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

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing / Equity Bottom-Up

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (388 HK)

* Peak Value:So much value has been derived again on hope for the shares of Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEx], which included that on: southbound connect, futures markets,  structural reforms, and the change in CEO. Cash and derivative volumes are also higher on HKEx YOY by 39% and 5%, respectively. As such, we witnessed HKEx’s 2020 share performance of 45.1% that has resulted in a global exchange leading valuation of 9.7x P/BV; and* 3Q20 Results Will Be Telling: HKEx will release its 3Q earnings result on November 11, 2020. While its fund to hope and dream, the reality is that equity turnover velocity and volumes on HKEX have declined on the back of weaker price volatility. Cash equity ADTV has declined from a high of HKD 165 bn in July to HKD 135 bn in August to lower still at HKD 123 bn during September. The October figure to date has declined another 21.9% MOM to HKD 95 bn. Volume weakness was also seen in derivatives contracts from a July peak of 1.4 mn ADTV to 1.0 mn during Aug/Sep). To put these declines into perspective, volumes in the cash equity and derivatives amount to over 50% of HKEx's revenue.

* Peak Value:So much value has been derived again on hope for the shares of Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEx], which included that on: southbound connect, futures markets,  structural reforms, and the change in CEO. Cash and derivative volumes are also higher on HKEx YOY by 39% and 5%, respectively. As such, we witnessed HKEx’s 2020 share performance of 45.1% that has resulted in a global exchange leading valuation of 9.7x P/BV; and* 3Q20 Results Will Be Telling: HKEx will release its 3Q earnings result on November 11, 2020. While its fund to hope and dream, the reality is that equity turnover velocity and volumes on HKEX have declined on the back of weaker price volatility. Cash equity ADTV has declined from a high of HKD 165 bn in July to HKD 135 bn in August to lower still at HKD 123 bn during September. The October figure to date has declined another 21.9% MOM to HKD 95 bn. Volume weakness was also seen in derivatives contracts from a July peak of 1.4 mn ADTV to 1.0 mn during Aug/Sep). To put these declines into perspective, volumes in the cash equity and derivatives amount to over 50% of HKEx's revenue.

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – Fully Discounted

*Lucky and Smart: In Afterpay’s Touch’s (APT.AU) [Afterpay] latest update, it was announced that AUSTRAC has decided that it will not be taking any further regulatory action and that that it had uplifted its AML/CTF compliance framework and financial crime function, and satisfactorily completed all required remediation activity. Further, Afterpay `launched its instore offering in the US market just in time for the Christmas shopping season following its Simon Property Group (SPG.US) collaboration in the US;*Tencent Tutelage: Afterpay is helping Tencent enter markets earlier and with Tencent’s (700.HK) tutelage likely will help Afterpay more deeply penetrate North America.  We fully anticipate that Tencent will help Afterpay enter the Asian markets - uncharted territory with a large young population – with the big prize obviously being mainland China. Tencent’s digital expertise should also help Afterpay to improve its technology platform (e.g. its digital wallet checkout experience and its shopping platform, plus customer led generation). It also wouldn’t surprise us if Tencent took up greater than its pro rata share of the capital raise; and*Magic Fairy Dust: While no transaction particulars were disclosed, we calculate an average share purchase price of AUD 22.47 per share for the 5% stake or a hefty 6.8x P/BV for a company which is loss-making and where Tencent hasn’t control. Tencent has already earned 328% on this stake.

*Lucky and Smart: In Afterpay’s Touch’s (APT.AU) [Afterpay] latest update, it was announced that AUSTRAC has decided that it will not be taking any further regulatory action and that that it had uplifted its AML/CTF compliance framework and financial crime function, and satisfactorily completed all required remediation activity. Further, Afterpay `launched its instore offering in the US market just in time for the Christmas shopping season following its Simon Property Group (SPG.US) collaboration in the US;*Tencent Tutelage: Afterpay is helping Tencent enter markets earlier and with Tencent’s (700.HK) tutelage likely will help Afterpay more deeply penetrate North America.  We fully anticipate that Tencent will help Afterpay enter the Asian markets - uncharted territory with a large young population – with the big prize obviously being mainland China. Tencent’s digital expertise should also help Afterpay to improve its technology platform (e.g. its digital wallet checkout experience and its shopping platform, plus customer led generation). It also wouldn’t surprise us if Tencent took up greater than its pro rata share of the capital raise; and*Magic Fairy Dust: While no transaction particulars were disclosed, we calculate an average share purchase price of AUD 22.47 per share for the 5% stake or a hefty 6.8x P/BV for a company which is loss-making and where Tencent hasn’t control. Tencent has already earned 328% on this stake. 

*Weak Numbers Expected: Link REIT (823.HK) [Link] hosted a pre-blackout investor presentation on Oct 8, 2020.The outcome was generally a negative earnings pre-announcement whereby DPU is set to decline 7.6% - the first dividend decline since Link was listed in 2005. The culprit for the poor pre-announcement was a negative rental reversion rate and increased rental concessions (which we believe are not one off) in Hong Kong, factors which are anticipated to continue to place intense pressure on results for the foreseeable future; and  *Hong Kong Pressures Are Very Apparent: This recent London transaction is so far away from Link REIT’s core competencies speaks volumes as to where it believes its core Hong Kong retail business is heading. This doesn’t seem like smart diversification and smells more of panic leverage when one considers the price and location of this deal. We are hopeful that management doesn’t let the large cash position burn another hole its pocket.

