Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

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<li>Back on the 11 April, Chinese internet data center services provider <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/21-vianet-group-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8489:1" rel="noopener">VNET (VNET US)</a></strong> <a href="https://ir.vnet.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vnet-receives-unsolicited-preliminary-non-binding-proposal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a non-binding proposal from Hina Group and Shanghai's Industrial Bank at an utterly underwhelming US$8.00/ADS.</li>
<li>Then crickets. A reported tilt from MBK Partners failed to materialise.</li>
<li>VNET has now announced a preliminary non-binding proposal from founder Josh Sheng Chen, at a similarly underwhelming price of US$8.20/ADS. </li>
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Back on the 11 April, Chinese internet data center services provider VNET (VNET US) announced a non-binding proposal from Hina Group and Shanghai's Industrial Bank at an utterly underwhelming US$8.00/ADS.
Then crickets. A reported tilt from MBK Partners failed to materialise.
VNET has now announced a preliminary non-binding proposal from founder Josh Sheng Chen, at a similarly underwhelming price of US$8.20/ADS. 


VNET: Management's Low-Balled Non-Binding Proposal

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<p>Nine months after IR solutions provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/51-job-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:532:1" rel="noopener">51 Job Inc Adr (JOBS US)</a> first announced it had received a preliminary non-binding <a href="https://sec.report/Document/0001104659-20-105912/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Proposal</a> from DCP Capital Partners to acquire all of its shares for US$79.05/common share, 51job <a href="https://sec.report/Document/0001193125-21-195283/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> yesterday it has entered into a definitive privatisation agreement. </p>
<p>The price remains unchanged, which is also in keeping with the non-binding proposal <a href="https://ir.51job.com/ir/php/2021/PreRelease20210504.php?0504" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on the 4 May, wherein Ocean Link and CEO Rick Yan joined DCP in the consortium to take the company private.</p>
<p>The big news is that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/recruit-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15070:1" rel="noopener">Recruit Holdings (6098 JP)</a>, 51job's largest shareholder with 34.8%, has now joined the consortium. </p>
<p>The merger requires the approval of two-thirds of all shareholders at an EGM, and the consortium has 54.9% in the bag. </p>
<p>This deal is by no means a sure thing. But even if the EGM resolution passes, minorities are afforded dissension rights. And as recently seen in the recent privatisations of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sina-corp-china" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22691:1" rel="noopener">Sina Corp (Class A) (SINA US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-biologic-products-hold" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22633:1" rel="noopener">China Biologic Products (CBPO US)</a>, shareholders have taken up that cause. </p>
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<p>More below the fold.</p>
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Nine months after IR solutions provider 51 Job Inc Adr (JOBS US) first announced it had received a preliminary non-binding Proposal from DCP Capital Partners to acquire all of its shares for US$79.05/common share, 51job announced yesterday it has entered into a definitive privatisation agreement. 
The price remains unchanged, which is also in keeping with the non-binding proposal announced on the 4 May, wherein Ocean Link and CEO Rick Yan joined DCP in the consortium to take the company private.
The big news is that Recruit Holdings (6098 JP), 51job's largest shareholder with 34.8%, has now joined the consortium. 
The merger requires the approval of two-thirds of all shareholders at an EGM, and the consortium has 54.9% in the bag. 
This deal is by no means a sure thing. But even if the EGM resolution passes, minorities are afforded dissension rights. And as recently seen in the recent privatisations of Sina Corp (Class A) (SINA US) and China Biologic Products (CBPO US), shareholders have taken up that cause. 


More below the fold.


