Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The 2025 vintage of "5 High Conviction Ideas" showed a positive return for all five picks.</li>
<li>Our best performer was <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arras-minerals-corp-0103ceb3-3087-43a7-8e88-cf54392e4429" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41542:1" rel="noopener">Arras Minerals (ARK CN)</a>, which was up +150%, closely followed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/solaris-resources-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40176:1" rel="noopener">Solaris Resources (SLS CN)</a>, which gained 139% for the year. </li>
<li>Our 2025 vintage was heavily copper-focused, our 2026 new favorite list is more diverse across sectors and regions.</li>
</ul>


The 2025 vintage of "5 High Conviction Ideas" showed a positive return for all five picks.
Our best performer was Arras Minerals (ARK CN), which was up +150%, closely followed by Solaris Resources (SLS CN), which gained 139% for the year. 
Our 2025 vintage was heavily copper-focused, our 2026 new favorite list is more diverse across sectors and regions.


Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2025...and 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2026

Equity Bottom-Up

PC Partner Group Ltd. is principally engaged in the design, development and manufacture of video graphics cards. The Group manufactures various electronics components and products for customers under its electronics manufacturing services division and also manufactures other personal computers related products.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pc-partner-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8492:1" rel="noopener">PC Partner (1263 HK)</a> announced it was completing its delisting from HK and moving to Singapore</li>
<li>The move to Singapore was a "life or death" situation for the company, as staying in HK precluded it from having access to Nvidia's latest chips</li>
<li>2026 will be a crucial year to determine PC Partner's future outlook</li>
</ul>



PC Partner (1263 HK) announced it was completing its delisting from HK and moving to Singapore
The move to Singapore was a "life or death" situation for the company, as staying in HK precluded it from having access to Nvidia's latest chips
2026 will be a crucial year to determine PC Partner's future outlook


PC Partner: Delisting in HK on 14 January 2026, Only on SGX Going Forward

Micro Mechanics (Holdings) / Equity Bottom-Up

Micro-Mechanics Holdings Limited designs and manufactures precision tools.  The Company also provides effective solutions and total support services to its customers.

<ul>
<li>We attended <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/micro-mechanics-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19384:1" rel="noopener">Micro Mechanics (Holdings) (MMH SP)</a> AGM in Singapore on 30 October.</li>
<li>Management also released 1Q26 results which show muted growth. China remains the most important market.</li>
<li>MMH has no debt, consistently high margins, high ROE's and a 22-year track record of paying dividends to investors.</li>
</ul>


We attended Micro Mechanics (Holdings) (MMH SP) AGM in Singapore on 30 October.
Management also released 1Q26 results which show muted growth. China remains the most important market.
MMH has no debt, consistently high margins, high ROE's and a 22-year track record of paying dividends to investors.


Micro-Mechanics AGM: High Quality Company Waiting for Upturn

Mandarin Oriental International / Equity Bottom-Up

Mandarin Oriental International Limited is an owner and operator of luxury hotels, resorts, and residences. The Group now operates, or has under development, hotels in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and North Africa. Mandarin Oriental International also operates, or has under development, residences at Mandarin Oriental.

Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-matheson-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19718:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP)</a> has proposed to take <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mandarin-oriental-international-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4773:1" rel="noopener">Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP)</a> private</li>
<li>While the deal has a high chance of success, given the 88% ownership of MAND by JM, it undervalues Mandarin Oriental significantly.</li>
<li>Jardine is effectively paying for the fair value of One Causeway building and is getting global hotel operations for a bargain price.</li>
</ul>



Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP) has proposed to take Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP) private
While the deal has a high chance of success, given the 88% ownership of MAND by JM, it undervalues Mandarin Oriental significantly.
Jardine is effectively paying for the fair value of One Causeway building and is getting global hotel operations for a bargain price.


Mandarin Oriental: Good Deal for Jardine, Not So Much for Mandarin Oriental Minorities

AEM Holdings Limited designs and manufactures semiconductor manufacturing equipment and related tooling parts and precision machining of components for semiconductor industry.  The Company also manufactures and distributes electronics, engineering, chemical and related products. AEM provides engineering services.

<ul>
<li>Last week <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nvidia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5891:1" rel="noopener">NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US)</a> announced a 5 billion USD investment into <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1" rel="noopener">Intel Corp (INTC US)</a>. </li>
<li>If the collaboration between the two tech giants is successful, it could lead to a revival of the entire Intel supply chain.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aem-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11019:1" rel="noopener">AEM (AEM SP)</a> has historically been closely linked to Intel, so any revival of Intel has the potential to benefit AEM substantially.</li>
</ul>


Last week NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US) announced a 5 billion USD investment into Intel Corp (INTC US). 
If the collaboration between the two tech giants is successful, it could lead to a revival of the entire Intel supply chain.

AEM (AEM SP) has historically been closely linked to Intel, so any revival of Intel has the potential to benefit AEM substantially.


AEM Holdings: Nvidia's Investment in Intel to Drive AEM Re-Rating?

Was on the buyside for 15 years, most recently at a medium-sized boutique asset management firm. I grew up in Europe, went to university in the US and have been living in Singapore for the last 7 years which has given me a broad scope on the world and investing in general.

Consider myself a generalist investor with a preference for small and mid-cap companies and special situations. However, a large cap that has gone temporarily out of favor might also pique my interest. 

My style of investing could be categorized as more of value investor, rather than growth at any cost. Learning from Charlie Munger on the importance of quality of a company has been of tremendous value over the years.I like businesses with real earnings, cash flows, dividends, book value and insider ownership.