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Smartkarma Daily Briefs

Health Care: Siloam International Hospitals, Genscript Biotech, HealthCare Global Enterprises and more

By | Daily Briefs, Healthcare

In today’s briefing:

  • Smartkarma Corporate Webinar | Siloam Hospitals: Riding on a Base Case Revival
  • Genscript Biotech – Commercialized CAR-T & Strong CGT CDMO Indicate Exponential Growth in Valuation
  • HCG: Consolidation Continues to Boost Profitability

Smartkarma Corporate Webinar | Siloam Hospitals: Riding on a Base Case Revival

By Smartkarma Research

For our next Corporate Webinar with Siloam International Hospitals (SILO IJ), we are glad to welcome Daniel Phua, CFO, and Varun Khanna, Senior Director of Healthcare Business, Corporate Strategy, and Investments.

In the upcoming webinar, Daniel and Varun will share a short company presentation, after which they will engage in a fireside chat with Smartkarma Analyst Angus Mackintosh. A live Q&A session will follow.

The Corporate Webinar will be hosted on Tuesday, 21 June 2022, 17:00 SGT.

PT Siloam International Hospitals Tbk (ticker: SILO) is recognised as a reputable and leading operator of private hospital network in Indonesia, with 41 hospitals spread across several islands, namely Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara. Siloam’s medical team of more than 3,000 general practitioners and specialist doctors, and 8,000 nurses and support staff, offers international quality healthcare services to around two million patients annually.

Corporate Webinars by Smartkarma Corporate Solutions feature discussions with IROs and Executives, discussing their companies, the challenges they face, and the opportunities in their sectors and markets.


Genscript Biotech – Commercialized CAR-T & Strong CGT CDMO Indicate Exponential Growth in Valuation

By Xinyao (Criss) Wang

  • The CARVYKTI commercialization will bring GenScript increasing revenue and cash flow. Together with the rapid growth of GCT CDMO, it is expected to see gradual improvement in GenScript’s financial performance.
  • The complex international relations, geopolitical conflicts and anti-globalization risks could weigh on bullish sentiment in the short term or cause stock prices to fluctuate wildly.
  • In the long term, GenScript’s “all-in” on GCT area enables it follow the industry trend closely. So,GenScript have the exponential growth potential in valuation, with possibility of surpassing WuXi Biologics.

HCG: Consolidation Continues to Boost Profitability

By Ankit Agrawal, CFA

  • HCG’s continued focus on consolidation is leading to improving profitability.  Furthermore, with the normalization of post-COVID environment, elective surgeries and international footfalls are inching back to pre-COVID levels.
  • Since the onboarding of CVC Capital as the majority shareholder, HCG’s capex discipline has been noteworthy. Capex is focused now on driving growth in existing centers vs opening new centers.
  • We project HCG’s PAT to grow to INR 170cr+ by FY25. Valuing HCG at FY25 exit P/E of 47x suggests an IRR potential of 27% over the next 3Y.

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Event-Driven: Orient Overseas International, AGL Energy Ltd, Seazen (Formerly Future Land), Australian Unity Office Fund, LG Corp, Softbank Corp, Mediaset España Comunicación, S.A., AKM Industrial, Bancolombia SA and more

By | Daily Briefs, Event-Driven

In today’s briefing:

  • MSCI May 2022 Index Rebalance: Flows at the Close Today & Performance So Far
  • AGL Drops Demerger Proposal – Back To Square Two
  • CCASS: Why Large Moves Continue To Matter
  • Australian Unity Office: Aliro’s Offer Should Get Up. With A Bump
  • Short LG Corp on the Unsustainable Price Spike
  • JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebalance 2022: Leaderboard End-May 2022
  • AOF’s Efforts to Maximise Value Draws an Offer from Aliro Group
  • MFE/​Mediaset España: Start of Offer Period with Lower Success Expectations
  • AKM (1639 HK): 22nd June Scheme Meeting. IFA Says Fair
  • Grupo Gilinski Stays Focused on BanColombia, with Political Risk Potentially Receding in Colombia

