Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Last Week in Event SPACE: NTT Docomo, Car, Sunac Services, Evergrande, Jardine Cycle, PRC Antitrust

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/car-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:942:1" rel="noopener">Car Inc (699 HK)</a>'s cratered 54% on the 3 April before being suspended, given the management crossover with scandal-hit <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/luckin-coffee-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28046:1" rel="noopener">Luckin Coffee (LK US)</a>. Charles Zhengyao Lu, the largest shareholder in Luckin, was also a major (indirect) shareholder and chairman in Car.</p>
<p>Car <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0407/2020040700005.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">qualified</a> that while Lu was a shareholder and chairman of Luckin Coffee, "<em>he resigned from the role of Chief Executive Officer and became a Non-executive Director of Car in April 2016</em>" and "<em>has not been involved in the Group’s day-to-day management since then</em>". In addition, Jian Liu, COO of Luckin and widely understood to be the orchestrator of Luckin's internal issues, "<em>ceased his employment as a department director" with Car in 2015.</em>" </p>
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<div>
<p>A detailed rundown of these events can be found in <em><a href="https://skr.ma/p7ikw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Car Inc (699 HK) - Needs A Hire Purpose</a></em>.</p>
<p>According to a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-car-inc-mbk-partners-m-a-exclusive/exclusive-mbk-partners-leads-group-in-talks-to-take-hk-listed-car-inc-private-idUSKCN25G0JX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>' article on the 20 August, an MBK consortium had been in negotiations with SOE Jinggangshan BAIC with respect to its ~29% stake in Car, with a possible view to taking Car private. This was discussed in <em><a href="https://skr.ma/WyCdw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Car Inc (699 HK): MBK Takes A Turn At The Wheel</a></em>. A HKEx disclosure filing on the 24 July showed BAIC with <a href="https://di.hkex.com.hk/di/NSForm2.aspx?fn=CS20200727E00205&amp;sa2=np&amp;scpid1=99615&amp;scpid3=0&amp;scpid2=109421&amp;sa1=pl&amp;scsd=21%2f08%2f2017&amp;sced=21%2f08%2f2020&amp;pn=Beijing+Automotive+Group&amp;src=MAIN&amp;lang=EN&amp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">28.92%</a>, given the SPAs with UCAR &amp; Warburg Pincus/Amber.</p>
<p>On the 10 November, Car <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1110/2020111001297.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the SPA between UCAR and BAIC had terminated. Separately, MBK Partners had entered into a SPA to acquire ~20.86% of shares in Car for HK$1.77bn ($4.00/share) from UCAR.</p>
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<p>A summary of announcements below brings you up to date.:</p>
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<table class="table table-striped">
<tbody>
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<td style="width: 115.258px;">
<h3>Date</h3>
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<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<h3>Data in the Date</h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 115.258px;">9-Apr-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">Car's largest shareholder, <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0409/2020040900021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sold</a> 44.666mn shares, or 2.11% of shares out, on the day Car's shares collapsed. NOT a good look. UCAR held ~27.65% of shares out in Car after the sale. Lu is the controller of UCAR with a 39.94% stake.<br><br>UCAR <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0512/2020051201219.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sold</a> a further 100k shares (0.0047% of shares out) on the 11 May, and <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0623/2020062301508.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7.085mn</a> shares (0.33%) between the 12 May and 22 June.</td>
</tr>
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<td style="width: 115.258px;">16-Apr-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>Amber Gem <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0416/2020041601733.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered</a> into a SPA with UCAR to acquire 98.6mn shares (4.65% of shares out - known as the first tranche) from UCAR at HK$2.30/share; and 264.08mn shares (12.46% of shares out - the second tranche) at HK$3.40/share. This works out to an average price of $3.10/share.</p>
<p></p>
<p>At the time of the SPA, Amber Gem held 10.11%. According to the <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0401/2020040101309.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2019 annual report</a> (page 49), Warburg Pincus holds a 60.47% stake in Amber Gem. </p>
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<td style="width: 115.258px;">1-Jun-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>Car <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0601/2020060100013.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Amber Gem and UCAR had terminated their second tranche. The first tranche <a href="https://di.hkex.com.hk/di/NSNoticePersonList.aspx?sa2=np&amp;scpid1=69816&amp;scpid3=0&amp;scpid2=109421&amp;sa1=pl&amp;scsd=21%2f07%2f2019&amp;sced=21%2f07%2f2020&amp;pn=Amber+Gem&amp;src=MAIN&amp;lang=EN&amp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appears</a> to have been completed on the 30 May, lifting Amber Gem's stake to 14.76%.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Separately  UCAR and BAIC Group <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0601/2020060100013.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered</a> into a non-legally binding strategic cooperation agreement, such that BAIC would acquire 450.79mn shares in Car, or 21.26% of shares out, from UCAR.</p>
