Singapore

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.

• Greentown China
• Vedanta Resources
• Yanlord Land

• On the 21st January 2021, Singapore-based builder and operator of aluminum high-speed boats Penguin International (PBS SP) announced a Voluntary Conditional Offer from its Chairman and Dymon Group at S$.65/share. 
• In Penguin International (PBS SP): Friendly Privatization Deal Might Need A BumpJanaghan Jeyakumar expected a bump in terms. No to be, and the Offeror held 80.05% at the close.
• The Offeror, via a new vehicle, has returned to the fold with a S$0.82/share Offer Price. The Offer is unconditional. This is done.

• Penguin International (PBS SP) has disclosed a voluntary unconditional offer from Dymon Asia, Executive Chairman and Managing Director at S$0.82 per share, a 15.5% premium to the undisturbed price. 
• The offer price is attractive, represents an 8-year share price high, and is shy of the 10-year high of S$0.825. It is also 26.2% higher than the 2021 offer.
• The offeror aims to privatise Penguin. Hitting the 90% compulsory acquisition threshold implies a minority acceptance rate of around 44%, which is eminently achievable due to an attractive offer.

• Singapore-based AI company Advance Intelligence Group today announced it has raised US$80 million from an investor consortium
• The fundraising follows its previous Series D funding round of over US$400 million in 2021.
• In total, the company has raised over US$700 million and has secured capital in excess of US$1 billion supporting its credit book.

• Lian Beng (LBG SP)/LBG disclosed a revised final voluntary unconditional offer from the Ong family at S$0.68 per share, a 9.7% premium to the previous offer of S$0.62 per share. 
• The final offer price remains unattractive in comparison to peer multiples and precedent transactions. The offer is open and closes on 26 May.
• The Ong Family aims to privatise LBG. Hitting the 90% compulsory acquisition threshold implies a minority acceptance rate of around 64%, which could prove to be a challenge.

• On the 11th April, construction firm Lian Beng (LBG SP) announced an Offer from the controlling Ong family of S$0.62/share, a 59.7% discount to the November 2022 NAV of S$1.538/share.
• After media articles judged the Offer price as being too low – it is – the Ongs have now bumped the Offer Price 9.7% to S$0.68/share and declared terms final.
• It’s still the wrong price. Yet Lian Beng is illiquid, And the revised price is a lifetime high.

• Dian Swastatika Sentosa (DSSA IJ)/DSS shareholders have approved the sale of DSS’ 77.49% stake in Golden Energy & Resources (GER SP) to the Widjaja family. 
• No objection has also been received from the OJK and IDX. The make-for-break condition is the GEAR shareholder approval of the distribution resolution, which DSS will abstain from voting on. 
• Minorities and SIAS rightly claim that the revised offer remains light. A bump to the offer, particularly to the delisting offer price is S$0.181, is required for a done deal. 

• The ramp-up in public housing supply in Singapore could be an opportunity for Kimly Ltd to fast-track expansion given its outlets, food-stalls are mostly located in public housing blocks. 
• Bigger F&B retail players like Kimly are better positioned versus others to weather the multiple headwinds faced by Singapore F&B retail sector today. 
• Upcoming 1H FY2023 results can trigger an up move in the stock if the company reports a meaningful margin recovery. Current undemanding valuations reflect heightened investor concerns.  

• Hospitality S-Reits among April’s top performers, averaging 6% gains However, by sub-segments within the index, hospitality S-Reits were the best performing segment with average total returns of 6.1 per cent followed by data centre S-Reits at 1.7 per cent.
• The top five performing trusts and their respective total returns were: CapitaLand Ascott Trust (8.5 per cent), Frasers Hospitality Trust (6.7 per cent), Mapletree Logistics Trust (5.6 per cent), Far East Hospitality Trust (5.1 per cent) and CDL Hospitality Trusts (4.2 per cent).

• Sheng Siong (SSG SP) management hinted at possible accelerated store growth referring to news reports about Singapore ramping up public housing to meet strong demand. 
• Singapore minister’s comment on public housing BTO projects under construction to increase to 150 in 2025 (from 100 currently) suggests a strong project pipeline in the next few years too.
• Muted 1Q2023 performance reported- decline in revenues and profits, yoy – in line with expectations as shopping ‘normalize’ post-COVID.

• Stock has become attractive at its still under the radar price.
• Nomura projects Singapore revenues are trending rapidly back to 90% of pre-covid levels.
• Adj. EBITDA of SG$774 (US$580m) for FY22—income attributable to holders up 85%

• Explico can generate assessment tasks, find appropriate peers for study groups, and provide transparent adaptive feedback using AI technology.

• Explico will use the money to enhance its learning platform and expand in Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam and Philippines, and Africa.
• The startup focuses on assessment using artificial intelligence and machine learning to help students identify their specific and respective strengths and weaknesses

• In this insight, we take a look at the potential index changes for Singapore’s ST index (“STI”) between now and the September 2023 index review.
• With roughly 4 more months left for the base date, Sembcorp Marine (SMM SP) seems to be an ADD but it is close to the border.
• Since the ranking system used for this index in based on prices as at a single point in time, the rankings could change significantly and our expectations could change too.

• Esco Lifesciences Group (1891571D SP), a profitable lifesciences tool provider with a global presence, is looking to raise $300M in its upcoming HK IPO.  
• The company clocked revenue of S$117M in 2019, which steadily rose to S$155M in 2020 and S$172M in 2021, representing CAGR of 21%, outpacing lifesciences equipment market growth of 10%.
• In May 2021, Esco raised $200M through series-A fund raising with investors holding nearly 24% of the shares. This puts its valuation at around $840M.