Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>There are signs that a base has been building in Real Estate allocations, and that sentiment is starting to stabilise.</li>
<li>Average weights in the Real Estate sector ticked higher by 0.25% and 5.43% of managers moved to overweight, closing the net underweight by 0.22%.</li>
<li>Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB), China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services (1209 HK) and Capitaland (CAPL SP) were beneficiaries of recent inflows</li>
</ul>


There are signs that a base has been building in Real Estate allocations, and that sentiment is starting to stabilise.
Average weights in the Real Estate sector ticked higher by 0.25% and 5.43% of managers moved to overweight, closing the net underweight by 0.22%.
Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB), China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services (1209 HK) and Capitaland (CAPL SP) were beneficiaries of recent inflows


Research from SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia), SCCM Asia Research

SCCM Asia Research

Research from SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia)

Headquartered in Singapore, SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia) is an investment bank focusing on emerging growth companies across Asia, providing a full suite of investment banking services, including corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions advisory, equity capital markets, institutional equities sales and trading and equities research.

SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia)

<ul><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/frasers-logistics-commercial-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22748" rel="noopener">Frasers Logistics &amp; Commercial Trust (FLT SP)</a> forward purchases a prime UK warehouse development</li><li>Mapletree Investment hits a record year with closing of S$1.9bn US logistics fund</li><li>Shophouse market rounds off banner year with 217 transactions worth S$1.53bn YTD</li></ul>

Frasers Logistics &amp; Commercial Trust (FLT SP) forward purchases a prime UK warehouse developmentMapletree Investment hits a record year with closing of S$1.9bn US logistics fundShophouse market rounds off banner year with 217 transactions worth S$1.53bn YTD

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (2Dec21) - FLT Fwd-Purchases UK Warehouse Dev't

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<div>
<p>On the 5 July 2021, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/major-cineplex-group-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16662:1" rel="noopener">Major Cineplex Group (MAJOR TB)</a>'s board <a href="https://major.listedcompany.com/newsroom/050720211745440725E.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the entering of a MOU with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/central-pattana-pcl-0b7fb113-16e1-4535-be8b-02dce5bbcd92" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17188:1" rel="noopener">Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB)</a> in relation to its shares in shopping mall operator <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/siam-future-development-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4373:1" rel="noopener">Siam Future Development (SF TB)</a>, at a price of Bt12/share. An IFA was appointed to assess the sale and its opinion on the <a href="https://major.listedcompany.com/newsroom/060820211832280109E.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">19 July</a>, concluded the "<em>Transaction is reasonable with price and conditions that are fair</em>". A SPA was <a href="https://major.listedcompany.com/newsroom/250820211847500685E.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered into</a> on the 25 August with an expected completion on the 30 August. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>CPN <a href="https://www.set.or.th/set/newsdetails.do?newsId=16302807319920&amp;language=en&amp;country=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener">completed</a> the purchase of shares in Siam Future on 30 August 2021. After the completion of shares purchase, the number of shares held by CPN was 56.26%. In Thailand, the obligation to make a mandatory offer is triggered when an acquirer obtains shares of the target company of more than 25%, 50%, or 75% of the total voting rights of the target company.  Therefore, CPN was required to make a Tender Offer for the remaining shares in Siam Future, also at Bt12/share. A mandatory Tender Offer is always unconditional. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>The Tender Offer doc (247-4) for Siam Future was <a href="https://www.set.or.th/set/pdfnews.do?newsId=16311444618740&amp;sequence=2021100646" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tabled</a> on the 9 September. The Offer period was for 25 business days - and closed on the 18 October. The payment date was the 20 October. The IFA reckoned the Offer was <a href="https://www.set.or.th/set/pdfnews.do?newsId=16326998697600&amp;sequence=2021104947" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fair</a>. At the close of the Offer, CPN held <a href="https://www.set.or.th/set/pdfnews.do?newsId=16346869712030&amp;sequence=2021112797" target="_blank" rel="noopener">96.24%</a>. </p>
</div>
<p>There are no provisions regarding minority squeeze-out mechanisms under Thai law. However, if the board of directors approves a proposed de-listing,  an independent financial adviser provides its opinion to shareholders on the merits of the proposal, <em>and</em> the company gains approval (≥ 75% for, ≤10% against) from its shareholders to voluntarily delist, then a company can be delisted. The company is permitted to purchase shares tendered in accordance with SEC and Capital Market Supervisory Board rules. </p>
<p>On page 57 (of Siam Future's Tender Offer doc's <a href="https://www.set.or.th/set/pdfnews.do?newsId=16311444618740&amp;sequence=2021100646" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PDF</a>), it states:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>After the Tender Offer,<strong> the Offeror has an intention to delist the Business from being a listed company on the SET during the period of 12 months after the end of the Offer Period</strong>. Currently, the Offeror is under the possibility study of proceeding such transaction under relevant rules and regulations, including but not limited to, assessment of possibility of obtaining the approval from the shareholders meeting of the Business, of which has not reached a conclusion on delisting of the Business from being a listed company on the SET.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With 96.24% held, a Delisting Offer from CPN is likely imminent. Such an Offer at the prior Tender Offer price provides 20% upside to the current price. </p>


On the 5 July 2021, Major Cineplex Group (MAJOR TB)'s board approved the entering of a MOU with Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB) in relation to its shares in shopping mall operator Siam Future Development (SF TB), at a price of Bt12/share. An IFA was appointed to assess the sale and its opinion on the 19 July, concluded the "Transaction is reasonable with price and conditions that are fair". A SPA was entered into on the 25 August with an expected completion on the 30 August. 


