Forensic Analyst

Jason Yap, CFA

Forensic Accounting

Venustech Group Inc A / Forensic Accounting

China's cybersecurity market growth is set to reaccelerate given increased digitisation of the economy, emphasis on data security, and increase in cybersecurity spending.  While pandemic disruptions had led to an inevitable slowdown in 2020, recent cybersecurity spending trends by corporates and government bodies suggest a cyclical rebound. 
In the First of this Three part SK Originals series, we discuss how China's Company Accounting Standard No. 14 - Revenue ("CAS No. 14")'s application and consequent changes in accounting policy could result in material changes to the revenue recognition policy of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/venustech-group-inc-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2773:1" rel="noopener">Venustech Group Inc A (002439 CH)</a>, such as changing the timing of revenue recognition and the amount being recognised across the company's various revenue segments.  
Most Chinese software companies started adopting CAS No. 14 in 2020.  Broadly, the net impact of CAS No. 14 is that recognition of software product revenue shifts from from multiple milestones based on a percentage of delivery completion to the transfer of actual control of the software products to customers, subject to specific terms of contract and management judgement. 
We also discuss the materiality threshold used to identify the listed software companies that have made changes in lieu of CAS No. 14, the key implications, and what this all means for Venustech with reference to industry dynamics, relative valuation, and company fundamentals.
We are constructive on Venustech's prospects given its market leading position in software products, security operation centers and related services.  At forward P/E of 21.9x and market leading ROE and operating margin relative to peer average, we believe that Venustech is attractively valued.

China's cybersecurity market growth is set to reaccelerate given increased digitisation of the economy, emphasis on data security, and increase in cybersecurity spending.  While pandemic disruptions had led to an inevitable slowdown in 2020, recent cybersecurity spending trends by corporates and government bodies suggest a cyclical rebound. 
In the First of this Three part SK Originals series, we discuss how China's Company Accounting Standard No. 14 - Revenue ("CAS No. 14")'s application and consequent changes in accounting policy could result in material changes to the revenue recognition policy of Venustech Group Inc A (002439 CH), such as changing the timing of revenue recognition and the amount being recognised across the company's various revenue segments.  
Most Chinese software companies started adopting CAS No. 14 in 2020.  Broadly, the net impact of CAS No. 14 is that recognition of software product revenue shifts from from multiple milestones based on a percentage of delivery completion to the transfer of actual control of the software products to customers, subject to specific terms of contract and management judgement. 
We also discuss the materiality threshold used to identify the listed software companies that have made changes in lieu of CAS No. 14, the key implications, and what this all means for Venustech with reference to industry dynamics, relative valuation, and company fundamentals.
We are constructive on Venustech's prospects given its market leading position in software products, security operation centers and related services.  At forward P/E of 21.9x and market leading ROE and operating margin relative to peer average, we believe that Venustech is attractively valued. 

Accounting Standards Series - CAS No. 14 Impact on China Software Companies - Venustech (2439 CH)

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

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The index committee has used a 6-month minimum listing history and that results in two changes. This is the first rebalance with less than 5 changes at a review.</li>
<li>One way turnover is estimated at 1.03% and will result in a one-way trade of CNY 1,025m. Given the adds are new listings, there will be some reverse funding flow.</li>
<li>There appears to be little pre-positioning on the adds while there is a bigger buildup on the deletes.</li>
</ul>


The index committee has used a 6-month minimum listing history and that results in two changes. This is the first rebalance with less than 5 changes at a review.
One way turnover is estimated at 1.03% and will result in a one-way trade of CNY 1,025m. Given the adds are new listings, there will be some reverse funding flow.
There appears to be little pre-positioning on the adds while there is a bigger buildup on the deletes.


