Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Last week, Cuscaden Peak Pte. Limited - an entity led and 40% owned by tycoon Mr. Ong Bong Seng's Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Ltd, with the remaining 60% split between the Capitaland parent company (Temasek-backed), and 30% Mapletree Investments - a S$66bn property owner-manager with four listed S-REITs and 6 PE real estate funds (also Temasek-backed) - announced a counterproposal for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-press-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9952:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Press Holdings (SPH SP)</a> at S$2.10/share in cash, topping the Scheme Consideration in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12:1" rel="noopener">Keppel Corp (KEP SP)</a> Offer.
This was discussed in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sph-lobang-holders-so-shiok-bidders-so-kiasu-this-may-not-be-the-end" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:59725" rel="noopener">SPH Lobang - Holders So Shiok, Bidders So Kiasu. This May Not Be The End.</a> 
The Cuscaden Offer was, in my mind, a teaser. The original Keppel Offer presentation said that the "value" was S$2.099/share and the market value of the Keppel Offer Consideration was S$2.086/share. This was a tenth of a cent higher than the original and less than 1% higher than the existing consideration.
The "problem" for Cuscaden in offering such a price was that arbitrageurs who may have had the trade on would need to buy back <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:192:1" rel="noopener">Keppel REIT (KREIT SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sph-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5994:1" rel="noopener">SPH REIT (SPHREIT SP)</a> shares which they would have shorted to put on the arb - a good arb as discussed in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sph-shareholders-approve-spinoff-there-s-still-a-spread-to-earn" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:57504" rel="noopener">SPH Shareholders Approve Spinoff - There's Still a Spread To Earn</a> about 8 weeks ago. That would mechanically force the REIT prices higher, pushing the Keppel Scheme Consideration higher - perhaps more than 1% higher. 
Indeed it did. On Friday while SPH was suspended, the two REITs in the Consideration Basket gained in price and the value of the Keppel Consideration rose through S$2.10/unit. Keppel also <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/KCL%20Announcement_Possible%20Offer%20for%20SPH_291021.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=688663" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it would review and respond in due course. 
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</section>
Overnight, Cuscaden has announced the calculations for their Possible Chain Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sph-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5994:1" rel="noopener">SPH REIT (SPHREIT SP)</a>.

Last week, Cuscaden Peak Pte. Limited - an entity led and 40% owned by tycoon Mr. Ong Bong Seng's Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Ltd, with the remaining 60% split between the Capitaland parent company (Temasek-backed), and 30% Mapletree Investments - a S$66bn property owner-manager with four listed S-REITs and 6 PE real estate funds (also Temasek-backed) - announced a counterproposal for Singapore Press Holdings (SPH SP) at S$2.10/share in cash, topping the Scheme Consideration in the Keppel Corp (KEP SP) Offer.
This was discussed in SPH Lobang - Holders So Shiok, Bidders So Kiasu. This May Not Be The End. 
The Cuscaden Offer was, in my mind, a teaser. The original Keppel Offer presentation said that the "value" was S$2.099/share and the market value of the Keppel Offer Consideration was S$2.086/share. This was a tenth of a cent higher than the original and less than 1% higher than the existing consideration.
The "problem" for Cuscaden in offering such a price was that arbitrageurs who may have had the trade on would need to buy back Keppel REIT (KREIT SP) and SPH REIT (SPHREIT SP) shares which they would have shorted to put on the arb - a good arb as discussed in SPH Shareholders Approve Spinoff - There's Still a Spread To Earn about 8 weeks ago. That would mechanically force the REIT prices higher, pushing the Keppel Scheme Consideration higher - perhaps more than 1% higher. 
Indeed it did. On Friday while SPH was suspended, the two REITs in the Consideration Basket gained in price and the value of the Keppel Consideration rose through S$2.10/unit. Keppel also announced it would review and respond in due course. 



Overnight, Cuscaden has announced the calculations for their Possible Chain Offer for SPH REIT (SPHREIT SP). 

SPH Update: Keppel, SPH REIT Chain Offer, and Cuscaden Strategy

David Blennerhassett


For the month of October, 18 new deals (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$10bn.



Clicking on the company name in the table below will take you to the entity page where you can read the initial insight(s) written by Smartkarma contributors on these new deals and follow-up discussions, or simply click on the insight link(s) below the name.







