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)

*Poor Quarter: Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEX] reported 4Q20 earnings of HKD 2.9 bn, declining HKD 522 mn (15.6%) linked quarter. Results were challenged on many fronts, as evidenced by HKEX’ negative operating jaws during the period, whereby revenues declined HKD 210 mn (4.0%) whilst expenses jumped HKD 187 mn (13.2%)– pushing its C/I ratio higher by 480 bp to 31.4%; and*Stamp Dutied: Despite the poor showing during 4Q20, the real story for HKEX is the issue of the stamp duty which likely will impact earnings and market sentiment for the foreseeable future. Given the financial stress of the pandemic on the finances of the Hong Kong government,  on February 24, 2021 it was announced that there would be a 3 bp or 30% increase in the stamp duty to help offset the government budget deficit.

*Poor Quarter: Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEX] reported 4Q20 earnings of HKD 2.9 bn, declining HKD 522 mn (15.6%) linked quarter. Results were challenged on many fronts, as evidenced by HKEX’ negative operating jaws during the period, whereby revenues declined HKD 210 mn (4.0%) whilst expenses jumped HKD 187 mn (13.2%)– pushing its C/I ratio higher by 480 bp to 31.4%; and*Stamp Dutied: Despite the poor showing during 4Q20, the real story for HKEX is the issue of the stamp duty which likely will impact earnings and market sentiment for the foreseeable future. Given the financial stress of the pandemic on the finances of the Hong Kong government,  on February 24, 2021 it was announced that there would be a 3 bp or 30% increase in the stamp duty to help offset the government budget deficit.

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – Hitting The Wall

*New Household Investors For HKEX:  SAFE is likely to make various changes to the current regulations which to allow greater individual participation in stock incentive schemes of overseas listed companies with the removal of quotas on F/X purchases. Enabling greater participation by mainland Chinese in outbound investments could be highly  supportive Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEX] trading volume going forward; and  *New CEO Should Focus On Mainland China: We are hopeful that the new appointed CEO Nicolas Aguzin (effective May 24, 2021) doesn’t allow himself to get distracted by his former swashbuckling colleagues from J.P. Morgan Chase &amp; Co. (JPM.US) at HKEX and their absurd deal making and that he can just focus on meeting both near and long-term targets.

*New Household Investors For HKEX:  SAFE is likely to make various changes to the current regulations which to allow greater individual participation in stock incentive schemes of overseas listed companies with the removal of quotas on F/X purchases. Enabling greater participation by mainland Chinese in outbound investments could be highly  supportive Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEX] trading volume going forward; and  *New CEO Should Focus On Mainland China: We are hopeful that the new appointed CEO Nicolas Aguzin (effective May 24, 2021) doesn’t allow himself to get distracted by his former swashbuckling colleagues from J.P. Morgan Chase &amp; Co. (JPM.US) at HKEX and their absurd deal making and that he can just focus on meeting both near and long-term targets.

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – China, Not Deals Are Way Forward

*New CEO: Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEX] announced that it has appointed Mr. Nicolas Aguzin as its next CEO - effective May 24, 2021.This is an interesting hire, as Mr. Aguzin has virtually no exchange experience and is seemingly not a Mandarin speaker; and*Focus, Focus, Focus:  Let’s just hope and pray that the new CEO doesn’t come from a  swashbuckling deal team.  To be clear, we believe that HKEx has enormous potential provided that it can avoid franchise transforming deals every half decade.

*New CEO: Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEX] announced that it has appointed Mr. Nicolas Aguzin as its next CEO - effective May 24, 2021.This is an interesting hire, as Mr. Aguzin has virtually no exchange experience and is seemingly not a Mandarin speaker; and*Focus, Focus, Focus:  Let’s just hope and pray that the new CEO doesn’t come from a  swashbuckling deal team.  To be clear, we believe that HKEx has enormous potential provided that it can avoid franchise transforming deals every half decade. 

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – No Experience Necessary

*November Market Stats Generally Positive: The Singapore Exchange (SGX.SP) [SGX] released its market statistics for November 2020. Unsurprisingly, the progress of the COVID-19 vaccine fuelled volume gains across the entire spectrum of SGX products; and*Taiwan Pressures: SGX ceased trading of MSCI Taiwan futures contracts on October 30, 2020 as these contracts moved to Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEx]. Notional value traded market share of SGX - while usually volatile - has begun gradually declining to 90.4% in November from 92.4% in October. This will have significant implications over how much market share and fee pressure will be placed on SGX's lucrative A50 contract.

*November Market Stats Generally Positive: The Singapore Exchange (SGX.SP) [SGX] released its market statistics for November 2020. Unsurprisingly, the progress of the COVID-19 vaccine fuelled volume gains across the entire spectrum of SGX products; and*Taiwan Pressures: SGX ceased trading of MSCI Taiwan futures contracts on October 30, 2020 as these contracts moved to Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEx]. Notional value traded market share of SGX - while usually volatile - has begun gradually declining to 90.4% in November from 92.4% in October. This will have significant implications over how much market share and fee pressure will be placed on SGX's lucrative A50 contract.  

