitrust Push

Stay long long Naspers vs Tencent. As we approach March, the likelihood that investors realise there could be another large offering increases,...

David Blennerhassett

China Internet Weekly (28Dec2020): BABA Investigated, Ant Warned, Youzu Founder Poisoned to Death

The State Administration of Market Regulation investigated Alibaba and Summoned Ant Group's management. JD Digits (JDD) changed CEO in the process...

Ming Lu

FinTech & Financial Investment Themes 2021

Our key 2021 investment themes and ideas in EM and S Europe banks, exchanges and data providers, digital payments companies and digital wealth...

Victor Galliano

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