Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-east-asia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:341:1" rel="noopener">Bank of East Asia (23 HK)</a> <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2022/0128/2022012800929.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> last Friday it intends to buy back 8.43% of shares out from Elliott Investment Management for HK$2.9bn ($373mn), paying HK$11.19/share.</li>
<li>The share buyback is expected to result in a 6% increase in the consolidated net asset value per share.</li>
<li>Conditions to the buyback appear straightforward. BEA is trading cheap at 0.3x P/B. </li>
</ul>



Bank of East Asia (23 HK) announced last Friday it intends to buy back 8.43% of shares out from Elliott Investment Management for HK$2.9bn ($373mn), paying HK$11.19/share.
The share buyback is expected to result in a 6% increase in the consolidated net asset value per share.
Conditions to the buyback appear straightforward. BEA is trading cheap at 0.3x P/B. 


Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The parent company of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> has announced a plan to increase its holding. This is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wilmar-international-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:172:1" rel="noopener">Wilmar International (WIL SP)</a> is inexpensive, even for a cross-border, possibly-difficult-to-short subsidiary, Holdco situation. </li>
<li>The BHP LN vs BHP AU unification should cause US$40bn of rebalance trading across the major indices. Other indices will simply roll their exposure from PLC to Limited without trading. </li>
</ul>


The parent company of China Mobile (941 HK) has announced a plan to increase its holding. This is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. 

Wilmar International (WIL SP) is inexpensive, even for a cross-border, possibly-difficult-to-short subsidiary, Holdco situation. 
The BHP LN vs BHP AU unification should cause US$40bn of rebalance trading across the major indices. Other indices will simply roll their exposure from PLC to Limited without trading. 


Last Week in Event SPACE: China Mobile, Wilmar, BHP, Link Net, Hollysys, GJ Steel, Guodian Tech, ASX

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Independent Insight Provider

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

China Merchants Bank H / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
Competitor Call Reveals Numerous Additional Risks Which Will Weigh On Results. </li>
<li>No Clarity On Go Forward Core Bottom-Line, Especially Gains and Loss Provisions. </li>
<li>Reserve to NPLs Looks Overstated, as WMP and Securities Are Included In Loan Reserves. </li>
</ul>



Competitor Call Reveals Numerous Additional Risks Which Will Weigh On Results. 
No Clarity On Go Forward Core Bottom-Line, Especially Gains and Loss Provisions. 
Reserve to NPLs Looks Overstated, as WMP and Securities Are Included In Loan Reserves. 


China Merchants Bank – Accelerating Risk

<ul>
<li>
Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group's (1299.HK) [AIA] limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume; </li>
<li>
Many Deal Distractions:AIA has gone on a deal-making spree in 2021, announcing six separate transactions to date; and  </li>
<li>
Suffocating Hong Kong Business: AIA’s core Hong Kong business has been an unmitigated disaster during COVID-19, struggling with mainland Chinese visitors. Further, there is limited clarity on AIA’s legacy agents. </li>
</ul>



Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group's (1299.HK) [AIA] limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume; 

Many Deal Distractions:AIA has gone on a deal-making spree in 2021, announcing six separate transactions to date; and  

Suffocating Hong Kong Business: AIA’s core Hong Kong business has been an unmitigated disaster during COVID-19, struggling with mainland Chinese visitors. Further, there is limited clarity on AIA’s legacy agents. 


AIA Group – No Word On Massive Deal Risk

*Overstated 3Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, flat linked quarter. When one accounts for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker, DBS’ results would appear to be grossly overstated;*Watch Your Credit: We struggle continue to believe that DBS’ due diligence had actually caught all of LVB’s risk (see discussion below), and remain unconvinced that the moratorium exits are anything more than additional reliance on government schemes and relief programs. DBS has disclosed absolutely nothing about Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank’s (SRCB) fundamentals. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting now to about a half quarter of operating results; and *Deal Distractions Mount:  While SRCB dos not appear to be riddled with problems the way LVB is, no doubt there will be issues to contend with.  DBS apparently isn’t done with its shopping spree, being in the running for parts of Citigroup's (C.US) consumer business in Asia. Frankly, DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before it starts both taking on those of other financial institutions.

*Overstated 3Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, flat linked quarter. When one accounts for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker, DBS’ results would appear to be grossly overstated;*Watch Your Credit: We struggle continue to believe that DBS’ due diligence had actually caught all of LVB’s risk (see discussion below), and remain unconvinced that the moratorium exits are anything more than additional reliance on government schemes and relief programs. DBS has disclosed absolutely nothing about Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank’s (SRCB) fundamentals. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting now to about a half quarter of operating results; and *Deal Distractions Mount:  While SRCB dos not appear to be riddled with problems the way LVB is, no doubt there will be issues to contend with.  DBS apparently isn’t done with its shopping spree, being in the running for parts of Citigroup's (C.US) consumer business in Asia. Frankly, DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before it starts both taking on those of other financial institutions.

DBS Group Holdings – Pushing The Envelope

Hong Kong

The Bank of East Asia, Limited and its subsidiaries provide general banking, related financial, business corporate, and investor services.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Bank of East Asia (23 HK)

What Now For BEA After Elliott Walks?

This buyback removes a significant long-term overhang. At the current price, BEA is simply inexpensive. I'd be picking up shares around these levels.

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: China Mobile, Wilmar, BHP, Link Net, Hollysys, GJ Steel, Guodian Tech, ASX

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

China Merchants Bank – Accelerating Risk

CHINA MERCHANTS BANK: A discussion over the use of gains and a drop in loss provisions during 3Q21 would have been a better use of time. CMB’s core...

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA Group – No Word On Massive Deal Risk

AIA: AIA reported a limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume. No word on AIA's...

Thomas J. Monaco

DBS Group Holdings – Pushing The Envelope

DBS: DBS reported flat 3Q21 QOQ results. Accounting for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker,...

Thomas J. Monaco

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)