IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

Canvest Environmental Protection Group / Event-Driven

Canvest Environment Protection Group Company Limited focuses on the development, management, and operation of waste-to-energy plants. The Company's plants are located in China.

Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grandblue-environment-co-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17887:1" rel="noopener">Grandblue Environment Co A (600323 CH)</a> continues to make steady progress in satisfying the precondition for its HK$4.90 privatisation offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canvest-environmental-protection-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:100:1" rel="noopener">Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Two of the five preconditions are satisfied, and another will be satisfied by 20 January. The long stop date of 17 July provides ample time to satisfy the remaining two. </li>
<li>Although the peers have materially re-rated, the offer implies a premium compared to peer multiples. Vote risk remains low, aided by selling by a shareholder with a blocking stake. </li>
</ul>



Grandblue Environment Co A (600323 CH) continues to make steady progress in satisfying the precondition for its HK$4.90 privatisation offer for Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK). 
Two of the five preconditions are satisfied, and another will be satisfied by 20 January. The long stop date of 17 July provides ample time to satisfy the remaining two. 
Although the peers have materially re-rated, the offer implies a premium compared to peer multiples. Vote risk remains low, aided by selling by a shareholder with a blocking stake. 


Canvest (1381 HK): Attractive Spread with Steady Progress in Precondition Satisfaction

Equity Capital Markets

LG CNS Co., Ltd. provides information technology services and solutions. The Company offers consulting, system integration, outsourcing, convergence, video solutions, conditional access systems, and interactive digital television solutions.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-cns-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35945:1" rel="noopener">LG CNS (LGCNSZ KS)</a>, the IT service unit of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6653:1" rel="noopener">LG Corp (003550 KS)</a>, seeks to raise up to US$837 million through a primary/secondary offering.</li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/lg-cns-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:170085" rel="noopener">LG CNS IPO: The Bull Case</a>, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.</li>
<li>The bear case rests on fading growth momentum, mid-tier revenue growth, weak non-AI growth, high contract assets, bottom-tier FCF margin and large share overhang. </li>
</ul>



LG CNS (LGCNSZ KS), the IT service unit of LG Corp (003550 KS), seeks to raise up to US$837 million through a primary/secondary offering.
In LG CNS IPO: The Bull Case, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.
The bear case rests on fading growth momentum, mid-tier revenue growth, weak non-AI growth, high contract assets, bottom-tier FCF margin and large share overhang. 


MACROMILL, INC. is a market research company utilizing Internet System. The Company collects and analyzes data and prepares research reports. MACROMILL also provides digital marketing solutions.

<ul>
<li>On 26 December, CVC extended its <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/macromill-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Macromill, Inc. (3978 JP)</a> offer period by 10 business days to 17 January. The offer price remained unchanged, but it was not declared final.</li>
<li>The extension is unsurprising as the shares have traded above terms for 30 out of 32 trading days. The emergence of Oasis as the largest shareholder is an added complication. </li>
<li>Lowering the minimum acceptance condition is not a viable option. A bump is increasingly likely. Trading patterns suggest a minimum required revised offer of around JPY1,200.</li>
</ul>


On 26 December, CVC extended its Macromill, Inc. (3978 JP) offer period by 10 business days to 17 January. The offer price remained unchanged, but it was not declared final.
The extension is unsurprising as the shares have traded above terms for 30 out of 32 trading days. The emergence of Oasis as the largest shareholder is an added complication. 
Lowering the minimum acceptance condition is not a viable option. A bump is increasingly likely. Trading patterns suggest a minimum required revised offer of around JPY1,200.


Macromill (3978 JP): CVC Bumping Its Offer Is Inevitable

AVJennings Limited operates in the land development and housing sectors. The Company constructs residential houses in Australia along with residential land development. AVJennings serves customers in Australia.