*Weak Numbers Expected: Link REIT (823.HK) [Link] hosted a pre-blackout investor presentation on Oct 8, 2020.The outcome was generally a negative earnings pre-announcement whereby DPU is set to decline 7.6% - the first dividend decline since Link was listed in 2005. The culprit for the poor pre-announcement was a negative rental reversion rate and increased rental concessions (which we believe are not one off) in Hong Kong, factors which are anticipated to continue to place intense pressure on results for the foreseeable future; and  *Hong Kong Pressures Are Very Apparent: This recent London transaction is so far away from Link REIT’s core competencies speaks volumes as to where it believes its core Hong Kong retail business is heading. This doesn’t seem like smart diversification and smells more of panic leverage when one considers the price and location of this deal. We are hopeful that management doesn’t let the large cash position burn another hole its pocket.   

*Trip.com Should Continue to Get a Significant Upward Re-Rating: Mainland China has been at the epicenter of this tourism slowdown. If the virus impact continues to be held in check for 2-3 weeks post-Golden Week, the risk to tourism and confidence should start to seriously abate; and *Travel Rebound Underway: The good news is that mainland China hasn’t “officially” reported local COVID-19 infections since August 15th, although there were two asymptomatic cases disclosed in late September. After nine plus months of hiding and the Covid-19 pandemic largely under control in mainland China, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism stated that the first four days of the Golden Week holiday beginning October 1st witnessed nearly 425 mn local trips - nearly 80% of the level posted in 2019.

*Trip.com Should Continue to Get a Significant Upward Re-Rating: Mainland China has been at the epicenter of this tourism slowdown. If the virus impact continues to be held in check for 2-3 weeks post-Golden Week, the risk to tourism and confidence should start to seriously abate; and *Travel Rebound Underway: The good news is that mainland China hasn’t “officially” reported local COVID-19 infections since August 15th, although there were two asymptomatic cases disclosed in late September. After nine plus months of hiding and the Covid-19 pandemic largely under control in mainland China, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism stated that the first four days of the Golden Week holiday beginning October 1st witnessed nearly 425 mn local trips - nearly 80% of the level posted in 2019.

*Simon Says: In Afterpay’s Touch’s (APT.AU) [Afterpay] latest move, it was announced that it will collaborate with Simon Property Group (SPG.US) in the US across it’s significant footprint of retail shopping malls  - over 200 across the country. This collaboration enables Afterpay to establish an in-store presence in the US where both companies will work side by side with retailers in Simon shopping malls;*Tencent Tutelage: Afterpay is helping Tencent enter markets earlier and with Tencent’s (700.HK) tutelage likely will help Afterpay more deeply penetrate North America.  We fully anticipate that Tencent will help Afterpay enter the Asian markets - uncharted territory with a large young population – with the big prize obviously being mainland China. Tencent’s digital expertise should also help Afterpay to improve its technology platform (e.g. its digital wallet checkout experience and its shopping platform, plus customer led generation). It also wouldn’t surprise us if Tencent took up greater than its pro rata share of the capital raise; and*Magic Fairy Dust: While no transaction particulars were disclosed, we calculate an average share purchase price of AUD 22.47 per share for the 5% stake or a hefty 6.8x P/BV for a company which is loss-making and where Tencent hasn’t control. Tencent has already earned 278% on this stake.

*Simon Says: In Afterpay’s Touch’s (APT.AU) [Afterpay] latest move, it was announced that it will collaborate with Simon Property Group (SPG.US) in the US across it’s significant footprint of retail shopping malls  - over 200 across the country. This collaboration enables Afterpay to establish an in-store presence in the US where both companies will work side by side with retailers in Simon shopping malls;*Tencent Tutelage: Afterpay is helping Tencent enter markets earlier and with Tencent’s (700.HK) tutelage likely will help Afterpay more deeply penetrate North America.  We fully anticipate that Tencent will help Afterpay enter the Asian markets - uncharted territory with a large young population – with the big prize obviously being mainland China. Tencent’s digital expertise should also help Afterpay to improve its technology platform (e.g. its digital wallet checkout experience and its shopping platform, plus customer led generation). It also wouldn’t surprise us if Tencent took up greater than its pro rata share of the capital raise; and*Magic Fairy Dust: While no transaction particulars were disclosed, we calculate an average share purchase price of AUD 22.47 per share for the 5% stake or a hefty 6.8x P/BV for a company which is loss-making and where Tencent hasn’t control. Tencent has already earned 278% on this stake. 

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)

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – Fully Discounted

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing: Alot of Positives Surrounding China Opportunity Has Pushed Shares 45% Higher In 2020, But Recent Fundamentals Would...

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent – Rubbing Two Nickels Together

Tencent Continues To Reap The Benefits Of Its Australian Alliance, With Afterpay Now Getting A Clean Bill Of Health and Increasing Their US Presence

Thomas J. Monaco

Link REIT – Weak Results Preview

*Weak Numbers Expected: Link REIT (823.HK) [Link] hosted a pre-blackout investor presentation on Oct 8, 2020.The outcome was generally a negative...

Thomas J. Monaco

Trip.com – All Systems Go

Trip.com - All Systems Go: Travel during Golden Week, and C-Trip looks to be biggest beneficiary as largest online travel agency.

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent - One If By Land

*Simon Says: In Afterpay’s Touch’s (APT.AU) [Afterpay] latest move, it was announced that it will collaborate with Simon Property Group (SPG.US) in...

Thomas J. Monaco