MSCI May 2022 Index Rebalance: Flows at the Close Today & Performance So Far

By Brian Freitas

  • For Asia Pacific, there are 48 adds/76 deletes for the Standard Indices and 166 adds/147 deletes for the Small Cap Index that will be implemented at the close today.
  • The adds have outperformed the deletes on average over the last few weeks/months. A long adds/short deletes trade performed better for Small Caps as compared to the Standard index.
  • There are a lot of stocks that will have same-way flow from other index trackers over the next few weeks and there could be a higher impact on these names.

AGL Drops Demerger Proposal – Back To Square Two

By Travis Lundy

  • After 14 months of Strategic Review and preparation for a Demerger of its generation and distribution businesses, the Board has dropped the Demerger Proposal in face of shareholder opposition.
  • While it isn’t clear exactly how much opposition there was, Michael Cannon-Brookes held 11+% and General Meetings have garnered 50-75% of investors for a vote which needed 75% approval.
  • CEO and Chair have announced their resignations, two other board members will leave, and now the Board will start another strategic review using preparation at hand.

CCASS: Why Large Moves Continue To Matter

By David Blennerhassett

  • In this latest installment in a series dating back to March 2018, I’ve analysed 5,500 moves over three years inside CCASS, targeting >5% of shares outstanding of individual stocks. 
  • The data continues to bear out the overall underperformance of stocks that exhibit such moves.
  • Additionally, the movement of large blocks of shares may illustrate that the beneficial owner of those shares has pledged them as collateral for a loan.

Australian Unity Office: Aliro’s Offer Should Get Up. With A Bump

By David Blennerhassett

  • Over the years, Australian Unity Office Fund (AOF AU) has had its fair share of suitors. Starwood Capital made no less than six bids between late 2018 and early 2020. 
  • Abacus Property (ABP AU) and Charter Hall (CHC AU) were also in the mix, but their Scheme failed, ostensibly after Hume, one of the largest shareholders voted down the Offer.
  • Aliro Group has now made an Offer for AOF, by way of Scheme, at $2.45 + dividends. Hume is supportive. Aliro’s executive chairman is the former head of Charter Hall. 

Short LG Corp on the Unsustainable Price Spike

By Sanghyun Park

  • The question now is whether this event can lead to a structural uptrend in LG Corp. I am skeptical about this.
  • LG Corp took a preemptive action to increase its attractiveness as a dividend stock to prevent a share price decline ahead of the listing of LG CNS.
  • However, this measure does not address the root cause of LG Corp’s massive NAV discount. So, I would consider a short position setup for LG Corp.

JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebalance 2022: Leaderboard End-May 2022

By Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

  • JPX-Nikkei 400 is composed of common stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a free-float-adjusted market-value-weighted (capped) index composed of 400 constituents.
  • A periodic review is conducted by the Index providers, the JPX Group and Nikkei Inc, in August every year. We look at the potential forward inclusions and removals every month.
  • Below is a look at potential Inclusions and Removals for the JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebalance to come in August 2022 based on trading data as of end-May 2022.

AOF’s Efforts to Maximise Value Draws an Offer from Aliro Group

By Arun George

  • Australian Unity Office Fund (AOF AU) which has had a “for sale” sign up has disclosed an indicative privatisation proposal from Aliro Group, at A$2.45 per unit + permitted distributions. 
  • Hume Partners, the largest unitholder, will vote in favour of the scheme in the absence of a superior offer. However, a relatively concentrated shareholder register poses a risk.
  • AOF’s ongoing engagement with various parties suggests the possibility of a counterbid and/or a bump to Aliro Group’s underwhelming offer.

