Category

Singapore

Singapore: Mapletree Commercial Trust and more

By | Daily Briefs, Singapore

In today’s briefing:

  • MCT and MNACT Merger – Against Expectations, Could MCT Be a Net Beneficiary?

MCT and MNACT Merger – Against Expectations, Could MCT Be a Net Beneficiary?

By Jason Yap, CFA

  • On 31 December 2021, MCT and MNACT announced a SGD4.2 billion merger transaction 
  • The prevailing sentiment is that MNACT unitholders get a better deal than MCT unitholders, as reflected in the share price and Moody’s review of MCT’s issuer rating for downgrade
  • In this Insight, we play the the devil’s advocate and highlight how this merger results in a net benefit to MCT’s unitholders

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Singapore: ARA LOGOS and more

By | Daily Briefs, Singapore

In today’s briefing:

  • ARA Logos (ALLT SP): Scheme Doc Out. Meeting On 27 Jan

ARA Logos (ALLT SP): Scheme Doc Out. Meeting On 27 Jan

By David Blennerhassett

  • The Scheme Document for the S$1.4bn ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)/ ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP) merger has now been dispatched.
  • The Scheme Meeting will take place on the 27 January with the expected date for the payment of the Cash Consideration and issuance of Consideration Units on the 28 February. 
  • The IFA (ING Bank) considered the terms of the Scheme to be fair and reasonable.

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Singapore: Sea Ltd and more

By | Daily Briefs, Singapore

In today’s briefing:

  • Sea Ltd (SE US): Tencent’s Selldown and Upcoming MSCI Passive Inflow

Sea Ltd (SE US): Tencent’s Selldown and Upcoming MSCI Passive Inflow

By Brian Freitas

  • Sea Ltd (SE US) stock was down a lot since the announcement of its Q3 results. Tencent (700 HK) selling a 2.6% stake yesterday took the stock down even further.
  • Given the large drawdown and Tencent (700 HK) locking in its remaining Sea Ltd (SE US) holding for the next 6 months, the stock could rally in the short term.
  • There will be passive inflow from MSCI trackers in February as a part of the tranched inclusion and then more in May due to an increase in the FIF.

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Singapore: Mapletree Commercial Trust, Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust and more

By | Daily Briefs, Singapore

In today’s briefing:

  • Mapletree Mega-Merger Means MCT Markup
  • Mapletree Commercial Trust’s Proposed Merger with Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust

Mapletree Mega-Merger Means MCT Markup

By Travis Lundy


Mapletree Commercial Trust’s Proposed Merger with Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust

By Arun George

  • Each Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust (MAGIC SP)/MNACT unitholder will receive either a scrip-only or the cash-and-scrip offer worth S$1.1949 per MNACT unit, a 7.6% premium to the last close price.
  • The proposed merger provides Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT SP) unitholders with meaningful geographic diversification through a DPU and NAV accretive transaction.   
  • MNACT unitholders will receive an attractive consideration in terms of P/NAV and gross exchange ratio. Both unitholders will benefit from the enlarged REIT’s higher free float and growth potential. 

Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Singapore: Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust and more

By | Daily Briefs, Singapore

In today’s briefing:

  • MCT SP + MAGIC SP = MPACT SP: Proposed Merger Details & BIG Index Impact

MCT SP + MAGIC SP = MPACT SP: Proposed Merger Details & BIG Index Impact

By Brian Freitas


Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Brief Singapore: PT Indofoods’ Voluntary Offer for 74% Held Sub IFAR and more

By | Singapore

In this briefing:

  1. PT Indofoods’ Voluntary Offer for 74% Held Sub IFAR
  2. Asian Bank Asset Quality: “One Overdue, Two Bad” 一逾两呆 The Complex Journey of the NPL
  3. StubWorld: Amorepacific Is “Cheap”, Again; Kingboard Cleans House
  4. China’s New Semiconductor Thrust – Part 2: Commodities as a Quick Path to Success
  5. Changliao (畅聊) AKA Paipai (派派) Pre-IPO Review – Self-Sufficient

1. PT Indofoods’ Voluntary Offer for 74% Held Sub IFAR

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Indofood Agri Resources (IFAR SP) has announced PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk, its controlling shareholder with 74.52%, has made a voluntary conditional cash offer of $0.28/share for all IFAR shares it does not own. The offer price, which is a 7.7% premium to last close, is not final. Any dividend declared will reduce the consideration under the proposal.