STAR50 Index Rebalance: Two Changes in June (As Expected)

<ul>
<li>The review period for the June rebalance ends 28 April. We expect the changes to be announced 26 May with the implementation taking place after the close on 9 June.</li>
<li>Using a 12-month minimum listing history results in no index changes. Using a 6-month minimum listing history results in two changes - we think this is what will be used.</li>
<li>The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletes but both sets of stocks have underperformed the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sse-science-and-technology-innovation-board-50-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29279:1" rel="noopener">SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX)</a> and the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/csi-smallcap-500-index-shanghai" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35347:1" rel="noopener">CSI Smallcap 500 Index - Shanghai (SH000905 INDEX)</a>. </li>
</ul>


The review period for the June rebalance ends 28 April. We expect the changes to be announced 26 May with the implementation taking place after the close on 9 June.
Using a 12-month minimum listing history results in no index changes. Using a 6-month minimum listing history results in two changes - we think this is what will be used.
The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletes but both sets of stocks have underperformed the SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX) and the CSI Smallcap 500 Index - Shanghai (SH000905 INDEX). 


STAR50 Index Rebalance Preview: Changes Depend on Minimum Listing History

Shanghai Fudan Microelectronic / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The index committee has continued to use a 6-month minimum listing history leading to five changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sse-science-and-technology-innovation-board-50-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29279:1" rel="noopener">SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX)</a> in March.</li>
<li>One way turnover is estimated at 4.95% and will result in a one-way trade of CNY 4,413m. The estimated impact on the deletes is higher than that on the adds.</li>
<li>The inclusions have outperformed the deletions over multiple time periods. There will be pre-positions on the stocks and those could be unwound over the next week or two.</li>
</ul>


The index committee has continued to use a 6-month minimum listing history leading to five changes to the SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX) in March.
One way turnover is estimated at 4.95% and will result in a one-way trade of CNY 4,413m. The estimated impact on the deletes is higher than that on the adds.
The inclusions have outperformed the deletions over multiple time periods. There will be pre-positions on the stocks and those could be unwound over the next week or two.


STAR50 Index Rebalance: Five Changes as Adds Bigly Outperform Deletes

Qingdao Haier Biomedical  Lt / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The review period for the March rebalance ends today. We forecast 2 changes using a 12-month minimum listing history, and 5 changes using a 6-month minimum listing history.</li>
<li>We expect the index committee to continue using a 6-month minimum listing history. The impact on the potential deletes is a lot higher than the impact on the potential adds.</li>
<li>With 5 changes to the index, estimated one-way turnover is 5.1% resulting in a one-way trade of CNY 4,549m. There is a reasonably large reverse funding trade.</li>
</ul>


The review period for the March rebalance ends today. We forecast 2 changes using a 12-month minimum listing history, and 5 changes using a 6-month minimum listing history.
We expect the index committee to continue using a 6-month minimum listing history. The impact on the potential deletes is a lot higher than the impact on the potential adds.
With 5 changes to the index, estimated one-way turnover is 5.1% resulting in a one-way trade of CNY 4,549m. There is a reasonably large reverse funding trade.


STAR50 Index Rebalance Preview: 5 Changes Forecast as Review Period Ends

China

DBAPPSecurity Ltd. provides network security solution. The Company offers cloud computing security, internet application security, big data security, smart city security, and other services. DBAPPSecurity provides services in China.

DBAPP Security (688023 CH)

Accounting Standards Series - CAS No. 14 Impact on China Software Companies - Venustech (2439 CH)

In this SK Originals series, we discuss how CAS No. 14 Standards could affect the revenue recognition policy of Venustech, such as changing the...

Jason Yap, CFA

STAR50 Index Rebalance: Two Changes in June (As Expected)

There are 2 changes for the STAR50 Index as a 6-month minimum listing history is used. There is little increase in excess volume on the adds while...

Brian Freitas

STAR50 Index Rebalance Preview: Changes Depend on Minimum Listing History

There could be 2 index changes if a 6-month minimum listing history is used. The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletes. But both...

Brian Freitas

STAR50 Index Rebalance: Five Changes as Adds Bigly Outperform Deletes

There are 5 changes in March as the index committee stick to a 6-month minimum listing history. The adds have outperformed the deletes by a big...

Brian Freitas

STAR50 Index Rebalance Preview: 5 Changes Forecast as Review Period Ends

There could be 5 index changes in March if the index committee continues using a 6-month minimum listing history. One-way turnover will be over 5%....

Brian Freitas