New Deals


Industry


Size (US$bn)


Type


Premium




Australia




Apollo Consolidated (AOP AU) 
Gold
0.1
Off-market Takeover
27%


Ramelius (RMS AU) Adds Apollo To Its Portfolio



Aventus Group (AVN AU) 
Real estate
0.3
Scheme
N/A


HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (HDN AU) To Merge with Aventus (AVN AU) In Self-Takeunder



Cashrewards (CRW AU) 
Online shopping
0.1
Scheme
19.5%


Cashrewards (CRW AU)'s Offer Is 34% Below Last December's IPO



Class Ltd (CL1 AU) 
Cloud accounting
0.3
Scheme
71.6%


Class - Hub24: Scheme Trading Wide



Irongate Group (IAP AU) 
Real estate
0.7
Scheme
10%


Irongate (IAP AU): 360 Capital's Tilt Reminiscent Of ARA/Cromwell Stoush



Intega Group Ltd (ITG AU) 
Construction
0.3
Scheme
95%


Intega (ITG AU) Enters Scheme With Kiwa



Over the Wire Holdings Ltd (OTW AU) 
Telco/It provider
0.3
Scheme
15%


 Over The Wire (OTW AU): The Latest Aussie IT Play



Senex Energy (SXY AU) 
Gas producer
0.6
Off-market Takeover
40%


 Senex (SXY AU): Posco's Looming Offer



Hong Kong




Ausnutria Dairy Corp (1717 HK) 
Infant formula
0.7
MGO
13.67%


Yili's Pre-Conditional Offer &amp; Ausnutria (1717 HK)'s Crowded Register



Chinese Estates Holdings (127 HK) 
Real estate
0.3
Scheme
37.9%


Chinese Estates (127 HK): $4.00/Share Offer



Cp Pokphand (43 HK) 
Agri play
0.9
Scheme
19.79%


C.P. Pokphand (43 HK): Privatisation Offer From CP Foods



Dragon Crown Group (935 HK) 
Chemical storage
0.2
Pre-con Offer
8.475


Dragon Crown (935 HK)'s VGO Is A Done Deal



Yorkey Optical International Cayman (2788 HK) 
Optics
0.1
Scheme
54.4%



Yorkey Optical (2788 HK)'s Scheme: What Will Webb Do? Yorkey Optical (2788 HK): Webb Bumps... Will Asia Optical? Yorkey Optical (2788 HK): Time To Buy




Japan




Ebook Initiative Japan Co Ltd (3658 JP) 
Digital books
0.2
Tender Offer
4.6%


E-Book Initiative (3658 JP) Tender Offer Takeout - This One Needs Cowbell Too



Pipedo HD Inc (3919 JP) 
Info platform
0.1
Tender Offer
N/A


 Pipedo HD (3919 JP): Advantage Partners MBO




Singapore




ESR-REIT (EREIT SP) /ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP)

Property
1.0
Scheme
N/A


ARA Logos (ALLT SP) To Merge with ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)



Singapore Press Holdings (SPH SP) 
Conglomerate
2.5
Scheme
10%


SPH Lobang - Holders So Shiok, Bidders So Kiasu. This May Not Be The End



Taiwan




IBF Financial (2889 TT) / Entie Commercial Bank (2849 TT) 
Finance
1.2
Share swap
N/A


20-Oct: EnTie (2849 TT) - IBF (2889 TT): US$1.2bn Cash &amp; Scrip Deal Far From Done



Source: Smartkarma Insights






The average premium for the new deals announced (or first discussed) in October was ~30%, with a year-to-date average of ~32% (139 deals &amp; total deal size of US$259bn).
This compares to the average premium for all deals in 2020 (158 deals) and 2019 (145 deals) of 31% and 31.5% respectively.




Offer Premium Summary





     




2019


2020


2021 YTD



Australia
33.0%
32.4%
36.0%


Hong Kong
25.2%
34.7%
32.2%


Japan
44.0%
35.2%
27.4%


ROW
29.1%
24.2%
32.5%


Average
31.5%
31.1%
32.2%



Source: Smartkarma Insights









Summary of News in October of Arb Situations On Smartkarma's Radar



(Again, click on the company names to take to you to the insights and/or discussion posts for a more comprehensive read-through on each situation)






Australia


Comments (with links to announcements &amp; insights)




1300 Smiles Ltd (ONT AU) 

13-Oct Scheme Booklet registered with ASIC. Scheme meeting to be held on the 12 November.




