Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

The COVID-19 crisis was the dominant issue in 2020, with certain industries (e.g. travel & leisure, gaming and selected retail players) remaining greatly affected. Going forward, the ability to contain the virus, the potential long-term impact on selected industries, and the speed at which economies are re-opened will continue to be major market drivers. On the policy front, the focus should shift to the Biden administration's plans and especially US-China relations, while central banks are expected to remain supportive for now. We cover these topics in our HY Investment Outlook: (1) our high-conviction trade recommendations; (2) ESG developments, with this area rapidly evolving and increasingly being integrated in the investment process; (3) the COVID-19 crisis, along with other key macroeconomic, geopolitical and monetary developments in 2020; (4) developments in European HY markets; as well as (5) how credit stats and liquidity have evolved for the companies and industries under our coverage.

  The COVID-19 crisis was the dominant issue in 2020, with certain industries (e.g. travel & leisure, gaming and selected retail players) remaining greatly affected. Going forward, the ability to contain the virus, the potential long-term impact on selected industries, and the speed at which economies are re-opened will continue to be major market drivers. On the policy front, the focus should shift to the Biden administration's plans and especially US-China relations, while central banks are expected to remain supportive for now.   We cover these topics in our HY Investment Outlook: (1) our high-conviction trade recommendations; (2) ESG developments, with this area rapidly evolving and increasingly being integrated in the investment process; (3) the COVID-19 crisis, along with other key macroeconomic, geopolitical and monetary developments in 2020; (4) developments in European HY markets; as well as (5) how credit stats and liquidity have evolved for the companies and industries under our coverage. 

European High Yield Outlook 2021 & Trade Book For February - Lucror Analytics

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

In mid-December, eight trading days after Vedanta promotor Anil Agarwal said the promoter (Vedanta Resources, himself, the associated companies) had no plans at all to increase their stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vedanta-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:514:1" rel="noopener">Vedanta Ltd (VEDL IN)</a> and no plans to make an Open Offer, the promoter launched a block bid to buy 4.98% in a post-market trade. The shares had climbed more than 50% in the previous two months to Rs 150/share, but the deal got done at Rs 160/share.Less than three weeks later, two entities controlled by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vedanta-resources-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22202:1" rel="noopener">Vedanta Resources (VED LN)</a> announced an intention to conduct an Open Offer to buy another 10% of its main Indian-listed asset, VEDL at the same Rs. 160/share price as the clearing price. But by that time (9 January), the price had risen past Rs. 180/share as global market movements had propelled gains in cyclicals and commodity markets had propelled the underlying products.But even then, VEDL was quite cheap on a relative basis. The question was about the nature of the Open Offer. Was it a real Open Offer?  Or was it designed for another purpose in mind? We still do not know the answer, but on 18 February the stock reached a new 2-year intraday high, closing at Rs. 195+/share. And VEDL is still not expensive vs peers. Q3 results at both HZ and at VEDL ex-HZ were great. VEDL ex-HZ Operating Income was the highest since March 2014, and VEDL ex-HZ Net Income in Q3 was the second highest non-accounting gimmick Net Income ever?Looking forward, consensus on VEDL is stale. It shows the largest negative number for VEDL ex-HZ OP in the modern VEDL era in Q4 this year despite strong commodity pricing.And VEDL still owes a lot of back dividends to its shareholders. And we await the Open Offer details.This and a lot more below.

In mid-December, eight trading days after Vedanta promotor Anil Agarwal said the promoter (Vedanta Resources, himself, the associated companies) had no plans at all to increase their stake in Vedanta Ltd (VEDL IN) and no plans to make an Open Offer, the promoter launched a block bid to buy 4.98% in a post-market trade. The shares had climbed more than 50% in the previous two months to Rs 150/share, but the deal got done at Rs 160/share.Less than three weeks later, two entities controlled by Vedanta Resources (VED LN) announced an intention to conduct an Open Offer to buy another 10% of its main Indian-listed asset, VEDL at the same Rs. 160/share price as the clearing price. But by that time (9 January), the price had risen past Rs. 180/share as global market movements had propelled gains in cyclicals and commodity markets had propelled the underlying products.But even then, VEDL was quite cheap on a relative basis. The question was about the nature of the Open Offer. Was it a real Open Offer?  Or was it designed for another purpose in mind? We still do not know the answer, but on 18 February the stock reached a new 2-year intraday high, closing at Rs. 195+/share. And VEDL is still not expensive vs peers. Q3 results at both HZ and at VEDL ex-HZ were great. VEDL ex-HZ Operating Income was the highest since March 2014, and VEDL ex-HZ Net Income in Q3 was the second highest non-accounting gimmick Net Income ever?Looking forward, consensus on VEDL is stale. It shows the largest negative number for VEDL ex-HZ OP in the modern VEDL era in Q4 this year despite strong commodity pricing.And VEDL still owes a lot of back dividends to its shareholders. And we await the Open Offer details.This and a lot more below.

Vedanta Soars Beyond Indicative Open Offer Level. Not Expensive

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.<ul><li><a href='#lucror-entity-22202'>Vedanta Resources</a></li></ul>

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.Vedanta Resources

In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year, with a substantial share of them being SOEs. We review broader trends as well as select cases, and discuss our takeaways on how best to asses the credit profiles of Chinese issuers. The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the “In-Focus” section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.

  In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year, with a substantial share of them being SOEs. We review broader trends as well as select cases, and discuss our takeaways on how best to asses the credit profiles of Chinese issuers.   The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the “In-Focus” section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.  

Asia HY Monthly - USD Bond Defaults In China - Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.<ul><li><a href='#lucror-entity-18054'>China Fortune Land</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-26799'>Future Retail</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-1632'>Gajah Tunggal</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-29239'>Sunac Services</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-22202'>Vedanta Resources</a></li></ul>

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.China Fortune LandFuture RetailGajah TunggalSunac ServicesVedanta Resources

Morning Views Asia: China Fortune Land, Future Retail, Gajah Tunggal, Sunac Services

India

Vedanta Resources Limited operates as a diversified natural resource company. The Company extracts and process zinc, lead, aluminum, iron ore, copper, and silver, as well as focuses on oil and natural gas. Vedanta Resources serves clients worldwide.

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Vedanta Resources (VED LN)

European High Yield Outlook 2021 & Trade Book For February - Lucror Analytics

The COVID-19 crisis was the dominant issue in 2020, with certain industries (e.g. travel & leisure, gaming and selected retail players)...

Lucror Analytics

Vedanta Soars Beyond Indicative Open Offer Level. Not Expensive

VEDL is STILL cheap to peers relative, on a stub basis, on a fundamental basis using current or forward EV/consensus EBIT or EBITDA. We await the...

Travis Lundy

Morning Views Asia: Vedanta Resources

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region,...

Lucror Analytics

Asia HY Monthly - USD Bond Defaults In China - Lucror Analytics

In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year,...

Lucror Analytics

Morning Views Asia: China Fortune Land, Future Retail, Gajah Tunggal, Sunac Services

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region,...

Lucror Analytics

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