Core Viewpoint - HSBC Holdings announced a cash acquisition of 680 million shares of Hang Seng Bank at HKD 155 per share, totaling HKD 106 billion (approximately USD 13.6 billion), increasing its stake from 63% to 100% [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition requires approval from 75% of Hang Seng's minority shareholders and less than 10% opposition to proceed, with completion expected by mid-2026 [1] - After the acquisition, HSBC's earnings per share (EPS) will increase as profits attributable to minority shareholders will no longer be deducted, leading to a higher dividend per share (DPS) [1] Group 2: Financial Impact - The estimated return on equity (ROE) for FY2026 is projected to decrease from 9.4% to 7.5%, and from 9.3% to 6.2% for Q4 2025 to Q3 2026 [1][2] - The dividend yield is expected to rise from 5.3% to 5.4% for FY2026, while the share buyback amount is forecasted to drop from USD 10 billion to USD 5 billion, reducing the buyback return rate from 4.1% to 2% [2] Group 3: Valuation and Market Reaction - The acquisition is anticipated to slightly increase dividends but reduce buybacks, negatively impacting the company's valuation by approximately 5% [2] - The price-to-book (P/B) ratio valuation indicates a net asset reduction of about 4%, assuming the P/B ratio remains at 1.6x [2] - Following the announcement, HSBC's stock price fell by 6%, suggesting that the market has already priced in the short-term impacts of the acquisition [2]

Core Viewpoint - Bank of America Securities reports that China Merchants Energy Shipping Company (01138) has shown operational performance in the first half of the year that is generally in line with expectations, with net profit exceeding forecasts primarily due to one-time gains [1] Financial Performance - The company has adjusted its earnings forecasts for 2025 to 2027, reflecting favorable conditions in the oil tanker market due to OPEC+ production increases and tightening US sanctions [1] - The net profit for the first half of the year was positively impacted by one-time earnings, indicating a strong performance despite market fluctuations [1] Investment Outlook - The firm maintains a "Buy" rating, suggesting that the company will be a major beneficiary of the recovery in the tanker market [1] - Current valuations are believed to not fully reflect the return on equity (ROE) prospects for shareholders in 2025 to 2026 [1] Target Price Adjustments - The target price for H-shares has been raised from HKD 7.5 to HKD 7.9 [1] - The target price for A-shares has been increased from RMB 13 to RMB 13.6 [1]