Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unibail-rodamco-westfield" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27181:1" rel="noopener">Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW AU)</a>, Europe's largest listed commercial property company, recently reported solid 3Q23 financials (through to September 2023). </li>
<li>Covid played havoc on shopping mall players/developers - URW is still down 62% from its Covid cliff versus an average of 24% for a basket of peers.</li>
<li>Investor concerns over URW's strategy and leverage have been a drag on the stock; however its long-term plan is finding the right path. </li>
</ul>



Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW AU), Europe's largest listed commercial property company, recently reported solid 3Q23 financials (through to September 2023). 
Covid played havoc on shopping mall players/developers - URW is still down 62% from its Covid cliff versus an average of 24% for a basket of peers.
Investor concerns over URW's strategy and leverage have been a drag on the stock; however its long-term plan is finding the right path. 


Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield: The Retail Community

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>In this insight we analyze the drivers of a new relationship between SHEIN and Forever 21</li>
<li>We think SHEIN agreed to the deal in part to become more "mainstream" in the US</li>
<li>We also believe SHEIN takes seriously the legal and political risks it faces ahead of US IPO</li>
</ul>


In this insight we analyze the drivers of a new relationship between SHEIN and Forever 21
We think SHEIN agreed to the deal in part to become more "mainstream" in the US
We also believe SHEIN takes seriously the legal and political risks it faces ahead of US IPO


Why Is SHEIN Getting Into Bed with Forever 21? | Plus, More Legal and Political Challenges in US

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Independent Insight Provider

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

*Magic Fairy Dust: Square (SQ.US) has agreed to purchase Afterpay Touch (APT.AU) [Afterpay) for USD 29 bn in an all-stock transaction – implying Afterpay’s shares to be worth AUD 126.21. This is not a bad outcome for Afterpay, which only posts consistent losses. Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [Tencent] stands to gain 462% on its initial stake for a gain of over USD 800 mn – not bad for a passive deal 15 months ago;  and
Risks Remain: In addition to Tencent is suspending new user registrations for its WeChat services, as it is undergoing a “security technical upgrade” in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, there are multiple other challenges. We have no doubt that Tencent will also follow Alibaba Group (BABA.US) [Alibaba] in their formation of a financial holding company. For Tencent, WeChat Pay and the broader lending/deposit taking business are likely to be reined-in. An FHC represents significant downside risks. Earnings will compress, as capital requirements increase.

*Magic Fairy Dust: Square (SQ.US) has agreed to purchase Afterpay Touch (APT.AU) [Afterpay) for USD 29 bn in an all-stock transaction – implying Afterpay’s shares to be worth AUD 126.21. This is not a bad outcome for Afterpay, which only posts consistent losses. Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [Tencent] stands to gain 462% on its initial stake for a gain of over USD 800 mn – not bad for a passive deal 15 months ago;  and
Risks Remain: In addition to Tencent is suspending new user registrations for its WeChat services, as it is undergoing a “security technical upgrade” in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, there are multiple other challenges. We have no doubt that Tencent will also follow Alibaba Group (BABA.US) [Alibaba] in their formation of a financial holding company. For Tencent, WeChat Pay and the broader lending/deposit taking business are likely to be reined-in. An FHC represents significant downside risks. Earnings will compress, as capital requirements increase.

Tencent Holdings – Clairvoyance Pays Off

*Major US Merchant Deal: Tencent Holding’s (700.HK) [Tencent] Afterpay Touch's (APT.AU) [Afterpay] recently announced that it is further expanding its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model to several major high profile US merchants in order to boost sales and margins. Afterpay is now allowing all US users to shop at 13 retailers by October 2021 - ahead of the holiday shopping season; and*Tencent’s Midas Touch: Tencent continues to hit it out of the park with its Afterpay stake. In addition to its superb return on investment over the past ten months since the stake announcement - -even after giving back some of its gains, this alliance with Australia’s premier financial technology BNPL company is paying dividends to Tencent in numerous other ways.

*Major US Merchant Deal: Tencent Holding’s (700.HK) [Tencent] Afterpay Touch's (APT.AU) [Afterpay] recently announced that it is further expanding its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model to several major high profile US merchants in order to boost sales and margins. Afterpay is now allowing all US users to shop at 13 retailers by October 2021 - ahead of the holiday shopping season; and*Tencent’s Midas Touch: Tencent continues to hit it out of the park with its Afterpay stake. In addition to its superb return on investment over the past ten months since the stake announcement - -even after giving back some of its gains, this alliance with Australia’s premier financial technology BNPL company is paying dividends to Tencent in numerous other ways. 

Tencent Holdings – Digging In Their Heals

*Reserve Bank of Australia’s No Action On BNPL:The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released a Retail Payments Review on May 28, 2021 discussing among other items the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) model. Specifically, the RBA reviewed whether the BNPL model should continue with its ‘no surcharge rules’ whereby merchants are precluded from passing along BNPL fees to its customers. The RBA concluded that it will not require the BNPL sector to change its ‘no surcharge rules’; and  *Tencent’s Midas Touch: Tencent continues to hit it out of the park with its Afterpay stake. In addition to its superb return on investment over the past nine months since the stake announcement - -even after giving back some of its gains, this alliance with Australia’s premier financial technology BNPL company is paying dividends to Tencent in numerous other ways.

*Reserve Bank of Australia’s No Action On BNPL:The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released a Retail Payments Review on May 28, 2021 discussing among other items the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) model. Specifically, the RBA reviewed whether the BNPL model should continue with its ‘no surcharge rules’ whereby merchants are precluded from passing along BNPL fees to its customers. The RBA concluded that it will not require the BNPL sector to change its ‘no surcharge rules’; and  *Tencent’s Midas Touch: Tencent continues to hit it out of the park with its Afterpay stake. In addition to its superb return on investment over the past nine months since the stake announcement - -even after giving back some of its gains, this alliance with Australia’s premier financial technology BNPL company is paying dividends to Tencent in numerous other ways. 

United States

Simon Property Group, Inc. is a self-administered and self-managed, real estate investment trust. The Company owns, develops, and manages retail real estate properties including regional malls, outlet centers, community/lifestyle centers, and international properties.

Simon Property Group (SPG US)

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield: The Retail Community

Concerns over URW's strategy and leverage have been a drag on the stock; however its long-term plan is finding the right path. Not a hard catalyst...

David Blennerhassett

Why Is SHEIN Getting Into Bed with Forever 21? | Plus, More Legal and Political Challenges in US

In this insight we evaluate the new relationship between SHEIN and US brand Forever 21. Our main conclusion is that SHEIN is acting in response to...

Tracking Traffic

Tencent Holdings – Clairvoyance Pays Off

TENCENT HOLDINGS: Square has agreed to purchase Afterpay for USD 29 bn, and Tencent stands to gain 462% or over USD 800 mn. While positive,...

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent Holdings – Digging In Their Heals

TENCENT HOLDINGS: Tencent' s Afterpay recently announced a further expansion of its BNPL model to several major US merchants in order to boost...

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent Holdings – Shot, Score!!

TENCENT HOLDINGS: The RBA released a Retail Payments Review discussing among other items the BNPL model. The RBA concluded that it will not require...

Thomas J. Monaco