Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<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.

Haier Electronics Group Co / Event-Driven

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<p>14 months ago, almost to the day, <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> <a href="http://chinabiologic.investorroom.com/2019-09-18-China-Biologic-Announces-Receipt-of-Preliminary-Non-Binding-Going-Private-Proposal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the receipt of a preliminary non-binding proposal from Beachhead Holdings, CITIC, PW Medtech<span id="spanHghlt74d7">, Parfield </span>International, Hillhouse, and V-Sciences Investments for US$120/share, in cash.</p>
<p>Yesterday, CBPO 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.</p>
<p>The merger is conditional on an affirmative vote from shareholders representing at least two-thirds of the shares out, and that the aggregate quantity of dissenting shares shall be less than 8% of shares out.</p>
<p>As of the date of merger agreement, members of the Buyer Consortium (including <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>) and the Rollover Management Members, beneficially own shares representing ~68.84% of shares out.</p>
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<p>Done deal. Possible completion late 1Q21, early 2Q1.</p>
<p>More below the fold.</p>
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14 months ago, almost to the day, China Biologic Products (CBPO US) announced the receipt of a preliminary non-binding proposal from Beachhead Holdings, CITIC, PW Medtech, Parfield International, Hillhouse, and V-Sciences Investments for US$120/share, in cash.
Yesterday, CBPO entered into a definitive merger agreement, also at US$120/share.
The merger is conditional on an affirmative vote from shareholders representing at least two-thirds of the shares out, and that the aggregate quantity of dissenting shares shall be less than 8% of shares out.
As of the date of merger agreement, members of the Buyer Consortium (including Pw Medtech (1358 HK)) and the Rollover Management Members, beneficially own shares representing ~68.84% of shares out.

Done deal. Possible completion late 1Q21, early 2Q1.
More below the fold.





China Biologics (CBPO US): Firm Offer Backed By Prerequisite Votes

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<p>On the 23 September, the Grand Court of Cayman handed down a <a href="https://www.judicial.ky/search_judgments/get.php?id=S0VUYmZHcGFoVVpWalVCNHJnZmQrQT09&amp;type=pdf&amp;ts=1602053133" target="_blank" rel="noopener">judgment</a> on the appraisal rights assessment for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trina-solar-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:686:1" rel="noopener">Trina Solar (TSL US)</a>. This is the fifth judgment pertaining to Section 238 of the <a href="https://www.cima.ky/upimages/commonfiles/CompaniesLaw2020Revision_1579811065.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Companies Law (2020 Revision)</a> to determine a fair value for dissenting shareholders. The other four were discussed in my early insight <em><a href="https://skr.ma/TDg1T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Homecoming For Chinese Companies: Appraisal Rights &amp; Fair Value</a>.</em></p>
<h3>To Recap</h3>
<p>On the <a href="https://www.trinasolar.com/us/news/trina-solar-enters-definitive-agreement-going-private-transaction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">31 July 2016</a>, TSL entered a definitive agreement for a going private transaction with Fortune Solar, a buyer group which included Jifan Gao, TSL's chairman and CEO.  The merger price was US$11.60/ADS or US$0.232/share.</p>
<p>At an EGM on the 16 December 2016, TSL shareholders <a href="https://www.trinasolar.com/us/news/trina-solar-announces-shareholders-vote-approve-going-private-transaction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the merger, and it was completed on 13 March 2017.</p>
<p>Maso Capital and Blackwell dissented from the merger (Dissenting Shareholders) and a petition was heard between the 6 and 21 May 2019. Written closing submissions were filed on the 3 June 2019. </p>
<h3>Shanda Delays</h3>
<p>On the 12 March 2019, the Privy Council heard an appeal from the judgment of the Cayman Court by Maso Capital and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanda-games-ltd-spons-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8686:1" rel="noopener">Shanda Games Ltd Spons Adr (GAME US)</a>. As that decision was pertinent to the TSL case, both TSL and Dissenting Shareholders agreed to delayed proceedings until the outcome of the appeal. The Privy Council advice was handed down on the <a href="https://www.jcpc.uk/cases/docs/jcpc-2018-0062-judgment.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">27 January</a> this year. </p>
<h3>Valuations Proposed</h3>
<p>TSL's proposed valuation method was based on the price of shares bought and sold as at the EGM date; or the negotiated merger price. TSL argued that subsequent to the Shanda decision that the Court must determine fair value by reference to the price at which the relevant shares would be exchanged between a willing buyer and willing seller in an arms-length transaction based on publicly available information. </p>
<p>Dissenting Shareholders argued for a DCF methodology.</p>
<h3>The Decision And The Blended Assessment</h3>
<p>The judge rejected the Shanda decision as being overriding and conclusive, not least as it would make s.238 void. But that the reference to what is fair requires that all relevant facts and matters be considered and that the:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>... sum selected properly reflects the true monetary worth to the shareholder of what he has lost, undistorted by the limitation and flaws of particular valuation methodologies and fairly balancing, where appropriate, the competing, reasonably reliable alternative approaches to valuation relied on the parties.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Court concluded the fair value should be determined with reference to the merger price (45%), the adjusted market price (30%); and 25% to the DCF valuation.</p>
<p>Given the adjusted market price is below the merger price; and the input for the DCF calculations preferred by the judge was primarily provided by TSL's own expert, the final fair price (which was not detailed in the judgment) is expected to result in a marginal uplift (at best) over and above the merger price.</p>
<p>As always, more below the fold.</p>