MFE/​Mediaset España: Start of Offer Period with Lower Success Expectations

By Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

  • On 26 May, the CNMV authorized the bid. The offer period will end on 28 June. Mediaset España shareholders do not seem very excited about the offer though.
  • Analysts’ median TP (Refinitiv) of Mediaset España  is €6.58/share, vs. the package worth €4.452 as of 30 May, 19.4% below value upon offer announcement. Market sentiment is negative.
  • As of 30 May, risk arb spread is 4.2% (MFE dividend not included). It seems increasingly unlikely that the offer is successful and Mediaset España delisted, in my view.

AKM (1639 HK): 22nd June Scheme Meeting. IFA Says Fair

By David Blennerhassett

  • The Scheme Document Document for AKM Industrial (1639 HK), a flexible printed board player, has been despatched.  The Scheme Meeting will be held on the 22nd June. 
  • The Offer Price is HK$1.82/share. It will not be increased. No further dividends will be added, 
  • Trading tight at a gross/annualised spread of 1.1%/6.4%, assuming payment in early August.

Grupo Gilinski Stays Focused on BanColombia, with Political Risk Potentially Receding in Colombia

By Victor Galliano

  • Indirect stake-building in Grupo Sura and related companies means Gilinski is closing in on indirect control of BanColombia; Gilinski’s latest move is the offer for Grupo Argos shares
  • We believe that Gilinski’s strategy of  “indirect activism” towards BanColombia has incentivised management to deliver improved performance, as seen in 1Q22, with management’s perhaps conservative 2022E ROE guidance at 15%+
  • Political risk may be receding, now that the firebrand left-winger Petro confronts Hernandez in mid-June’s Presidential election run-off; Hernandez could win by uniting the right and centre anti-Petro vote

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

China: Orient Overseas International, Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd H, Seazen (Formerly Future Land), Alibaba Group, Pinduoduo, Bilibili, Genscript Biotech, AKM Industrial, Calb, Fantasia Holdings Group Co and more

By | China, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • MSCI May 2022 Index Rebalance: Flows at the Close Today & Performance So Far
  • Tsingtao Placement – Ending the Selldowns with the Biggest One so Far
  • CCASS: Why Large Moves Continue To Matter
  • Alibaba: 4QFY22 Beats Consensus but Disappointments Could Be Around the Corner
  • Pinduoduo (PDD): 1Q22, Good Quarter, But Lockdown Scares Third-Party Retailers
  • Bilibili (9626 HK) Pre-Earnings: Layoff Will Slow Down Minor Biz, But More Importantly Cut Loss
  • Genscript Biotech – Commercialized CAR-T & Strong CGT CDMO Indicate Exponential Growth in Valuation
  • AKM (1639 HK): 22nd June Scheme Meeting. IFA Says Fair
  • CALB Pre-IPO – The Positives – Has Been Growing Fast
  • Morning Views Asia: Alam Sutera Realty, Country Garden Holdings Co, Fantasia Holdings Group Co

MSCI May 2022 Index Rebalance: Flows at the Close Today & Performance So Far

By Brian Freitas

  • For Asia Pacific, there are 48 adds/76 deletes for the Standard Indices and 166 adds/147 deletes for the Small Cap Index that will be implemented at the close today.
  • The adds have outperformed the deletes on average over the last few weeks/months. A long adds/short deletes trade performed better for Small Caps as compared to the Standard index.
  • There are a lot of stocks that will have same-way flow from other index trackers over the next few weeks and there could be a higher impact on these names.

Tsingtao Placement – Ending the Selldowns with the Biggest One so Far

By Sumeet Singh

  • Fosun aims to raise around US$527m via selling a 3.5% stake in Tsingtao.
  • This is not the first selldown by Fosun, we have covered three prior deals in Dec 2020, Apr 2021 and Dec 2021.
  • In this note, we will talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.

CCASS: Why Large Moves Continue To Matter

By David Blennerhassett

  • In this latest installment in a series dating back to March 2018, I’ve analysed 5,500 moves over three years inside CCASS, targeting >5% of shares outstanding of individual stocks. 
  • The data continues to bear out the overall underperformance of stocks that exhibit such moves.
  • Additionally, the movement of large blocks of shares may illustrate that the beneficial owner of those shares has pledged them as collateral for a loan.

