Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

In the spirit of the long-awaited UEFA Euro 2020, we present our inaugural "China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook", which summarizes our views on the names that are best positioned to navigate an environment of progressively slower credit growth, tighter liquidity and rising defaults. 
Our screen consists of 100+ stocks in the A/H share universe, as well as a select number of international / non-traditional names that have significant exposures to China's financial system. We have a preference for larger-cap and liquid names, which are then filtered by our opinions on their fundamentals, value, momentum and recent trading volumes. We also try to make our selections versatile and less vulnerable to single-factor movements.
Each player's position on the pitch and the team formation itself convey incremental information about our thoughts on the sector's performance over a three to six-month horizon. To the extent possible, we intend to update our ideas on a periodic basis. This provides a feedback loop with our other ongoing research on the industry.
However, our team selections are not investment recommendations. Instead, they are meant to give structure to our analysis. The playbook allows us to articulate our views on the sector in a timely, concise manner. Our objective is to ensure we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as sentiments on the sector remain bleak.
With that out of the way, the following is our starting XI. We will dive deeper into our rationale for our selections in the remainder of this insight (Exhibit 1).
<table class="table table-striped">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 726.047px;">Exhibit 1: China Financials | Silver Linings Playbook</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 726.047px;">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/213/768/original/image_768460236451623962508577.png?1623962508" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="213768"></figure>

Source: Our analysis
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Related Insights
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-consumers-remain-on-the-sidelines-as-their-home-equity-grows" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53210" rel="noopener">China Macro: Consumers Remain on the Sidelines, as Their Home Equity Grows</a> 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/glut-and-famine-we-might-see-snow-in-china-this-summer" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52840" rel="noopener">Glut and Famine: We Might See Snow in China This Summer</a> 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-ppi-peaks-while-cpi-eases-tightening-fears" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52778" rel="noopener">China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears</a> 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-exports-disappoint-but-it-s-still-early-in-the-game" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52728" rel="noopener">China Macro: Exports Disappoint, but It's Still Early in the Game</a> 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/glut-and-famine-china-s-monetary-conditions-a-notch-tighter-in-may" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51799" rel="noopener">Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May</a> 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/icbc-the-bond-identity-a-zero-growth-dividend-discount-story" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51463" rel="noopener">ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story</a> 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/boc-aviation-2588-hk-the-stars-don-t-look-bigger-but-they-do-look-brighter" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52283" rel="noopener">BOC Aviation (2588 HK): The Stars Don't Look Bigger, but They Do Look Brighter</a>

In the spirit of the long-awaited UEFA Euro 2020, we present our inaugural "China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook", which summarizes our views on the names that are best positioned to navigate an environment of progressively slower credit growth, tighter liquidity and rising defaults. 
Our screen consists of 100+ stocks in the A/H share universe, as well as a select number of international / non-traditional names that have significant exposures to China's financial system. We have a preference for larger-cap and liquid names, which are then filtered by our opinions on their fundamentals, value, momentum and recent trading volumes. We also try to make our selections versatile and less vulnerable to single-factor movements.
Each player's position on the pitch and the team formation itself convey incremental information about our thoughts on the sector's performance over a three to six-month horizon. To the extent possible, we intend to update our ideas on a periodic basis. This provides a feedback loop with our other ongoing research on the industry.
However, our team selections are not investment recommendations. Instead, they are meant to give structure to our analysis. The playbook allows us to articulate our views on the sector in a timely, concise manner. Our objective is to ensure we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as sentiments on the sector remain bleak.
With that out of the way, the following is our starting XI. We will dive deeper into our rationale for our selections in the remainder of this insight (Exhibit 1).



Exhibit 1: China Financials | Silver Linings Playbook





Source: Our analysis




Related Insights
China Macro: Consumers Remain on the Sidelines, as Their Home Equity Grows 
Glut and Famine: We Might See Snow in China This Summer 
China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears 
China Macro: Exports Disappoint, but It's Still Early in the Game 
Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May 
ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story 
BOC Aviation (2588 HK): The Stars Don't Look Bigger, but They Do Look Brighter

China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

Industrial Bank Co Ltd A / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In this China banks screener; we focus on the potential for increased credit quality headwinds going forward, given the weak GDP growth outlook</li>
<li>China bank shares have been poor performers and still we see selective buy opportunities, with better credit quality metrics</li>
<li>We favour Industrial Bank and CCB both of which have attractive valuations; Minsheng, on the other hand, remains exposed to a worsening of the credit quality cycle</li>
</ul>


In this China banks screener; we focus on the potential for increased credit quality headwinds going forward, given the weak GDP growth outlook
China bank shares have been poor performers and still we see selective buy opportunities, with better credit quality metrics
We favour Industrial Bank and CCB both of which have attractive valuations; Minsheng, on the other hand, remains exposed to a worsening of the credit quality cycle


China Banks Screen; Focus on the Credit Quality Risks

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Chinese Internet data center services provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/21-vianet-group-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8489:1" rel="noopener">21Vianet Group (VNET US)</a> has recently received a non-binding proposal letter from the Hina Group and Shanghai's Industrial Bank Co. </li>
<li>The indicative Offer price is US$8.00/ADS, or ~US$1.3333 per ordinary share.</li>
<li>The Offer Price is utterly underwhelming. A successful outcome will more than likely find its way to the Cayman Court.</li>
</ul>


Chinese Internet data center services provider 21Vianet Group (VNET US) has recently received a non-binding proposal letter from the Hina Group and Shanghai's Industrial Bank Co. 
The indicative Offer price is US$8.00/ADS, or ~US$1.3333 per ordinary share.
The Offer Price is utterly underwhelming. A successful outcome will more than likely find its way to the Cayman Court.