The Offer is conditional on PT Indofood holding 90% of shares out at the close of the offer. There is no other condition.

There is no requirement for a downstream offer for Salim Ivomas Pratama (SIMP IJ), 73.46% held by IFAR.

IFAR’s share price has increased 27% this month – evidently, there was some news leakage ahead of the announcement – positioning its discount to NAV at ~50%, around its narrowest inside a year, but on a look-through basis, the Offer price backs out just 0.4x P/B.

The Offer price represents a premium of approximately 21.5%, 26.3%, 29.0% and 23.1% over the VWAP for 1M, 3M, 6M and 12M. IFAR traded above the Offer price as recent as May last year. One wonders if the consideration is sufficient to achieve the 90% condition. 

2. Asian Bank Asset Quality: “One Overdue, Two Bad” 一逾两呆 The Complex Journey of the NPL

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  • Asset Quality recognition is something of a black art with varied definitions for non-performing loans (“NPLs”).
  • Firstly, we analyse what a NPL is.
  • We then evaluate provisioning changes across Asia. We rank countries.
  • We further analyse specific underlying NPL recognition issues in China.
  • We then rank a sample of regional banks and countries by NPL recognition.
  • Later, we take a look at how different systems come under NPL stress and how they cope often in a crisis environment.
  • Finally, we wrap things up with some concluding insights about the cultural backdrop which defines systemic asset quality.

3. StubWorld: Amorepacific Is “Cheap”, Again; Kingboard Cleans House

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This week in StubWorld …

Preceding my comments on Amorepacific, Kingboard and other stubs, are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.

These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold – the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent – of at least 20%.

4. China’s New Semiconductor Thrust – Part 2: Commodities as a Quick Path to Success

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China’s current efforts to gain prominence in the semiconductor market targets memory chips – large commodities.  This three-part series of insights examines how China determined its strategy and explains which companies are the most threatened by it.

This second part of the series explains how China chose commodity semiconductors (DRAM and NAND flash memory chips) as the best technology to pursue.

5. Changliao (畅聊) AKA Paipai (派派) Pre-IPO Review – Self-Sufficient

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Changliao Inc (CL HK) is looking to raise about US$100m in its upcoming IPO. The company just filed its draft prospectus with the HKEX last week.

Changliao is a fast-growing social networking entertainment platform. The business model of engaging and monetizing users through interactive games is interesting.

However, the need for an IPO is questionable since the company has a healthy net cash balance sheet and it had paid out dividends in the past two years. It can easily finance its growth through debt or operating cash flow. 

Tencent is an investor in the firm, however, it had only invested RMB9m in the company in FY2016. There are no other notable investors despite several rounds of financing.

In this insight, we will look at the company’s business model, analyze its financial performance and operating metrics.

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Brief Singapore: Keppel Infrastructure Trust Placement – Scaled Down but Large Deal; Very Well Flagged Deal and more

By | Singapore

In this briefing:

  1. Keppel Infrastructure Trust Placement – Scaled Down but Large Deal; Very Well Flagged Deal
  2. UOB – Driving Bad Loans
  3. Best World (BEST SP): BT Article, Franchise and KOL

1. Keppel Infrastructure Trust Placement – Scaled Down but Large Deal; Very Well Flagged Deal

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Keppel Infrastructure Trust (KIT SP) plans to raise US$450m via an equity placement and non-renounacable preferential offering. Its sponsor, Keppel Corp Ltd (KEP SP) will subscribe in the placement and the preferential offering to maintain its 18.2% stake.

KIT announced the acquisition of IXOM in Nov 2018 and has been talking about the need to issue equity ever since. Its earlier presentations seem to indicate a preference for raising a large sum via an equity issuance. Furthermore, despite the smaller raise the accretion to DPU is probably only marginal. 