Alibaba: 4QFY22 Beats Consensus but Disappointments Could Be Around the Corner

By Oshadhi Kumarasiri

  • Alibaba Group (9988 HK)’s 4QFY22 results were yet another disappointment with the company’s revenue growing by 8.9% YoY, a new low after slowing to 9.7% YoY in the previous quarter.
  • This was mostly priced-in, considering that 4QFY22 revenue and OP exceeded consensus by 2.3% and 216% respectively.
  • However, FY23 and FY24 estimates are still ambitious and there’s a lot of downside risk to consensus from 2QFY22 onwards.

Pinduoduo (PDD): 1Q22, Good Quarter, But Lockdown Scares Third-Party Retailers

By Ming Lu

  • PDD achieved high growth rates in main businesses and a higher operating margin in 1Q22.
  • However, we believe third-party retailers are scared about the logistics problem caused by the lockdown.
  • We set a downside of 17% and a price target of US$40.

Bilibili (9626 HK) Pre-Earnings: Layoff Will Slow Down Minor Biz, But More Importantly Cut Loss

By Ming Lu

  • BILI dismissed employees in game, e-commerce, and video in May.
  • We believe the growth rates of minor businesses will slow down significantly in 1Q22.
  • However, the operating margin will improve in 2022 and 2023.

Genscript Biotech – Commercialized CAR-T & Strong CGT CDMO Indicate Exponential Growth in Valuation

By Xinyao (Criss) Wang

  • The CARVYKTI commercialization will bring GenScript increasing revenue and cash flow. Together with the rapid growth of GCT CDMO, it is expected to see gradual improvement in GenScript’s financial performance.
  • The complex international relations, geopolitical conflicts and anti-globalization risks could weigh on bullish sentiment in the short term or cause stock prices to fluctuate wildly.
  • In the long term, GenScript’s “all-in” on GCT area enables it follow the industry trend closely. So,GenScript have the exponential growth potential in valuation, with possibility of surpassing WuXi Biologics.

AKM (1639 HK): 22nd June Scheme Meeting. IFA Says Fair

By David Blennerhassett

  • The Scheme Document Document for AKM Industrial (1639 HK), a flexible printed board player, has been despatched.  The Scheme Meeting will be held on the 22nd June. 
  • The Offer Price is HK$1.82/share. It will not be increased. No further dividends will be added, 
  • Trading tight at a gross/annualised spread of 1.1%/6.4%, assuming payment in early August.

CALB Pre-IPO – The Positives – Has Been Growing Fast

By Sumeet Singh

  • CALB aims to raise around US$1.5bn in its Hong Kong IPO.
  • CALB undertakes design, R&D, production and sales of EV batteries and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) products. 
  • In this note, we will talk about the positive aspects of the deal.

Morning Views Asia: Alam Sutera Realty, Country Garden Holdings Co, Fantasia Holdings Group Co

By Charles Macgregor

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.


Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Consumer: Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd H, Alibaba Group, Asahi Group Holdings, Pinduoduo, Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT, PT Surya Citra Media Tbk, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Mediaset España Comunicación, S.A., Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard and more

By | Consumer, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Tsingtao Placement – Ending the Selldowns with the Biggest One so Far
  • Alibaba: 4QFY22 Beats Consensus but Disappointments Could Be Around the Corner
  • Asahi (2502 JP) | Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
  • Pinduoduo (PDD): 1Q22, Good Quarter, But Lockdown Scares Third-Party Retailers
  • Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT (CLEO IJ) – Indonesia’s Pure Water Play
  • PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) – Laying Foundations for Growth in FTA and Digital
  • Heineken Malaysia (HEIM): Brewing
  • MFE/​Mediaset España: Start of Offer Period with Lower Success Expectations
  • Harding Loevner International Small Companies Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter
  • Harding Loevner Global Small Companies Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter

Tsingtao Placement – Ending the Selldowns with the Biggest One so Far

By Sumeet Singh

  • Fosun aims to raise around US$527m via selling a 3.5% stake in Tsingtao.
  • This is not the first selldown by Fosun, we have covered three prior deals in Dec 2020, Apr 2021 and Dec 2021.
  • In this note, we will talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.