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</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 115.258px;">9-Jun-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">Lu <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0610/2020061000043.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigned</a> as Chairman and NED, with effect from June 9 (i.e. immediate).</td>
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<td style="width: 115.258px;">2-Jul-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>Car announced UCAR had entered into an offer letter with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/saic-motor-corp-ltd-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20833:1" rel="noopener">SAIC Motor (600104 CH)</a> such that SAIC will acquire UCAR's 20.87% stake in Car at HK$3.10.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Separately, SAIC entered into an offer letter with Amber Gem to acquire an 8.05% stake in Car, also at HK$3.10/share.  The completion of these Offer letters would result in SAIC holding 28.92%, below the 30% mandatory general offer threshold.</p>
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</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 115.258px;">20-Jul-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>Car announced that UCAR has terminated its agreement with SAIC; and that UCAR had now entered into a SPA with Jinggangshan BAIC to acquire its 20.87% stake in Car at HK$3.10/share. Jinggangshan BAIC also signed an offer letter with Amber Gem to acquire an 8.04% of shares out (@ HK$3.10/share) - to collectively give Jinggangshan BAIC 28.91%. Amber Gem would be left holding 6.7% of shares out. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Car <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0720/2020072001067.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that it has been informed that "UCAR has received a notice from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (and that the) CSRC has initiated an investigation on UCAR in connection with suspected violations of information disclosure laws and regulations by UCAR". </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 115.258px;">24-Jul-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>Profit warning. Car expects a net loss n the 1H20 vs. net profit of RMB279mn in 1H19. Looking at impairment charges with respect to is vehicle fleet of RMB2.5bn-3RMBbn. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 115.258px;">26-Jul-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>Amber Gem and Jinggangshan BAIC <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0726/2020072600011.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered</a> into a SPA such that BAIC acquires 170.72mn shares (8.05% of shares out) from Amber at $3.10/share.</p>
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<td style="width: 115.258px;">3-Aug-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>Xiaogeng Li, an NED, <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0803/2020080300015.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigned</a>, ceasing her membership of the audit and compliance committee</p>
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</tr>
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<td style="width: 115.258px;">3-Aug-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>The CSRC <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0803/2020080300019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">completed</a> its (two-week) investigation and dished out some fines to UCAR and certain directors/senior management. </p>
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<td style="width: 115.258px;">20-Aug-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p>A Reuters article suggests MBK is kicking tyres</p>
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<td style="width: 115.258px;">10-Nov-20</td>
<td style="width: 588.274px;">
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/car-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:942:1" rel="noopener">Car Inc (699 HK)</a> <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1110/2020111001297.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the S&amp;P with UCAR, BAIC is terminated. MBK Partners to acquire ~20.86% of shares in Car for HK$1.77bn ($4/share).</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="content-caption">
<p style="text-align: left;">Source: HKEx filings</p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<h3>The NEW News</h3>
</div>
<div>
<p>MBK has now <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1113/2020111301538.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tabled</a> a pre-conditional general cash Offer of $4.00/share, a 17.99% premium to last close. There are no outstanding dividends and no dividends are expected to be declared or paid during the Offer.</p>
<p>Pre-conditions include anti-trust approval, no default on any bonds or debt; and the Offer not triggering a "change of control" in the bond/debt instruments. Interestingly, all pre-conditions can be waived by MBK. </p>
<p>The Offer is conditional on MBK holding 50% of the voting rights in Car. Irrevocables (namely Legend Holdings) holding 26.55% have agreed to tender into the Offer. Together with the 20.86% from the SPA with UCAR, MBK will hold a minimum of 47.41% of shares out. Clearing the 50% looks like a lock.</p>
<p>MBK intends to maintain Car's listing.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>More below the fold.</p>
</div>