CPN completed the purchase of shares in Siam Future on 30 August 2021. After the completion of shares purchase, the number of shares held by CPN was 56.26%. In Thailand, the obligation to make a mandatory offer is triggered when an acquirer obtains shares of the target company of more than 25%, 50%, or 75% of the total voting rights of the target company.  Therefore, CPN was required to make a Tender Offer for the remaining shares in Siam Future, also at Bt12/share. A mandatory Tender Offer is always unconditional. 


The Tender Offer doc (247-4) for Siam Future was tabled on the 9 September. The Offer period was for 25 business days - and closed on the 18 October. The payment date was the 20 October. The IFA reckoned the Offer was fair. At the close of the Offer, CPN held 96.24%. 

There are no provisions regarding minority squeeze-out mechanisms under Thai law. However, if the board of directors approves a proposed de-listing,  an independent financial adviser provides its opinion to shareholders on the merits of the proposal, and the company gains approval (≥ 75% for, ≤10% against) from its shareholders to voluntarily delist, then a company can be delisted. The company is permitted to purchase shares tendered in accordance with SEC and Capital Market Supervisory Board rules. 
On page 57 (of Siam Future's Tender Offer doc's PDF), it states:

After the Tender Offer, the Offeror has an intention to delist the Business from being a listed company on the SET during the period of 12 months after the end of the Offer Period. Currently, the Offeror is under the possibility study of proceeding such transaction under relevant rules and regulations, including but not limited to, assessment of possibility of obtaining the approval from the shareholders meeting of the Business, of which has not reached a conclusion on delisting of the Business from being a listed company on the SET.

With 96.24% held, a Delisting Offer from CPN is likely imminent. Such an Offer at the prior Tender Offer price provides 20% upside to the current price. 

Buy Siam Future Development (SF TB). Then Buy Some More

<h2>Singapore</h2><h3>Condo resale prices, volume continue to climb in Aug21; Suburban (OCR) leading the upward trend</h3><p>Demand for resale non-landed private homes remained robust in Aug21 with prices climbing and more units changing hands despite the Hungry Ghost Festival when sales typically slow down. Condominium resale prices climbed 0.5% MoM, albeit at a slower pace than the revised 0.9% jump in Jul21, according to SRX. YoY, resale prices were up 7.9% from Aug20. MoM, homes in the suburbs enjoyed the biggest price increase of 0.9%. Prices in central Singapore went up by 0.3% while homes in the city fringes saw prices dip 0.2%. More condo units were sold for the second straight month, with an estimated 1,860 units resold in Aug21, a 4.9% increase from the 1,773 units in Jul21. Transactions were 40.5% higher YoY, and 79.5% above the five-year average volume for the month of Aug. Most of the transactions were units in the suburbs, representing 60.4% of total volume for the month. About 23% of transactions were in the city fringes, with the remaining 16.5% in the prime districts or core central region. Prices have increased 6.4 % year-to-date and may increase by more than 8% this year.</p>

SingaporeCondo resale prices, volume continue to climb in Aug21; Suburban (OCR) leading the upward trendDemand for resale non-landed private homes remained robust in Aug21 with prices climbing and more units changing hands despite the Hungry Ghost Festival when sales typically slow down. Condominium resale prices climbed 0.5% MoM, albeit at a slower pace than the revised 0.9% jump in Jul21, according to SRX. YoY, resale prices were up 7.9% from Aug20. MoM, homes in the suburbs enjoyed the biggest price increase of 0.9%. Prices in central Singapore went up by 0.3% while homes in the city fringes saw prices dip 0.2%. More condo units were sold for the second straight month, with an estimated 1,860 units resold in Aug21, a 4.9% increase from the 1,773 units in Jul21. Transactions were 40.5% higher YoY, and 79.5% above the five-year average volume for the month of Aug. Most of the transactions were units in the suburbs, representing 60.4% of total volume for the month. About 23% of transactions were in the city fringes, with the remaining 16.5% in the prime districts or core central region. Prices have increased 6.4 % year-to-date and may increase by more than 8% this year.