2. UOB – Driving Bad Loans

1

It’s easy to miss. Headline bad loans are down. But United Overseas Bank (UOB SP) saw a surge in newly defaulted loans during 2H18 compared with 1H18.  The bank’s Pillar 3 disclosure reveals this all too clearly, and it goes to true underlying credit metrics. Write-offs flatter figures or loan reschedulings, and high figures here can lead one to believe that companies and consumers are finding it easier to service their loans. This though may not be true. And it may be one of the most important considerations when analyzing any bank.

3. Best World (BEST SP): BT Article, Franchise and KOL

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Best World International (BEST SP) share price has been hammered due to the recent article in Business Times, although the company has addressed them one by one. The annual meeting that recently took place in their office in Singapore shed some light on the seemingly “new but not so new” franchise business model in China. The company also has started to engage Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) aka social media influencers as part of their social selling campaign. 

Get Straight to the Source on Smartkarma

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Brief Singapore: UOB – Driving Bad Loans and more

By | Singapore

In this briefing:

  1. UOB – Driving Bad Loans
  2. Best World (BEST SP): BT Article, Franchise and KOL

1. UOB – Driving Bad Loans

1

It’s easy to miss. Headline bad loans are down. But United Overseas Bank (UOB SP) saw a surge in newly defaulted loans during 2H18 compared with 1H18.  The bank’s Pillar 3 disclosure reveals this all too clearly, and it goes to true underlying credit metrics. Write-offs flatter figures or loan reschedulings, and high figures here can lead one to believe that companies and consumers are finding it easier to service their loans. This though may not be true. And it may be one of the most important considerations when analyzing any bank.

2. Best World (BEST SP): BT Article, Franchise and KOL

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Best World International (BEST SP) share price has been hammered due to the recent article in Business Times, although the company has addressed them one by one. The annual meeting that recently took place in their office in Singapore shed some light on the seemingly “new but not so new” franchise business model in China. The company also has started to engage Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) aka social media influencers as part of their social selling campaign. 

Get Straight to the Source on Smartkarma

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Brief Singapore: UOB – Driving Bad Loans and more

By | Singapore

In this briefing:

  1. UOB – Driving Bad Loans
  2. Best World (BEST SP): BT Article, Franchise and KOL
  3. Lippo Malls REIT – Acquisition of Lippo Mall Puri Announced. Dilutive Rights Issue Coming.

1. UOB – Driving Bad Loans

1

It’s easy to miss. Headline bad loans are down. But United Overseas Bank (UOB SP) saw a surge in newly defaulted loans during 2H18 compared with 1H18.  The bank’s Pillar 3 disclosure reveals this all too clearly, and it goes to true underlying credit metrics. Write-offs flatter figures or loan reschedulings, and high figures here can lead one to believe that companies and consumers are finding it easier to service their loans. This though may not be true. And it may be one of the most important considerations when analyzing any bank.

2. Best World (BEST SP): BT Article, Franchise and KOL

Franchise%201

Best World International (BEST SP) share price has been hammered due to the recent article in Business Times, although the company has addressed them one by one. The annual meeting that recently took place in their office in Singapore shed some light on the seemingly “new but not so new” franchise business model in China. The company also has started to engage Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) aka social media influencers as part of their social selling campaign. 

3. Lippo Malls REIT – Acquisition of Lippo Mall Puri Announced. Dilutive Rights Issue Coming.

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Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMRT SP) (“LMIRT”) today announced the acquisition of Lippo Mall Puri from its sponsor PT Lippo Karawaci Tbk for a consideration of Rp.3,700.0 bil (S$354.7 mil).

There is a significant amount of vendor support provided by Lippo Group to improve the net property income and NPI yield of Lippo Mall Puri. If we exclude the vendor support from the target NPI, the NPI yield excluding vendor support will just be 6.52% per annum.

The transaction is DPU and yield dilutive. The resultant DPU post-transaction will decline from 2.05 S-cents to 1.61 S-cents / 1.42 S-cents. Distribution yield will also fall from 10.25% to 9.28% / 8.85% based on TERP.

