Brief Event-Driven: Petrus Doubles Down On Ophir Energy and more

In this briefing:

1. Petrus Doubles Down On Ophir Energy
2. BGF Duo Stub Trade: Short Sub / Long Holdco with a Very Short-Term Horizon
3. Delta Thailand’s Tender Offer: Updated Timetable
4. Glovis/Mobis Pair Trade: Glovis Being Overpriced Relative to Mobis on Unsubstantiated Speculation

1. Petrus Doubles Down On Ophir Energy

Petrus Advisors (3.5% shareholder) has dialled up the pressure on its opposition to Medco Energi Internasional T (MEDC IJ)‘s £0.55/share offer for Ophir Energy (OPHR LN), specifically calling into question Bill Schrader (Ophir’s Chairman) “unprofessionalism”.

Petrus (again) highlighted the premature termination of the Fortuna licence. Ophir announced a $300mn non-cash impairment in early January following the denial of the license extension for the Fortuna project in Equatorial Guinea (EG), having previously written down $310mn back in September. Ophir had invested ~US$700mn in the licence. Petrus accused Schrader of dropping the ball after the departure of CEO Nick Cooper in April 2018, who held key businesses relationships in EQ.

In its prior letter to Ophir on the 14 January, Petrus recommended selling the South-East Asian (SEA) assets to Medco, with a low-end fair value, before synergies, of £0.64/share, through to £1.42/share on a blue sky basis.

Furthermore, Petrus reckons no marketing effort has been for the Mexican license and the 20% ownership in Blocks 1 & 2 in Tanzania, which together have low-end value of $60mn (£0.065/share).  Petrus added that Schrader had not actively solicited and considered alternative offers from other buyers; together with stonewalling demands for Ophir to return capital to shareholders.

Petrus signed off its latest salvo with a cordial “This is your final reminder to preserve and build value. We reserve all our legal rights in this situation“.

Further stirring the pot is alternative hedge fund Sand Grove, who has increased its exposure, via cash-settled derivatives, to 17.28% (as at13 February), up from 6.79% on the 1st February. I have heard, but yet to confirm, there are other shareholders seeking to disrupt this Offer.  Ian Hannam, who advised Ophir’s board on its 2013 right issue, is understood to have also written to Ophir’s interim CEO Alan Booth and the board saying Medco’s offer is too low.

Trading marginally through terms. Medco’s Offer is conditional on 75%+ approval from Ophir’s shareholders, which appears tenuous.

Medco has the option to switch into a Takeover Offer, which in theory could be conditional on a 50% acceptance level, if Medco was in any way inclined to maintain Ophir’s listing. And a switch to a Tender Offer with a reduced shareholder condition, may further flesh out an alternative bidder to come over the top.

Ophir appears a worthwhile punt up at or just below terms. The next key event is the expected issuance of the Scheme booklet on the 28 February.

2. BGF Duo Stub Trade: Short Sub / Long Holdco with a Very Short-Term Horizon

• The BGF Holdco/Sub duo is making a very dynamic movement. Yesterday, they made a 2σ jump. Sub went up 5.38%. Holdco stayed flat with a 0.24% gain. The day before yesterday, they made an exact opposite movement. Holdco was up 2%. Sub suffered a 3% loss. This also resulted in a 2σ jump, just the opposite way.
• Still, local street sentiments are heavily divided on Sub’s fundamentals. There is no news or anything that may possibly reverse the tide at this point. Shorting on Sub is still going very strong. It seems that a lot of short-term traders both at home and abroad are trading on the duo lately.
• On a 120D horizon, Holdco is still undervalued relative to Sub by about 10%. The duo should be again reverted back to a mean in favor of Holdco today. I’d suggest going long Holdco and short Sub now if you had closed the previous position which we initiated last week on Feb 13.

3. Delta Thailand’s Tender Offer: Updated Timetable

With Form 247-3 (Intention to Make a Tender Offer) and the FY18 dividend  (Bt2.30/share) for Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB) having been announced, this insight briefly provides an updated indicative timetable for investors.

The next key date is the submission of Form 247-4, the Tender Offer for Securities, which will provide full details of the Offer.

This above indicative timetable assumes a conditional offer based on a minimum acceptance level of at least 50%. Payment under the offer may indeed be earlier, as explained below, which also ties in with a shareholders’ right to revoke shares tendered. 

In addition, investors should not tender once the offer opens – assuming the tender period commences on the 25 February – but wait until their shares are on the registry as at 4 March to receive the FY18 dividend.

Currently trading at a 2.2%/22% gross/annualised spread. Bear in mind the dividend is subject to 10% tax.

4. Glovis/Mobis Pair Trade: Glovis Being Overpriced Relative to Mobis on Unsubstantiated Speculation

• There are still two schools of thought on the HMG restructuring. Glovis/Mobis merged entity as a holdco is the one. Only Glovis as a holdco with Mobis→HM→Kia below is the other. Since late 3Q last year, the local street started speculating on the latter.
• This has pushed up Glovis price relative to Mobis. They are now near 200% of σ in favor of Glovis on a 20D MA. Glovis made a 2+σ jump upwardly just in 4 trading days. On a 120D horizon, they are almost at the 120D high.
• At this point, neither is a hassle free way. In the latter, Glovis has to come up with nearly ₩2tril to buy Kia’s Mobis stake, highly likely through new debts. This financial burden wouldn’t be light on Glovis. Glovis may also be facing a risk of forceful holdco conversion. This will create a serious headache with Kia as a grand grand son subsidiary.
• The current speculation pushing up Glovis relative to Mobis has yet to be sufficiently substantiated/justified. This suggests Glovis is being overbought on a speculation that will very likely be short-lived. I expect there will soon be a mean reversion for Mobis. I’d go long Mobis and short Glovis at this point.