51job’s Privatisation: Firm Offer Is Still The Wrong Price

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<p>Some 14 months after <a href="http://chinabiologic.investorroom.com/2019-09-18-China-Biologic-Announces-Receipt-of-Preliminary-Non-Binding-Going-Private-Proposal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcing</a> the receipt of a preliminary non-binding proposal from Beachhead Holdings, CITIC, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pw-medtech-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9891:1" rel="noopener">Pw Medtech (1358 HK)</a>,<span id="spanHghlt74d7"> Parfield </span>International, Hillhouse, and V-Sciences Investments for US$120/share, in cash, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-biologic-products-hold" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22633:1" rel="noopener">China Biologic Products (CBPO US)</a> entered into a <a href="http://app.quotemedia.com/data/downloadFiling?webmasterId=101533&amp;ref=115451875&amp;type=PDF&amp;symbol=CBPO&amp;companyName=China+Biologic+Products+Holdings+Inc.&amp;formType=6-K&amp;dateFiled=2020-11-19&amp;CK=1369868" target="_blank" rel="noopener">definitive merger agreement</a>, also at US$120/share, on the 19 November last year.</p>
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<p>The merger was conditional on an affirmative vote from shareholders representing at least two-thirds of the shares out, and that the aggregate quantity of dissenting shares being less than 8% of shares out.</p>
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<p>Yesterday shareholders <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1369868/000110465921029688/tm218258d1_ex99-1.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the merger at an EGM. 84.5% of CBPO's outstanding shares attended in person or via proxy at the EGM, and ~92.2% voted in favour of the proposal to authorize and approve the Merger Agreement. This was no surprise - the Buyer Consortium (including PW Medtech) and the Rollover Management Members, beneficially owned ~68.84% of shares out.  </p>
<p>However, CBPO also announced that it "<em>had received notices of objection from certain shareholders that in the aggregate hold more than 8% of the total outstanding shares of the Company</em>".</p>
<p>This deal now looks set to mirror the timeline currently underway for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sina-corp-china" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22691:1" rel="noopener">Sina Corp (Class A) (SINA US)</a>.</p>
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<div>
<p>More below the fold.</p>
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<p></p>
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Some 14 months after announcing the receipt of a preliminary non-binding proposal from Beachhead Holdings, CITIC, Pw Medtech (1358 HK), Parfield International, Hillhouse, and V-Sciences Investments for US$120/share, in cash, China Biologic Products (CBPO US) entered into a definitive merger agreement, also at US$120/share, on the 19 November last year.

The merger was conditional on an affirmative vote from shareholders representing at least two-thirds of the shares out, and that the aggregate quantity of dissenting shares being less than 8% of shares out.


Yesterday shareholders approved the merger at an EGM. 84.5% of CBPO's outstanding shares attended in person or via proxy at the EGM, and ~92.2% voted in favour of the proposal to authorize and approve the Merger Agreement. This was no surprise - the Buyer Consortium (including PW Medtech) and the Rollover Management Members, beneficially owned ~68.84% of shares out.  
However, CBPO also announced that it "had received notices of objection from certain shareholders that in the aggregate hold more than 8% of the total outstanding shares of the Company".
This deal now looks set to mirror the timeline currently underway for Sina Corp (Class A) (SINA US).


More below the fold.






<p>Back on the 6 July last year, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sina-corp-china" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22691:1" rel="noopener">Sina Corp (Class A) (SINA US)</a> <a href="http://ir.sina.com/index.php/static-files/69e95aee-2729-457f-be56-73628090b8ea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the receipt of a preliminary non-binding “going private” proposal from New Wave MMXV - a company controlled by its chairman/CEO Charles Chao - at US$41/share. This was followed by an <a href="http://ir.sina.com/static-files/de1ddd0f-354f-42de-9b33-b1bc414ab1b4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agreement and Plan of Merger</a> pursuant to which New Wave will acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares not owned at US$43.30/share.</p>
<p>Despite an undemanding Offer price, shareholders approved (93.6% of the total votes) the merger on the <a href="http://ir.sina.com/static-files/ea4a5614-30e8-472c-895c-31e120de3261" target="_blank" rel="noopener">23 December</a>.</p>
<p>Completion of the merger was contingent on the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including no more than 10% of the ordinary shares dissenting.</p>
<p>Prior to the  EGM, <a href="http://ir.sina.com/static-files/722deb54-0426-4b43-a58a-1c8be8b59b61" target="_blank" rel="noopener">21.5mn shares or 35.9%</a> of the total issued and outstanding shares of Sina issued notices of objections to the company. </p>
<p>On or prior to January 12, 2021, Sina intended to issue written notices of authorization to all the objecting shareholders. Within 20 days immediately <em>after</em> the date on which these notices were given, any objecting shareholder was required to give written notice of its decision to dissent.</p>
<p>There has been no update on the merger from Sina since the 28 December. Behind the scenes, Charles Chao can choose to walk, negotiate a superior price with dissentient shareholders, or waive the condition.  Should he waive the condition, dissentient shareholders have the right to be paid fair value for their shares, as determined by the Cayman Island's Grand Court.</p>
<p>More below the fold.<a href="https://www.collascrill.com/news-updates/articles/grand-court-confirms-that-dissent-rights-are-available-to-minority-shareholders-in-short-form-mergers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p>