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.

<ul>
<li>VNET, formerly known as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/21-vianet-group-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8489:1" rel="noopener">21Vianet Group (VNET US)</a>, is a leading carrier and cloud-neutral data centre services provider in China. </li>
<li>It has received a non-binding privatisation proposal from <a href="https://www.hinagroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hina Group</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/industrial-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19515:1" rel="noopener">Industrial Bank Co Ltd A (601166 CH)</a> at $8.00 per ADS, a 48.1% premium to the undisturbed price. </li>
<li>The Board has not made any decisions on the offer. Despite the juicy premium, the offer is unattractive in the context of historical multiples and share prices.    </li>
</ul>


VNET, formerly known as 21Vianet Group (VNET US), is a leading carrier and cloud-neutral data centre services provider in China. 
It has received a non-binding privatisation proposal from The Hina Group and Industrial Bank Co Ltd A (601166 CH) at $8.00 per ADS, a 48.1% premium to the undisturbed price. 
The Board has not made any decisions on the offer. Despite the juicy premium, the offer is unattractive in the context of historical multiples and share prices.    


VNET’s Languishing Shares Draws an Opportunistic $8.00 Bid

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyze the monthly Shanghai/Shenzhen northbound Connect flows with our data engine.</li>
<li>The monthly inflows of US$9.3bn tops the monthly inflows in the past 12 months. The inflows were led by the financials, consumer staples, and industrial sectors.</li>
<li>We highlight inflows into Moutai, Ping An, CMB, ICBC, Wuliangye.</li>
</ul>


We analyze the monthly Shanghai/Shenzhen northbound Connect flows with our data engine.
The monthly inflows of US$9.3bn tops the monthly inflows in the past 12 months. The inflows were led by the financials, consumer staples, and industrial sectors.
We highlight inflows into Moutai, Ping An, CMB, ICBC, Wuliangye.


Northbound Flows (Feb): $9.3bn Inflows in Feb

China

Industrial Bank Co.,Ltd. provides banking services. The Company offers deposits, loans, fund management, foreign currency management, and other services. Industrial Bank provides its services to individuals, enterprises, and other clients.

Industrial Bank Co Ltd A (601166 CH)

China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook

Our Silver Linings Playbook outlines our views on the China financials names that are most likely to remain resilient in the face of macro...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

China Banks Screen; Focus on the Credit Quality Risks

There is potential for worsening China banks credit quality going forward, but low valuations and our balance sheet reviews lead us to recommend...

Victor Galliano

Hina/IBC's Non-Binding Proposal For VNET

Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings (412 HK) is investing US$299mn (@US$0.497/share) in VNET to take a 42.12% stake on a fully diluted basis, and 35.7% of...

David Blennerhassett

VNET’s Languishing Shares Draws an Opportunistic $8.00 Bid

The Hina Group and Industrial Bank Co have offered $8.00 per ADS, a 48.1% premium to the undisturbed price. However, the offer is unattractive in...

Arun George

Northbound Flows (Feb): $9.3bn Inflows in Feb

Analysis of Shanghai/Shenzhen northbound Connect flows shows record monthly inflows of US$9.3bn, led by financials, consumer staples, and...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook

Our Silver Linings Playbook outlines our views on the China financials names that are most likely to remain resilient in the face of macro...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

China Banks Screen; Focus on the Credit Quality Risks

There is potential for worsening China banks credit quality going forward, but low valuations and our balance sheet reviews lead us to recommend...

Victor Galliano

Hina/IBC's Non-Binding Proposal For VNET

Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings (412 HK) is investing US$299mn (@US$0.497/share) in VNET to take a 42.12% stake on a fully diluted basis, and 35.7% of...

David Blennerhassett

VNET’s Languishing Shares Draws an Opportunistic $8.00 Bid

The Hina Group and Industrial Bank Co have offered $8.00 per ADS, a 48.1% premium to the undisturbed price. However, the offer is unattractive in...

Arun George

Northbound Flows (Feb): $9.3bn Inflows in Feb

​Analysis of Shanghai/Shenzhen northbound Connect flows shows record monthly inflows of US$9.3bn, led by financials, consumer staples, and...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Analysis of Shanghai/Shenzhen northbound Connect flows shows record monthly inflows of US$9.3bn, led by financials, consumer staples, and...