ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Equity Bottom-Up

Bukalapak.com PT Tbk provides e-discretionary services. The Company offers range of electronics, food, shoes, apparel, watches, bags, cosmetics products, and other accessories. Bukalapak.com serves customers in Indonesia.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bukalapak-com-pt-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33575:1" rel="noopener">Bukalapak (BUKA IJ)</a> has seen a sharp share price rebound recently with speculation over a tie up with Temu, which appears ill-founded, with the only newsflow being a Director resigning.</li>
<li>The company swung back into a slight negative adjusted EBITDA in 2Q2024, mainly due to the seasonal impact of Lebaran on its O2O business and increased competition in virtual products.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bukalapak-com-pt-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33575:1" rel="noopener">Bukalapak</a> remains a differentiated player in Indonesian e-commerce with a focus on serving MSMEs through its marketplace, with increasing take rates ahead. Dealing with excess cash is a potential catalyst. </li>
</ul>



Bukalapak (BUKA IJ) has seen a sharp share price rebound recently with speculation over a tie up with Temu, which appears ill-founded, with the only newsflow being a Director resigning.
The company swung back into a slight negative adjusted EBITDA in 2Q2024, mainly due to the seasonal impact of Lebaran on its O2O business and increased competition in virtual products.

Bukalapak remains a differentiated player in Indonesian e-commerce with a focus on serving MSMEs through its marketplace, with increasing take rates ahead. Dealing with excess cash is a potential catalyst. 


Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk PT / Equity Bottom-Up

PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk is a mineral and mining company.  The Company mines for gold and copper.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/merdeka-copper-gold-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28447:1" rel="noopener">Merdeka Copper Gold (MDKA IJ)</a> provides a well-rounded exposure to gold and copper, where it has significant expansion plans in place for both metals through developing new assets. </li>
<li>The company has exposure to the EV battery ecosystem through <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/merdeka-battery-materials-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36864:1" rel="noopener">Merdeka Battery Materials,</a> which has one of the world's largest nickel deposits at its SCM mine, developed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto.</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/merdeka-battery-materials-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36864:1" rel="noopener">Merdeka Battery Materials</a> is developing multiple HPAL processing plants in partnership with leading battery material companies. Valuations for FY2025E and FY2026E look interesting as new projects start to kick in. </li>
</ul>



Merdeka Copper Gold (MDKA IJ) provides a well-rounded exposure to gold and copper, where it has significant expansion plans in place for both metals through developing new assets. 
The company has exposure to the EV battery ecosystem through Merdeka Battery Materials, which has one of the world's largest nickel deposits at its SCM mine, developed by Rio Tinto.


Merdeka Battery Materials is developing multiple HPAL processing plants in partnership with leading battery material companies. Valuations for FY2025E and FY2026E look interesting as new projects start to kick in. 


Merdeka Copper Gold (MDKA IJ) - Fully Charged Commodity Play

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>The past week saw insights on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International (ASII IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mphb-capital-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8540:1" rel="noopener">Mphb Capital (MPHB MK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ihh-healthcare-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:876:1" rel="noopener">IHH Healthcare (IHH MK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/thai-union-group-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:161:1" rel="noopener">Thai Union Group (TU TB)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ptt-exploration-and-production-public-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:261:1" rel="noopener">PTT E&amp;P (PTTEP TB)</a>.</li>
<li>There was also a macro insight into Vietnam's rubber exports and a thematic insight with a shortlist of high-conviction equity ideas in the Philippines. </li>
<li>The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom, from across Southeast Asia.</li>
</ul>


The past week saw insights on Astra International (ASII IJ), Mphb Capital (MPHB MK), IHH Healthcare (IHH MK), Thai Union Group (TU TB), and PTT E&amp;P (PTTEP TB).
There was also a macro insight into Vietnam's rubber exports and a thematic insight with a shortlist of high-conviction equity ideas in the Philippines. 
The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom, from across Southeast Asia.


