Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Last Week in Event SPACE: Matheson, Naspers/Prosus, China Conch, Vedanta, Aussie Pharma, Toshiba


For the month of September, 9 new deals (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$14bn.



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




Ausnet Services (AST AU) 
Transmission
7.0
Scheme
31%



AusNet Services (AST AU) Opens Its Books to Brookfield
AusNet Services (AST AU): Spurned APA Trumps Brookfield's Proposal
AusNet (AST AU): APA Elevates Tussle With Brookfield And Taps Takeover Panel




Ale Property (LEP AU) 
Pub properties
0.8
Scheme
N/A


ALE-Charter Hall: A Post-Lockdown Bet on Australian Pubs



Smartgroup Corp (SIQ AU) 
Employee services
1.0
Scheme
31.7%


Smartgroup (SIQ AU): Indicative Offer From TPG/Potential Capital/Aware Super



Japan




Maxvalu Nishinihon (8287 JP) / Fuji Co Ltd (8278 JP) 
Supermarkets
1.6
Merger
N/A


Fuji (8278) &amp; Maxvalu Nishinihon (8287): Aeon Family Supermarket Integration



Nippo Corp (1881 JP) 
Contractor
2.0
Tender Offer
13.8%



ENEOS To Steamroll Nippo (1881 JP) Minorities
NIPPO (1881 JP) Gets Some Cowbell - It Probably Needs More




Shinsei Bank (8303 JP) 
Financial
1.0
Hostile Offer
38.9%



SBI (8473) Launches a HOSTILE Tender Offer on Shinsei Bank (8303)!
Shinsei Bank - Valuations
Shinsei Looks To A Poison Pill, But Probably Not Really
Shinsei To Launch a Poison Pill; SBI Plays Coy, So We Wait SBI &amp; Shinsei Talking Past Each Other  




Malaysia




Scientex Bhd (SCI MK) 
Real estate
0.1
VTO
12.97%


Scientex - Daibochi: Unconditional Voluntary Take-Over Offer



Singapore








Roxy Pacific Holdings (ROXY SP) 
Real estate
0.3
Offer
19.8%


Roxy-Pacific (ROXY SP): Pre-Conditional Offer Led By Founder



US




iClick Interactive Asia Group (ICLK US) 
Online marketer
0.6
Merger
19%


IClick (ICLK US): PAG &amp; Oasis Shake The Trees


Source: Smartkarma Insights






The average premium for the new deals announced (or first discussed) in September was ~24%, with a year-to-date average of ~32% (121 deals &amp; total deal size of US$249bn).
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%
34.9%


Hong Kong
25.2%
34.7%
33.9%


Japan
44.0%
35.2%
28.4%


ROW
29.1%
24.2%
33.1%


Average
31.5%
31.1%
32.4%



Source: Smartkarma Insights








Summary of News in September 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) 

No September update




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

No September update




Afterpay Touch (APT AU) 

No September update




Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API AU) 

17-Sep:  Aussie Pharma (API AU): Wesfarmer's Sweetened (Yet Indicative) Offer
27-Sep: Aussie Pharma (API AU): Sigma's Rival Bid (Just) Edges Wesfarmers
Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)'s corporate affairs manager said due diligence can commence immediately. As API indicated that Sigma's NBIO was capable of being superior, it opened up access. So much for exclusive DD.




Empired Ltd (EPD AU) 

25-Sep: Empired (EPD AU): Scheme Booklet Out. Meeting On The 25 October




Hansen Technologies (HSN AU) 

5-Sep: And it's a no deal - BGH withdraws its proposal for Hansen Technologies (HSN AU).
 
"Having conducted extensive due diligence inquiries in relation to the company, BGH has not notified Hansen of any issue which Hansen considers material in the context of Hansen’s current operations and strategy. BGH Capital has advised the company that it continues to see Hansen as a highly effective organisation with an outstanding management team and strong prospects."




iCar Asia Ltd (ICQ AU) 

9-Sep: Carsome has requested an extension of the exclusivity period under the process deed with iCar Asia Ltd (ICQ AU), such that the exclusivity period is extended initially to the 30 September, then to automatically to the 30 October provided Casome has completed DD by the 30 Sept. Ithe board is currently minded to agree to this request.