<ul>
<li>On 28 November, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/avjennings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12578:1" rel="noopener">Avjennings Ltd (AVJ AU)</a> disclosed a non-binding indicative proposal from AVID at A$0.67 per share, a 103.0% premium to the undisturbed price. </li>
<li>On 27 December, Queensgate Investments became a substantial shareholder, representing 5.39% of outstanding shares. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ho-bee-land-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18298:1" rel="noopener">Ho Bee Land Ltd (HOBEE SP)</a>, a Singaporean real-estate developer, owns Queensgate.</li>
<li>Ho Bee Land is a strategic investor and is likely contemplating a competing offer, mainly because AVID’s offer is below NTA and AVJennings's controlling shareholder’s ties to Singapore. </li>
</ul>


On 28 November, Avjennings Ltd (AVJ AU) disclosed a non-binding indicative proposal from AVID at A$0.67 per share, a 103.0% premium to the undisturbed price. 
On 27 December, Queensgate Investments became a substantial shareholder, representing 5.39% of outstanding shares. Ho Bee Land Ltd (HOBEE SP), a Singaporean real-estate developer, owns Queensgate.
Ho Bee Land is a strategic investor and is likely contemplating a competing offer, mainly because AVID’s offer is below NTA and AVJennings's controlling shareholder’s ties to Singapore. 


AVJennings (AVJ AU): Competing Offer Brewing

ESR Group Limited operates as an integrated logistics real estate platform. The Company provides real estate private equity fund management, real estate investment trust, and other services. ESR Group conducts businesses in China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, India, New Zealand, and other countries.

<ul>
<li>We summarise the latest spreads and newsflow of merger arb situations we cover across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese ADRs.</li>
<li>Highest spreads: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vesync" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31067:1" rel="noopener">Vesync (2148 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/makino-milling-machine-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5200:1" rel="noopener">Makino Milling Machine Co (6135 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-i-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1041:1" rel="noopener">Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40438:1" rel="noopener">Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/get-nice-financial-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29667:1" rel="noopener">Get Nice Financial Group Ltd (1469 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Lowest spreads: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renewable-japan-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35211:1" rel="noopener">Renewable Japan (9522 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/macromill-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24026:1" rel="noopener">Macromill, Inc (3978 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuji-soft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17504:1" rel="noopener">Fuji Soft Inc (9749 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/latin-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8770:1" rel="noopener">Latin Resources (LRS AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lac-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8480:1" rel="noopener">Lac Co Ltd (3857 JP)</a>.   </li>
</ul>


We summarise the latest spreads and newsflow of merger arb situations we cover across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese ADRs.
Highest spreads: Vesync (2148 HK), Makino Milling Machine Co (6135 JP), Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP), Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU), Get Nice Financial Group Ltd (1469 HK). 
Lowest spreads: Lifestyle China (2136 HK), Renewable Japan (9522 JP), Macromill, Inc (3978 JP), Fuji Soft Inc (9749 JP), Latin Resources (LRS AU), Lac Co Ltd (3857 JP).   


Merger Arb Mondays (30 Dec) - ESR, Canvest, Vesync, GAPack, SDHS New Energy, CPMC, Makino, Arcadium

Arun has over 15 years’ experience covering the Technology sector. During this time, he has worked with technology start-ups and as an equity analyst in investment banks and independent research firms. He was formerly a Technology Analyst for Canaccord Genuity, Altium Securities, Espirito Santo Investment Bank, Noble Group and Clear Capital. He has a dual Master’s degree in Financial Engineering and Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Arun George
IPOs and Catalysts/Events
• Global Equity Research Ltd

Canvest (1381 HK): Attractive Spread with Steady Progress in Precondition Satisfaction

The steady progress suggests that the precondition will be satisfied well before the long stop date. Despite peer re-rating, vote risk remains low....

Arun George

LG CNS IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on fading growth momentum, mid-tier revenue growth, weak non-AI growth, high contract assets, bottom-tier FCF margin and large...

Arun George

Macromill (3978 JP): CVC Bumping Its Offer Is Inevitable

On 26 December, CVC extended its Macromill offer period to 17 January. A bump is increasingly likely. Trading patterns suggest a minimum required...

Arun George

AVJennings (AVJ AU): Competing Offer Brewing

Queensgate Investments, owned by Ho Bee Land, has emerged as a substantial shareholder. Ho Bee is a strategic investor whose action suggests a high...

Arun George

Merger Arb Mondays (30 Dec) - ESR, Canvest, Vesync, GAPack, SDHS New Energy, CPMC, Makino, Arcadium

This week, the highest gross spreads are Vesync (33.3%), Makino Milling (18.9%), Seven & I (16.0%), Arcadium Lithium (14.0%), Get Nice Financial...

Arun George