Alibaba: 4QFY22 Beats Consensus but Disappointments Could Be Around the Corner

By Oshadhi Kumarasiri

  • Alibaba Group (9988 HK)’s 4QFY22 results were yet another disappointment with the company’s revenue growing by 8.9% YoY, a new low after slowing to 9.7% YoY in the previous quarter.
  • This was mostly priced-in, considering that 4QFY22 revenue and OP exceeded consensus by 2.3% and 216% respectively.
  • However, FY23 and FY24 estimates are still ambitious and there’s a lot of downside risk to consensus from 2QFY22 onwards.

Asahi (2502 JP) | Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

By Mark Chadwick

  • Q1 cost pressures surprised the market but the share price has already discounted the news
  • Underlying beer demand is solid as global economies recover from 2 years of Covid restrictions
  • Improving sales mix and higher prices should offset the cost pressures. With Asahi trading at the bottom of its valuation range, our glass is half full on the stock

Pinduoduo (PDD): 1Q22, Good Quarter, But Lockdown Scares Third-Party Retailers

By Ming Lu

  • PDD achieved high growth rates in main businesses and a higher operating margin in 1Q22.
  • However, we believe third-party retailers are scared about the logistics problem caused by the lockdown.
  • We set a downside of 17% and a price target of US$40.

Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT (CLEO IJ) – Indonesia’s Pure Water Play

By Angus Mackintosh

  • Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT (CLEO IJ) is Indonesia’s only pure water brand (CLEO), using US-nanotechnology and eco-friendly packaging with a market share of around 5%.
  • The company has co-branded with both Alfamart and Indomaret and is launching new health-driven products such as alkaline oxygenated water as well as expanding with new factories.
  • Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT (CLEO IJ) is an uncovered yet high-quality and high growth consumer company owned by the Tanoko Family, which also owns PT Avia Avian (AVIA IJ)

PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) – Laying Foundations for Growth in FTA and Digital

By Angus Mackintosh

  • PT Surya Citra Media 1Q2022 were more about the future than the past given that its investment in new content and sporting rights depressed margins but should help drive growth.
  • It has been gaining FTA TV audience share, helping to drive ad revenues. Vidio is seeing strong growth in paying subscribers with 2.5m in 1Q2022 with 4m targeted by December.
  • PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) looks cheap versus history and should benefit from the economic recovery, with an increasingly diversified exposure across FTA TV and digital through Vidio. 

Heineken Malaysia (HEIM): Brewing

By Henry Soediarko

  • Malaysia’s reopening play for the consumption sector is Heineken Malaysia Bhd (HEIM MK) .
  • Q1 22 revenue has bounced back to Q4 19 level and higher than Q1 2019 by 33% before taking into account the potential upside since the reopening of the nightlife.
  • Compared to other consumer names in Malaysia such as Carlsberg Malaysia, British American Tobacco, Nestle (Malaysia), and QL Resources, Heineken Malaysia is trading at a discount.

MFE/​Mediaset España: Start of Offer Period with Lower Success Expectations

By Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

  • On 26 May, the CNMV authorized the bid. The offer period will end on 28 June. Mediaset España shareholders do not seem very excited about the offer though.
  • Analysts’ median TP (Refinitiv) of Mediaset España  is €6.58/share, vs. the package worth €4.452 as of 30 May, 19.4% below value upon offer announcement. Market sentiment is negative.
  • As of 30 May, risk arb spread is 4.2% (MFE dividend not included). It seems increasingly unlikely that the offer is successful and Mediaset España delisted, in my view.