Huon Aquaculture (HUO AU) 

23-Sep: Huon Aquaculture (HUO AU)'s Scheme Booklet is out. The Scheme Meeting will take place on the 29 October, with expected implementation on the 8 November.  28-Sep: The effective date under JBS' Offer has been changed to the 3 November from 4 November previously. 




Iress Ltd (IRE AU) 

16-Sep: Another deal failure. EGT and Iress Ltd (IRE AU) have been unable to agree to a transaction. 




Japara Healthcare (JHC AU) 

18-Sep: Japara Healthcare (JHC AU): 21st October Scheme Meeting




Mainstream Group Holdings Ltd (MAI AU) 
No September update



Milton Corp Ltd (MLT AU) 

3-Sep: Marvelous Milton Merger Mapping Mabbled: Ratio Done, Now For The Hard Part
17-Sep: Marvelous Milton and WHSP (SOL AU) Index Event Prepositioning Analysis




Oil Search Ltd (OSH AU) 

10-Sep: Oil Search/Santos: PNG a Potential Party Pooper




Rhipe Ltd (RHP AU) 

9-Sep: Rhipe (RHP AU): Done Deal As Scheme Booklet Dispatched




Spark Infrastructure (SKI AU) 

No September update




Sydney Airport (SYD AU) 

13-Sep:  Sydney Airport (SYD AU): Consortium Ups Bid And Granted Due Diligence




Think Childcare (TNK AU) 

29-Sep: Shareholders approved the Scheme




Youfoodz Holdings (YFZ AU) 

2-Sep: Youfoodz Holdings (YFZ AU) announced that the Federal court of Australia has approved the convening of Scheme Meeting and despatch of Scheme Booklet. The Scheme Meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting (video conference) at 10.00 am (Sydney time) on Friday, 8th October 2021.










Hong Kong


Comments (with links to announcements &amp; insights)




Beijing Capital Land Ltd H (2868 HK) 

23-Sep: Beijing Capital Land Ltd H (2868 HK) H shareholders overwhelmingly approve the merger. The last day of trading in shares is today - the 24th.  Payment is expected on or before the 8 November. 




China Youzan Limited (8083 HK) 

No September update




Golden Throat Holdings (6896 HK) 

1-Sep: As expected, Golden Throat Holdings (6896 HK) has pushed out the dispatch date for the Scheme Dochemnt to the 19 October (on or before). 



Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK)

16-Sep: Partial closes for Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK) - 89.6% pro-ration. Not bad. 




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) 

27-Sep: Shares suspended for some reason.




Soho China Ltd (410 HK) 

10-Sep: Another deal break.










India


Comments 




Adani Power (ADANI IN) 

No September update




Mphasis Ltd (MPHL IN) 

No September update










Japan


Comments (with links to announcements &amp; insights)




GCA Corporation (2174 JP) 

9-Sep: Houlihan Lokey Bumps the GCA Offer - A Whopping 1.3%!!!
28-Sep: The Houlihan Lokey (HLI US) takeout of GCA Corporation (2174 JP) is on its way. The Tender Offer Result was just announced and HLI has 89.58%. That means there will be an EGM and squeezeout. 




Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) 

No September update




Sakai Ovex (3408 JP) 
9-Sep: The Sakai Ovex (3408 JP) Tender Offer has been completed successfully. 
The bidders did not get as much as I thought they might, but the top owner has 77.27%.  That means the squeezeout will go through an EGM and this will be delisted maybe a month after the EGM.










