Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

In very early January, the NYSE decided that <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> ADRs needed to be delisted. Then they didn't need to be delisted. Then they again needed to be delisted and we are on a path to seeing that complete shortly.The stock was subject to Trump's Executive Order 13959 regarding Communist Chinese Military Companies as were the shares of other Chinese telcos and China Mobile shares were deleted from global indices. That event marked a local low in the first week of January and shares promptly rallied 30%, later settling at an easy 15-20% above the index deletion point. This, and the fact that China a couple of years ago created a method for overseas-jurisdiction Chinese companies to list in China - particularly for very high market cap "tech" companies aiming to take market share from the US for its high-trading value "exported tickers" meant that at some point, the Chinese telcos creating a secondary listing in China was not going to be a surprise. Taking the example of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-telecom-corp-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1015:1" rel="noopener">China Telecom Corp Ltd (H) (728 HK)</a> which received permission in April to list its shares in mainland markets, on 17 May China Mobile announced its board had decided to pursue a <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0517/2021051701190.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Proposed RMB Share Issue</a>.A week later, and we have a <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0524/2021052400195.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Circular</a>.China Mobile shareholders are being asked to accept that management issue some RMB 50+bn of shares for the stated purpose of investing in "the development of premium 5G networks, the development of new infrastructure for cloud resources, the development of gigabit broadband and smart home, the development of smart mid-end platform, the research and development of the next-generation information technology and digitalized and intelligent ecosystem."That sounds reasonable enough as a concept, but it ignores the fact that China Mobile has nine times that much money in available cash. and eight times that amount in net cash + securities holdings.If China Mobile shares were trading at a high multiple, this might be forgivable, but the shares are trading at a forward adjusted EV/EBITDA multiple of 1.6x and an ex-net cash &amp; securities PER of less than 4x. There are mitigants here. There is possible pricing at a premium to the Hs. There are "price stabilization measures". There are "shareholder return" measures. Some of these might be really worthwhile. The governance issues involved in this Circular and project remain problematic. But there are little stars here, twinkling in the darkness. More below the fold.

In very early January, the NYSE decided that China Mobile (941 HK) ADRs needed to be delisted. Then they didn't need to be delisted. Then they again needed to be delisted and we are on a path to seeing that complete shortly.The stock was subject to Trump's Executive Order 13959 regarding Communist Chinese Military Companies as were the shares of other Chinese telcos and China Mobile shares were deleted from global indices. That event marked a local low in the first week of January and shares promptly rallied 30%, later settling at an easy 15-20% above the index deletion point. This, and the fact that China a couple of years ago created a method for overseas-jurisdiction Chinese companies to list in China - particularly for very high market cap "tech" companies aiming to take market share from the US for its high-trading value "exported tickers" meant that at some point, the Chinese telcos creating a secondary listing in China was not going to be a surprise. Taking the example of China Telecom Corp Ltd (H) (728 HK) which received permission in April to list its shares in mainland markets, on 17 May China Mobile announced its board had decided to pursue a Proposed RMB Share Issue.A week later, and we have a Circular.China Mobile shareholders are being asked to accept that management issue some RMB 50+bn of shares for the stated purpose of investing in "the development of premium 5G networks, the development of new infrastructure for cloud resources, the development of gigabit broadband and smart home, the development of smart mid-end platform, the research and development of the next-generation information technology and digitalized and intelligent ecosystem."That sounds reasonable enough as a concept, but it ignores the fact that China Mobile has nine times that much money in available cash. and eight times that amount in net cash + securities holdings.If China Mobile shares were trading at a high multiple, this might be forgivable, but the shares are trading at a forward adjusted EV/EBITDA multiple of 1.6x and an ex-net cash &amp; securities PER of less than 4x. There are mitigants here. There is possible pricing at a premium to the Hs. There are "price stabilization measures". There are "shareholder return" measures. Some of these might be really worthwhile. The governance issues involved in this Circular and project remain problematic. But there are little stars here, twinkling in the darkness. More below the fold.

China Mobile (941 HK) - It Could Have Been Done Better, But It Ain't Bad for Hs

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>Nearly 90% through the review period, we see 6 potential adds and 5 potential deletes in June. However, there can be a maximum of 5 changes at a rebalance.</li>
<li>We estimate a one-way turnover of 5.07% at the June rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 3.97bn. Index arb activity could add to the impact on the stocks.</li>
<li>The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletes by 17% over the last month and by 21% over the last two months.</li>
</ul>


Nearly 90% through the review period, we see 6 potential adds and 5 potential deletes in June. However, there can be a maximum of 5 changes at a rebalance.
We estimate a one-way turnover of 5.07% at the June rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 3.97bn. Index arb activity could add to the impact on the stocks.
The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletes by 17% over the last month and by 21% over the last two months.


SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: BIG Outperformance Over the Last Month

David Blennerhassett

Equity Bottom-Up

China Unicom Hong Kong / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The rapid adoption of cloud computing has led to China boasting the world’s second-largest cloud computing market.</li>
<li>This migration to the cloud is in lock-step with global customer needs: scale, greater efficiency, and availability; together with a reduction in capex and infrastructure complexity.</li>
<li>The big three PRC telcos are firmly in the mix, with each announcing 100%+ growth in revenue for their cloud businesses in 1H22. Expect that trend to continue.</li>
</ul>


The rapid adoption of cloud computing has led to China boasting the world’s second-largest cloud computing market.
This migration to the cloud is in lock-step with global customer needs: scale, greater efficiency, and availability; together with a reduction in capex and infrastructure complexity.
The big three PRC telcos are firmly in the mix, with each announcing 100%+ growth in revenue for their cloud businesses in 1H22. Expect that trend to continue.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dai-ichi-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1109:1" rel="noopener">Dai Ichi Life (8750 JP)</a> has the wherewithal, and probably the synergies to make a bump for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/benefit-one-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14502:1" rel="noopener">Benefit One (2412 JP)</a> work. M3 is clearly not in the driver's seat.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-united-network-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12620:1" rel="noopener">China United Network (600050 CH)</a> is, for all intent and purpose, a pseudo-A to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-unicom-hong-kong-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1016:1" rel="noopener">China Unicom (762 HK)</a>. Go long Unicom, short United due to Unicom's significantly cheaper valuation.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhejiang-expressway-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2178:1" rel="noopener">Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK)</a> has had a stonking run since its rights issue. Look to unwind this set-up and take the other side: short Expressway, long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zheshang-securities-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29981:1" rel="noopener">Zheshang Securities (601878 CH)</a>.
</li>
</ul>



Dai Ichi Life (8750 JP) has the wherewithal, and probably the synergies to make a bump for Benefit One (2412 JP) work. M3 is clearly not in the driver's seat.

China United Network (600050 CH) is, for all intent and purpose, a pseudo-A to China Unicom (762 HK). Go long Unicom, short United due to Unicom's significantly cheaper valuation.

Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK) has had a stonking run since its rights issue. Look to unwind this set-up and take the other side: short Expressway, long Zheshang Securities (601878 CH).



Last Week in Event SPACE: Benefit One, China Unicom, Zhejiang Expressway/ Zheshang Sec, Hollysys

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-unicom-hong-kong-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1016:1" rel="noopener">China Unicom Hong Kong (762 HK)</a> remains inexpensive with respect to parent <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-united-network-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12620:1" rel="noopener">China United Network A (600050 CH)</a> - its hybrid domestic A-share twin - and to peers.</li>
<li>Preceding my comments on Unicom, are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>



China Unicom Hong Kong (762 HK) remains inexpensive with respect to parent China United Network A (600050 CH) - its hybrid domestic A-share twin - and to peers.
Preceding my comments on Unicom, are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


China

China United Network Communications Limited provides a variety of telecommunication services, including GSM and CDMA wireless telecommunication services, international and domestic long distance communication services, data communication and Internet services, as well as paging services.

China United Network A (600050 CH)

China Mobile (941 HK) - It Could Have Been Done Better, But It Ain't Bad for Hs

China Mobile will follow China Telecom in issuing A-shares. The constructs are almost identical. Both suggest upside to the Hs, perhaps more for...

Travis Lundy

SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: BIG Outperformance Over the Last Month

There could be 5 changes for the SSE50 in June. Estimate one-way turnover is 5.07% and the one-way trade is CNY 3.97bn. The potential adds have...

Brian Freitas

China Telcos: Send In The Clouds

At 1x forward EV/EBITDA and a 5.6% yield, Unicom is cheap. I don't have a bone to pick with Mobile at 2.1x and a 7.9% yield; or Telecom - but...

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: Benefit One, China Unicom, Zhejiang Expressway/ Zheshang Sec, Hollysys

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

StubWorld: Unicom's "Hs" Are Still Cheap

As Unicom and United are essentially one & the same, I recommend going long Unicom, short China United due to Unicom's significantly cheaper...

David Blennerhassett