Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

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.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyze statistics on top repurchases over one week, one month, one quarter and one year periods ended on Nov 19 based on HKEx daily reports.</li>
<li>In the past 7 days, top 3 companies that repurchased the most shares from the market were China Medical System (867.HK), Kangji Medical (9997.HK), Nissin Foods (1475.HK).</li>
<li>In the past 30 days, top 3 companies that repurchased the most shares from the market were China Gas (384.HK), Sihuan Pharmaceutical (460.HK), Fosun International (656.HK).</li>
</ul>


We analyze statistics on top repurchases over one week, one month, one quarter and one year periods ended on Nov 19 based on HKEx daily reports.
In the past 7 days, top 3 companies that repurchased the most shares from the market were China Medical System (867.HK), Kangji Medical (9997.HK), Nissin Foods (1475.HK).
In the past 30 days, top 3 companies that repurchased the most shares from the market were China Gas (384.HK), Sihuan Pharmaceutical (460.HK), Fosun International (656.HK).


Hong Kong Buybacks: China Medical System, Kangji, Nissin Foods

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

Equity Capital Markets

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Capital Markets

<p>2020 marked our second full year of operations as an Independent Research Company, and our fifth year covering Equity Capital Markets (ECM). While the year started off on a precarious note for ECM, it ended with very strong momentum. Even as IPOs have hogged the limelight in 2020, we actually ended up covering more than twice the number of placements as IPOs. </p><p>We ended 2020 with an accuracy rate of 72.7% across 88 IPOs that we covered and 70.1% across 174 placements. While our placements hit rate improved, our IPO hit rate took a dip from 2019.</p><p>For those not familiar with our coverage, we aim to cover all IPOs and placements with a minimum deal size of US$100m across Asia-Pacific (ex-Korea), including China ADRs.</p>

2020 marked our second full year of operations as an Independent Research Company, and our fifth year covering Equity Capital Markets (ECM). While the year started off on a precarious note for ECM, it ended with very strong momentum. Even as IPOs have hogged the limelight in 2020, we actually ended up covering more than twice the number of placements as IPOs. We ended 2020 with an accuracy rate of 72.7% across 88 IPOs that we covered and 70.1% across 174 placements. While our placements hit rate improved, our IPO hit rate took a dip from 2019.For those not familiar with our coverage, we aim to cover all IPOs and placements with a minimum deal size of US$100m across Asia-Pacific (ex-Korea), including China ADRs.

Aequitas 2020 IPOs and Placements Performance - IPOs in the Limelight but Placements Stole the Show

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Hygeia Healthcare Group / Equity Capital Markets

<div>
<p>For primary listings in Hong Kong, there are standard rules as to the lock-up duration. There are exceptions - lock-ups can be entered into and negotiated with underwriters, as is often the case for secondary listings.</p>
<p>There are other quirks such as specific lock-ups with respect to share incentive schemes, such as in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-hepalink-pharmaceutical-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29142:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen HepaLink Pharmaceutical (H) (9989 HK)</a>, which have their own unique lock-up period - although in this case, the % of shares out (0.31%) affected  is largely immaterial. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>According to <a href="https://en-rules.hkex.com.hk/rulebook/1007-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Main Board Rule 10.07(1)</a> (or <a href="https://en-rules.hkex.com.hk/rulebook/1316a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GEM rule 13.16A(1)</a>), if a person/group of persons is/are listed as the controlling shareholder(s) of the issuer's listing application, they must adhere to a 6-month lock-up from the date of listing.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>For cornerstone investors, the following is often stated in the share offer document:</p>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote>
<p>Each of the Cornerstone Investors has agreed that it will not, whether directly or indirectly, at any time during the period of six months from and including the Listing Date (the “Lock-up Period”), dispose of any of the Offer Shares they have purchased pursuant to the relevant Cornerstone Investment Agreements, save for certain limited circumstances ... <br>Hepalink's <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0624/2020062400097.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Offering Doc</a> (page 403)</p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<p>Every week in my <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/compose/insight/46538/Last%20Week%20in%20Event%20SPACE:%20Japan%20Post,%20JD.com,%20Toyota,%20NTT,%20Jardines,%20Indices/Exec.%20Orders,%20Tianneng.%20Read%20more:%20https:/skr.ma/vhr6W" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Event SPACE</a> wrap, I flag large moves (~10%) in CCASS holdings over the past week or so, moves that are often outside normal market transactions.  These may be indicative of share pledges.  Or potential takeovers. Or simply help understand volume swings. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>Large movement(s) concerning recently listed companies are likely lock-up related. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>This monthly insight looks at companies that have been listed for around six months, as a guide to when insiders/controlling shareholders are permitted to sell, potentially creating an overhang which could depress prices.</p>
<p>I've also constructed a chart highlighting the performance of IPOs leading up to their lock-up, and compared this to the HSI index. The results are interesting. Spoiler - recent IPOs underperform. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>A summary of Main Board listings in 2020 is also attached at the bottom of this insight.</p>
<p>More below the fold.</p>
</div>


For primary listings in Hong Kong, there are standard rules as to the lock-up duration. There are exceptions - lock-ups can be entered into and negotiated with underwriters, as is often the case for secondary listings.
There are other quirks such as specific lock-ups with respect to share incentive schemes, such as in Shenzhen HepaLink Pharmaceutical (H) (9989 HK), which have their own unique lock-up period - although in this case, the % of shares out (0.31%) affected  is largely immaterial. 