Malaysia


Comments 




Ijm Plantations (IJMP MK) 
No September update



MMC Corp Bhd (MMC MK) 
22-Sep: MMC Corp (MMC MK): This Is A Buy








New Zealand


Comments 




Z Energy Ltd (ZEL NZ) 
27-Sep: Z Energy Ltd (ZEL NZ) announced that the original four-week exclusivity period with Ampol has been extended by a further two weeks.









Taiwan


Comments (with links to insights &amp; announcements)




China Development Financial (2883 TT) / China Life Insurance (2823 TT)

No September update












(Mostly) Asia M&A: September 2021 Roundup

iClick Interactive Asia Group / Event-Driven

In recent years,  it has become common practice for Chinese "tech" companies listed in the US to be privatised, on the expectation of being relisted on the Mainland (where often higher multiples are assigned) or Hong Kong. Following the passing of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holding_Foreign_Companies_Accountable_Act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act</a> last year, there is an added impetus to take these companies private. Or at the very least, seek a dual listing in Hong Kong.
More often than not, these takeovers are initiated by the controlling shareholders. Which makes this latest non-binding proposal for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iclick-interactive-asia-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27314:1" rel="noopener">iClick Interactive Asia Group (ICLK US)</a> a little unusual.
iClick <a href="https://ir.i-click.com/2021-09-24-iClick-Interactive-Asia-Group-Limited-Announces-Receipt-of-a-Preliminary-Non-Binding-Indicative-Proposal-to-Acquire-the-Company" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on the 24 September it had received a preliminary indicative proposal from PAG Pegasus Fund and Oasis Management to acquire all of its outstanding shares for US$6.75 per ADS, in cash.
That's a 19% premium to last close, yet 63% below its all-time high close of US$18.30 in February last year, and 16% below its $8/share IPO price in December 2018.
Should a firm Offer unfold, this long-form merger would require two-thirds majority approval from all shareholders.
Sammy Hsieh, the chairman of the board of directors and co-founder, Jian Tang, iClick's CEO, and co-founder, collectively own 4,385,078 Class B ordinary shares, which due to their super-voting rights, is equivalent to ~62% of the voting power. This proposal is a non-starter without the support of either Hsieh or Tang.
In addition, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baozun" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29712:1" rel="noopener">Baozun (9991 HK)</a> controls a further 10% of the voting power. Should all three side with the buyer consortium, this deal is done. 
But I doubt this will be the outcome. A more likely scenario is the consortium's low-balled Offer is a means to triggering a response from a key player, such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, to make a counteroffer.
More below the fold.

In recent years,  it has become common practice for Chinese "tech" companies listed in the US to be privatised, on the expectation of being relisted on the Mainland (where often higher multiples are assigned) or Hong Kong. Following the passing of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act last year, there is an added impetus to take these companies private. Or at the very least, seek a dual listing in Hong Kong.
More often than not, these takeovers are initiated by the controlling shareholders. Which makes this latest non-binding proposal for iClick Interactive Asia Group (ICLK US) a little unusual.
iClick announced on the 24 September it had received a preliminary indicative proposal from PAG Pegasus Fund and Oasis Management to acquire all of its outstanding shares for US$6.75 per ADS, in cash.
That's a 19% premium to last close, yet 63% below its all-time high close of US$18.30 in February last year, and 16% below its $8/share IPO price in December 2018.
Should a firm Offer unfold, this long-form merger would require two-thirds majority approval from all shareholders.
Sammy Hsieh, the chairman of the board of directors and co-founder, Jian Tang, iClick's CEO, and co-founder, collectively own 4,385,078 Class B ordinary shares, which due to their super-voting rights, is equivalent to ~62% of the voting power. This proposal is a non-starter without the support of either Hsieh or Tang.
In addition, Baozun (9991 HK) controls a further 10% of the voting power. Should all three side with the buyer consortium, this deal is done. 
But I doubt this will be the outcome. A more likely scenario is the consortium's low-balled Offer is a means to triggering a response from a key player, such as Tencent (700 HK), to make a counteroffer.
More below the fold.