Singapore Exchange – Strains Seen For TW Futures

European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Event-Driven

New York-based <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-global-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9735:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P Global Inc. (SPGI US)</a> has agreed to acquire London-based <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ihs-markit-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26496:1" rel="noopener">IHS Markit Ltd (INFO US)</a>, at an EV of $44.5 bn, including $4.8 bn of net debt.
<ul>
<li>The operation, advanced on 30 November by The Wall Street Journal, was later confirmed by the parties involved.</li>
<li>
All-stock deal: 0.2838 SPGI x 1 INFO.
<ul>
<li>equivalent to $96.94 per share of INFO upon announcement; this values the equity of INFO at $39.3 bn.</li>
<li>This represents 9.9x EV/ Forward Revenue, 22.8x EV/ Forward EBITDA and 32.8x P/Forward E.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This deal is one of the biggest deals of the year in M&amp;A. It will have a huge impact in the financial sector: it will create a financial information giant capable of competing with Bloomberg and Refinitiv. Wall Street does not believe that the end of the coronavirus pandemic will cause subscriptions to data providers to plummet. Shares of S&amp;P Global and IHS Markit have risen between 78% and 100% from their respective lows in March.</li>
<li>The decline in the number of companies in the data market should be of concern to both customers and regulators. That said, management did not contemplate significant regulatory hurdles to the deal.</li>
</ul>
S&amp;P, whose businesses include credit rating, financial markets data, Platts energy data and its famous indices, has an operating margin of 56%. IHS Markit is less profitable, but its EBITDA margin is quite good, 40%.
Pro-forma M&amp;A model suggests acquisition may be accretive to EPS since as early as 2021.
I believe the deal should enhance SPGI's position as a proprietary data and solutions provider, while also reducing the company's sensitivity to Ratings.
<ul>
<li>The timing seems positive as Capital IQ consensus forecasts organic growth at IHS Market to accelerate in 2021 (6.8% revenue growth in 2121 and 6.3% in 2022), while SPGI faces a softer issuance outlook (3% revenue growth in 2021 and 5.8% in 2022, according to Capital IQ consensus).</li>
<li>Overall, while there is a strong strategic rationale behind the deal, there is also increased complexity which may weigh on SPGI.</li>
</ul>
The gross spread is currently 2.7% for a deal that it is highly likely to close. I recommend setting up the spread in the usual way.

New York-based S&amp;P Global Inc. (SPGI US) has agreed to acquire London-based IHS Markit Ltd (INFO US), at an EV of $44.5 bn, including $4.8 bn of net debt.

The operation, advanced on 30 November by The Wall Street Journal, was later confirmed by the parties involved.

All-stock deal: 0.2838 SPGI x 1 INFO.

equivalent to $96.94 per share of INFO upon announcement; this values the equity of INFO at $39.3 bn.
This represents 9.9x EV/ Forward Revenue, 22.8x EV/ Forward EBITDA and 32.8x P/Forward E.


This deal is one of the biggest deals of the year in M&amp;A. It will have a huge impact in the financial sector: it will create a financial information giant capable of competing with Bloomberg and Refinitiv. Wall Street does not believe that the end of the coronavirus pandemic will cause subscriptions to data providers to plummet. Shares of S&amp;P Global and IHS Markit have risen between 78% and 100% from their respective lows in March.
The decline in the number of companies in the data market should be of concern to both customers and regulators. That said, management did not contemplate significant regulatory hurdles to the deal.

S&amp;P, whose businesses include credit rating, financial markets data, Platts energy data and its famous indices, has an operating margin of 56%. IHS Markit is less profitable, but its EBITDA margin is quite good, 40%.
Pro-forma M&amp;A model suggests acquisition may be accretive to EPS since as early as 2021.
I believe the deal should enhance SPGI's position as a proprietary data and solutions provider, while also reducing the company's sensitivity to Ratings.

The timing seems positive as Capital IQ consensus forecasts organic growth at IHS Market to accelerate in 2021 (6.8% revenue growth in 2121 and 6.3% in 2022), while SPGI faces a softer issuance outlook (3% revenue growth in 2021 and 5.8% in 2022, according to Capital IQ consensus).
Overall, while there is a strong strategic rationale behind the deal, there is also increased complexity which may weigh on SPGI.

The gross spread is currently 2.7% for a deal that it is highly likely to close. I recommend setting up the spread in the usual way.

United Kingdom

London Stock Exchange Group plc (LSEG) is a global financial markets infrastructure and data provider. The group offers services in data, analytics, capital formation, trade execution, clearing, and risk management. It is headquartered in London, England, and was created in October 2007 through the merger of London Stock Exchange and Borsa Italiana.

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London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG LN)

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – Hitting The Wall

HONG KONG EXCHANGES & CLEARING: HKEX reported a 15.6% QOQ decline in 4Q20 earnings, given the period's negative operating jaws. The story is the...

Thomas J. Monaco

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – China, Not Deals Are Way Forward

HONG KONG EXCHANGES & CLEARING: SAFE is making changes to regulations and allow greater individual participation in stock incentive schemes. We...

Thomas J. Monaco

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – No Experience Necessary

HONG KONG EXCHANGES & CLEARING: HKEX appointed Mr. Nicolas Aguzin as CEO. This is an interesting hire, as Mr. Aguzin has no exchange experience. We...

Thomas J. Monaco

Singapore Exchange – Strains Seen For TW Futures

SINGAPORE EXCHANGE: November Stats Look Good Generally Across The Board; However, Taiwan Futures Slippage Could Impact A50.

Thomas J. Monaco

Financial Data Juggernaut

The deal should enhance SPGI's position as a proprietary data and solutions provider. Gross spread is currently 2.7%. I recommend setting up the...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

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