Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<p>After a downturn in the price of the battery commodities and a reduction in tonnes exported, mining consolidations are back in vogue as miners take big bets on electric vehicles, as demand and prices increase for battery minerals.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>February last year, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wesfarmers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1104:1" rel="noopener">Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU)</a> <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02342610-6A1020764?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it would proceed with the development of a new lithium mine and processing hub in WA. The Mt Holland lithium project is a JV with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/soc-quimica-y-minera-chile-b" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24555:1" rel="noopener">Soc Quimica Y Minera Chile-B (SQM/B CI)</a>. Wesfarmers expects to lay out ~$950mn developing the mine, concentrator, and refinery (in Kwinana). A final investment decision was <a href="https://www.wesfarmers.com.au/util/news-media/article/2021/04/15/green-light-for-lithium-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in February <em>this</em> year. </li>
<li>In <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02320079-6A1011583?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">December</a> last year, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/igo-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:462:1" rel="noopener">IGO Ltd (IGO AU)</a> formed a JV with China’s <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sichuan-tianqi-lithium-industries-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5698:1" rel="noopener">Tianqi Lithium Corporation  (002466 CH)</a>, paying $US1.4bn to acquire a 24.99% stake in the Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia. The mine produces ~2% of the world's spodumene concentrate from a hard rock lithium mine. The JV also includes a 49% stake in the downstream lithium hydroxide plant in Kwinana near Perth. The JV was formed after Tianqi faced an increasing debt obligation after the decline in lithium prices. Tianqi maintained a 26% stake in Greenbushes and a 51% stake in the hydroxide plant.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This was a large bet, transforming IGO into a battery mineral and renewable energy play, away from its copper and gold heritage.  The deal was funded by debt and an A$766mn equity raise including a $446mn fully underwritten placement at $4.60, and a $320mn 1-for-8.5 pro-rata entitlement offer. The offer price represented a 9.7% discount to IGO’s last traded price.</li>
<li>The transaction was completed on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02390039-6A1038822?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30 June</a>. Around two months earlier, IGO <a href="https://www.australianmining.com.au/news/igo-sells-tropicana-stake-for-903m/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sold</a> its 30% stake in the Tropicana gold mine joint venture for A$903mn.</li>
<li>Separately, IGO withdrew its takeover offer to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/panoramic-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15960:1" rel="noopener">Panoramic Resources (PAN AU)</a> in <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02190245-6A961368?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">January</a> last year, citing a breach of conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pilbara-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7460:1" rel="noopener">Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU)</a> acquired <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altura-mining-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13385:1" rel="noopener">Altura Mining (AJM AU)</a> late last year after the latter entered receivership in November.</li>
<li>
<div>
<p>After circling each other for a couple of years, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/galaxy-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13914:1" rel="noopener">Galaxy Resources (GXY AU)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orocobre-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3572:1" rel="noopener">Orocobre Ltd (ORE AU)</a> entered into a <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02364542-2A1293132?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">binding agreement</a> on the 19 April 2021, under which the two companies will merge via a Galaxy Scheme, following which, Orocobre will hold 100% in Galaxy. The A$4bn combined entity will be the fifth-largest lithium producer - and third-largest outside of China - boasting a diversified product base via four producing assets. This deal was discussed in <em><a href="https://skr.ma/W2guR" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orocobre/Galaxy Resources: On A Charge</a>.</em></p>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Nickel miner <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/western-areas-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15497:1" rel="noopener">Western Areas (WSA AU)</a> has now <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02408950-6A1046238?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> media reports it is in preliminary discussions with IGO in relation to a change of control proposal. </p>
<p>No price is mentioned, and due diligence has yet to be afforded.</p>
<p>More below the fold. </p>

After a downturn in the price of the battery commodities and a reduction in tonnes exported, mining consolidations are back in vogue as miners take big bets on electric vehicles, as demand and prices increase for battery minerals.

February last year, Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU) said it would proceed with the development of a new lithium mine and processing hub in WA. The Mt Holland lithium project is a JV with Soc Quimica Y Minera Chile-B (SQM/B CI). Wesfarmers expects to lay out ~$950mn developing the mine, concentrator, and refinery (in Kwinana). A final investment decision was announced in February this year. 
In December last year, IGO Ltd (IGO AU) formed a JV with China’s Tianqi Lithium Corporation  (002466 CH), paying $US1.4bn to acquire a 24.99% stake in the Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia. The mine produces ~2% of the world's spodumene concentrate from a hard rock lithium mine. The JV also includes a 49% stake in the downstream lithium hydroxide plant in Kwinana near Perth. The JV was formed after Tianqi faced an increasing debt obligation after the decline in lithium prices. Tianqi maintained a 26% stake in Greenbushes and a 51% stake in the hydroxide plant.

