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. Japan Post Holdings (6178) – Bigger Better Bullish Buyback With Caveats
- Today, Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP) announced results (and Mar25 guidance) as did its subsidiaries Japan Post Insurance (7181 JP) and Japan Post Bank (7182 JP).
- There are a number of interesting things in all the announcements/presentations but the most interesting one for JPH holders is a big buyback. Another one.
- The company has announced a ¥350bn buyback. It is larger than last year’s (¥300bn) buyback and has another important difference.
2. HSTECH Index Rebalance Preview: Round-Trip Trade of US$2.4bn in June
- We do not forecast any constituent changes for the Hang Seng TECH Index (HSTECH INDEX) in June but there could be capping changes for 7 stocks.
- Capping changes will result in a one-way turnover of 7.6% leading to a round-trip trade of US$2.4bn. 17 stocks will have over 0.5x ADV to trade from passive trackers.
- Li Auto (2015 HK) will have the largest inflow while there will be big outflows from Meituan (3690 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK), JD.com (9618 HK) and Tencent (700 HK).
3. Alibaba (9988 HK): Dual Primary Listing & Potential Southbound Flows
- Along with its fiscal 2024 results, Alibaba (9988 HK) announced that they were preparing for their primary listing in Hong Kong and the conversion was expected to complete by August.
- If the conversion is completed by the end of August, Alibaba (9988 HK) could be added to Southbound Stock Connect in September and that could bring in significant flows.
- We do not forecast any passive inflows due to the change with Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK) capped at 8% of the HSI, HSCEI and HSTECH indices.
4. ESR Group (1821 HK): Offer Musings
- Back in February this year, various media sources reported that the key shareholders of warehouse/fund management play ESR Group (1821 HK), were exploring options, including a privatisation.
- Long-Term holders Warburg Pincus and Canadian pension fund OMERS hold 14% and 10.7% respectively. ESR co-founders/directors Jeffrey Shen, Stuart Gibson, Charles de Portes, and Hwee Chiang collectively hold another ~23%.
- Shares in ESR were suspended this morning “pursuant to the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers“.
5. KDDI (9433) – Own Share Tender Offer, Toyota To Sell (Gasp!) Redux (Another Buyback in H2 Possible)
- In May 2023, KDDI Corp (9433 JP) announced a ¥300bn buyback program, did nothing for two months, then announced a Tender Offer Buyback to buy shares from Toyota.
- Toyota had increased its stake years before, then KDDI bought back shares from others, so Toyota was backing its ownership down. I discussed the relationships, history, etc, here.
- This year, KDDI announced Friday with earnings that is buying back another large stake from Toyota.
6. L’Occitane (973 HK): On Activism And The Scrip Alternative
- In the 29th April HK$34/share VGO announcement, a share scrip alternative may be afforded if 10% of L’Occitane (973 HK)‘s disinterested shareholders expressed interest by the 15th May
- That pre-condition has been satisfied. However, we are none the wiser whether you receive shares of the levered-up Bidco, at some undetermined scrip ratio; or keep shares of L’Occitane as-is.
- Some shareholders, like Butler Hall, considered terms low-balled. They now have the option to rollover. But there are still other large activists on the register, whose intentions are not known.
7. Hang Seng Index (HSI) Rebalance Preview: Inclusion Candidates for June
- Post market close tomorrow, Hang Seng Indexes will announce the changes for the Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) that will be implemented at the close on 7 June.
- There were no constituent changes to the index in March. We highlight ten profitable and eligible stocks that could be added to the index in June.
- Changes to the Hang Seng Industry Classification System (HSICS) could lead to inclusions for the Information Technology industry while there could also be inclusions for the underweighted Healthcare industry.
8. CSI Medical Service Index Rebalance Preview: Repeat of the December Rebal Could See Big Gains
- The review period ended on 30 April, there are just over 2 weeks to announcement of the changes, and implementation will be done at the close on 14 June.
- We forecast 5 potential changes for the index in June where there could be buying of 1.6-2.6x ADV on the adds and selling of 0.7-2.6x ADV on the deletes.
- At the December 2023 rebalance, the adds outperformed the deletes in the weeks prior to announcement of the changes and then spiked post-announcement. Repeat this time?
9. Japan – Another Big Round of Passive Selling
- There are 15 stocks in Japan that will be sold by passive trackers at the close on 31 May.
- Short interest has been increasing in these stocks over the last few months and there will be covering on implementation date.
- Cumulative excess volume on all stocks has risen in the last couple of months though the pace of the increase has varied.
10. ESR Group (1821 HK): Starwood Capital and SSW Partners Gauging a Privatisation Bid
- ESR Group (1821 HK) is on a trading halt. Press reports suggest a consortium featuring Starwood Capital Group and SSW Partners is considering a buyout.
- Starwood and SSW are approaching other shareholders to join the consortium. The other members are likely Warburg Pincus, OMERS, Jinchu Shen, and Hwee Chiang Lim.
- The offer is likely to be structured as a Cayman privatisation scheme. Our best guess is that an offer of at least HK$14.00 per share would be needed.