The transaction could also potentially result in LMIRT’s gearing increasing from 34.6% to 39.0% which will worsen its balance sheet strength and credit standings. 

In view of the unattractive acquisition and potential EFR dilution, investors should avoid LMIRT for now and wait for opportunity to enter with a greater margin of safety. 

Get Straight to the Source on Smartkarma

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Brief Singapore: UOB – Driving Bad Loans and more

By | Singapore

In this briefing:

  1. UOB – Driving Bad Loans
  2. Best World (BEST SP): BT Article, Franchise and KOL
  3. Lippo Malls REIT – Acquisition of Lippo Mall Puri Announced. Dilutive Rights Issue Coming.
  4. Geo Energy (GERL SP): Recovery in Coal Price from 4Q18 Bottom; Continue to Wait for M&A Action

1. UOB – Driving Bad Loans

1

It’s easy to miss. Headline bad loans are down. But United Overseas Bank (UOB SP) saw a surge in newly defaulted loans during 2H18 compared with 1H18.  The bank’s Pillar 3 disclosure reveals this all too clearly, and it goes to true underlying credit metrics. Write-offs flatter figures or loan reschedulings, and high figures here can lead one to believe that companies and consumers are finding it easier to service their loans. This though may not be true. And it may be one of the most important considerations when analyzing any bank.

2. Best World (BEST SP): BT Article, Franchise and KOL

Franchise%201

Best World International (BEST SP) share price has been hammered due to the recent article in Business Times, although the company has addressed them one by one. The annual meeting that recently took place in their office in Singapore shed some light on the seemingly “new but not so new” franchise business model in China. The company also has started to engage Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) aka social media influencers as part of their social selling campaign. 

3. Lippo Malls REIT – Acquisition of Lippo Mall Puri Announced. Dilutive Rights Issue Coming.

Picture1

Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMRT SP) (“LMIRT”) today announced the acquisition of Lippo Mall Puri from its sponsor PT Lippo Karawaci Tbk for a consideration of Rp.3,700.0 bil (S$354.7 mil).

There is a significant amount of vendor support provided by Lippo Group to improve the net property income and NPI yield of Lippo Mall Puri. If we exclude the vendor support from the target NPI, the NPI yield excluding vendor support will just be 6.52% per annum.

The transaction is DPU and yield dilutive. The resultant DPU post-transaction will decline from 2.05 S-cents to 1.61 S-cents / 1.42 S-cents. Distribution yield will also fall from 10.25% to 9.28% / 8.85% based on TERP.

The transaction could also potentially result in LMIRT’s gearing increasing from 34.6% to 39.0% which will worsen its balance sheet strength and credit standings. 

In view of the unattractive acquisition and potential EFR dilution, investors should avoid LMIRT for now and wait for opportunity to enter with a greater margin of safety. 

4. Geo Energy (GERL SP): Recovery in Coal Price from 4Q18 Bottom; Continue to Wait for M&A Action

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Geo Energy Resources (GERL SP) reported weak 4Q18 results late last month. The reason for the 5M USD net loss in 4Q18 was mainly due to Chinese import restrictions for Indonesian coal in November and December last year. With the import quota removed as of January ICI4 coal prices have rebounded from +/-30 USD/ton late 2018 to 40 USD/ton this week. 

Geo remains in deep value territory (3x EV/EBITDA) as the company still has over 200M USD+ in cash it raised from a 300M USD bond placing almost 18 months ago. While the CEO announced plans to organize a HK dual listing in 1H19 this cannot materialize unless management can execute on a significant acquisition opportunity it has been considering for the last twelve months. With Indonesian elections coming up next month the hope is that clarity on this potential transaction can be sorted by late 1H19.

While Europe is obsessed with Climate Change doomsday scenarios being shouted around by school-skipping teenagers, the reality is that three out of four of the most populated countries in the world (China, India and Indonesia) will remain heavy users of coal for decades to come. With cleaner coal technology being the key differentiator how much pollution is emitted.

My Fair Value estimate (Base case) remains 0.35 SGD or 89% upside.  Please recall, Macquarie paid 0.29 SGD for a 5% stake in November 2018 and had warrants issued to it at 0.33 SGD.

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