Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
Default: On December 6, 2021, several investors appear to have confirmed that China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] does not have the financial wherewithal to cover grace period payments;</li>
<li>
Fire Brigade Called: Evergrande established a risk-management committee (RMC) to assist in "mitigating and eliminating the future risks", in addition to Guangdong Province disseminating a team to Evergrande; and</li>
<li>
Intensified Bank Risk: Shenjing Bank (2066.HK) has CNY 129.4 bn exposure to Evergrande, implying stated NPLs of 24.4%. Other bank creditors: China Minsheng, China Zheshang, Shanghai Pudong, and Citic Trust.</li>
</ul>



Default: On December 6, 2021, several investors appear to have confirmed that China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] does not have the financial wherewithal to cover grace period payments;

Fire Brigade Called: Evergrande established a risk-management committee (RMC) to assist in "mitigating and eliminating the future risks", in addition to Guangdong Province disseminating a team to Evergrande; and

Intensified Bank Risk: Shenjing Bank (2066.HK) has CNY 129.4 bn exposure to Evergrande, implying stated NPLs of 24.4%. Other bank creditors: China Minsheng, China Zheshang, Shanghai Pudong, and Citic Trust.


<ul>
<li>
Management Shake-up: Alibaba Group Holding (BABA.US) [Alibaba] announced that long-time CFO Maggie Wu will be stepping down in April 2022;</li>
<li>
Restructure: Alibaba also announced that it will be reorganizing its international and domestic e-commerce businesses; and</li>
<li>
Further Pressure:Just last month, Alibaba reduced its revenue growth forecast. The formation of a financial holding company will cause earnings to compress while capital requirements increase.</li>
</ul>



Management Shake-up: Alibaba Group Holding (BABA.US) [Alibaba] announced that long-time CFO Maggie Wu will be stepping down in April 2022;

Restructure: Alibaba also announced that it will be reorganizing its international and domestic e-commerce businesses; and

Further Pressure:Just last month, Alibaba reduced its revenue growth forecast. The formation of a financial holding company will cause earnings to compress while capital requirements increase.


Alibaba Group Holding – Palace Intrigue

<ul>
<li>
Another Weak Number: Waterdrop (WDH.US) reported a third set of losses since its IPO, coming in at a negative CNY 477 mn  - improving CNY 227 mn (32.5%) QOQ; </li>
<li>
High Cumulative Losses: Cumulative losses since its IPO are over CNY 1.5 bn, and represent about 57% of IPO funds raised. Challenges come from weaker revenues and excessive costs; and    </li>
<li>
Notice” To Online Insurers: The CBIRC's roll out of the internet insurance revision plan aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms. </li>
</ul>



Another Weak Number: Waterdrop (WDH.US) reported a third set of losses since its IPO, coming in at a negative CNY 477 mn  - improving CNY 227 mn (32.5%) QOQ; 

High Cumulative Losses: Cumulative losses since its IPO are over CNY 1.5 bn, and represent about 57% of IPO funds raised. Challenges come from weaker revenues and excessive costs; and    

Notice” To Online Insurers: The CBIRC's roll out of the internet insurance revision plan aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms. 


<ul>
<li>
Long Arm of the Law: Mainland China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”) has ordered a temporary suspension of updates to apps from November 24, 2021;</li>
<li>
Follow-Up To Other Violations: The temporary suspension come as Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [“Tencent”] was found violating user data security laws on nine apps under the Information Protection Law; and</li>
<li>
Financial Holdco May Be a Forced Issue Too: The long arm of the CBIRC will grab Tencent. The more its relies on Fintech, the more alarming financial regulatory concerns.  </li>
</ul>



Long Arm of the Law: Mainland China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”) has ordered a temporary suspension of updates to apps from November 24, 2021;

Follow-Up To Other Violations: The temporary suspension come as Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [“Tencent”] was found violating user data security laws on nine apps under the Information Protection Law; and

Financial Holdco May Be a Forced Issue Too: The long arm of the CBIRC will grab Tencent. The more its relies on Fintech, the more alarming financial regulatory concerns.  


<ul>
<li>
Stadium Levy:Likely Guangzhou City Construction Investment Group has seized the halted China Evergrande Group’s (3333.HK) [Evergrande] stadium project in order to dispose of it;</li>
<li>
Stake Sale:In order to stave off default, Evergrande’s Chairman reduced his family’s stake, raising the equivalent USD 344 mn; and</li>
<li>
Guarantee and Grace Period:Investors are threatening to re-invoke Evergrande’s Jumbo Fortune bond guarantee, and we await the expiry of another 30-day grace period expiry on December 6, 2021.</li>
</ul>



Stadium Levy:Likely Guangzhou City Construction Investment Group has seized the halted China Evergrande Group’s (3333.HK) [Evergrande] stadium project in order to dispose of it;

Stake Sale:In order to stave off default, Evergrande’s Chairman reduced his family’s stake, raising the equivalent USD 344 mn; and

Guarantee and Grace Period:Investors are threatening to re-invoke Evergrande’s Jumbo Fortune bond guarantee, and we await the expiry of another 30-day grace period expiry on December 6, 2021.


China Evergrande Group – Levies and Liquidations

Hong Kong

iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF's objective seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the performance of publicly traded securities in the Hong Kong market, as measured by the MSCI Hong Kong Index. The ETF invests in a representative sample of index stocks using a "portfolio sampling" technique.

iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF (EWH US)

China Evergrande Group – Fire Sale

EVERGRANDE: Several investors appear to have confirmed that Evergrande failed to cover grace period payments. Shenjing Bank has CNY 129.4 bn...

Thomas J. Monaco

Alibaba Group Holding – Palace Intrigue

ALIBABA: Alibaba announced that long-time CFO Maggie Wu will be stepping down in April 2022, and that it will be reorganizing its international and...

Thomas J. Monaco

Waterdrop – Still Bleeding

WATERDROP: Waterdrop reported losses of CNY 477 mn - improving CNY 227 mn or 32.5% linked quarter and bringing cumulative losses since its IPO to...

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent Holdings – Regulatory Squeeze

TENCENT: Long Arm of the Law: Mainland China’s MIIT has ordered a temporary suspension of updates to apps from November 24, 2021. This is not...

Thomas J. Monaco

China Evergrande Group – Levies and Liquidations

EVERGRANDE: Authorities have seized Evergrande's stadium project. The Chairman reduced his family’s stake, but we await the outcome of a bond...

Thomas J. Monaco