Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>ETF flows in the Asian region continued their positive momentum during August with Southbound Connect positive again for the week.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/stella-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7610:1" rel="noopener">Stella International (1836 HK)</a> will increase its dividends and buybacks after positive earnings surprise. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14895:1" rel="noopener">AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)</a> saw a surge in new policies from mainlanders in HK.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lufax-holding-ltd-b751749a-8feb-4b4d-85a7-d99ac0308fe7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40067:1" rel="noopener">Lufax Holding (6623 HK)</a> reported an earnings miss with declining loan volume. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yancoal-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8427:1" rel="noopener">Yancoal Australia (3668 HK)</a> reported a decline of 57% in earnings which was below analysts' estimates.
</li>
</ul>


ETF flows in the Asian region continued their positive momentum during August with Southbound Connect positive again for the week.

Stella International (1836 HK) will increase its dividends and buybacks after positive earnings surprise. AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK) saw a surge in new policies from mainlanders in HK.


Lufax Holding (6623 HK) reported an earnings miss with declining loan volume. Yancoal Australia (3668 HK) reported a decline of 57% in earnings which was below analysts' estimates.



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

<ul>
<li>Consumer sectors in China are gaining more focus as the government lays out steps to increase domestic consumption.</li>
<li>Hong Kong markets performed well relative to region during recent market turmoil.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-reinsurance-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:993:1" rel="noopener">China Reinsurance (Group) (1508 HK)</a> experienced breakouts and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-telecom-corp-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1015:1" rel="noopener">China Telecom (H) (728 HK)</a> had a breakdown. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)</a> is more positive.
</li>
</ul>


Consumer sectors in China are gaining more focus as the government lays out steps to increase domestic consumption.
Hong Kong markets performed well relative to region during recent market turmoil.

China Education Group (839 HK) and China Reinsurance (Group) (1508 HK) experienced breakouts and China Telecom (H) (728 HK) had a breakdown. Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK) is more positive.



Technically Speaking, Breakouts and Breakdowns: HONG KONG (AUGUST 9)

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>Prudential unveiled the long-awaited capital management update of US$2.0bn share buyback plan which will be completed no later than mid-2026, in addition to the annual dividend growth of 7%-9% in FY24E, as announced at year start.</li><li>The first tranche of US$700mn buyback will operate from 24 Jun 2024 to no later than 27 Dec 2024 throughout 2H24.</li><li>Under our estimates, this would reduce the company’s ordinary shares by c.78mn in FY24E, and c.224mn in total to 2,530mn shares outstanding by mid-2026, not taking into account of other buybacks, if any, relevant to employee and agent share schemes and/or scrip dividends in future. </li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Prudential unveiled the long-awaited capital management update of US$2.0bn share buyback plan which will be completed no later than mid-2026, in addition to the annual dividend growth of 7%-9% in FY24E, as announced at year start.The first tranche of US$700mn buyback will operate from 24 Jun 2024 to no later than 27 Dec 2024 throughout 2H24.Under our estimates, this would reduce the company’s ordinary shares by c.78mn in FY24E, and c.224mn in total to 2,530mn shares outstanding by mid-2026, not taking into account of other buybacks, if any, relevant to employee and agent share schemes and/or scrip dividends in future. Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Prudential Plc. (2378 HK) - US$2bn Share Buybacks Brace for Sustainable Shareholders Return

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oversea-chinese-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:114:1" rel="noopener">OCBC (OCBC SP)</a> has announced a voluntary unconditional general offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-eastern-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13993:1" rel="noopener">Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP)</a> at S$25.60 per share, a 36.90% premium to the undisturbed price.</li>
<li>OCBC aims to privatise Great Eastern by delisting resolutions or exercising compulsory acquisition rights. The offer has not been declared final.</li>
<li>While the offer is reasonable, it is not a knockout bid which would comfortably allow OCBC to privatise through either option. A bump is highly likely.   </li>
</ul>



OCBC (OCBC SP) has announced a voluntary unconditional general offer for Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP) at S$25.60 per share, a 36.90% premium to the undisturbed price.
OCBC aims to privatise Great Eastern by delisting resolutions or exercising compulsory acquisition rights. The offer has not been declared final.
While the offer is reasonable, it is not a knockout bid which would comfortably allow OCBC to privatise through either option. A bump is highly likely.   


Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP): OCBC’s Offer Needs a Bump to Achieve Privatisation Ambitions

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>It seems like every week, Bloomberg reports a HK-listed company weighing privatisation options. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkbn-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:289:1" rel="noopener">HKBN (1310 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27983:1" rel="noopener">ESR (1821 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsonite-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12790:1" rel="noopener">Samsonite (1910 HK)</a> have all been rumoured of late.</li>
<li>Last Friday, Samsonite <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0322/2024032200048.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it was focused on pursuing the listing of its shares on a second exchange.</li>
<li>No preferred exchange was mentioned. Nor whether the goal is to secure a dual primary listing, or a secondary listing. A buyout, for now, appears to be on the backburner.</li>
</ul>


It seems like every week, Bloomberg reports a HK-listed company weighing privatisation options. HKBN (1310 HK), ESR (1821 HK), and Samsonite (1910 HK) have all been rumoured of late.
Last Friday, Samsonite announced it was focused on pursuing the listing of its shares on a second exchange.
No preferred exchange was mentioned. Nor whether the goal is to secure a dual primary listing, or a secondary listing. A buyout, for now, appears to be on the backburner.


Samsonite (1910 HK): Dual-Listing Musings

Hong Kong

Prudential is a multinational insurance and asset management company. It provides life and health insurance, long-term savings, and investment solutions, including mutual funds and annuities, to customers across Asia and Africa. The company was founded in London in 1848 and is headquartered in London and Hong Kong.

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Prudential (2378 HK)

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

ETF flows were again led by China. Stella International reported a surge in earnings and AIA announced new policy growth exceeded expectations....

David Mudd

Technically Speaking, Breakouts and Breakdowns: HONG KONG (AUGUST 9)

HK markets had lower volatility than other regional markets this week. China Ed and China Re had technical break outs while China Tel broke...

David Mudd

Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP): OCBC’s Offer Needs a Bump to Achieve Privatisation Ambitions

While the offer is reasonable, it is not a knockout bid which would comfortably allow OCBC to privatise Great Eastern. Shares are trading slightly...

Arun George

Samsonite (1910 HK): Dual-Listing Musings

A secondary NASDAQ listing appears preferable. One that is a dual primary listing. A privatisation cannot be ruled out. But it won't come cheap. If...

David Blennerhassett

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