Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

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<p>This week in StubWorld ...</p>
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<p>Following Yue Xiu's privatization Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chong-hing-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:344:1" rel="noopener">Chong Hing Bank (1111 HK)</a>, Hong Kong's remaining  "family"-owned banks, such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-east-asia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:341:1" rel="noopener">Bank of East Asia (23 HK)</a> (BEA), are back in focus. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guoco-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5290:1" rel="noopener">Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK)</a> is trading cheap to its historical NAV discount range, and the 14.94% holding in BEA accounts for 15% of its NAV.</p>
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<p>Preceding my comments on Guoco are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</p>
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<p>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.</p>
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This week in StubWorld ...



Following Yue Xiu's privatization Offer for Chong Hing Bank (1111 HK), Hong Kong's remaining  "family"-owned banks, such as Bank of East Asia (23 HK) (BEA), are back in focus. Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK) is trading cheap to its historical NAV discount range, and the 14.94% holding in BEA accounts for 15% of its NAV.



Preceding my comments on Guoco are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.


These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.


StubWorld: Guoco/BEA Into Focus Post Chong Hing Bank Bid

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<p>On the 17 January, property developer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkc-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14707:1" rel="noopener">HKC Holdings (190 HK)</a>  <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0117/2021011700005.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a privatisation offer by way of a Scheme from the controlling Oei family. The offer price of $8/share was a 120.39% premium to last close and around an eight-year high. An interim dividend of HK$0.13/share was also declared and would NOT be deducted from the cancellation price. </p>
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<p>The Scheme Document was <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0331/2021033101856.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">despatched</a> on the 31 March. The IFA said "fair &amp; reasonable". At the Scheme Meeting on the 23 April, disinterested shareholders overwhelmingly approved (99.36%) the Scheme. Done &amp; dusted.</p>
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<p><strong><em>But wait .....</em></strong></p>
<p>In the HKEx <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0423/2021042302469.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> detailing the results of the Meeting, HKC also states:</p>
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<p>The directions Order of the Bermuda Court dated 25 March 2021 provided that the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of voting power in respect of the shares issued and entitled to vote at the Court Meeting shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at the Court Meeting (‘‘Quorum Requirement’’). Given the number of Disinterested Scheme Shareholders who voted in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting may not comply with the Quorum Requirement, the Company has asked its Bermuda legal advisers to forthwith seek directions from the Court with respect to the convention and the validity of the results of the Court Meeting.</p>
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<p>There is no mention of a quorum condition to the Scheme in the Scheme Document. </p>
<p>HKC was supposed to trade yesterday, but shares were suspended ahead of the open.</p>
<p>Is this new information a deal-breaker?</p>


On the 17 January, property developer HKC Holdings (190 HK)  announced a privatisation offer by way of a Scheme from the controlling Oei family. The offer price of $8/share was a 120.39% premium to last close and around an eight-year high. An interim dividend of HK$0.13/share was also declared and would NOT be deducted from the cancellation price. 


The Scheme Document was despatched on the 31 March. The IFA said "fair &amp; reasonable". At the Scheme Meeting on the 23 April, disinterested shareholders overwhelmingly approved (99.36%) the Scheme. Done &amp; dusted.

But wait .....
In the HKEx announcement detailing the results of the Meeting, HKC also states:

The directions Order of the Bermuda Court dated 25 March 2021 provided that the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of voting power in respect of the shares issued and entitled to vote at the Court Meeting shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at the Court Meeting (‘‘Quorum Requirement’’). Given the number of Disinterested Scheme Shareholders who voted in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting may not comply with the Quorum Requirement, the Company has asked its Bermuda legal advisers to forthwith seek directions from the Court with respect to the convention and the validity of the results of the Court Meeting.

There is no mention of a quorum condition to the Scheme in the Scheme Document. 
HKC was supposed to trade yesterday, but shares were suspended ahead of the open.
Is this new information a deal-breaker?

