Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wesfarmers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1104:1" rel="noopener">Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU)</a></strong> has made a non-binding indicative Offer, by way of a Scheme, for <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/silk-laser-australia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33498:1" rel="noopener">Silk Laser Australia (SLA AU)</a></strong>, an operator of specialist clinic networks across Australia. </li>
<li>The Offer Price of $3.15/share is a decent 30.2% premium to last close. Wilson Asset Management, with 9.3% of shares out, is supportive. </li>
<li>Wesfarmers has been granted 30 days to undertake due diligence on an exclusive basis.</li>
</ul>



Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU) has made a non-binding indicative Offer, by way of a Scheme, for Silk Laser Australia (SLA AU), an operator of specialist clinic networks across Australia. 
The Offer Price of $3.15/share is a decent 30.2% premium to last close. Wilson Asset Management, with 9.3% of shares out, is supportive. 
Wesfarmers has been granted 30 days to undertake due diligence on an exclusive basis.


Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.</li>
<li>Momentum appears to be picking up on the IPO front with a few successful listing helping sentiment</li>
<li>On the placement front, GDR flow appears to have resumed.</li>
</ul>


Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.
Momentum appears to be picking up on the IPO front with a few successful listing helping sentiment
On the placement front, GDR flow appears to have resumed.


ECM Weekly (16th Apr 2023) - Rakuten Bank, Harita Nickel, Merdeka Battery, ZJLD, Adicon, Supcon

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>Total short interest in Hong Kong is HK$435.1bn, marginally higher from end-December. Short notional has moved in line with the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a>. </li>
<li>Total short notional of the KOSPI and KOSDAQ market has moved up since end-December and is in line with the move higher in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI2 INDEX</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150 Index</a>.</li>
<li>Short notional in Taiwan is lower over the quarter even as the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-stock-exchange-weighted-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26056:1" rel="noopener">TWSE INDEX</a> has moved higher over the period. There has been big short covering on some stocks.</li>
</ul>


Total short interest in Hong Kong is HK$435.1bn, marginally higher from end-December. Short notional has moved in line with the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX). 
Total short notional of the KOSPI and KOSDAQ market has moved up since end-December and is in line with the move higher in the KOSPI2 INDEX and KOSDAQ 150 Index.
Short notional in Taiwan is lower over the quarter even as the TWSE INDEX has moved higher over the period. There has been big short covering on some stocks.


Short Interest Movements (Q1 2023): HK, Korea, Taiwan, Australia

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/liontown-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20488:1" rel="noopener">Liontown Resources (LTR AU)</a> has rejected an unsolicited non-binding privatisation proposal from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/albemarle-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7678:1" rel="noopener">Albemarle Corp (ALB US)</a> at A$2.50 per share, which is a 63.9% premium to the undisturbed price (27 March).</li>
<li>The offer is attractive in comparison to peer multiples and historical share prices. Liontown suggests that the offer does not appropriately value the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project.</li>
<li>A bump to the Board’s desired A$3.00 offer is justifiable based on the Kathleen Valley NPV sensitivity analysis related to spodumene prices. Albemarle remains willing to engage. </li>
</ul>



Liontown Resources (LTR AU) has rejected an unsolicited non-binding privatisation proposal from Albemarle Corp (ALB US) at A$2.50 per share, which is a 63.9% premium to the undisturbed price (27 March).
The offer is attractive in comparison to peer multiples and historical share prices. Liontown suggests that the offer does not appropriately value the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project.
A bump to the Board’s desired A$3.00 offer is justifiable based on the Kathleen Valley NPV sensitivity analysis related to spodumene prices. Albemarle remains willing to engage. 


Liontown Resources (LTR AU): A Bump to Albermale’s A$2.50 Offer Is Justifiable

<ul>
<li>The IE considers <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tianqi-lithium-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27789:1" rel="noopener">Tianqi Lithium (9696 HK)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/igo-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:462:1" rel="noopener">IGO Ltd (IGO AU)</a> JV’s A$0.50 offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/essential-metals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9645:1" rel="noopener">Essential Metals (ESS AU)</a> to be fair and reasonable as it is higher than its A$0.283-0.468 valuation. </li>
<li>Odey, the recent substantial shareholder, hoped for a competing proposal which has not materialised. On 10 March, Odey sold down 21% of its holding at A$0.48 per share.</li>
<li>Barring an unlikely competing proposal, this is done. At the last close price and for the 5 May payment, the gross and annualised spread is 3.1% and 28.4%, respectively.</li>
</ul>


The IE considers Tianqi Lithium (9696 HK)/IGO Ltd (IGO AU) JV’s A$0.50 offer for Essential Metals (ESS AU) to be fair and reasonable as it is higher than its A$0.283-0.468 valuation. 
Odey, the recent substantial shareholder, hoped for a competing proposal which has not materialised. On 10 March, Odey sold down 21% of its holding at A$0.48 per share.
Barring an unlikely competing proposal, this is done. At the last close price and for the 5 May payment, the gross and annualised spread is 3.1% and 28.4%, respectively.


Essential Metals (ESS AU): Tianqi/​IGO JV Scheme Meeting on 20 April

Australia

Wesfarmers Ltd. owns retail chains, operates mines, writes insurance, manufactures and distributes industrial products, manufactures fertilizers and chemicals, and distributes liquefied petroleum gas and medical and industrial gases.

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Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU)

Wesfarmer's Non-Binding Offer For Silk

I think Wesfarmers needs to nudge the Offer Price. Buy Silk here and on any dips. However, this is not a super liquid arb.

David Blennerhassett

ECM Weekly (16th Apr 2023) - Rakuten Bank, Harita Nickel, Merdeka Battery, ZJLD, Adicon, Supcon

Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.

Sumeet Singh

Short Interest Movements (Q1 2023): HK, Korea, Taiwan, Australia

The Insight looks at movements in short interest across HK, Korea, Taiwan and Australia stocks over Q1 and highlights large increases/decreases in...

Brian Freitas

Liontown Resources (LTR AU): A Bump to Albermale’s A$2.50 Offer Is Justifiable

A bump to the Board’s desired A$3.00 offer is justifiable based on the Kathleen Valley NPV sensitivity analysis related to spodumene prices....

Arun George

Essential Metals (ESS AU): Tianqi/IGO JV Scheme Meeting on 20 April

Barring an unlikely competing proposal, this is done. At the last close price and for the 5 May payment, the gross and annualised spread is 3.1%...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

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Wesfarmer's Non-Binding Offer For Silk

I think Wesfarmers needs to nudge the Offer Price. Buy Silk here and on any dips. However, this is not a super liquid arb.

David Blennerhassett

ECM Weekly (16th Apr 2023) - Rakuten Bank, Harita Nickel, Merdeka Battery, ZJLD, Adicon, Supcon

Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.

Sumeet Singh

Short Interest Movements (Q1 2023): HK, Korea, Taiwan, Australia

The Insight looks at movements in short interest across HK, Korea, Taiwan and Australia stocks over Q1 and highlights large increases/decreases in...

Brian Freitas

Liontown Resources (LTR AU): A Bump to Albermale’s A$2.50 Offer Is Justifiable

A bump to the Board’s desired A$3.00 offer is justifiable based on the Kathleen Valley NPV sensitivity analysis related to spodumene prices....

Arun George

Essential Metals (ESS AU): Tianqi/​IGO JV Scheme Meeting on 20 April

Barring an unlikely competing proposal, this is done. At the last close price and for the 5 May payment, the gross and annualised spread is 3.1%...

Arun George

Essential Metals (ESS AU): Tianqi/IGO JV Scheme Meeting on 20 April