Car Inc (699 HK)'s cratered 54% on the 3 April before being suspended, given the management crossover with scandal-hit Luckin Coffee (LK US). Charles Zhengyao Lu, the largest shareholder in Luckin, was also a major (indirect) shareholder and chairman in Car.
Car qualified that while Lu was a shareholder and chairman of Luckin Coffee, "he resigned from the role of Chief Executive Officer and became a Non-executive Director of Car in April 2016" and "has not been involved in the Group’s day-to-day management since then". In addition, Jian Liu, COO of Luckin and widely understood to be the orchestrator of Luckin's internal issues, "ceased his employment as a department director" with Car in 2015." 


A detailed rundown of these events can be found in Car Inc (699 HK) - Needs A Hire Purpose.
According to a Reuters' article on the 20 August, an MBK consortium had been in negotiations with SOE Jinggangshan BAIC with respect to its ~29% stake in Car, with a possible view to taking Car private. This was discussed in Car Inc (699 HK): MBK Takes A Turn At The Wheel. A HKEx disclosure filing on the 24 July showed BAIC with 28.92%, given the SPAs with UCAR &amp; Warburg Pincus/Amber.
On the 10 November, Car announced the SPA between UCAR and BAIC had terminated. Separately, MBK Partners had entered into a SPA to acquire ~20.86% of shares in Car for HK$1.77bn ($4.00/share) from UCAR.


A summary of announcements below brings you up to date.:







Date


Data in the Date



9-Apr-20
Car's largest shareholder, sold 44.666mn shares, or 2.11% of shares out, on the day Car's shares collapsed. NOT a good look. UCAR held ~27.65% of shares out in Car after the sale. Lu is the controller of UCAR with a 39.94% stake.  UCAR sold a further 100k shares (0.0047% of shares out) on the 11 May, and 7.085mn shares (0.33%) between the 12 May and 22 June.


16-Apr-20

Amber Gem entered into a SPA with UCAR to acquire 98.6mn shares (4.65% of shares out - known as the first tranche) from UCAR at HK$2.30/share; and 264.08mn shares (12.46% of shares out - the second tranche) at HK$3.40/share. This works out to an average price of $3.10/share.

At the time of the SPA, Amber Gem held 10.11%. According to the 2019 annual report (page 49), Warburg Pincus holds a 60.47% stake in Amber Gem. 



1-Jun-20

Car announced Amber Gem and UCAR had terminated their second tranche. The first tranche appears to have been completed on the 30 May, lifting Amber Gem's stake to 14.76%.

Separately  UCAR and BAIC Group entered into a non-legally binding strategic cooperation agreement, such that BAIC would acquire 450.79mn shares in Car, or 21.26% of shares out, from UCAR.



9-Jun-20
Lu resigned as Chairman and NED, with effect from June 9 (i.e. immediate).


2-Jul-20

Car announced UCAR had entered into an offer letter with SAIC Motor (600104 CH) such that SAIC will acquire UCAR's 20.87% stake in Car at HK$3.10.

Separately, SAIC entered into an offer letter with Amber Gem to acquire an 8.05% stake in Car, also at HK$3.10/share.  The completion of these Offer letters would result in SAIC holding 28.92%, below the 30% mandatory general offer threshold.



20-Jul-20

Car announced that UCAR has terminated its agreement with SAIC; and that UCAR had now entered into a SPA with Jinggangshan BAIC to acquire its 20.87% stake in Car at HK$3.10/share. Jinggangshan BAIC also signed an offer letter with Amber Gem to acquire an 8.04% of shares out (@ HK$3.10/share) - to collectively give Jinggangshan BAIC 28.91%. Amber Gem would be left holding 6.7% of shares out. 

Car announced that it has been informed that "UCAR has received a notice from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (and that the) CSRC has initiated an investigation on UCAR in connection with suspected violations of information disclosure laws and regulations by UCAR". 



24-Jul-20

Profit warning. Car expects a net loss n the 1H20 vs. net profit of RMB279mn in 1H19. Looking at impairment charges with respect to is vehicle fleet of RMB2.5bn-3RMBbn. 