Harding Loevner International Small Companies Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter

By Fund Newsletters

  • Harding Loevner has been investing globally in high-quality, growing businesses based on disciplined industry research since 1989.
  • Stock markets fell in the quarter, as the world watched in horror Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • While we are optimistic that China will maintain its neutrality in the war, we can’t dismiss the possibility we are wrong.
  • With the volatility of stock prices thisquarter, portfolio activitypicked up as a handfulof high-quality growth companies we had long admired, but regarded as too expensive, saw their valuations fall into range.

Harding Loevner Global Small Companies Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter

By Fund Newsletters

  • Harding Loevner has been investing globally in high-quality, growing businesses based on disciplined industry research since 1989.
  • Stock markets fell in the quarter, as the world watched in horror Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • While we are optimistic that China will maintain its neutrality in the war, we can’t dismiss the possibility we are wrong. In that case, we’d need to parse which companies will be hurt and helped, relatively, from a further receding of globalization.
  • With the volatility of stock prices this quarter, portfolio activity picked up as a handful of high-quality growth companies we had long admired, but regarded astoo expensive, saw their valuations fall into range.

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Equity Capital Markets: Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd H, Calb and more

By | Daily Briefs, ECM

In today’s briefing:

  • Tsingtao Placement – Ending the Selldowns with the Biggest One so Far
  • CALB Pre-IPO – The Positives – Has Been Growing Fast

Tsingtao Placement – Ending the Selldowns with the Biggest One so Far

By Sumeet Singh

  • Fosun aims to raise around US$527m via selling a 3.5% stake in Tsingtao.
  • This is not the first selldown by Fosun, we have covered three prior deals in Dec 2020, Apr 2021 and Dec 2021.
  • In this note, we will talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.

CALB Pre-IPO – The Positives – Has Been Growing Fast

By Sumeet Singh

  • CALB aims to raise around US$1.5bn in its Hong Kong IPO.
  • CALB undertakes design, R&D, production and sales of EV batteries and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) products. 
  • In this note, we will talk about the positive aspects of the deal.

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

TMT: Bilibili, AKM Industrial, Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Apple, Ebay Inc and more

By | Daily Briefs, TMT/Internet

In today’s briefing:

  • Bilibili (9626 HK) Pre-Earnings: Layoff Will Slow Down Minor Biz, But More Importantly Cut Loss
  • AKM (1639 HK): 22nd June Scheme Meeting. IFA Says Fair
  • Harding Loevner International Small Companies Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter
  • Harding Loevner Global Small Companies Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter
  • Harding Loevner International Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter
  • Sporting Crypto – May 30th 2022: eBay Skate to where the puck is going

Bilibili (9626 HK) Pre-Earnings: Layoff Will Slow Down Minor Biz, But More Importantly Cut Loss

By Ming Lu

  • BILI dismissed employees in game, e-commerce, and video in May.
  • We believe the growth rates of minor businesses will slow down significantly in 1Q22.
  • However, the operating margin will improve in 2022 and 2023.

AKM (1639 HK): 22nd June Scheme Meeting. IFA Says Fair

By David Blennerhassett

  • The Scheme Document Document for AKM Industrial (1639 HK), a flexible printed board player, has been despatched.  The Scheme Meeting will be held on the 22nd June. 
  • The Offer Price is HK$1.82/share. It will not be increased. No further dividends will be added, 
  • Trading tight at a gross/annualised spread of 1.1%/6.4%, assuming payment in early August.

Harding Loevner International Small Companies Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter

By Fund Newsletters

  • Harding Loevner has been investing globally in high-quality, growing businesses based on disciplined industry research since 1989.
  • Stock markets fell in the quarter, as the world watched in horror Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • While we are optimistic that China will maintain its neutrality in the war, we can’t dismiss the possibility we are wrong.
  • With the volatility of stock prices thisquarter, portfolio activitypicked up as a handfulof high-quality growth companies we had long admired, but regarded as too expensive, saw their valuations fall into range.