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<p>Back on the 15 January, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guoco-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5290:1" rel="noopener">Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK)</a> made a <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/Offer%20Announcement.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=645181" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voluntary conditional cash Offer</a> for 70.84%-held <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gl-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2540:1" rel="noopener">GL Ltd (GLL SP)</a>. The Offer Price of S$0.70/share was a 25% premium to last close and 0.73x P/NAV. The Offer carried an acceptance condition of 90%, including Guoco's stake, which could be reduced to 50%. </p>
<p>It was a lacklustre Offer. The IFA agreed in the <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/Revised_Offeree_Circular.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=648639" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Circular</a>, and said the Offer was not fair; but still opined it was reasonable. The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (SIAS) <a href="https://sias.org.sg/latest-updates/letter-to-guocoleisure-holdings-limited-appeal-on-behalf-of-minority-shareholders-of-gl-limited/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chimed in</a>, saying it thought the Offer was low-balled.</p>
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<p>Historically, Guoco have had a tendency to be frugal in their privatisation Offers. In its 2005 attempt to take GLL private back in 2005, it <em>did</em> bump its Offer to $1.25/share from S$1.20.</p>
<h3>The New News</h3>
<p>Guoco has now <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/Dealings%20Disclosure%20and%20Revision%20of%20Offer%20Price%20Announcement.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=651983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bumped the Offer</a> by 14.3% to S$0.80/share. The Offer consideration is final and the Offer declared unconditional in all respects.</p>
<p>Guoco has 83.4% in the bag, including its own 72.96% stake. The revised Offer terms fall outside the fair value range from the IFA, but there's probably enough here to test the 90% acceptance level, and afford Guoco the right to compulsory acquire shares. </p>
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<p>As always, more below the fold.</p>
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Back on the 15 January, Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK) made a voluntary conditional cash Offer for 70.84%-held GL Ltd (GLL SP). The Offer Price of S$0.70/share was a 25% premium to last close and 0.73x P/NAV. The Offer carried an acceptance condition of 90%, including Guoco's stake, which could be reduced to 50%. 
It was a lacklustre Offer. The IFA agreed in the Circular, and said the Offer was not fair; but still opined it was reasonable. The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (SIAS) chimed in, saying it thought the Offer was low-balled.

Historically, Guoco have had a tendency to be frugal in their privatisation Offers. In its 2005 attempt to take GLL private back in 2005, it did bump its Offer to $1.25/share from S$1.20.
The New News
Guoco has now bumped the Offer by 14.3% to S$0.80/share. The Offer consideration is final and the Offer declared unconditional in all respects.
Guoco has 83.4% in the bag, including its own 72.96% stake. The revised Offer terms fall outside the fair value range from the IFA, but there's probably enough here to test the 90% acceptance level, and afford Guoco the right to compulsory acquire shares. 

As always, more below the fold.














GL Limited: Guoco Bumps & Declares Offer Unconditional

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<p>On the 15 January, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guoco-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5290:1" rel="noopener">Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK)</a> made a <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/Offer%20Announcement.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=645181" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voluntary conditional cash Offer</a> for 70.84%-held <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gl-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2540:1" rel="noopener">GL Ltd (GLL SP)</a>. The Offer Price of S$0.70/share was a 25% premium to last close and 0.73x P/NAV. The acceptance condition is 90%, including Guoco's stake, although Guoco reserves the right to reduce this to 50%. Save for the acceptance condition, the Offer is unconditional in all other respects.</p>
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<p>This was an underwhelming Offer from the outset, pitching GLL at a level below the COVID drop-off in Feb/March last year. In the <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/Revised_Offeree_Circular.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=648639" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Circular</a>, the IFA agreed and said the Offer was not fair; but hedged its opinion, calling it reasonable. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://sias.org.sg/" target="_blank" data-ved="2ahUKEwjTwoy_vo7vAhXyxosBHROlAVsQFjAAegQIEhAD" rel="noopener"></a>Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (SIAS) has <a href="https://sias.org.sg/latest-updates/letter-to-guocoleisure-holdings-limited-appeal-on-behalf-of-minority-shareholders-of-gl-limited/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joined the fray</a>, and is also less than enthusiastic with the Offer terms. But how much clout does SIAS have in Singaporean deals?</p>
<p>Shares have closed at or through terms every day since the Offer was announced.</p>
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<p>As always, more below the fold.</p>
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On the 15 January, Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK) made a voluntary conditional cash Offer for 70.84%-held GL Ltd (GLL SP). The Offer Price of S$0.70/share was a 25% premium to last close and 0.73x P/NAV. The acceptance condition is 90%, including Guoco's stake, although Guoco reserves the right to reduce this to 50%. Save for the acceptance condition, the Offer is unconditional in all other respects.