On the 23 September, the Grand Court of Cayman handed down a judgment on the appraisal rights assessment for Trina Solar (TSL US). This is the fifth judgment pertaining to Section 238 of the Companies Law (2020 Revision) to determine a fair value for dissenting shareholders. The other four were discussed in my early insight Homecoming For Chinese Companies: Appraisal Rights &amp; Fair Value.
To Recap
On the 31 July 2016, TSL entered a definitive agreement for a going private transaction with Fortune Solar, a buyer group which included Jifan Gao, TSL's chairman and CEO.  The merger price was US$11.60/ADS or US$0.232/share.
At an EGM on the 16 December 2016, TSL shareholders approved the merger, and it was completed on 13 March 2017.
Maso Capital and Blackwell dissented from the merger (Dissenting Shareholders) and a petition was heard between the 6 and 21 May 2019. Written closing submissions were filed on the 3 June 2019. 
Shanda Delays
On the 12 March 2019, the Privy Council heard an appeal from the judgment of the Cayman Court by Maso Capital and Shanda Games Ltd Spons Adr (GAME US). As that decision was pertinent to the TSL case, both TSL and Dissenting Shareholders agreed to delayed proceedings until the outcome of the appeal. The Privy Council advice was handed down on the 27 January this year. 
Valuations Proposed
TSL's proposed valuation method was based on the price of shares bought and sold as at the EGM date; or the negotiated merger price. TSL argued that subsequent to the Shanda decision that the Court must determine fair value by reference to the price at which the relevant shares would be exchanged between a willing buyer and willing seller in an arms-length transaction based on publicly available information. 
Dissenting Shareholders argued for a DCF methodology.
The Decision And The Blended Assessment
The judge rejected the Shanda decision as being overriding and conclusive, not least as it would make s.238 void. But that the reference to what is fair requires that all relevant facts and matters be considered and that the:

... sum selected properly reflects the true monetary worth to the shareholder of what he has lost, undistorted by the limitation and flaws of particular valuation methodologies and fairly balancing, where appropriate, the competing, reasonably reliable alternative approaches to valuation relied on the parties.

The Court concluded the fair value should be determined with reference to the merger price (45%), the adjusted market price (30%); and 25% to the DCF valuation.
Given the adjusted market price is below the merger price; and the input for the DCF calculations preferred by the judge was primarily provided by TSL's own expert, the final fair price (which was not detailed in the judgment) is expected to result in a marginal uplift (at best) over and above the merger price.
As always, more below the fold.

Trina Solar: Appraisal Rights Judgment Another Setback for Dissenters

China

Trina Solar Limited manufactures solar power products. The Company offers photovoltaic wafers, ingots, cells, and modules. Trina Solar serves residential, commercial, industrial, and other industries worldwide.

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Trina Solar (TSL US)

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David Blennerhassett

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