5G Networks Ltd/Australia (5GN AU) / Webcentral (WCG AU) 

1-Oct: The Federal Court of Australia has approved the convening of Scheme Meeting and distribution of Scheme Booklet. The Scheme Meeting will be held virtually at 10:00am (Melbourne time) on Monday, 8 November 2021. Indicative Timeline is shown in the image below.




Afterpay Touch (APT AU) 

No October update




Ale Property (LEP AU) 

20-Oct: Ale Property (LEP AU) is suspended "pending release of a judgement of the Supreme Court of Victoria in relation to the 2018 Rent Determinations as advised by ASX announcement on 19 October 2021". Some background on this can be found on page 12 of the 2021 annual report. According to Philip Cheetham, Head Of Listed Investor Relations at Charter Hall Long Wale Reit (CLW AU):"The outcome of this litigation does not form a defeating condition or alter our bid for LEP."




Ausnet Services (AST AU) 

15-Oct: Ausnet Services (AST AU) announces that it proposes to engage with APA Group (APA AU) on its indicative, non-binding and conditional proposal. This follows the decision and final orders announced by the Takeovers Panel in response to the application previously submitted by APA.  25-Oct: Ausnet Services (AST AU) has announced that they have granted due diligence access to APA Group (APA AU) and have been granted reverse due diligence access.  29-Oct: AusNet (AST AU): ACCC Commences Informal Review




Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API AU) 

7-Oct: Pursuant to an undertaking agreement with Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (SOL AU), Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU) has now taken a 19.3% stake in Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API AU).




Empired Ltd (EPD AU) 

25-Oct: Empired Ltd (EPD AU) shareholders approved the Scheme. Implementation is the 16 November.




iCar Asia Ltd (ICQ AU) 

19-Oct: ICar (ICQ AU) &amp; Carsome Enter Into Scheme




Huon Aquaculture (HUO AU) 

29-Oct: Huon Aquaculture (HUO AU) shareholders overwhelmingly supported the Scheme. The implementation date is expected to be the 17 November. 




Japara Healthcare (JHC AU) 

21-Oct: Japara Healthcare (JHC AU) shareholders approve the Scheme. The implementation date is the 5 November. 




Oil Search Ltd (OSH AU) 

29-Oct: Oil Search Ltd (OSH AU)'s first court hearing is expected to take place on the 10 November in place of 27 October as previously announced. 




Rhipe Ltd (RHP AU) 

11-Oct: Rhipe Ltd (RHP AU)'s shareholders approve the Scheme. Shares to be suspended at the close of trading on the 14 October. 




Smartgroup Corp (SIQ AU) 

25-Oct: Smartgroup Corp (SIQ AU) have announced that the TPG and Potentia consortium have decided not to proceed with the acquisition at A$10.35/share and have revised their proposal to A$9.25/share.




Spark Infrastructure (SKI AU) 

21-Oct: Spark (SKI AU): Scheme Booklet Out. Meeting On The 22 November




Sydney Airport (SYD AU) 

7-Oct: Australia's ACCC is now seeking views on the proposed acquisition of Sydney Airport (SYD AU) by the Sydney Aviation Alliance. Responses are required to be submitted by the 28 October. 










Hong Kong


Comments (with links to announcements &amp; insights)




China Youzan Limited (8083 HK) 

1-Oct: The Offeror and China Youzan (8083 HK) announced they are preparing the Scheme doc.  20 Oct: Well, not quite yet. The despatch date has been pushed o the 31 December from 19 October previously. 




Golden Throat Holdings (6896 HK) 

29-Oct: Golden Throat (6896 HK): Scheme Doc Out. Court Meeting On 30 November




Nature Home Holding Company (2083 HK) 

14-Sep: Nature Home (2083 HK): Scheme Doc Out. Court Meeting On 6 Oct. Evergrande Overhang
28-Sep: Nature Home (2083 HK): Risk Aversity Sees Spread Blow Out




Suchuang Gas Corp (1430 HK) 

29-Oct: Suchuang Gas Corp (1430 HK)'s Scheme Doc has been delayed until the 29 December. 