This was an underwhelming Offer from the outset, pitching GLL at a level below the COVID drop-off in Feb/March last year. In the Circular, the IFA agreed and said the Offer was not fair; but hedged its opinion, calling it reasonable. 
The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (SIAS) has joined the fray, and is also less than enthusiastic with the Offer terms. But how much clout does SIAS have in Singaporean deals?
Shares have closed at or through terms every day since the Offer was announced.


As always, more below the fold.











SIAS Questions GL Limited's Offer: More Bark Than Bite

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.

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gl-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2540:1" rel="noopener">GL Ltd (GLL SP)</a> is an investment holding company with a core business in UK hotel management and operations. On Friday, GL announced a voluntary unconditional cash offer of S$0.70 per share from a wholly-owned subsidiary of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guoco-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5290:1" rel="noopener">Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK)</a>. The offer price of S$0.70 per share is a 25.0% premium to the last trading price of S$0.56 per share (14 January). </p><p>The minimum acceptance condition is the offeror and concert parties hold not less than 90% of the voting rights. GuocoLeisure Assets, which represents 70.84% of outstanding shares, has provided an irrecovable to accept the offer. The minimum acceptance condition can be reduced to more than 50% or waived, subject to the consent of the Securities Industry Council.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>The modest premium to historical long-term multiples and share prices is unlikely to excite long-term shareholders. The offer price is largely designed to appeal to shareholders looking for a respite from the uncertain prospects of the hotels business due to the COVID-19 outbreak and Brexit. Overall, with the leeway on adjusting the minimum acceptance condition, we think that the bid has a good chance of succeeding. </p></div>

GL Ltd (GLL SP) is an investment holding company with a core business in UK hotel management and operations. On Friday, GL announced a voluntary unconditional cash offer of S$0.70 per share from a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK). The offer price of S$0.70 per share is a 25.0% premium to the last trading price of S$0.56 per share (14 January). The minimum acceptance condition is the offeror and concert parties hold not less than 90% of the voting rights. GuocoLeisure Assets, which represents 70.84% of outstanding shares, has provided an irrecovable to accept the offer. The minimum acceptance condition can be reduced to more than 50% or waived, subject to the consent of the Securities Industry Council.The modest premium to historical long-term multiples and share prices is unlikely to excite long-term shareholders. The offer price is largely designed to appeal to shareholders looking for a respite from the uncertain prospects of the hotels business due to the COVID-19 outbreak and Brexit. Overall, with the leeway on adjusting the minimum acceptance condition, we think that the bid has a good chance of succeeding. 

GL Limited’s Voluntary Unconditional Offer by Guoco Group

Hong Kong

Guoco Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, develops, invests in, and manages properties as well as provides stock, commodity and bullion broking, insurance, and fund management services.

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Guoco Group Ltd (53 HK)

StubWorld: Guoco/BEA Into Focus Post Chong Hing Bank Bid

Following the privatization Offer for Chong Hing, Bank of East Asia is back in focus. Guoco is trading cheap to its historical NAV discount range,...

David Blennerhassett

HKC Holdings (190 HK): Quorum Quibbles

This order is not a statutory requirement but one imposed by the judge, arguably the directive smacks of "legislating from the bench". Presumably,...

David Blennerhassett

GL Limited: Guoco Bumps & Declares Offer Unconditional

This will trade tight to, if not to terms. This is a done deal. If this trades a spread or two below terms, get involved. I still like Guoco here,...

David Blennerhassett

SIAS Questions GL Limited's Offer: More Bark Than Bite

The SIAS raises many valid points. GLL looks cheap and why it trades through terms. I like Guoco here, as it trades around a one-year discount to...

David Blennerhassett

GL Limited’s Voluntary Unconditional Offer by Guoco Group

GL announced a voluntary unconditional cash offer of S$0.70 per share from Guoco Group. With the leeway on adjusting the minimum acceptance...

Arun George

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