Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Onshore Equity ETF flows in China continued to be positive for 8th week. Southbound Connect flows in July are lower than June.</li>
<li>Baidu, Bilibili and GDS have had positive share price moves on the back of news flow.</li>
<li>The container shipping segment has had a sharp pullback on positive Middle East news and cement maker CNBM flags a loss in the first half.</li>
</ul>


Onshore Equity ETF flows in China continued to be positive for 8th week. Southbound Connect flows in July are lower than June.
Baidu, Bilibili and GDS have had positive share price moves on the back of news flow.
The container shipping segment has had a sharp pullback on positive Middle East news and cement maker CNBM flags a loss in the first half.


The Heat Is On: News Flow and Sentiment China/Hong Kong (July 12)

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asia-cement-china-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3374:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement China (743 HK)</a> disclosed a Cayman scheme privatisation offer from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asia-cement-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15350:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement (1102 TT)</a> at HK$3.22. Including the dividend, the total offer is HK$3.26, 1.7% below the last close. </li>
<li>The offer, which is final, is unattractive as it is materially below net cash and historical trading ranges. The disparity cannot be justified by the potential cash burn this year.</li>
<li>While no shareholder holds the 10% blocking stake, the high AGM minority participation rates and emerging retail opposition suggest a high chance of a deal break. </li>
</ul>



Asia Cement China (743 HK) disclosed a Cayman scheme privatisation offer from Asia Cement (1102 TT) at HK$3.22. Including the dividend, the total offer is HK$3.26, 1.7% below the last close. 
The offer, which is final, is unattractive as it is materially below net cash and historical trading ranges. The disparity cannot be justified by the potential cash burn this year.
While no shareholder holds the 10% blocking stake, the high AGM minority participation rates and emerging retail opposition suggest a high chance of a deal break. 


Asia Cement China (743 HK): A Low-Balled Offer Set up to Fail

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asia-cement-china-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3374:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement China (743 HK)</a> entered a trading halt based on the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers. Bloomberg reports that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asia-cement-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15350:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement (1102 TT)</a> is considering a buyout. </li>
<li>Privatisation interest is unsurprising, as ACC’s EV has been negative since 6 July 2022 due to headwinds from the weak Chinese property sector and uncertainty about cash use.</li>
<li>An offer price of HK$5.18 would imply a zero EV. However, due to the difficult trading conditions, we think an offer would be around HK$4.00 per share.</li>
</ul>



Asia Cement China (743 HK) entered a trading halt based on the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers. Bloomberg reports that Asia Cement (1102 TT) is considering a buyout. 
Privatisation interest is unsurprising, as ACC’s EV has been negative since 6 July 2022 due to headwinds from the weak Chinese property sector and uncertainty about cash use.
An offer price of HK$5.18 would imply a zero EV. However, due to the difficult trading conditions, we think an offer would be around HK$4.00 per share.


Asia Cement China (743 HK): Privatisation by Asia Cement?

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<ul>
<li>Stable cement price, good cost control, and a better base for comparison will lift <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)</a>'s profitability recovery in 2-4Q24.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-gourgen-traffic-cons-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30237:1" rel="noopener"></a>
</li>
<li>Anhui Conch's earnings outperformed in 1Q24. Its peers are making losses and hence will reduce excess supply. Stabilisation of the real estate market will lower the pressure on demand.</li>
<li>Net cash equals 46% of the current share price, and its valuations (both PER and P/B) are inexpensive relative to peers and ROE.  </li>
</ul>


Stable cement price, good cost control, and a better base for comparison will lift Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)'s profitability recovery in 2-4Q24.  

Anhui Conch's earnings outperformed in 1Q24. Its peers are making losses and hence will reduce excess supply. Stabilisation of the real estate market will lower the pressure on demand.
Net cash equals 46% of the current share price, and its valuations (both PER and P/B) are inexpensive relative to peers and ROE.  


Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK): Increasingly Favourable Odds

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>As of 8 May, we see three potential changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-china-large-cap-etf" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:766:1" rel="noopener">iShares China Large-Cap (FXI) (FXI US)</a> at the June rebalance. This is mainly driven by the inclusions.</li>
<li>There is over 1 day of ADV to trade on all stocks with the largest impact on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beigene-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27352:1" rel="noopener">BeiGene Ltd (6160 HK)</a> at nearly 4 days of ADV.</li>
<li>Short interest has been increasing on the potential adds as they have run up a lot in the last few months.</li>
</ul>


As of 8 May, we see three potential changes to the iShares China Large-Cap (FXI) (FXI US) at the June rebalance. This is mainly driven by the inclusions.
There is over 1 day of ADV to trade on all stocks with the largest impact on BeiGene Ltd (6160 HK) at nearly 4 days of ADV.
Short interest has been increasing on the potential adds as they have run up a lot in the last few months.


FXI Rebalance Preview: Three Potential Changes in June

China

China National Building Material is a state-owned enterprise primarily engaged in the production and sale of building materials, including cement, concrete, new materials like glass fiber and composite materials, and engineering technology services. It is recognized as a leading global producer in several of these segments. The company is headquartered in Beijing, People's Republic of China, and was founded in 1984.

China National Building Material (3323 HK)

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China National Building Material (3323 HK)

The Heat Is On: News Flow and Sentiment China/Hong Kong (July 12)

ETF flows in China have continued to support the overall A share market while Southbound Connect flows support Hong Kong shares. Positive news for...

David Mudd

Asia Cement China (743 HK): A Low-Balled Offer Set up to Fail

The low-balled offer is final. While no shareholder holds the 10% blocking stake, the high AGM minority participation rates and emerging retail...

Arun George

Asia Cement China (743 HK): Privatisation by Asia Cement?

An offer price of HK$5.18 would imply a zero EV. However, due to the difficult trading conditions, we think an offer would be around HK$4.00 per...

Arun George

Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK): Increasingly Favourable Odds

Anhui Conch Cement has rallied 14% in last week on the back of the government’s rescue of the property market through buying of unsold homes by...

Osbert Tang, CFA

FXI Rebalance Preview: Three Potential Changes in June

There could be 3 changes for the FXI in June. Some stocks are close to the add/delete zone, so relative perf needs to be watch. Passive trackers...

Brian Freitas

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