IClick(ICLK US): PAG & Oasis Shake The Trees

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

It was reported by Reuters and several other news media outlets on Friday (24th Friday) that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a>’s acquisition of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/joyy-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:285:1" rel="noopener">JOYY (YY US)'s </a> domestic video-based entertainment livestreaming business (known as YY Live) is unlikely to be approved by the country’s antitrust regulators. According to news media, Baidu’s acquisition of JOYY was included among the 11 transactions that were subject to anti-monopoly review by the state Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the company has not yet received any negative update from the regulators on the deal.The government of China’s latest measures to crackdown on the country’s tech sector are focused on the gaming sector to reduce the long-term impact of gaming on the country’s younger population (those under 18 years of age). Given YY Live’s livestreaming business includes video-games related entertainment livestreaming, it appears unlikely that the deal will be approved as it will send the wrong signal to the market.In August, several news media outlets including Reuters reported that JOYY’s top two shareholders: David Li - Chairman and Lei Jun – founder of Xiaomi, plan to take the Nasdaq-listed company private. David Li and Lei Jun respectively owned 23.2% and 7.8% of JOYY with David Li having 76% of voting power (read our previous insight on JOYY's take-private deal: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/joyy-inc-privatisation-our-thoughts-on-valuation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:56917" rel="noopener">JOYY Inc Privatisation: Our Thoughts on Valuation</a> )

It was reported by Reuters and several other news media outlets on Friday (24th Friday) that Baidu (BIDU US)’s acquisition of JOYY (YY US)'s  domestic video-based entertainment livestreaming business (known as YY Live) is unlikely to be approved by the country’s antitrust regulators. According to news media, Baidu’s acquisition of JOYY was included among the 11 transactions that were subject to anti-monopoly review by the state Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the company has not yet received any negative update from the regulators on the deal.The government of China’s latest measures to crackdown on the country’s tech sector are focused on the gaming sector to reduce the long-term impact of gaming on the country’s younger population (those under 18 years of age). Given YY Live’s livestreaming business includes video-games related entertainment livestreaming, it appears unlikely that the deal will be approved as it will send the wrong signal to the market.In August, several news media outlets including Reuters reported that JOYY’s top two shareholders: David Li - Chairman and Lei Jun – founder of Xiaomi, plan to take the Nasdaq-listed company private. David Li and Lei Jun respectively owned 23.2% and 7.8% of JOYY with David Li having 76% of voting power (read our previous insight on JOYY's take-private deal: JOYY Inc Privatisation: Our Thoughts on Valuation )

Baidu-JOYY: Blocking YY Live Acquisition Is More Problematic for JOYY

Last Week in Event SPACE: Shinsei Bank, Hongkong Land, SOHO China, Bank Rakyat, Oil Search, JCNC

China

JOYY Inc. operates a global social media platform. The Company offers platform which enables users to interact with each other in real time through online live media by creating, sharing, and enjoying a vast range of entertainment content and activities. JOYY serves customers in China.

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JOYY (YY US)

Last Week in Event SPACE: Matheson, Naspers/Prosus, China Conch, Vedanta, Aussie Pharma, Toshiba

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

(Mostly) Asia M&A: September 2021 Roundup

For the month of September, 9 new deals were discussed on Smartkarma with an announced deal size of ~US$14bn. The average premium in September was...

David Blennerhassett

IClick(ICLK US): PAG & Oasis Shake The Trees

Buying around here is probably going to have limited downside. I think PAG/Oasis' intent is to shake out potential suitors - including the co...

David Blennerhassett

Baidu-JOYY: Blocking YY Live Acquisition Is More Problematic for JOYY

Baidu’s acquisition of JOYY's YY Live is unlikely to be approved by the country’s antitrust regulators and we think the deal falling apart is more...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Last Week in Event SPACE: Shinsei Bank, Hongkong Land, SOHO China, Bank Rakyat, Oil Search, JCNC

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

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