Back on the 6 July last year, Sina Corp (Class A) (SINA US) announced the receipt of a preliminary non-binding “going private” proposal from New Wave MMXV - a company controlled by its chairman/CEO Charles Chao - at US$41/share. This was followed by an Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which New Wave will acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares not owned at US$43.30/share.
Despite an undemanding Offer price, shareholders approved (93.6% of the total votes) the merger on the 23 December.
Completion of the merger was contingent on the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including no more than 10% of the ordinary shares dissenting.
Prior to the  EGM, 21.5mn shares or 35.9% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Sina issued notices of objections to the company. 
On or prior to January 12, 2021, Sina intended to issue written notices of authorization to all the objecting shareholders. Within 20 days immediately after the date on which these notices were given, any objecting shareholder was required to give written notice of its decision to dissent.
There has been no update on the merger from Sina since the 28 December. Behind the scenes, Charles Chao can choose to walk, negotiate a superior price with dissentient shareholders, or waive the condition.  Should he waive the condition, dissentient shareholders have the right to be paid fair value for their shares, as determined by the Cayman Island's Grand Court.
More below the fold.

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

<p>In our weekly Shanghai/Shenzhen Connect Ideas series, we aim to help our investors understand the flow of northbound trades via the Shanghai and Shenzhen Connect, as analyzed by our proprietary data engine and highlight interesting trade ideas. </p><p>We split the stocks eligible for the Shanghai/Shenzhen Connect trade into two groups: stocks with a market capitalization above USD 5 billion, as well as between USD 1 billion and USD 5 billion.</p><p>In this insight, we would like to highlight strong inflows into <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-int-l-travel-service-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12278:1" rel="noopener">China Int'L Travel Service (601888 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jiangsu-yanghe-brewery-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1275:1" rel="noopener">Jiangsu Yanghe Brewery A (002304 CH)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jiangsu-sanyou-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11704:1" rel="noopener">Meinian Onehealth Healthcare H (002044 CH)</a>. We will also highlight outflows from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hangzhou-hikvision-digital-techgy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7152:1" rel="noopener">Hangzhou Hikvision (002415 CH)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/luxshare-precision-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12310:1" rel="noopener">Luxshare Precision Industry (002475 CH)</a>.</p>

In our weekly Shanghai/Shenzhen Connect Ideas series, we aim to help our investors understand the flow of northbound trades via the Shanghai and Shenzhen Connect, as analyzed by our proprietary data engine and highlight interesting trade ideas. We split the stocks eligible for the Shanghai/Shenzhen Connect trade into two groups: stocks with a market capitalization above USD 5 billion, as well as between USD 1 billion and USD 5 billion.In this insight, we would like to highlight strong inflows into China Int'L Travel Service (601888 CH), Jiangsu Yanghe Brewery A (002304 CH), and Meinian Onehealth Healthcare H (002044 CH). We will also highlight outflows from Hangzhou Hikvision (002415 CH), and Luxshare Precision Industry (002475 CH).

Shanghai/Shenzhen Connect Ideas: Duty-Free Shops, Yanghe, Wuliangye, Meinian (2019-07-12)

China

iKang Healthcare Group, Inc is a corporate preventative healthcare provider. The Company provides medical examination, screening and other services. iKang focuses in mainland China.

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IKang Healthcare Group (ADR) (KANG US)

VNET: Management's Low-Balled Non-Binding Proposal

Trading at a ~45% gross spread to terms is illustrative of the proposal's non-binding nature. It's an opportunistic approach. Only for the brave at...

David Blennerhassett

51job’s Privatisation: Firm Offer Is Still The Wrong Price

I'd buy here. Given recent Cayman petitions, I would expect this pushback on pricing to continue here, which may avail smaller investors the...

David Blennerhassett

CBPO's Vote Gets Up But Dissenters Lurk

Currently trading at a gross/annualsed spread of 1.5%/7.5%. This assumes payment mid-May if assuming the negotiation process drags out to its full...

David Blennerhassett

What's Going On With Sina Corp?

Currently trading to terms. This is an avoid. The Offer is being done too cheaply, But unless you have already dissented, you are effectively...

David Blennerhassett

Shanghai/Shenzhen Connect Ideas: Duty-Free Shops, Yanghe, Wuliangye, Meinian (2019-07-12)

In our weekly Shanghai/Shenzhen Connect Ideas series, we aim to help our investors understand the flow of northbound trades via the Shanghai and...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

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52-week Range

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