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In today’s briefing:
- Zhihu (ZH US/2390 HK): Negative EV Play Launches a Share Buyback at HK$9.11/US$3.50
- (Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: AIS/Thaicom, Capitol Health, Alumina, Ansarada, TCM, CPMC, Fancl, Hollysys
- Last Week in Event SPACE: Gulf Energy/Intouch, CK Infra, Zhongsheng, Thai Beverage, Fraser & Neave
- Weekly Deals Digest (21 Jul) – Intouch/Gulf, China TCM, Huafa, Samson, Zhihu, Asics, Kokusai, Timee
- Examining Market Interest in the Potential Samsung C&T and SDS Restructuring
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Zhihu (ZH US/2390 HK): Negative EV Play Launches a Share Buyback at HK$9.11/US$3.50
- Zhihu Technology (ZH US) has launched a conditional share buyback offer to acquire a maximum of 46.9m Class A ordinary shares (15.93% of outstanding shares) at HK$9.11 (US$3.50 per ADS).
- The offer is conditional on shareholder approval by a majority of votes cast at the EGM. There is no minimum acceptance condition. The EGM vote is done due to irrevocables.
- Zhihu’s share buyback returns 19% of cash not subject to government controls, below Douyu International Holdings (DOYU US)’s comparable 34%. The minimum pro-ration is expected to be around 34%.
(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: AIS/Thaicom, Capitol Health, Alumina, Ansarada, TCM, CPMC, Fancl, Hollysys
- I tally 49 – mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac – transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
- Three new deals discussed this week on Smartkarma: Samson Holding (531 HK)‘s Scheme, and VTOs for Advanced Info Service (ADVANC TB) and Thaicom Pcl (THCOM TB).
- Key updates took place on Capitol Health (CAJ AU), Alumina (AWC AU), Ansarada (AND AU), TCM (570 HK), CPMC (906 HK), Fancl (4921 JP),and Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US).
Last Week in Event SPACE: Gulf Energy/Intouch, CK Infra, Zhongsheng, Thai Beverage, Fraser & Neave
- The Gulf Energy (GULF TB)/Intouch (INTUCH TB) merger is an opportunistic, bullying method designed to have GULF shareholders buy INTUCH and therefore AIS (ADVANC TB) at too low a price.
- CK Infrastructure Holdings (1038 HK)‘s interest in a possible London listing coincides with the LSE undergoing a listing regime change.
- Management continue to creep their stake in Zhongsheng Group (881 HK), and now hold a shade under 50%.
Weekly Deals Digest (21 Jul) – Intouch/Gulf, China TCM, Huafa, Samson, Zhihu, Asics, Kokusai, Timee
- A weekly summary of key developments across ECM and Event-Driven names tracked by us across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, India and Chinese ADRs.
- ECM developments: ASICS Corp (7936 JP) and Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) placements; Sanil Electric (062040 KS) and Timee Inc (215A JP) IPOs.
- Event-Driven developments China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK), Huafa Property Services Group (982 HK), Samson Holding (531 HK), Zhihu Technology (ZH US), Intouch Holdings (INTUCH TB), Gulf Energy Development (GULF TB).
Examining Market Interest in the Potential Samsung C&T and SDS Restructuring
- Maximizing Lee Jae-yong’s dividend income is crucial, making Samsung SDS’s ₩5.5T cash assets key, thus prompting the merger of Samsung C&T and Samsung SDS’s BPO division.
- With no legal risks for Lee Jae-yong, Samsung C&T needs the merger to increase assets and avoid forced holding company conversion, making the acquisition of Samsung SDS’s BPO division necessary.
- We should target a setup for likely appraisal rights for C&T. Monitor and capture the spread between the stock price and appraisal rights exercise price.