26-Jul-20

Amber Gem and Jinggangshan BAIC entered into a SPA such that BAIC acquires 170.72mn shares (8.05% of shares out) from Amber at $3.10/share.



3-Aug-20

Xiaogeng Li, an NED, resigned, ceasing her membership of the audit and compliance committee



3-Aug-20

The CSRC completed its (two-week) investigation and dished out some fines to UCAR and certain directors/senior management. 



20-Aug-20

A Reuters article suggests MBK is kicking tyres



10-Nov-20

Car Inc (699 HK) announced the S&amp;P with UCAR, BAIC is terminated. MBK Partners to acquire ~20.86% of shares in Car for HK$1.77bn ($4/share).








Source: HKEx filings



The NEW News


MBK has now tabled a pre-conditional general cash Offer of $4.00/share, a 17.99% premium to last close. There are no outstanding dividends and no dividends are expected to be declared or paid during the Offer.
Pre-conditions include anti-trust approval, no default on any bonds or debt; and the Offer not triggering a "change of control" in the bond/debt instruments. Interestingly, all pre-conditions can be waived by MBK. 
The Offer is conditional on MBK holding 50% of the voting rights in Car. Irrevocables (namely Legend Holdings) holding 26.55% have agreed to tender into the Offer. Together with the 20.86% from the SPA with UCAR, MBK will hold a minimum of 47.41% of shares out. Clearing the 50% looks like a lock.
MBK intends to maintain Car's listing.


More below the fold.


Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Index Rebalance

<p>The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) announced the results of its review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes post market close on 13 November. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 4 December.</p><p>For the Hang Seng TECH Index, there are 2 inclusions and 2 exclusions.</p><p>The inclusions are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ming-yuan-cloud-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29268:1" rel="noopener">Ming Yuan Cloud Group (909 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/archosaur-games" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28948:1" rel="noopener">Archosaur Games (9990 HK)</a>, while the deletions are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hengten-networks-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3296:1" rel="noopener">HengTen Ltd (136 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netdragon-websoft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3703:1" rel="noopener">Netdragon Websoft (777 HK)</a>.</p><p> One way turnover is 7.97% due to the inclusions/ exclusions, capping, and free float changes.</p><p>Both inclusions have 0.67 days of ADV to buy, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hengten-networks-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3296:1" rel="noopener">HengTen Ltd (136 HK)</a> has 0.6 days of ADV to sell, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netdragon-websoft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3703:1" rel="noopener">Netdragon Websoft (777 HK)</a> has 1 day of ADV to sell.</p>

The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) announced the results of its review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes post market close on 13 November. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 4 December.For the Hang Seng TECH Index, there are 2 inclusions and 2 exclusions.The inclusions are Ming Yuan Cloud Group (909 HK) and Archosaur Games (9990 HK), while the deletions are HengTen Ltd (136 HK) and Netdragon Websoft (777 HK). One way turnover is 7.97% due to the inclusions/ exclusions, capping, and free float changes.Both inclusions have 0.67 days of ADV to buy, HengTen Ltd (136 HK) has 0.6 days of ADV to sell, while Netdragon Websoft (777 HK) has 1 day of ADV to sell.