This was a large bet, transforming IGO into a battery mineral and renewable energy play, away from its copper and gold heritage.  The deal was funded by debt and an A$766mn equity raise including a $446mn fully underwritten placement at $4.60, and a $320mn 1-for-8.5 pro-rata entitlement offer. The offer price represented a 9.7% discount to IGO’s last traded price.
The transaction was completed on the 30 June. Around two months earlier, IGO sold its 30% stake in the Tropicana gold mine joint venture for A$903mn.
Separately, IGO withdrew its takeover offer to Panoramic Resources (PAN AU) in January last year, citing a breach of conditions.



Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU) acquired Altura Mining (AJM AU) late last year after the latter entered receivership in November.


After circling each other for a couple of years, Galaxy Resources (GXY AU) and Orocobre Ltd (ORE AU) entered into a binding agreement on the 19 April 2021, under which the two companies will merge via a Galaxy Scheme, following which, Orocobre will hold 100% in Galaxy. The A$4bn combined entity will be the fifth-largest lithium producer - and third-largest outside of China - boasting a diversified product base via four producing assets. This deal was discussed in Orocobre/Galaxy Resources: On A Charge.



Nickel miner Western Areas (WSA AU) has now confirmed media reports it is in preliminary discussions with IGO in relation to a change of control proposal. 
No price is mentioned, and due diligence has yet to be afforded.
More below the fold. 

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) / Event-Driven

<div><p>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX)</a> consists of stocks from the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and is one of the most widely tracked A-share indices with passive tracking products listed in multiple markets globally. There are CFFEX listed futures that trade actively as well.</p></div><div>
<p>China Securities Index Co (CSI) will announce the changes for the December rebalance at the end of  November or beginning December and the changes will be effective after the close of trading on 10 December.</p>
<p>Half way through the review period that runs from May to October, we see 26 changes at the upcoming December 2021 review. Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 9.24% and will result in a one-way trade of just shy of US$3bn.</p>
<p>The Information Technology and Materials sectors gain 4 spots each in the index while Financials are the biggest losers with 7 spots gone.</p>
<p>The potential inclusions have outperformed the potential exclusions and the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX)</a> by a wide margin on a year to date basis. We recommend building up positions gradually and scaling in on a correction.</p>
</div>

The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX) consists of stocks from the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and is one of the most widely tracked A-share indices with passive tracking products listed in multiple markets globally. There are CFFEX listed futures that trade actively as well.
China Securities Index Co (CSI) will announce the changes for the December rebalance at the end of  November or beginning December and the changes will be effective after the close of trading on 10 December.
Half way through the review period that runs from May to October, we see 26 changes at the upcoming December 2021 review. Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 9.24% and will result in a one-way trade of just shy of US$3bn.
The Information Technology and Materials sectors gain 4 spots each in the index while Financials are the biggest losers with 7 spots gone.
The potential inclusions have outperformed the potential exclusions and the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX) by a wide margin on a year to date basis. We recommend building up positions gradually and scaling in on a correction.


CSI300 Index Rebalance Preview: Large Turnover as Potential Inclusions Keep Rallying

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

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.

Equity Capital Markets

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ganfeng-lithium-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26795:1" rel="noopener">Ganfeng Lithium (1772 HK)</a> aims to raise around US$628m to fund its capacity expansion plans and for potential investment. </p>
<p>We have covered the H-shares listing in 2018, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ganfeng-lithium-ipo-falling-lithium-prices-weigh-on-the-leading-producer" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:24529" rel="noopener">Ganfeng Lithium IPO (赣锋锂业): Falling Lithium Prices Weigh on the Leading Producer</a> and the Sep 2020 placement in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ganfeng-lithium-placement-momentum-play" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ganfeng Lithium Placement - Momentum Play.</a></p>
</div><div><p>In this note, we talk about the updates since then and run the deal through our ECM Framework.</p></div>


Ganfeng Lithium (1772 HK) aims to raise around US$628m to fund its capacity expansion plans and for potential investment. 
We have covered the H-shares listing in 2018, Ganfeng Lithium IPO (赣锋锂业): Falling Lithium Prices Weigh on the Leading Producer and the Sep 2020 placement in Ganfeng Lithium Placement - Momentum Play.
In this note, we talk about the updates since then and run the deal through our ECM Framework.

