In this briefing: ITC - Is It Time for Contrarian Investors to Enter? Aye Finance IPO: A Play on Formalising India’s Micro-Enterprise Credit India : Making the Best of the US Trade Deal HDB Financial Services Ltd: The High-Yield Engine of the HDFC Ecosystem Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 1. ITC - Is It Time for Contrarian Investors to Enter? ITC's share prices collapsed on 1st-Jan following a larger-than-expected indirect tax hike on Cigarettes in India. The changes translate to a 20-50% increase in MRP, potentially aiding illicit Cigarette trade. We present data on how ITC's Cigarette business has performed well despite regular tax hikes and how steep hikes followed by a stable taxation envrionment benefits in the long term. At CMP, stock is attractive at 20x Cigarette profits alone (peers trade at 25x), offering FMCG and agri business (worth 40/share) + 50k crores in cash/listed investments (40/share) as buffer. 2. Aye Finance IPO: A Play on Formalising India’s Micro-Enterprise Credit Aye Finance Limited, a fast-growing MSME-focused NBFC, is launching a INR 1,010 crore IPO comprising a fresh issue and an offer for sale.

In this briefing: Aye Finance IPO: A Play on Formalising India’s Micro-Enterprise Credit India : Making the Best of the US Trade Deal HDB Financial Services Ltd: The High-Yield Engine of the HDFC Ecosystem Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 HSIE Results Daily: State Bank of India, Tata Steel, Shree Cement, Repco Home Finance 1. Aye Finance IPO: A Play on Formalising India’s Micro-Enterprise Credit Aye Finance Limited, a fast-growing MSME-focused NBFC, is launching a INR 1,010 crore IPO comprising a fresh issue and an offer for sale. The company operates in India’s structurally underpenetrated micro-MSME credit segment , combining rapid AUM growth with a granular, cash-flow based underwriting model. Aye Finance offers exposure to a large, underserved lending opportunity , but elevated credit costs and recent profitability pressure warrant close monitoring post listing. 2. India : Making the Best of the US Trade Deal India's terms, as set out in the framework for the agreement, appear generous relative to its SEA peers.

In this briefing: India : Making the Best of the US Trade Deal HDB Financial Services Ltd: The High-Yield Engine of the HDFC Ecosystem Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 HSIE Results Daily: State Bank of India, Tata Steel, Shree Cement, Repco Home Finance Pitti Engineering Ltd. - Steady Volume Growth Validates Future Earnings Visibility 1. India : Making the Best of the US Trade Deal India's terms, as set out in the framework for the agreement, appear generous relative to its SEA peers. The US deal offers a window to build export momentum and expand manufacturing, that India should capitalize to the best of its ability. More importantly, New Delhi should use the breathing space afforded by the truce with the Washington to focus on the long-term reforms required to lift the economy. 2. HDB Financial Services Ltd: The High-Yield Engine of the HDFC Ecosystem HDB Financial Services Ltd (0117739D IN) operates a nationwide network of 1,744 branches, leveraging its HDFC Limited (HDFC IN) backing to serve 22 million underserved aspirational retail and MSME customers.

In this briefing: HDB Financial Services Ltd: The High-Yield Engine of the HDFC Ecosystem Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 HSIE Results Daily: State Bank of India, Tata Steel, Shree Cement, Repco Home Finance Pitti Engineering Ltd. - Steady Volume Growth Validates Future Earnings Visibility VA Tech Wabag Ltd - Healthy Order Inflows Sustain Growth Outlook; Maintain BUY 1. HDB Financial Services Ltd: The High-Yield Engine of the HDFC Ecosystem HDB Financial Services Ltd (0117739D IN) operates a nationwide network of 1,744 branches, leveraging its HDFC Limited (HDFC IN) backing to serve 22 million underserved aspirational retail and MSME customers. Strong growth is powered by a surging high-yield consumer segment and expanded margins following the strategic 125 bps repo rate cuts that reduced borrowing costs. Management anticipates reaching an 18-20% AUM growth target by scaling digital-first lending and expanding secured gold loan portfolios while maintaining resilient margins and asset quality. 2.

In this briefing: TAC Index Weekly Air Cargo Bulletin 09.FEBRUARY.2026 Primer: Greencross Ltd (GXL AU) - Feb 2026 Aequitas: COSMOPlat IoT Technology Pre-IPO Tearsheet Part IV — Expanding Trade Access Reshapes China–Africa Rubber Chain Flows Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 1. TAC Index Weekly Air Cargo Bulletin 09.FEBRUARY.2026 Global air freight rates were little changed overall in the week to February 9 according to the latest data from TAC Index, the leading price reporting agency for air freight markets. The global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) calculated by TAC was slightly lower by -0.5% over the last seven days, leaving it narrowly lower at -0.8% year-on-year – with the rising trend of the previous week in the runup to Chinese New Year gradually petering out as the regional holiday period approached. Rates on the busiest lanes out of China were little changed overall WoW – slightly higher to Europe and slightly lower to the US, but still ahead in both directions YoY. 2.