Cross Asset Strategy

<div>
<p>In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 96 active Asia Ex-Japan funds with combined AUM of $80bn.  Highlights:</p>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The big four of China &amp; HK, Taiwan, South Korea and India dominate holdings in Asia Ex-Japan.  The 4 countries combined account for 85.4% of total allocations, though all but India are held underweight versus the MSCI Asia Ex-Japan index.</li>
<li>China &amp; HK's weight in Asia Ex-Japan funds stands at a 4-year low of 42.96% having fallen heavily from the high of 52% back in August 2020.</li>
<li>Allocations in Indian stocks hit a new all-time high last month of 13.54%.  India has been the go-to overweight holding since the election of Narendra Modi in 2014, though managers are much more closely aligned to benchmark today.</li>
<li>
<p>Indonesian allocations are close to their lowest levels on record.  Only 82.8% of the Asia Ex-Japan managers in our analysis have exposure to Indonesia,  with Comgest, Barings and Vontobel closing exposure over the last 6-months.</p>
</li>
<li>Information Technology dominates the holdings picture, being both the largest sector holding and the largest sector overweight by some distance.  Opposing this are net underweights in Health Care (-1.61%), Materials (-1.25%) and Financials (-1.17%). </li>
<li>The key antagonist in China's tech crackdown, Consumer Discretionary weights have fallen from a high of 21.35% in October 2020 to 16.84% today.  In tandem, active managers have moved from an overweight of 2.18% to an underweight of -0.12%.  Confidence has certainly taken a knock.</li>
</ul>
<p>Also analyzed in more detail:  Thailand, Health Care, Indian Financials, South Korean Consumer Staples, China Financials, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/midea-group-co-ltd-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16185:1" rel="noopener">Midea Group Co Ltd A (000333 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US).</a></p>
<p><em>Analysis taken from our Asia Ex-Japan research, covering 96 active Asia Ex-Japan funds with combined AUM of $80bn. </em></p>
</div>


In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 96 active Asia Ex-Japan funds with combined AUM of $80bn.  Highlights:



The big four of China &amp; HK, Taiwan, South Korea and India dominate holdings in Asia Ex-Japan.  The 4 countries combined account for 85.4% of total allocations, though all but India are held underweight versus the MSCI Asia Ex-Japan index.
China &amp; HK's weight in Asia Ex-Japan funds stands at a 4-year low of 42.96% having fallen heavily from the high of 52% back in August 2020.
Allocations in Indian stocks hit a new all-time high last month of 13.54%.  India has been the go-to overweight holding since the election of Narendra Modi in 2014, though managers are much more closely aligned to benchmark today.

Indonesian allocations are close to their lowest levels on record.  Only 82.8% of the Asia Ex-Japan managers in our analysis have exposure to Indonesia,  with Comgest, Barings and Vontobel closing exposure over the last 6-months.

Information Technology dominates the holdings picture, being both the largest sector holding and the largest sector overweight by some distance.  Opposing this are net underweights in Health Care (-1.61%), Materials (-1.25%) and Financials (-1.17%). 
The key antagonist in China's tech crackdown, Consumer Discretionary weights have fallen from a high of 21.35% in October 2020 to 16.84% today.  In tandem, active managers have moved from an overweight of 2.18% to an underweight of -0.12%.  Confidence has certainly taken a knock.

Also analyzed in more detail:  Thailand, Health Care, Indian Financials, South Korean Consumer Staples, China Financials, Baidu (BIDU US) , Sea Ltd (SE US) , Midea Group Co Ltd A (000333 CH) and JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US).
Analysis taken from our Asia Ex-Japan research, covering 96 active Asia Ex-Japan funds with combined AUM of $80bn. 


Asia Ex-Japan Positioning:  India & Tech at Record Highs

Thailand

Central Pattana Public Company Limited and its subsidiaries develop properties including shopping centers, condominiums, and office, for sale and rental.  The Company's projects include Central Plaza Lardprao, Central Plaza Ram-indra,  Central Plaza Pinklao, Central Festival Center Pattaya, and Central Plaza Ratchada.

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Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB)

Asia Real Estate: Early Stage Recovery

There are signs that a base has been building in Real Estate allocations, and that sentiment is starting to stabilise among active Asia Ex-Japan...

Steven Holden

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (2Dec21) - FLT Fwd-Purchases UK Warehouse Dev't

FLT fwd-purchases UK warehouse dev't; Mapletree closes S$1.9bn US Logistics Fund; Banner year for shophouse mrkt; CPN sets aside THB3bn capex; MEG...

SCCM Asia Research

Buy Siam Future Development (SF TB). Then Buy Some More

Buy Siam Future. Then buy some more. I think you're looking at a minimum 10% upside from here - if using Big C Supercenter's delisting example -...

David Blennerhassett

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (15Sep21)

Condo resale prices, volume climbing in Aug21; CLI breaks ground on PHP4bn Cebu mixed-use project; CPN launches housing project NIRATI; OUE issuing...

SCCM Asia Research

Asia Ex-Japan Positioning: India & Tech at Record Highs

In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 96 active Asia Ex-Japan funds with combined AUM of $80bn.

Steven Holden

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52-week Range

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