Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>China's National Team was steadily buying ETF's during and after the Third Plenum.  Southbound Connect Flows continue to be positive during July.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/smoore-international-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28241:1" rel="noopener">Smoore International Holdings (6969 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinjiang-goldwind-science-technology-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10112:1" rel="noopener">Xinjiang Goldwind Science &amp; Technology (2208 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hisense-home-appliances-group-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20107:1" rel="noopener">Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd. H (921 HK)</a>  benefited from positive news sentiment this week.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chow-tai-fook-jewellery-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:549:1" rel="noopener">Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asm-pacific-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15061:1" rel="noopener">ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK)</a> suffered on negative news, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> continued its pullback in concert with the retail food sector.</li>
</ul>


China's National Team was steadily buying ETF's during and after the Third Plenum.  Southbound Connect Flows continue to be positive during July.

Smoore International Holdings (6969 HK) , Xinjiang Goldwind Science &amp; Technology (2208 HK) and Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd. H (921 HK)  benefited from positive news sentiment this week.

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK) and ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK) suffered on negative news, while Meituan (3690 HK) continued its pullback in concert with the retail food sector.


The Heat Is On: News Flow and Sentiment in CHINA / HONG KONG (July 26)

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

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.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>In Feb 2024,  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/british-american-tobacco-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21828:1" rel="noopener">BAT's</a> management stated that they were reviewing their stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:327:1" rel="noopener">ITC Ltd (ITC IN)</a>.  The news of a possible selldown by BAT was leaked again earlier today.</li>
<li>BAT has owned its stake in ITC for over a century and remains its largest shareholder.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.</li>
</ul>


In Feb 2024,  BAT's management stated that they were reviewing their stake in ITC Ltd (ITC IN).  The news of a possible selldown by BAT was leaked again earlier today.
BAT has owned its stake in ITC for over a century and remains its largest shareholder.
In this note, we talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.


ITC $2bn Placement - Very Well Flagged but Still Won’t Be an Easy One to Digest, Won’t Do an Indigo

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/british-american-tobacco-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21828:1" rel="noopener">British American Tobacco (BATS LN)</a>’s management stated that they were reviewing their stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:327:1" rel="noopener">ITC Ltd (ITC IN)</a> to enhance its balance sheet flexibility.</li>
<li>BAT has owned its stake in ITC for over a century and remains its largest shareholder.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the possible deal structure and dynamics.</li>
</ul>


Earlier this month, British American Tobacco (BATS LN)’s management stated that they were reviewing their stake in ITC Ltd (ITC IN) to enhance its balance sheet flexibility.
BAT has owned its stake in ITC for over a century and remains its largest shareholder.
In this note, we talk about the possible deal structure and dynamics.


BAT’s Possible US$2.5bn ITC Selldown - Will Be Well Flagged but Still Won’t Be an Easy One to Digest

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

<ul>
<li>Combustible tobacco is declining globally, but <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-tobacco-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13498:1" rel="noopener">Japan Tobacco (2914 JP)</a> is defying the odds by outperforming the industry significantly through capturing market share from competitors.</li>
<li>Also in Heated Tobacco, Japan Tobacco is slowly but steadily capturing market share from IQOS and other heated tobacco makers.</li>
<li>There will be no price hikes this year, but we think that there's enough spillover from the price hikes in the past 3-4 years to maintain JT's OP growth momentum.</li>
</ul>


Combustible tobacco is declining globally, but Japan Tobacco (2914 JP) is defying the odds by outperforming the industry significantly through capturing market share from competitors.
Also in Heated Tobacco, Japan Tobacco is slowly but steadily capturing market share from IQOS and other heated tobacco makers.
There will be no price hikes this year, but we think that there's enough spillover from the price hikes in the past 3-4 years to maintain JT's OP growth momentum.