Harding Loevner Global Small Companies Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter

By Fund Newsletters

  • Harding Loevner has been investing globally in high-quality, growing businesses based on disciplined industry research since 1989.
  • Stock markets fell in the quarter, as the world watched in horror Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • While we are optimistic that China will maintain its neutrality in the war, we can’t dismiss the possibility we are wrong. In that case, we’d need to parse which companies will be hurt and helped, relatively, from a further receding of globalization.
  • With the volatility of stock prices this quarter, portfolio activity picked up as a handful of high-quality growth companies we had long admired, but regarded astoo expensive, saw their valuations fall into range.

Harding Loevner International Equity Fund Q1 2022 Letter

By Fund Newsletters

  • Harding Loevner has been investing globally in high-quality, growing businesses based on disciplined industry research since 1989.
  • Stock markets fell in the quarter, as the world watched in horror Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • While we are optimistic that China will maintain its neutrality in the war, we can’t dismiss the possibility we are wrong.
  • In recent years, as growth investors chased speculative and expensive“disruptive innovators” up, and more recently down, we have maintained a steady commitment to quality growth at steady premiums to the market over time.

Sporting Crypto – May 30th 2022: eBay Skate to where the puck is going

By Sporting Crypto

  • eBay have made their first foray into NFTs by launching Wayne Gretzky collectibles, starting as low as $10 for their ‘Green’ tier, ensuring affordability for the everyday fan.
  • They’ve partnered with OneOf, who help lifestyle and sports brands drop NFTs – as well as having their own marketplace for resale purposes.
  • Buyers were able to purchase in fiat and were then taken to a landing page to mint the NFT for free.

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Japan: Asahi Group Holdings, Softbank Corp, Electric Power Development C and more

By | Daily Briefs, Japan

In today’s briefing:

  • Asahi (2502 JP) | Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
  • JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebalance 2022: Leaderboard End-May 2022
  • Japan’s Governance: About an Article on ESG Investors (2)

Asahi (2502 JP) | Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

By Mark Chadwick

  • Q1 cost pressures surprised the market but the share price has already discounted the news
  • Underlying beer demand is solid as global economies recover from 2 years of Covid restrictions
  • Improving sales mix and higher prices should offset the cost pressures. With Asahi trading at the bottom of its valuation range, our glass is half full on the stock

JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebalance 2022: Leaderboard End-May 2022

By Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

  • JPX-Nikkei 400 is composed of common stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a free-float-adjusted market-value-weighted (capped) index composed of 400 constituents.
  • A periodic review is conducted by the Index providers, the JPX Group and Nikkei Inc, in August every year. We look at the potential forward inclusions and removals every month.
  • Below is a look at potential Inclusions and Removals for the JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebalance to come in August 2022 based on trading data as of end-May 2022.

Japan’s Governance: About an Article on ESG Investors (2)

By Aki Matsumoto

  • I would like to discus the Nikkei article “J-Power is under increasing pressure from ‘activist investors’ who are pressuring the company to take ESG actions.”
  • From the standpoint of investment managers, if there is management risk, they will not fulfill their fiduciary responsibility unless they take appropriate actions to eliminate that risk.
  • From J-Power’s perspective, it is difficult to imagine the company making its own management decisions without METI’s consent, given its history of being established as a national policy company.

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Indonesia: Siloam International Hospitals, PT Surya Citra Media Tbk, Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT and more

By | Daily Briefs, Indonesia

In today’s briefing:

  • Smartkarma Corporate Webinar | Siloam Hospitals: Riding on a Base Case Revival
  • PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) – Laying Foundations for Growth in FTA and Digital
  • Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT (CLEO IJ) – Indonesia’s Pure Water Play

Smartkarma Corporate Webinar | Siloam Hospitals: Riding on a Base Case Revival

By Smartkarma Research

For our next Corporate Webinar with Siloam International Hospitals (SILO IJ), we are glad to welcome Daniel Phua, CFO, and Varun Khanna, Senior Director of Healthcare Business, Corporate Strategy, and Investments.

