Event-Driven and Index Rebalance

Weekly Top Ten Event-Driven and Index Rebalance – May 12, 2024

This weekly newsletter pulls together summaries of the top ten most-read Insights across Event-Driven and Index Rebalance on Smartkarma.

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1. Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Ranking, Capping, Funding & Other Changes

By Brian Freitas, Periscope Analytics

  • The review period for the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) September rebalance ends in July. There could be three changes at the rebalance with sector balance in focus for the additions.
  • Depending on the changes, passive trackers will need to buy between 5-16x ADV (10.1%-24% of real float) on the inclusions and sell between 4-42x ADV on the deletions.
  • Fast Retailing (9983 JP) will be capped to 10% of the index weight while Tokyo Electron (8035 JP) is also close to the 10% cap.

2. CSI300 Index Rebalance Preview: Bounce in the Potential Deletes Could Be Short Lived

By Brian Freitas, Periscope Analytics

  • The review period for the June rebalance is complete and we expect 11 changes to the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Inde (SHSZ300 INDEX)
  • We estimate one-way turnover of 1.4% at the rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 8.82bn (US$1.22bn). There are a lot of stocks with multiple days ADV to trade.
  • The potential deletes have bounced off their lows as the market has recovered. But the potential passive selling could see them underperform over the next month.

3. KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent

By Travis Lundy, Quiddity Advisors

  • There was a news article I missed in late February saying Alps Alpine (6770 JP), parent of Alps Logistics (9055 JP) was in the process of selling the logistics unit.
  • A deal made sense for a strategic given the upcoming “2024 Problem”. Pre-close, headlines blared, the stock popped 12%, now we’re at double the end-February price.
  • Late in the evening,Alps Logistics said it had received a bid from Logisteed but nothing had been decided. This morning we have a few more details, but nothing concrete

4. Shinko Electric (6967) – Break/Gap Risk Early May 2024 Update

By Travis Lundy, Quiddity Advisors

  • When this deal was announced, it was light. But the timing, JSR influence, large-ish float, ensured FUD would make this trade wide. It traded wider.
  • 15wks ago, Shinko had much-underperformed peer Ibiden, meaning downside gap risk from undisturbed was negative as spreads were wide. I reco’d a buy. Then 8wks ago, recommended taking profits.
  • Shinko had outperformed Ibiden, gross spreads had narrowed 5+% on JSR approval. Spreads are now 3.6% wider than at narrowest, but gap risk has widened as Shinko outperforms, Ibiden.

5. L’Occitane (973 HK): The Rollover Option, And Alternate Listing Valuations

By David Blennerhassett, Quiddity Advisors

  • Concurrent with its HK$34/share VGO, L’Occitane (973 HK)‘s disinterested shareholders may be entitled to a share scrip alternative. IF afforded, up to 5% of shares out can participate.
  • The big unknown is whether you receive shares of the levered-up Bidco, at some as yet undetermined scrip ratio; or keep shares of L’Occitane as-is.
  • To trigger the rollover option, 10% of disinterested shareholders need to express interest by the 15th May (a Hong Kong holiday btw). A deadline without details. 

6. Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU): ASX200 Inclusion Now, MUCH More Squeezy Fun Later. Maybe…

By Travis Lundy, Quiddity Advisors

  • In early December, pharmacy distributor Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU) arranged a “transformational merger” with mega chain Chemist Warehouse (CWG). Effectively a reverse takeover designed to get CWG listed.
  • SIG issued shares, raising cash, enabling it so NEWCO had high enough minimum float upon merging. Financial engineering for the win. SIG popped – a kind of IPO premium trade.
  • But plenty of people are against the deal, and ACCC hasn’t yet opined (13 June is the provisional date), but on Thursday, S&P announced SIG would join ASX200 despite risks.

7. CSI500 Index Rebalance Preview: Potential Adds Rally and Outperform the Potential Deletes

By Brian Freitas, Periscope Analytics

  • With the review period now complete, we forecast 50 changes (the maximum permitted) for the CSI Smallcap 500 Index – Shang (SH000905 INDEX) at the close on 14 June.
  • We estimate a one-way turnover of 9.3% at the rebalance resulting in a one-way trade of CNY10.88bn (US$1.5bn). The Industrials and Information Technology sectors gain at the expense of Materials.
  • The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletes by 8% over the last 3 months. There could be further outperformance over the next few weeks.

8. SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: Financials Continue to Outperform

By Brian Freitas, Periscope Analytics

  • With the review period nearing completion, 6 stocks are in inclusion zone and 9 are in deletion zone. However, there can be a maximum of 5 changes at a review.
  • We estimate a one-way turnover of 7.1% at the June rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 9.9bn (US$1.37bn). Index arb balances should increase the impact on the stocks.
  • The potential inclusions (of which four are Financials) have continued to outperform the mixed bag of potential deletions. With pretty big impact on the deletes, expect further divergence.

9. China TCM (570.HK) Update – Despite Doubts, This Privatization Seems “Mandatory”

By Xinyao (Criss) Wang

  • Some investors have concerns that the privatization may fail. We also noticed that Morgan Stanley raised China TCM’s target price to HK$5.4. However, the privatization of China TCM seems “mandatory”.
  • At this stage, some background information is worth the attention, which will help investors better understand the logic behind this privatization and thus resolve the “confusion”.
  • According to regulatory requirements, it’s expected that both CNPGC and Taiji will integrate resources in pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution sectors, so as to solve horizontal competition issue between the two.

10. STAR50 Index Rebalance Preview: Adds Steamroll Deletes

By Brian Freitas, Periscope Analytics

  • With the review period complete, we forecast 3 changes for the SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX) in June. All changes are migrations from/to the STAR 100 Index.
  • One way turnover is estimated at 3.4% resulting in a one-way trade of CNY 4.5bn (US$630m). There is a lot to trade from passive trackers, especially on the inclusions.
  • The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletions by ~18% over the last month with Hangzhou EZVIZ Network (688475 CH) and APT Medical (688617 CH) moving higher.