Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy, Urbem (HK) Limited

Steven Chen

Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>IGG looks like an unusual beaten-down stock, as the industry that the company operates is actually benefiting from the pandemic and booming;</li>
<li>Is Mr. Market misunderstanding any of the business fundamentals, or is he correct in terms of any possible value trap?</li>
</ul>


IGG looks like an unusual beaten-down stock, as the industry that the company operates is actually benefiting from the pandemic and booming;
Is Mr. Market misunderstanding any of the business fundamentals, or is he correct in terms of any possible value trap?


Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

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.

<ul>
<li>The 2Q21 revenue growth rate was lower than the market consensus and our expectation.</li>
<li>Operating profit turned negative.</li>
<li>TAL took more online students than competitors, but competitors have not left.</li>
<li>We believe the stock has a downside of 30% in following 12 months.</li>
</ul>


The 2Q21 revenue growth rate was lower than the market consensus and our expectation.
Operating profit turned negative.
TAL took more online students than competitors, but competitors have not left.
We believe the stock has a downside of 30% in following 12 months.


TAL Education (TAL): Negative Surprise in 2Q21

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

Equity Capital Markets

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Financial (1051260D CH)</a> plans to raise up to USD30/35bn via a dual listing on both Hong Kong Exchange and Shanghai STAR board. </p></div><div><p>We have covered various aspects of the deal in our earlier notes, link to which are below.</p></div><div>
<p>In this insight, I'll talk about takeaways from its PHIP filing and updates provided by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> on the deal structure.</p>
<p></p>
</div><div><div><h3>Our previous coverage on Ant Group</h3></div></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li dir="ltr"><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-financial-ipo-early-thought-what-s-new-about-the-listing-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Financial IPO Early Thought: Understand the Fintech Empire, Growth and Risk Factors</a></p></li>
<li dir="ltr"><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-financial-ipo-early-thought-understand-the-fintech-empire-growth-and-risk-factors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Financial (蚂蚁金服) IPO Early Thought: What’s New About the Listing News</a></p></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-first-take-no-1-fintech-from-all-angles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO First-Take: No. 1 Fintech from All Angles</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-numbers-suggest-it-s-more-tech-than-financials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO: Numbers Suggest It’s More Tech than Financials</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-things-to-clarify-questions-to-ask-falling-fees-margins-cash-flow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Things to Clarify/​Questions to Ask - Falling Fees, Margins, Cash Flow</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-dual-listing-makes-early-index-inclusion-tricky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Dual Listing Makes Early Index Inclusion Tricky</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/alipay-s-advantage-over-wechat-pay-in-physical-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AliPay’s Advantage over WeChat Pay in Physical Stores</a></li>
</ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-running-neck-and-neck-with-tencent-in-direct-financial-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Running Neck and Neck with Tencent in Direct Financial Services</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-impact-assessment-of-the-new-rule-for-financial-holding-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Impact Assessment of the New Rule for Financial Holding Companies</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-payments-baffling-scale-small-tweaks-for-large-profits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - Payments - Baffling Scale, Small Tweaks for Large Profits</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-credittech-larger-scale-similar-growth-lower-credit-risk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - CreditTech - Larger Scale, Similar Growth, Lower Credit Risk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-first-stab-at-valuation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: First Stab at Valuation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-quick-take-on-ftse-and-msci-s-clearer-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Quick Take on FTSE and MSCI’s Clearer Guidelines</a></li>
</ul></div>

Ant Financial (1051260D CH) plans to raise up to USD30/35bn via a dual listing on both Hong Kong Exchange and Shanghai STAR board. We have covered various aspects of the deal in our earlier notes, link to which are below.
In this insight, I'll talk about takeaways from its PHIP filing and updates provided by Alibaba Group (BABA US) on the deal structure.

Our previous coverage on Ant Group
Ant Financial IPO Early Thought: Understand the Fintech Empire, Growth and Risk Factors
Ant Financial (蚂蚁金服) IPO Early Thought: What’s New About the Listing News
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO First-Take: No. 1 Fintech from All Angles
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO: Numbers Suggest It’s More Tech than Financials
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Things to Clarify/​Questions to Ask - Falling Fees, Margins, Cash Flow
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Dual Listing Makes Early Index Inclusion Tricky
AliPay’s Advantage over WeChat Pay in Physical Stores

Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Running Neck and Neck with Tencent in Direct Financial Services
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Impact Assessment of the New Rule for Financial Holding Companies
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - Payments - Baffling Scale, Small Tweaks for Large Profits
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - CreditTech - Larger Scale, Similar Growth, Lower Credit Risk
Ant Group Pre-IPO: First Stab at Valuation
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Quick Take on FTSE and MSCI’s Clearer Guidelines