India


Comments 




Adani Power (ADANI IN) 

No October update




Mphasis Ltd (MPHL IN) 

No October update










Japan


Comments (with links to announcements &amp; insights)




Ebook Initiative Japan Co Ltd (3658 JP) 

No October update




Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) 

No October update




Kansai Super Market (9919 JP) 

No October update




Maxvalu Nishinihon (8287 JP) / Fuji Co Ltd (8278 JP) 

No October update




Nippo Corp (1881 JP) 

7-Oct: The Nikkei (English and Japanese) is out with an article saying that ENEOS Holdings (5020 JP) has agreed to buy JRE from GS and GIC. 




Pipedo HD Inc (3919 JP) 

No October update




Shinsei Bank (8303 JP) 

21-Oct: Shinsei Objects to SBI Tender - Offers "Requirements" To Approve 27-Oct: Shinsei TOB: A Complicated Game of 🐓 Nobody Has Thought About?










Malaysia


Comments 




Daibochi Plastic &amp; Packaging Industry (DPP MK) 
15-Oct: The independent advisor recommends the unconditional offer for Daibochi Plastic &amp; Packaging Industry (DPP MK). 25-Oct: Daibochi (DPP MK)'s Offer has been extended to the 8 November. 



Ijm Plantations (IJMP MK) 
1 Oct: Ijm Plantations (IJMP MK)'s IFA recommends Offer to shareholders.  7-Oct: Ijm Plantations (IJMP MK)'s Offer has been extended to the 25 October.   25-Oct: Ijm Plantations (IJMP MK) extends the closing date of its Offer to the 18 November.



MMC Corp Bhd (MMC MK) 
No October update











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.

Today, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-press-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9952:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Press Holdings (SPH SP)</a> announced a competing privatisation offer from Cuscaden at S$2.10 cash per SPH share, which is a 40.0% premium to the share price of S$1.50 on 30 March 2021 (announcement of SPH’s strategic review), an 11.7% premium to the share price of S$1.88 on 30 July (last trading day prior to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12:1" rel="noopener">Keppel Corp (KEP SP)</a>’s offer) and a 5.5% premium to the share price of S$1.99 on 28 October (last close prior to the trading halt). As discussed in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sph-s-privatisation-by-keppel" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:55402" rel="noopener">SPH’s Privatisation by Keppel</a>, on 2 August, SPH announced a privatisation offer from Keppel. The transaction involves Keppel offering S$0.668 cash per SPH share and 0.596 Keppel REIT units per SPH share along with SPH distributing-in-specie 0.782 SPH REIT units per SPH share. Based on the last close price of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:192:1" rel="noopener">Keppel REIT (KREIT SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sph-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5994:1" rel="noopener">SPH REIT (SPHREIT SP)</a>, the total consideration is S$2.104 per SPH share, a whisker above Cuscaden’s all-cash offer.  The two privatisation proposals are the culmination of the SPH’s strategic review to unlock shareholder value. The strategic review commenced with the announcement of the media business restructuring announced on 6 May. Shareholder approval for the media business restructuring was obtained on 10 September and is expected to be completed in December. While Cuscaden’s offer is broadly similar in value to Keppel’s offer, Cuscaden’s offer may be more appealing particularly to minorities. Cuscaden’s offer has greater certainty of value as it is all cash, eliminates the risk of changing REIT unit prices (Keppel REIT and SPH REIT) and does any require further shareholders' approval on the part of Cuscaden (Keppel’s offer requires approval from Keppel shareholders). Cuscaden’s offer will also not be reduced by the S$34 million break fee payable to Keppel. SPH responded to Cuscaden’s offer by stating that it is "not a firm offer" and it has "not entered into any definitive or binding agreement" with Cuscaden. Keppel responded to Cuscaden’s offer by stating that “we are reviewing the matter and make an announcement at an appropriate time.”<div class="content-highlight">In the event of a competing offer, Keppel has a switch option to proceed with the acquisition by way of an offer in lieu of proceeding with the acquisition by way of the scheme. We previously noted that the acquisition of SPH aligns with Keppel’s Vision 2030 of improving earnings quality, increasing scale and pursuing new growth initiatives. The modest premium of both competing offers to SPH’s historical long-term multiples and share prices suggests that there is room for Keppel to bump its offer and start a bidding war. </div>