Hang Seng TECH Index Rebalance: Two Changes as Assets Continue to Grow

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yihai-int-l-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22803:1" rel="noopener">Yihai Int’L Holding (1579 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haier-electronics-group-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4877:1" rel="noopener">Haier Electronics Group Co (1169 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netease" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29030:1" rel="noopener">NetEase (9999 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate stocks and decreased in Financial names.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/square-enix-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15003:1" rel="noopener">Square Enix Holdings (9684 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anritsu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3700:1" rel="noopener">Anritsu Corp (6754 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/casio-computer-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18338:1" rel="noopener">Casio Computer (6952 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener">M3 Inc (2413 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ana-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5308:1" rel="noopener">Ana Holdings (9202 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased on Communication Services, Health Care and Information Technology, while shorts were covered on Consumer Discretionary and Financials.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, the biggest increase in shorts was on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netmarble-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22839:1" rel="noopener">Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS)</a>, while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-innovation-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1268:1" rel="noopener">SK Innovation (096770 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-motor-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a>. News <a href="https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=54911" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> have indicated that the FSC will lift the temporary short sell ban on 15 March 2021 and will apply to all stocks irrespective of market cap. Earlier reports had indicated that the short sell ban would stay in place for small cap stocks.</p></div><div><p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/au-optronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6704:1" rel="noopener">Au Optronics (2409 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innolux-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4509:1" rel="noopener">Innolux Corp (3481 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/acer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15726:1" rel="noopener">Acer Inc (2353 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>  while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/novatek-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10904:1" rel="noopener">Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/largan-precision-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9126:1" rel="noopener">Largan Precision (3008 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/walsin-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11084:1" rel="noopener">Walsin Technology (2492 TT)</a>.</p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Alibaba Group (9988 HK), Yihai Int’L Holding (1579 HK), Haier Electronics Group Co (1169 HK) and HKEX (388 HK) while there was short covering on Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Meituan (3690 HK) and NetEase (9999 HK). Shorts increased in Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate stocks and decreased in Financial names.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Square Enix Holdings (9684 JP), Anritsu Corp (6754 JP), Casio Computer (6952 JP) and Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP) while shorts decreased on M3 Inc (2413 JP), Canon Inc (7751 JP), Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) and Ana Holdings (9202 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased on Communication Services, Health Care and Information Technology, while shorts were covered on Consumer Discretionary and Financials.In Korea, the biggest increase in shorts was on Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS), while shorts were covered on Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), SK Innovation (096770 KS), Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS) and Celltrion Inc (068270 KS). News reports have indicated that the FSC will lift the temporary short sell ban on 15 March 2021 and will apply to all stocks irrespective of market cap. Earlier reports had indicated that the short sell ban would stay in place for small cap stocks.Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Au Optronics (2409 TT), Innolux Corp (3481 TT), Acer Inc (2353 TT) and TSMC (2330 TT)  while shorts were covered on Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT), Yageo Corporation (2327 TT), Largan Precision (3008 TT) and Walsin Technology (2492 TT).

Asia Short Interest Weekly: Shorts Continue to Rise in HK, Japan & Taiwan; Korea Ban to Be Lifted

Chief Economist

Diana Choyleva

Enodo Economics

Enodo Economics is an independent macroeconomic forecasting company that untangles complexity, challenges the consensus, and makes sense of the future. Our focus is on China – one of the most misunderstood economies in the world, but one of the most important to figure out.  Enodo’s chief economist, Diana Choyleva, has been analysing China for almost 20 years, while Enodo’s team boasts a combined 140 years’ experience covering China’s economy, politics and markets. 

Macroeconomics

<h2>China News That Matters</h2><ul>
<li>There’s a $116bn sale on</li>
<li>Curbing China’s Internet giants</li>
<li>Beijing bides time on Biden</li>
<li>Hong Kong parliament purges the opposition</li>
<li>DJI mega-drone sprays more crops</li>
</ul><div class="content-remarks"><p>In my weekly digest China News That Matters, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and highlight why I think the news is significant. These posts are meant to neither be bullish nor bearish, but help you separate the signal from the noise.</p></div>

China News That Matters
There’s a $116bn sale on
Curbing China’s Internet giants
Beijing bides time on Biden
Hong Kong parliament purges the opposition
DJI mega-drone sprays more crops
In my weekly digest China News That Matters, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and highlight why I think the news is significant. These posts are meant to neither be bullish nor bearish, but help you separate the signal from the noise.

Singles’ Day/ Antitrust/ US-China/ Hong Kong/ Agritech

China

Tencent Holdings Limited operates as an investment holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides Internet and mobile value-added services (VAS), online advertising, and e-commerce transactions. Tencent Holdings offers services to users worldwide.

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Tencent Holdings (ADR) (TCEHY US)

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Asia Short Interest Weekly: Shorts Continue to Rise in HK, Japan & Taiwan; Korea Ban to Be Lifted

Short interest continued to increase in HK, Japan and Taiwan, while the FSC has announced that the short sell ban in Korea will be lifted on 15...

Brian Freitas

Singles’ Day/ Antitrust/ US-China/ Hong Kong/ Agritech

In my weekly digest, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and...

Diana Choyleva

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