Ant Group Pre-IPO: Deal Structure, PHIP Updates, Short-Term Trades

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

<p> <strong><em>*Way Too Early Provision Reduction: </em></strong>Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported 3Q20 net income of CNY 8.7 bn – increasing CNY 3.6 bn or 70% linked quarter. One factor, and one factor alone, was responsible for the increase  - provisions were pre-emptively reduced CNY 6.7 bn (29.5%) over the period despite a true decrease in credit risk; </p><p> <strong><em>*Credit Is WEAKER: </em></strong>Net new NPLs have increased CNY 23.0 bn linked quarter or a massive 223.1% on an annualized basis. Assuming the credit break in the PAB portfolio holds – which it likely will given the economic weakness attributed to COVID-19 – reserves would appear light by CNY 178 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 62% of stated equity; and</p><p> <em><strong>*Fundamentally Challenged Still:</strong></em> Despite the Investor Day cheerleading session, Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH in 1H20, as the overall combined ratio eroded 1.5% to 98.1% due primarily to continued weakness within the credit insurance unit where the combined ratio came in at 125.6% (up 32.4%). The credit insurance segment reported a CNY 3.5 bn underwriting loss, due to defaults on underlying loans. </p>

 *Way Too Early Provision Reduction: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported 3Q20 net income of CNY 8.7 bn – increasing CNY 3.6 bn or 70% linked quarter. One factor, and one factor alone, was responsible for the increase  - provisions were pre-emptively reduced CNY 6.7 bn (29.5%) over the period despite a true decrease in credit risk;  *Credit Is WEAKER: Net new NPLs have increased CNY 23.0 bn linked quarter or a massive 223.1% on an annualized basis. Assuming the credit break in the PAB portfolio holds – which it likely will given the economic weakness attributed to COVID-19 – reserves would appear light by CNY 178 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 62% of stated equity; and *Fundamentally Challenged Still: Despite the Investor Day cheerleading session, Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH in 1H20, as the overall combined ratio eroded 1.5% to 98.1% due primarily to continued weakness within the credit insurance unit where the combined ratio came in at 125.6% (up 32.4%). The credit insurance segment reported a CNY 3.5 bn underwriting loss, due to defaults on underlying loans. 

Ping An Insurance – Bank Fundamentals Worsening

GDS Holdings (ADR) / Equity Capital Markets

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gds-holdings-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23649:1" rel="noopener">Gds Holdings (Adr) (GDS US)</a> plans to raise around US$1.6bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong.</p></div><div><p>I had covered the background of the deal in my note last week, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/gds-holdings-hong-kong-secondary-hot-sector-needs-the-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GDS Holdings Hong Kong Secondary - Hot Sector, Needs the Money.</a></p></div><div><p>Given the big difference between the actual and rumoured size of the deal, I have provided a quick update below.</p></div><div><p>We have covered the stock since its IPO in 2016. Links to our previous coverage of the IPO and prior placements are below:</p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/gds-holdings-ipo-high-market-share-mirage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GDS Holdings IPO: High Market Share Mirage?</a>, IPO note in Oct 2016</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/nasdaq-gds-placement-visible-growth-additional-ping-an-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASDAQ:GDS Placement - Visible Growth, Additional Ping An Investment</a>, US$400m placement in Mar 2019</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/gds-placement-accretion-will-take-awhile-to-be-realized-but-deal-dynamics-are-favorable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GDS Placement - Accretion Will Take Awhile to Be Realized but Deal Dynamics Are Favorable</a>, US$230m placement in Dec 2019</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/gds-placement-momentum-is-still-strong-but-don-t-expect-the-same-kind-of-returns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GDS Placement - Momentum Is Still Strong but Don’t Expect the Same Kind of Returns</a>, US$400m selldown in Jan 2020</li>
</ul></div>

Gds Holdings (Adr) (GDS US) plans to raise around US$1.6bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong.I had covered the background of the deal in my note last week, GDS Holdings Hong Kong Secondary - Hot Sector, Needs the Money.Given the big difference between the actual and rumoured size of the deal, I have provided a quick update below.We have covered the stock since its IPO in 2016. Links to our previous coverage of the IPO and prior placements are below:

GDS Holdings IPO: High Market Share Mirage?, IPO note in Oct 2016

NASDAQ:GDS Placement - Visible Growth, Additional Ping An Investment, US$400m placement in Mar 2019

GDS Placement - Accretion Will Take Awhile to Be Realized but Deal Dynamics Are Favorable, US$230m placement in Dec 2019

GDS Placement - Momentum Is Still Strong but Don’t Expect the Same Kind of Returns, US$400m selldown in Jan 2020


GDS Holdings Hong Kong Secondary - Going Big. Will Almost Become Net Cash, for a While.

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)

IGG: Deep Value or Value Trap?

Is Mr. Market being too pessimistic about IGG, which operates in a booming industry benefiting from the pandemic, or is he correct in terms of any...

Steven Chen

TAL Education (TAL): Negative Surprise in 2Q21

The 2Q21 revenue growth rate was lower than the market consensus and our expectation. Operating profit turned negative. TAL took more online...

Ming Lu

Ant Group Pre-IPO: Deal Structure, PHIP Updates, Short-Term Trades

Ant Group plans to raise up to USD35bn in its IPO. We have covered various aspects of the deal in our earlier notes. In this note, I'll talk about...

Sumeet Singh

Ping An Insurance – Bank Fundamentals Worsening

PING AN INSURANCE: PING AN BANK Reported A Completely Manufactured 3Q20 Earnings Result, Cutting Provisions Despite Substantially Weaker Credit

Thomas J. Monaco

GDS Holdings Hong Kong Secondary - Going Big. Will Almost Become Net Cash, for a While.

Gds Holdings (Adr) (GDS US) plans to raise around US$1.6bn in its secondary listing in Hong Kong. I had covered the background of the deal in my...

Sumeet Singh

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