Today, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH SP) announced a competing privatisation offer from Cuscaden at S$2.10 cash per SPH share, which is a 40.0% premium to the share price of S$1.50 on 30 March 2021 (announcement of SPH’s strategic review), an 11.7% premium to the share price of S$1.88 on 30 July (last trading day prior to Keppel Corp (KEP SP)’s offer) and a 5.5% premium to the share price of S$1.99 on 28 October (last close prior to the trading halt). As discussed in SPH’s Privatisation by Keppel, on 2 August, SPH announced a privatisation offer from Keppel. The transaction involves Keppel offering S$0.668 cash per SPH share and 0.596 Keppel REIT units per SPH share along with SPH distributing-in-specie 0.782 SPH REIT units per SPH share. Based on the last close price of Keppel REIT (KREIT SP) and SPH REIT (SPHREIT SP), the total consideration is S$2.104 per SPH share, a whisker above Cuscaden’s all-cash offer.  The two privatisation proposals are the culmination of the SPH’s strategic review to unlock shareholder value. The strategic review commenced with the announcement of the media business restructuring announced on 6 May. Shareholder approval for the media business restructuring was obtained on 10 September and is expected to be completed in December. While Cuscaden’s offer is broadly similar in value to Keppel’s offer, Cuscaden’s offer may be more appealing particularly to minorities. Cuscaden’s offer has greater certainty of value as it is all cash, eliminates the risk of changing REIT unit prices (Keppel REIT and SPH REIT) and does any require further shareholders' approval on the part of Cuscaden (Keppel’s offer requires approval from Keppel shareholders). Cuscaden’s offer will also not be reduced by the S$34 million break fee payable to Keppel. SPH responded to Cuscaden’s offer by stating that it is "not a firm offer" and it has "not entered into any definitive or binding agreement" with Cuscaden. Keppel responded to Cuscaden’s offer by stating that “we are reviewing the matter and make an announcement at an appropriate time.”In the event of a competing offer, Keppel has a switch option to proceed with the acquisition by way of an offer in lieu of proceeding with the acquisition by way of the scheme. We previously noted that the acquisition of SPH aligns with Keppel’s Vision 2030 of improving earnings quality, increasing scale and pursuing new growth initiatives. The modest premium of both competing offers to SPH’s historical long-term multiples and share prices suggests that there is room for Keppel to bump its offer and start a bidding war. 

This morning the market got something of a surprise when an entity called Cuscaden Peak Pte. Limited showed up with an all-cash offer (Scheme of Arrangement) for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-press-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9952:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Press Holdings (SPH SP)</a> at S$2.10/share, which is just over the Total Combined Consideration (cash, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sph-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5994:1" rel="noopener">SPH REIT (SPHREIT SP)</a> units, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:192:1" rel="noopener">Keppel REIT (KREIT SP)</a> units) of S$2.086/unit as of yesterday's close. 
Cuscaden Peak is a new entity, but it is not of unknown heritage. Ownership is 40% Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Ltd (led by tycoon Ong Beng Seng), 30% Capitaland parent company (Temasek-backed), and 30% Mapletree Investments - a S$66bn property owner and manager with four listed S-REITs and 6 private equity real estate funds (Mapletree is an independently-managed Temasek portfolio company). 
Right now this is a Proposed Acquisition. SPH itself has not entered into any agreement and the Proposed Acquisition would need SPH to finalise and accept terms of a Possible Scheme, Cuscaden and SPH entering definitive agreements, and other conditions.
This is a serious bidder. Ong Beng Seng saw lobang and brought in the others. Now one set of Temasek-backed companies just sabo'd another. This is kind of fun now. It bears watching. And as every good event person knows, if the stock goes higher on expectation of a higher bid because the bidders have room to bid higher, it is more likely to get a higher bid.