According to Main Board Rule 10.07(1) (or GEM rule 13.16A(1)), if a person/group of persons is/are listed as the controlling shareholder(s) of the issuer's listing application, they must adhere to a 6-month lock-up from the date of listing.


For cornerstone investors, the following is often stated in the share offer document:



Each of the Cornerstone Investors has agreed that it will not, whether directly or indirectly, at any time during the period of six months from and including the Listing Date (the “Lock-up Period”), dispose of any of the Offer Shares they have purchased pursuant to the relevant Cornerstone Investment Agreements, save for certain limited circumstances ...  Hepalink's Global Offering Doc (page 403)



Every week in my Event SPACE wrap, I flag large moves (~10%) in CCASS holdings over the past week or so, moves that are often outside normal market transactions.  These may be indicative of share pledges.  Or potential takeovers. Or simply help understand volume swings. 


Large movement(s) concerning recently listed companies are likely lock-up related. 


This monthly insight looks at companies that have been listed for around six months, as a guide to when insiders/controlling shareholders are permitted to sell, potentially creating an overhang which could depress prices.
I've also constructed a chart highlighting the performance of IPOs leading up to their lock-up, and compared this to the HSI index. The results are interesting. Spoiler - recent IPOs underperform. 


A summary of Main Board listings in 2020 is also attached at the bottom of this insight.
More below the fold.


Hong Kong IPOs: Lock-Up Expiries (December 2020 Edition)

APAC IPOs & Placements

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Joy Spreader Interactive Technology / Equity Capital Markets

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/joy-spreader-interactive-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29271:1" rel="noopener">Joy Spreader Interactive Technology (6988 HK)</a> (JST) raised US$202m in its Hong Kong IPO at HK$2.88 per share, slightly above the midpoint of its price range.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>JST is a performance-based we-media marketing service provider in China. JST connects marketers and we-media publishers via its technology and platforms. The services provided to marketers include analyzing and distributing their products on the we-media network which will help marketers acquire users.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>In this note, we will look at the deal dynamics and provide a table with implied valuation at different share price levels.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>Our previous coverage of the IPO:</p>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li dir="ltr">
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/joy-spreader-pre-ipo-found-a-niche-in-games-but-still-just-a-middleman" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43073" rel="noopener">Joy Spreader (乐享互动) Pre-IPO - Found a Niche in Games but Still Just a Middleman</a> </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/joy-spreader-ipo-fairly-valued-at-best" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43139" rel="noopener">Joy Spreader (乐享互动) IPO - Fairly Valued at Best</a> </li>
</ul>
</div>


Joy Spreader Interactive Technology (6988 HK) (JST) raised US$202m in its Hong Kong IPO at HK$2.88 per share, slightly above the midpoint of its price range.


JST is a performance-based we-media marketing service provider in China. JST connects marketers and we-media publishers via its technology and platforms. The services provided to marketers include analyzing and distributing their products on the we-media network which will help marketers acquire users.


In this note, we will look at the deal dynamics and provide a table with implied valuation at different share price levels.


Our previous coverage of the IPO:




Joy Spreader (乐享互动) Pre-IPO - Found a Niche in Games but Still Just a Middleman 


Joy Spreader (乐享互动) IPO - Fairly Valued at Best 



Joy Spreader (乐享互动) Trading - Retail Frenzy Triggers Max Clawback

Event-Driven

Last Week in Event SPACE: Vedanta, Cardinal Res., Japan Retail Fund, HSBC, Opticomm, Tiffany/LVMH

China

Hangzhou Kangji Medical Instrument Co., Ltd. manufactures and distributes medical instruments. The Company produces laparoscopy equipment, thoracoscopy equipment, gynecology equipment, urology equipment, gastroenterology equipment, and other products. Hangzhou Kangji Medical Instrument sells its products to Europe, United States, Southeast Asia, and other countries and regions.

Hangzhou Kangji Medical Instrument Co., Ltd. (9997 HK)

Hangzhou Kangji Medical Instrument Co., Ltd.

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Hangzhou Kangji Medical Instrument Co., Ltd. (9997 HK)

Hong Kong Buybacks: China Medical System, Kangji, Nissin Foods

We highlight the top 3 companies that repurchased the most shares in HK were China Medical System Holdings Limited (867 HK), Kangji Medical (9997...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Aequitas 2020 IPOs and Placements Performance - IPOs in the Limelight but Placements Stole the Show

2020 marked our second year of operations as an Independent Research Company, and our fifth year covering ECM. In 2020 we had an accuracy rate of...

Sumeet Singh

Hong Kong IPOs: Lock-Up Expiries (December 2020 Edition)

There exist the "moral hazard" around the expiry of lock-up periods. In 2020, IPO's have on average underperformed the HSI heading into the lock...

David Blennerhassett

Joy Spreader (乐享互动) Trading - Retail Frenzy Triggers Max Clawback

Joy Spreader Interactive Technology (6988 HK) (JST) is looking to raise up to US$225m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. JST is a performance-based...

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Last Week in Event SPACE: Vedanta, Cardinal Res., Japan Retail Fund, HSBC, Opticomm, Tiffany/LVMH

Last Week in Event SPACE ... Plus, other events, CCASS movements and Mood Spins. (This insight covers specific insights & comments...

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

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