Ganfeng Lithium Placement - Recent Momentum Has Been Weakening, Last Deal Did Exceptionally Well

Beijing Kingsoft Office Softwa / Event-Driven

<p>We are nearly 95% through the review period for the June review of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX)</a>. With a large AUM in ETFs tracking the index, large open interest on the CFFEX listed futures, and volatile stocks, it could pay to look at the potential changes to the index.</p><p>China Securities Index Co (CSI) will announce the changes end May/beginning June and the changes will be effective after the close of trading on 11 June.</p><p>We expect 30 changes at the upcoming June 2021 index review - this is the maximum number of changes that are permitted at a single review. Estimated one-way turnover is 4.08% and will result in a one-way trade of CNY 10.8bn.</p><p>The expected inclusions have outperformed the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX)</a> on a year to date basis even post the momentum selloff that started in February. Buying the inclusion basket vs selling the CSI300 futures as a hedge could provide good market neutral returns over the next few weeks.</p>

We are nearly 95% through the review period for the June review of the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX). With a large AUM in ETFs tracking the index, large open interest on the CFFEX listed futures, and volatile stocks, it could pay to look at the potential changes to the index.China Securities Index Co (CSI) will announce the changes end May/beginning June and the changes will be effective after the close of trading on 11 June.We expect 30 changes at the upcoming June 2021 index review - this is the maximum number of changes that are permitted at a single review. Estimated one-way turnover is 4.08% and will result in a one-way trade of CNY 10.8bn.The expected inclusions have outperformed the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX) on a year to date basis even post the momentum selloff that started in February. Buying the inclusion basket vs selling the CSI300 futures as a hedge could provide good market neutral returns over the next few weeks.

CSI300 Index Rebalance Preview: Recovering from the Growth Sell-Off

Technology augmented investing

Lazarus Goh

Augmenting fundamental investing with technology

Open Diligence

We aim to a) increase the efficacy of investment processes with technology and b) utilize alternative data to gain an additional perspective on equity names

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>We scanned through all company filings in the US to find companies that have exposure to the electric vehicles (EV) value chain, be it electric car and equipment makers, EV charging grid builders, EV charging equipment makers, thermal insulator producers (to keep batteries cool), and IoT players with an electrical vehicle angle, among others.</p>

We scanned through all company filings in the US to find companies that have exposure to the electric vehicles (EV) value chain, be it electric car and equipment makers, EV charging grid builders, EV charging equipment makers, thermal insulator producers (to keep batteries cool), and IoT players with an electrical vehicle angle, among others.

Autos - "Electric Vehicles" Thematic Exposure and Where to Find Them

China

Tianqi Lithium Corporation develops, manufactures, and sells lithium products. The Company produces lithium carbonate, lithium chloride, lithium hydroxide, and other related products. Tianqi Lithium markets its products worldwide.

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Tianqi Lithium (9696 HK)

IGO/Western Areas: Battery Mineral Grab

Western Areas has generally underperformed peers over the past year. It is clearly in place. and if not from IGO, there's no reason another suitor...

David Blennerhassett

CSI300 Index Rebalance Preview: Large Turnover as Potential Inclusions Keep Rallying

Half way through the review period, we see 26 changes to the CSI300 Index. Estimated one-way turnover is 9%+ & would result in a one way trade of...

Brian Freitas

Ganfeng Lithium Placement - Recent Momentum Has Been Weakening, Last Deal Did Exceptionally Well

Ganfeng Lithium (1772 HK) aims to raise around US$628m to fund its capacity expansion plans and for potential investment.

Sumeet Singh

CSI300 Index Rebalance Preview: Recovering from the Growth Sell-Off

We forecast 30 changes to the CSI300 Index at the June review that will be announced at the end of May and effective 11 June. The expected...

Brian Freitas

Autos - "Electric Vehicles" Thematic Exposure and Where to Find Them

Which companies have exposure to the electric vehicle value chain? We programmatically scanned through all US annual reports to determine...

Lazarus Goh

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