The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Astra Intl, IHH Healthcare, and Top Picks in the Philippines

PT Astra International Tbk assembles and distributes automobiles, motorcycles, and their related spare parts.  Through its subsidiaries, the Company also operates in the mining, development of plantations, financial and information technology.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International</a> is well-positioned to fend off the challenge of incoming EV players to Indonesia, a country far more suited to Hybrid EVs, with little charging infrastructure.</li>
<li>Despite new entrants, the company has maintained its market share at 57% YTD, with Chinese EV makers fighting amongst themselves and other Japanese ICE brands losing some share. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra</a> continues to develop new HEV products, with a line up of 10 BEVs due by 2028 from Toyota but investments in the ecosystem are already underway. Valuations remain attractive.</li>
</ul>



Astra International is well-positioned to fend off the challenge of incoming EV players to Indonesia, a country far more suited to Hybrid EVs, with little charging infrastructure.
Despite new entrants, the company has maintained its market share at 57% YTD, with Chinese EV makers fighting amongst themselves and other Japanese ICE brands losing some share. 

Astra continues to develop new HEV products, with a line up of 10 BEVs due by 2028 from Toyota but investments in the ecosystem are already underway. Valuations remain attractive.


Astra International (ASII IJ) - Digging in Against the BEV Threat

<ul>
<li>The past week saw insights on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/berli-jucker-public-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3685:1" rel="noopener">Berli Jucker</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/catur-sentosa-adiprana-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18671:1" rel="noopener">Catur Sentosa Adiprana Tbk (CSAP IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lippo-karawaci-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3121:1" rel="noopener">Lippo Karawaci,</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/silverlake-axis-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14150:1" rel="noopener">Silverlake Axis</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nsl-ltd-singapore" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12666:1" rel="noopener">NSL Ltd (NSL SP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mr-diy-holding-thailand" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43926:1" rel="noopener">DIY Holding (Thailand)</a>.</li>
<li>There was also a macro insight on Indonesia Strategy, and insights on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sri-trang-gloves-thailand-pcl-6b5341fe-4d93-483e-9cb0-d5d833cdc53e" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29141:1" rel="noopener">Sri Trang Gloves Thailand (STGT TB)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/petrovietnam-oil-corporation-pv-oil" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43954:1" rel="noopener">PetroVietnam Oil (OIL VN)</a>, </li>
<li>The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom, from across Southeast Asia.</li>
</ul>


The past week saw insights on Berli Jucker, Catur Sentosa Adiprana Tbk (CSAP IJ), Lippo Karawaci,  Silverlake Axis, NSL Ltd (NSL SP), and DIY Holding (Thailand).
There was also a macro insight on Indonesia Strategy, and insights on Sri Trang Gloves Thailand (STGT TB), and PetroVietnam Oil (OIL VN), 
The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom, from across Southeast Asia.


The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma  - Berli Jucker, CSAP, and Silverlake Asia

In Equity Sales and Research for more than 25 years covering Asian markets. Possesses in-depth knowledge of a wide range of companies, economies, and markets in Asia. Over his career, he has specialised in HK/China and ASEAN markets at various different Investment Banks, most recently heading equities in Indonesia for Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Jakarta for more than three years. Whilst in Jakarta, he produced a well-read daily and weekly product on the Indonesian market, which included company visits, as well as political, economic and sector commentary. A former racing skier, who enjoys ultra-marathons and surfing in his spare time.

Angus Mackintosh
ASEAN Insight Provider
• CrossASEAN Research

Bukalapak (BUKA IJ) - Changes Afoot?

Bukalapak remains a differentiated player in Indonesian e-commerce with a focus on serving MSMEs through its marketplace and increasing take rates...

Angus Mackintosh

Merdeka Copper Gold (MDKA IJ) - Fully Charged Commodity Play

Merdeka Copper Gold (MDKA IJ) provides a well-rounded exposure to gold and copper, where it has significant expansion plans in place for both...

Angus Mackintosh

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Astra Intl, IHH Healthcare, and Top Picks in the Philippines

The past week saw insights on Astra International (ASII IJ), Mphb Capital (MPHB MK), IHH Healthcare (IHH MK), Thai Union Group (TU TB), and PTT E&P...

Angus Mackintosh

Astra International (ASII IJ) - Digging in Against the BEV Threat

Astra International is well-positioned to fend-off the challenge of incoming EV players to Indonesia, a country which far more suited to Hybrid EVs...

Angus Mackintosh

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Berli Jucker, CSAP, and Silverlake Asia

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity...

Angus Mackintosh