This morning the market got something of a surprise when an entity called Cuscaden Peak Pte. Limited showed up with an all-cash offer (Scheme of Arrangement) for Singapore Press Holdings (SPH SP) at S$2.10/share, which is just over the Total Combined Consideration (cash, SPH REIT (SPHREIT SP) units, Keppel REIT (KREIT SP) units) of S$2.086/unit as of yesterday's close. 
Cuscaden Peak is a new entity, but it is not of unknown heritage. Ownership is 40% Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Ltd (led by tycoon Ong Beng Seng), 30% Capitaland parent company (Temasek-backed), and 30% Mapletree Investments - a S$66bn property owner and manager with four listed S-REITs and 6 private equity real estate funds (Mapletree is an independently-managed Temasek portfolio company). 
Right now this is a Proposed Acquisition. SPH itself has not entered into any agreement and the Proposed Acquisition would need SPH to finalise and accept terms of a Possible Scheme, Cuscaden and SPH entering definitive agreements, and other conditions.
This is a serious bidder. Ong Beng Seng saw lobang and brought in the others. Now one set of Temasek-backed companies just sabo'd another. This is kind of fun now. It bears watching. And as every good event person knows, if the stock goes higher on expectation of a higher bid because the bidders have room to bid higher, it is more likely to get a higher bid.

SPH Lobang - Holders So Shiok, Bidders So Kiasu. This May Not Be The End.

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN 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

Private Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/carousell-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28154:1" rel="noopener">Carousell Pte Ltd (1040620D SP)</a> is South East Asia's largest  "classifieds marketplace" and it claims to make selling as easy as taking a photo and buying as simple as chatting. The traffic through Carousell is impressive but the question is can it monetize this huge potential?
Founded in August 2012, Carousell began in Singapore and is now one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds marketplaces, with a presence in eight markets across South East Asia, together with Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Carousell offers through classified listings a diverse range of products across a variety of categories, including lifestyle, gadgets, and fashion accessories but has been moving to more profitable and big-ticket areas, such as autos, property, and job ads.
The company is backed by a number of large-sized investors including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telenor-asa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22258:1" rel="noopener">Telenor ASA (TEL NO)</a>, Rakuten Ventures <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a>, Naver, Sequoia Capital (India), OLX, and most recently STIC investments giving the company strong backing with the most recent valuation at US$1.1bn, sealing its entry to the unicorn club. 
The company was reportedly exploring a potential listing in the US through a SPAC listing which could value the company at as much as US$1.5bn but management has said that it is considering all options to grow the company including an IPO. Carousel this year appointed a former <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/razer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24380:1" rel="noopener">Razer Inc (1337 HK)</a> executive Edwin Chan as its CFO. Chan oversaw a gaming hardware company’s public listing in Hong Kong in 2017. We see this company as one of the most ESG-friendly investments available given its exposure to the circular economy.

Carousell Pte Ltd (1040620D SP) is South East Asia's largest  "classifieds marketplace" and it claims to make selling as easy as taking a photo and buying as simple as chatting. The traffic through Carousell is impressive but the question is can it monetize this huge potential?
Founded in August 2012, Carousell began in Singapore and is now one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds marketplaces, with a presence in eight markets across South East Asia, together with Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Carousell offers through classified listings a diverse range of products across a variety of categories, including lifestyle, gadgets, and fashion accessories but has been moving to more profitable and big-ticket areas, such as autos, property, and job ads.
The company is backed by a number of large-sized investors including Telenor ASA (TEL NO), Rakuten Ventures Rakuten Inc (4755 JP), Naver, Sequoia Capital (India), OLX, and most recently STIC investments giving the company strong backing with the most recent valuation at US$1.1bn, sealing its entry to the unicorn club. 
The company was reportedly exploring a potential listing in the US through a SPAC listing which could value the company at as much as US$1.5bn but management has said that it is considering all options to grow the company including an IPO. Carousel this year appointed a former Razer Inc (1337 HK) executive Edwin Chan as its CFO. Chan oversaw a gaming hardware company’s public listing in Hong Kong in 2017. We see this company as one of the most ESG-friendly investments available given its exposure to the circular economy.

Carousell - Champion of the Circular Economy

Singapore

Singapore Press Holdings Limited publishes, prints, and distributes newspapers and magazines. The Company also invests in properties, provides multimedia, broadcasting, and telecommunications services, manages shopping centers and other commercial properties, and operates Internet portal site.

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Singapore Press Holdings (SPH SP)

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Angus Mackintosh

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