In the upcoming webinar, Daniel and Varun will share a short company presentation, after which they will engage in a fireside chat with Smartkarma Analyst Angus Mackintosh. A live Q&A session will follow.

The Corporate Webinar will be hosted on Tuesday, 21 June 2022, 17:00 SGT.

PT Siloam International Hospitals Tbk (ticker: SILO) is recognised as a reputable and leading operator of private hospital network in Indonesia, with 41 hospitals spread across several islands, namely Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara. Siloam’s medical team of more than 3,000 general practitioners and specialist doctors, and 8,000 nurses and support staff, offers international quality healthcare services to around two million patients annually.

Corporate Webinars by Smartkarma Corporate Solutions feature discussions with IROs and Executives, discussing their companies, the challenges they face, and the opportunities in their sectors and markets.


PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) – Laying Foundations for Growth in FTA and Digital

By Angus Mackintosh

  • PT Surya Citra Media 1Q2022 were more about the future than the past given that its investment in new content and sporting rights depressed margins but should help drive growth.
  • It has been gaining FTA TV audience share, helping to drive ad revenues. Vidio is seeing strong growth in paying subscribers with 2.5m in 1Q2022 with 4m targeted by December.
  • PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) looks cheap versus history and should benefit from the economic recovery, with an increasingly diversified exposure across FTA TV and digital through Vidio. 

Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT (CLEO IJ) – Indonesia’s Pure Water Play

By Angus Mackintosh

  • Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT (CLEO IJ) is Indonesia’s only pure water brand (CLEO), using US-nanotechnology and eco-friendly packaging with a market share of around 5%.
  • The company has co-branded with both Alfamart and Indomaret and is launching new health-driven products such as alkaline oxygenated water as well as expanding with new factories.
  • Sariguna Primatirta Tbk PT (CLEO IJ) is an uncovered yet high-quality and high growth consumer company owned by the Tanoko Family, which also owns PT Avia Avian (AVIA IJ)

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

South Korea: LG Corp, KakaoBank and more

By | Daily Briefs, South Korea

In today’s briefing:

  • Short LG Corp on the Unsustainable Price Spike
  • Kakao Bank: Market Share Losses to Other Internet Banks & More Loans to Less Creditworthy Customers

Short LG Corp on the Unsustainable Price Spike

By Sanghyun Park

  • The question now is whether this event can lead to a structural uptrend in LG Corp. I am skeptical about this.
  • LG Corp took a preemptive action to increase its attractiveness as a dividend stock to prevent a share price decline ahead of the listing of LG CNS.
  • However, this measure does not address the root cause of LG Corp’s massive NAV discount. So, I would consider a short position setup for LG Corp.

Kakao Bank: Market Share Losses to Other Internet Banks & More Loans to Less Creditworthy Customers

By Douglas Kim

  • We are increasingly concerned about Kakao Bank which has been losing market share to other leading Internet banks in Korea (especially to Toss bank). 
  • We are also concerned about the Kakao Bank approving greater amount of loans to customers with weak to moderate credit ratings who have been rejected loans from commercial banks. 
  • Our base case valuation of Kakao Bank is market cap of 16.4 trillion won or price of 34,504 won per share, which represents 16.5% lower than the current share price.

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Thailand: Energy Absolute and more

By | Daily Briefs, Thailand

In today’s briefing:

  • EA: Awaiting EV & ESS Business Profit

EA: Awaiting EV & ESS Business Profit

By Pi Research

  • Last week analyst meeting came out in a neutral tone.We maintain the HOLD rating due to demanding valuation.Our target price of Bt80.0, is derived using SOTP methodology, implying 43x PE’22E.
  • Expect the 2Q22 earnings to grow both YoY and QoQ, on the back of 1) higher EV sales 2) better solar power plant operation and 3) improving biodiesel sales.
  • The company has secured order for 87 E-buses to be delivered in 2Q22 to Lotte group.And further target a sales of 1,000 buses in 2H22, and 2,500 to 3,000 units

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma