IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

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Event-Driven

Hollysys Automation Technologies / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hollysys-automation-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26078:1" rel="noopener">Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)</a> Board has finally succumbed to shareholder pressure by targeting a special meeting of shareholders in the week commencing 22 January 2024.</li>
<li>The special meeting is a side event as the Board targets a binding proposal by mid-December, with some bidders proceeding to the confirmatory due diligence stage.</li>
<li>The BVI takeover structure and Hollysys’ undemanding valuation facilitate a competitive bidding process. A 10% uplift to the current highest offer (Recco’s US$26.50 offer) is possible.</li>
</ul>


The Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US) Board has finally succumbed to shareholder pressure by targeting a special meeting of shareholders in the week commencing 22 January 2024.
The special meeting is a side event as the Board targets a binding proposal by mid-December, with some bidders proceeding to the confirmatory due diligence stage.
The BVI takeover structure and Hollysys’ undemanding valuation facilitate a competitive bidding process. A 10% uplift to the current highest offer (Recco’s US$26.50 offer) is possible.


Hollysys (HOLI US): Progress as a Binding Proposal Targeted for Mid-December

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>A fortnight after co-COOs pitched a US$25/share indicative Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hollysys-automation-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26078:1" rel="noopener">Hollysys (HOLI US)</a>, Ascendent Capital, holding 13.7%, tabled a US$26/share Offer. The Recco/Dazheng consortium offered US$26.50 a week later.</li>
<li>There is currently a dispute over the ownership and control of Ace Lead's shares in Hollysys, which was subject to an injunction hearing in the Hong Kong High Court.</li>
<li>That hearing took place today. So I went along to hear first-hand the key arguments from both sides. </li>
</ul>


A fortnight after co-COOs pitched a US$25/share indicative Offer for Hollysys (HOLI US), Ascendent Capital, holding 13.7%, tabled a US$26/share Offer. The Recco/Dazheng consortium offered US$26.50 a week later.
There is currently a dispute over the ownership and control of Ace Lead's shares in Hollysys, which was subject to an injunction hearing in the Hong Kong High Court.
That hearing took place today. So I went along to hear first-hand the key arguments from both sides. 


<ul>
<li>Talk about your never-ending story. I count at least seven non-binding Offers for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hollysys-automation-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26078:1" rel="noopener"> Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)</a> since December 2020, three of which are still on the table.</li>
<li>The latest, at US$26/share, was pitched earlier this week from Ascendent Capital Partners; who along with Changli Wang, Hollysys' founder, previously made an US$23/share Offer in August 2021.</li>
<li>However, all these Offers are largely moot until we get closure at the court injunction hearing. If that occurs. Separately, I had a solid discussion with Hollysys' IR. </li>
</ul>


Talk about your never-ending story. I count at least seven non-binding Offers for  Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US) since December 2020, three of which are still on the table.
The latest, at US$26/share, was pitched earlier this week from Ascendent Capital Partners; who along with Changli Wang, Hollysys' founder, previously made an US$23/share Offer in August 2021.
However, all these Offers are largely moot until we get closure at the court injunction hearing. If that occurs. Separately, I had a solid discussion with Hollysys' IR. 


Hollysys: Court Injunction Hearing Is Key

<ul>
<li>Ascendent Capital has made a <a href="https://app.quotemedia.com/data/downloadFiling?webmasterId=101533&amp;ref=317844343&amp;type=PDF&amp;symbol=HOLI&amp;cdn=eb09d796c5e38b2cb3fcc4b11a699c1a&amp;companyName=Hollysys+Automation+Technologies+Ltd.&amp;formType=SC+13D&amp;dateFiled=2023-11-06" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-binding proposal</a> for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hollysys-automation-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26078:1" rel="noopener">Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)</a> at US$26.00 per share, a 4.0% premium to the MBO and Recco proposal of US$25.00 per share. </li>
<li>Ascendent has also become the largest shareholder by securing 13.69% of outstanding shares at an average price of A$20.84 per share. Ascendant is supportive of the special meeting request.</li>
<li>The Board has tried several delaying tactics, but the emergence of Ascendant ramps up the pressure on the Board to conduct a transparent sale process and address shareholder concerns. </li>
</ul>


Ascendent Capital has made a non-binding proposal for Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US) at US$26.00 per share, a 4.0% premium to the MBO and Recco proposal of US$25.00 per share. 
Ascendent has also become the largest shareholder by securing 13.69% of outstanding shares at an average price of A$20.84 per share. Ascendant is supportive of the special meeting request.
The Board has tried several delaying tactics, but the emergence of Ascendant ramps up the pressure on the Board to conduct a transparent sale process and address shareholder concerns. 


Hollysys (HOLI US): Ascendent Capital Joins the Fray

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hollysys-automation-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26078:1" rel="noopener">Hollysys (HOLI US)</a>, a leading automation control system solutions provider in China, has been subject to at least six indicative Offers since December 2020, ranging from US$15.47/share to $US$25/share. </li>
<li>Yue Xu and Lei Fang, the co-chief operating officers of Hollysys, who previously tabled a NBIO of <a href="https://app.quotemedia.com/data/downloadFiling?webmasterId=101533&amp;ref=116095743&amp;type=PDF&amp;symbol=HOLI&amp;companyName=Hollysys+Automation+Technologies+Ltd.&amp;formType=6-K&amp;dateFiled=2021-08-24&amp;CK=1357450" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US$23.00/share in August 2021</a>, have now pitched a <a href="https://app.quotemedia.com/data/downloadFiling?webmasterId=101533&amp;ref=317816928&amp;type=PDF&amp;symbol=HOLI&amp;cdn=2e4afefb17cdc67f8f50561ac5e51bd3&amp;companyName=Hollysys+Automation+Technologies+Ltd.&amp;formType=6-K&amp;dateFiled=2023-10-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US$25/share proposal</a>.</li>
<li>What is different this time? &gt;32% of the share registry has banded together to demand changes. That’s dramatically different vs previous Offers.</li>
</ul>



Hollysys (HOLI US), a leading automation control system solutions provider in China, has been subject to at least six indicative Offers since December 2020, ranging from US$15.47/share to $US$25/share. 
Yue Xu and Lei Fang, the co-chief operating officers of Hollysys, who previously tabled a NBIO of US$23.00/share in August 2021, have now pitched a US$25/share proposal.
What is different this time? &gt;32% of the share registry has banded together to demand changes. That’s dramatically different vs previous Offers.


United States

CTS Corporation designs and manufactures electronic components and sensors to original equipment manufacturers in the automotive, communications, medical, defense and aerospace, industrial and computer markets.

PC Connection, Inc. is a direct marketer of personal computers and related peripherals, software, accessories, and networking products. The Company sells to small and medium-sized businesses. PC Connection carries high turnover products in inventory, and in addition provides customer service and technical support.

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. provides contract electronics manufacturing and design services.  The Company serves original equipment manufacturers of medical devices, industrial control equipment, testing and instrumentation products, and telecommunications equipment.  Benchmark also offers product design, printed circuit board layout, prototyping and test development services.

Knowles Corporation designs and manufactures advanced acoustic components. The Company produces components for hearing aids and surface mount microphones for cell phones and consumer electronics. Knowles offers its products around the world.

Arlo Technologies, Inc. provides software solutions. The Company offers cloud-based platform with a variety of connected devices such as security cameras. Arlo Technologies serves customers in the United States.

TTM Technologies, Inc. is an independent provider of time-critical, one-stop manufacturing services for printed circuit boards.  The circuit boards serve as a foundation for electronic products such as routers, switches, servers, memory modules, and cellular base stations. The Company's customers include original equipment manufacturers and electronic manufacturing services companies.

ePlus inc. provides IT hardware, software and services. The Company offers IT solutions for data center, cloud computing, security, managed and professional services, lease financing, proprietary software, and other related products. ePlus focuses on serving the middle market and larger commercial enterprises as well as state and local governments.

