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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a> disclosed a Cayman scheme privatisation offer from Mr Thomas Lau at HK$0.913 per share, a 21.7% premium to the last close price of HK$0.75. </li>
<li>The offer is unattractive compared to precedent transactions, peer multiples, and historical trading ranges. It has not been declared final. </li>
<li>While no shareholder holds a blocking stake, the high AGM minority participation rates and emerging retail opposition suggest a high chance of a deal break. Therefore, a bump is probable.</li>
</ul>



Lifestyle China (2136 HK) disclosed a Cayman scheme privatisation offer from Mr Thomas Lau at HK$0.913 per share, a 21.7% premium to the last close price of HK$0.75. 
The offer is unattractive compared to precedent transactions, peer multiples, and historical trading ranges. It has not been declared final. 
While no shareholder holds a blocking stake, the high AGM minority participation rates and emerging retail opposition suggest a high chance of a deal break. Therefore, a bump is probable.


Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau’s Low-Balled Scheme Offer

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a> is on a trading halt pending the release of an announcement under the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers. </li>
<li>Mr Thomas Lau (Chairman and CEO) is likely following up on the privatisation of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-international-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:112:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle International Holdings (1212 HK)</a> with the privatisation of Lifestyle China.  </li>
<li>We use three methods to triangulate the likely offer price, suggesting a range of HK$1.00-1.45 per share, with an average of HK$1.23 (a 63.3% premium to the last close).</li>
</ul>



Lifestyle China (2136 HK) is on a trading halt pending the release of an announcement under the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers. 
Mr Thomas Lau (Chairman and CEO) is likely following up on the privatisation of Lifestyle International Holdings (1212 HK) with the privatisation of Lifestyle China.  
We use three methods to triangulate the likely offer price, suggesting a range of HK$1.00-1.45 per share, with an average of HK$1.23 (a 63.3% premium to the last close).


Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Chairman/CEO to Launch Privatisation Offer?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>Respectively in 2013 and 2016, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-international-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:112:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle International Holdings (1212 HK)</a> spun-off and separately listed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sansheng-holdings-group-co-l" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7112:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle Properties Development (2183 HK)</a> and PRC-department store play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a>.
</li>
<li>Lifestyle Props' listing was <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2023/1220/2023122000555.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancelled in 2023</a>; and Thomas Lau privatized <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-international-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:112:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle International</a> late-2023: see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/compose/insight/168794/Lifestyle%20(1212%20HK):%20Timing%20Is%20Everything%20As%20Shareholders%20Go%20To%20Vote%20on%2021%20Nov.%20Read%20more:%20https:/skr.ma/MvREo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lifestyle (1212 HK): Timing Is Everything As Shareholders Go To Vote on 21 Nov</a>. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China</a> is now suspended pursuant to then Takeovers Code. Thomas Lau holds 74.9%. No prizes for guessing what comes next. </li>
</ul>


Respectively in 2013 and 2016, Lifestyle International Holdings (1212 HK) spun-off and separately listed Lifestyle Properties Development (2183 HK) and PRC-department store play Lifestyle China (2136 HK).

Lifestyle Props' listing was cancelled in 2023; and Thomas Lau privatized Lifestyle International late-2023: see Lifestyle (1212 HK): Timing Is Everything As Shareholders Go To Vote on 21 Nov. 


Lifestyle China is now suspended pursuant to then Takeovers Code. Thomas Lau holds 74.9%. No prizes for guessing what comes next. 


Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau Scheme Expected

Keisei Electric Railway Co / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keisei-electric-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10876:1" rel="noopener">Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP)</a> places out 1% of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oriental-land-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13517:1" rel="noopener">Oriental Land (4661 JP)</a>, but rejects lowering its stake to 15%.  That is the end of the near-term catalyst.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-world-development" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7037:1" rel="noopener">New World Development (17 HK)</a> popped after property cooling measures were scrapped. Then gave those gains back. And then some, and is now trading at 0.11x P/B, its lowest-ever level.</li>
<li>The spreads for  both <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alumina-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:939:1" rel="noopener">Alumina Ltd (AWC AU) </a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a> are trading wide; both potentially FIRB-related.</li>
</ul>



Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP) places out 1% of Oriental Land (4661 JP), but rejects lowering its stake to 15%.  That is the end of the near-term catalyst.

New World Development (17 HK) popped after property cooling measures were scrapped. Then gave those gains back. And then some, and is now trading at 0.11x P/B, its lowest-ever level.
The spreads for  both Alumina Ltd (AWC AU)  and Azure Minerals (AZS AU) are trading wide; both potentially FIRB-related.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Keisei Electric, New World Development, Alumina Ltd, Azure Minerals, TDCX

<ul>
<li>Despite the lifting of the "spicy" property cooling measures last week, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-world-development" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7037:1" rel="noopener">New World Development (17 HK)</a> has plumbed fresh P/B lows after a (very) brief respite. </li>
<li>Preceding my comments on NWD are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>


Despite the lifting of the "spicy" property cooling measures last week, New World Development (17 HK) has plumbed fresh P/B lows after a (very) brief respite. 
Preceding my comments on NWD are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


StubWorld: Troubling Signs For NWD (17 HK)

Hong Kong

New World Department Store China Ltd owns and operates department stores in the Peoples Republic of China.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

New World Dept Store China (825 HK)

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau’s Low-Balled Scheme Offer

While no shareholder holds a blocking stake, the high AGM minority participation rates and emerging retail opposition suggest a high chance of a...

Arun George

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Chairman/CEO to Launch Privatisation Offer?

We use three methods to triangulate the likely offer price, suggesting a range of HK$1.00-1.45 per share, with an average of HK$1.23 (a 63.3%...

Arun George

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau Scheme Expected

Lifestyle China is now suspended pursuant to then Takeovers Code. Thomas Lau holds 74.9%. No prizes for guessing what comes next. I'm betting on a...

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: Keisei Electric, New World Development, Alumina Ltd, Azure Minerals, TDCX

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

StubWorld: Troubling Signs For NWD (17 HK)

I might have been a tad premature suggesting that NWD will eke out gains after the government abandoned the property cooking measures. One wonders...

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)