In this briefing: Primer: Greencross Ltd (GXL AU) - Feb 2026 Aequitas: COSMOPlat IoT Technology Pre-IPO Tearsheet Part IV — Expanding Trade Access Reshapes China–Africa Rubber Chain Flows Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 Primer: New Ruipeng Pet Group (RPET US) - Feb 2026 1. Primer: Greencross Ltd (GXL AU) - Feb 2026 Integrated Pet Care Leader Poised for Public Market Return: Greencross Ltd stands as Australia's largest integrated pet care provider, combining a significant retail footprint through its Petbarn and City Farmers brands with a comprehensive network of veterinary services under Greencross Vets. This integrated model creates a powerful ecosystem, driving cross-selling opportunities and customer loyalty. After being taken private by TPG Capital in 2019, the company is reportedly preparing for a return to the ASX in 2026 with an anticipated valuation exceeding A$4 billion, signaling a new phase of growth. Strong Industry Tailwinds and Resilient Demand: The Australian pet care market is experiencing robust growth, underpinned by the enduring trend of pet humanization, rising pet ownership, and increased spending on premium products and healthcare services.

In this briefing: Aequitas: COSMOPlat IoT Technology Pre-IPO Tearsheet Part IV — Expanding Trade Access Reshapes China–Africa Rubber Chain Flows Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 Primer: New Ruipeng Pet Group (RPET US) - Feb 2026 Aequitas: Anker Innovations Technology A/H Listing - Building a Global Brand 1. Aequitas: COSMOPlat IoT Technology Pre-IPO Tearsheet COSMOPlat IOT Technology Ltd (1729890D CH) (COSMO) plans to raise around US$500m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. The deal will be run by CICC and HSBC. COSMO is a leading industrial intelligence provider in China, offering data intelligence and IoT solutions that connect machines, collect and analyze data, and help manufacturers improve efficiency, quality and decisions. As per Frost & Sullivan, COSMO ranked first in China’s platform based industrial data intelligence solutions market by FY24 revenue. 2. Part IV — Expanding Trade Access Reshapes China–Africa Rubber Chain Flows Highlights • Zero-tariff framework strengthens Africa’s upstream role in China • Trade architecture supports sourcing before manufacturing migration • Policy alignment may reshape future tire investment geography • For now, Africa’s role within China’s tire economy is becoming clearer: not a uniform factory floor, but a strategically differentiated partner — supplying raw materials, hosting selective manufacturing hubs, and increasingly embedded in long-term supply security planning. 3.

In this briefing: Vista Group The Curtain Rises On 2026s First Act Ryman Healthcare Ensuring History Doesn’t RYM Briscoe Group 4Q26 Trading Update—Cost Control Treasure Chest: WiseTech Global Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 1. Vista Group The Curtain Rises On 2026s First Act As reported in our 19 January 2026 Technology Digest (Edition 13—Tech Falls out of Sync with Markets), December 2025 US box office receipts came in modestly below the prior year, leaving FY25 only marginally ahead (+1%) of 2024 at US$8.7bn and below the domestic take likely embedded in Vista Group’s (VGL) estimates. The absence of any VGL update since the balance date on key milestones reiterated at a 25 November 2025 presentation—including the conversion of a large enterprise customer needed to meet its Cloud and Digital site target and the guided FY25 revenue range—has likely contributed to investor unease. Looking ahead, January 2026 US box office revenues opened the year on a firmer footing (+8% year-on-year), and the slate for 2026 looks meaningfully stronger than 2025, even as structural ticket volume trends remain lacklustre. 2.

In this briefing: Ryman Healthcare Ensuring History Doesn’t RYM Briscoe Group 4Q26 Trading Update—Cost Control Treasure Chest: WiseTech Global Primer: Redington India (REDI IN) - Feb 2026 Primer: New Ruipeng Pet Group (RPET US) - Feb 2026 1. Ryman Healthcare Ensuring History Doesn’t RYM Ryman Healthcare’s (RYM) 2026 investor day delivered voluminously on detail, but ultimately reinforced rather than reshaped our overarching investment view. The day focussed on RYM’s plans to improve cash generation and returns from its existing asset base, while delivering disciplined organic growth. However, the day stopped short of articulating a clear pathway to material near-term upside from current valuation levels. 2. Briscoe Group 4Q26 Trading Update—Cost Control BGP’s 4Q26 trading update was better than expected, with its revised FY26 NPAT guidance range of NZ$59m–NZ$60m, +2% ahead of our prior expectations. The impact on BGP’s bottom line was insulated through solid cost control, as 2H26 opex fell -4% on the prior year.