Rogers Corporation manufactures and markets specialty materials and components for applications in the communications, computer, imaging, consumer, and transportation markets.  The Company's products include elastomers, high frequency circuit materials, flexible circuit materials, molding materials, and composite materials.  Rogers sells its products around the world.

ScanSource, Inc. is a value-added wholesale distributor of specialty technology products to the reseller market.  The Company provides automatic identification and point-of-sale products, as well as telephony and computer telephony integration products. ScanSource distributes its products in the United States and internationally.

OSI Systems, Inc. produces medical monitoring and anesthesia systems; security and inspection systems; and lasers, optics, and optoelectronic components.  The Company's products include blood pressure monitors, anesthesia machines and hemoglobin saturation monitors; systems for inspecting baggage, people, and vehicles; and lasers, lenses, prisms, and microelectronic components.

Topcorn Corporation manufactures and sells measuring equipment and medical equipment primarily for ophthalmologist use. The Company also manufactures industrial products including projectors and optical devices.

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Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd. manufactures a wide range of glass related products.  The Company's products include fluorescent light tubes, lenses for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), ceramic integrated circuits (IC) packages, bulbs for cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, and precision sheet glass for liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

Chengdu Santai Holding Group Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer and solutions provider in the security industry. The Company's products include QMS, note management systems, DVR, monitoring solutions, face identification, and fingerprint identification.

Wuhu Token Science Co., Ltd. researches, produces and sells vacuum thin film material for flat panel displays.  The Company's products are liquid crystal display conductive film glass, touch-screen conductive film glass, and mobile phone panel material.

Codan Limited develops rugged and electronics solutions for international government, corporate, NGO and consumer markets. The company's line of business includes provision of radio communications, metal detection and tracking solutions.

Shenzhen Topband Co., Ltd. researches, manufactures and markets electronic intelligent controllers for electric household appliances.

Lotte Energy Materials Corporation manufactures and distributes electric foils. The Company produces printed circuit board and lithium ion secondary batteries elecfoil, electrolytic and epoxy copper foil, electrolytic capacitor aluminum foil, and other related products. Lotte Energy Materials also offers energy and glass and window construction services.

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Beijing Zhong Ke San Huan Hi Tech (000970 CH)

Amano Corporation manufactures electric time recorders and information systems. The Company also produces time stamps and parking lot traffic and fee collection management systems.  The Company produces environment related systems such as dust collectors, air filters, and gas/water cleaning equipment.

Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. manufactures automation and control systems.  The Company produces process, industrial, rail and subway, and nuclear power plant automation equipment.

Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)

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Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)

Hollysys (HOLI US): Progress as a Binding Proposal Targeted for Mid-December

An SEC filing on Friday disclosed that Ascendent Capital (13.7% shareholder) entered a confidentiality agreement with Hollysys, which includes a...

Arun George

Hollysys (HOLI US): In Court Today ...

Game on! Hollysys has confirmed an SGM will be held the week commencing 22 January 2024. The record date to be eligible to vote is the 27 November....

David Blennerhassett

Hollysys: Court Injunction Hearing Is Key

Recco or Ascendant? Ascendant's Offer (with a bump?) could easily get >50% of shares out, and spill the board. Alternatively, IF Ace Lead's stake...

David Blennerhassett

Hollysys (HOLI US): Ascendent Capital Joins the Fray

The Recco consortium has bumped its non-binding offer to US$26.50 per share, 1.9% higher than Ascendent’s offer. Recco notes that “shareholders...

Arun George

What To Make Of Hollysys' Latest Offer

The consistently poor transparency on NBIOs; the various Offers that have fallen by the wayside (without any basis for doing so), plus an ongoing...

David Blennerhassett

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