Japan Tobacco High Conviction Call: No Price Hikes This Year, But Profits Poised to Soar

<ul>
<li>Japan Tobacco's 1Q23 performance exceeded consensus expectations, with revenue and OP surpassing by 5.3% and 12.3%, respectively.</li>
<li>Consensus expected no volume growth for Japan Tobacco in declining combustible tobacco market; targeted mid-single digit constant currency revenue growth via pricing.</li>
<li>Higher cigarette prices are expected to contribute to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-tobacco-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13498:1" rel="noopener">Japan Tobacco (2914 JP)</a>'s OP growth, which we anticipate will exceed its historical peak levels in the next few years.</li>
</ul>


Japan Tobacco's 1Q23 performance exceeded consensus expectations, with revenue and OP surpassing by 5.3% and 12.3%, respectively.
Consensus expected no volume growth for Japan Tobacco in declining combustible tobacco market; targeted mid-single digit constant currency revenue growth via pricing.
Higher cigarette prices are expected to contribute to Japan Tobacco (2914 JP)'s OP growth, which we anticipate will exceed its historical peak levels in the next few years.


Japan Tobacco High Conviction Update: Potential 62% Upside

Japan

Japan Tobacco, Inc. operates as an tobacco product company. The Company manufactures, markets and sells cigarettes and other tobacco products internationally. Japan Tobacco is also engaged in pharmaceutical and food businesses.

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Japan Tobacco (2914 JP)

The Heat Is On: News Flow and Sentiment in CHINA / HONG KONG (July 26)

China's National Team continued buying in the ETF market. Smoore International, Xinjiang Goldwind and Hisense had positive news sentiment, while...

David Mudd

ITC $2bn Placement - Very Well Flagged but Still Won’t Be an Easy One to Digest, Won’t Do an Indigo

BAT aims to raise around US$2bn via selling 3.5% of ITC. The deal is a very well flagged one but its also relatively a very large deal.

Sumeet Singh

BAT’s Possible US$2.5bn ITC Selldown - Will Be Well Flagged but Still Won’t Be an Easy One to Digest

The deal is now live for a target raising of US$2bn, which will drop BAT's stake to 25.5%. The news of the deal was leaked earlier today so its...

Sumeet Singh

Japan Tobacco High Conviction Call: No Price Hikes This Year, But Profits Poised to Soar

Japan Tobacco is defying the decline in combustible tobacco by capturing market share. They are also gaining ground in heated tobacco. Despite no...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Japan Tobacco High Conviction Update: Potential 62% Upside

At ¥4,750 per share, Japan Tobacco's forward EV/OP multiple would be 11.7x, lower than historical levels despite earnings being near cyclical...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

The Heat Is On: News Flow and Sentiment in CHINA / HONG KONG (July 26)

China's National Team continued buying in the ETF market. Smoore International, Xinjiang Goldwind and Hisense had positive news sentiment, while...

David Mudd

ITC $2bn Placement - Very Well Flagged but Still Won’t Be an Easy One to Digest, Won’t Do an Indigo

BAT aims to raise around US$2bn via selling 3.5% of ITC. The deal is a very well flagged one but its also relatively a very large deal.

Sumeet Singh

BAT’s Possible US$2.5bn ITC Selldown - Will Be Well Flagged but Still Won’t Be an Easy One to Digest

The deal is now live for a target raising of US$2bn, which will drop BAT's stake to 25.5%. The news of the deal was leaked earlier today so its...

Sumeet Singh

Japan Tobacco High Conviction Call: No Price Hikes This Year, But Profits Poised to Soar

​Japan Tobacco is defying the decline in combustible tobacco by capturing market share. They are also gaining ground in heated tobacco. Despite no...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Japan Tobacco High Conviction Update: Potential 62% Upside

At ¥4,750 per share, Japan Tobacco's forward EV/OP multiple would be 11.7x, lower than historical levels despite earnings being near cyclical...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Japan Tobacco is defying the decline in combustible tobacco by capturing market share. They are also gaining ground in heated tobacco. Despite no...