Tencent Holdings – Seinfeld-Ian Roadshow

Tencent Holdings – Modern Day Opium War

Tencent Holdings – Incredulous Management

Gravity Works As WeWork Doesn't; Now Plan B

Bifurcated Chinese Express Market Developing

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

Equity Bottom-Up

*Fintech Hits Are Coming: Regulators have forced the capitulation of internet anti-competitive behavior. Most recently, both Alibaba (BABA.US) [Alibaba} and Tencent (700.HK) [Tencent] have stopped blocking rivals’ links which prevented users to purchase goods using competitor payment apps. This is a big deal, given that FinTech represented a growing 30.3% of revenue for Tencent at 2Q21. The more Tencent relies on Fintech to support growth, the more alarming the moves by Alibaba and other competitors are; and*Prior To The War On Gaming, Tencent’s Results Have Already Deteriorated: Tencent’s 2Q21 GAAP net income declined CNY 5.2 bn (10.8%) linked quarter – and were of poor quality. Results were challenged by: cost of revenue increase; operating expense increase; losses in associates; higher impairment charges; and weaker online games. Were it not for the artificially lower tax rate, results would have been even more challenged. We can't wait to see what the impact of mainland China’s latest regulatory maneuvers will have on Tencent’s 3Q21 results out on November 10th.

*Fintech Hits Are Coming: Regulators have forced the capitulation of internet anti-competitive behavior. Most recently, both Alibaba (BABA.US) [Alibaba} and Tencent (700.HK) [Tencent] have stopped blocking rivals’ links which prevented users to purchase goods using competitor payment apps. This is a big deal, given that FinTech represented a growing 30.3% of revenue for Tencent at 2Q21. The more Tencent relies on Fintech to support growth, the more alarming the moves by Alibaba and other competitors are; and*Prior To The War On Gaming, Tencent’s Results Have Already Deteriorated: Tencent’s 2Q21 GAAP net income declined CNY 5.2 bn (10.8%) linked quarter – and were of poor quality. Results were challenged by: cost of revenue increase; operating expense increase; losses in associates; higher impairment charges; and weaker online games. Were it not for the artificially lower tax rate, results would have been even more challenged. We can't wait to see what the impact of mainland China’s latest regulatory maneuvers will have on Tencent’s 3Q21 results out on November 10th.  

Tencent Holdings – Under Severe Pressure