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

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.

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27983:1" rel="noopener">ESR Group (1821 HK)</a> is on a trading halt. Press reports suggest a consortium featuring Starwood Capital Group and SSW Partners is considering a buyout.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>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. </li>
</ul>



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. 


ESR Group (1821 HK): Starwood Capital and SSW Partners Gauging a Privatisation Bid

Great Eastern Holdings Limited operates in the life insurance business. The Company provides fund management services including retirement plans and endowments as well as life and health insurance, personal accident insurance, and general insurance

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oversea-chinese-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:114:1" rel="noopener">OCBC (OCBC SP)</a> has announced a voluntary unconditional general offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-eastern-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13993:1" rel="noopener">Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP)</a> at S$25.60 per share, a 36.90% premium to the undisturbed price.</li>
<li>OCBC aims to privatise Great Eastern by delisting resolutions or exercising compulsory acquisition rights. The offer has not been declared final.</li>
<li>While the offer is reasonable, it is not a knockout bid which would comfortably allow OCBC to privatise through either option. A bump is highly likely.   </li>
</ul>



OCBC (OCBC SP) has announced a voluntary unconditional general offer for Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP) at S$25.60 per share, a 36.90% premium to the undisturbed price.
OCBC aims to privatise Great Eastern by delisting resolutions or exercising compulsory acquisition rights. The offer has not been declared final.
While the offer is reasonable, it is not a knockout bid which would comfortably allow OCBC to privatise through either option. A bump is highly likely.   


Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP): OCBC’s Offer Needs a Bump to Achieve Privatisation Ambitions

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Singamas Container Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

Singamas Container Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures containers and related parts, operates container depot businesses, and provides container storage, repair and trucking as well as mid-stream services.

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singamas-container-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13602:1" rel="noopener">Singamas Container Holdings (716 HK)</a> is interesting in that it has a net cash of US$300m (HK$2.35bn), but its market capitalisation is only HK$1.5bn. </li>
<li>This is a possible privatisation candidate given the steep discount to cash. The thin trading volume made it difficult to function as a financing platform.</li>
<li>Business-Wise, it should have passed the trough as global container box plant utilisation is expected to improve in the next two years, driving profitability recovery.</li>
</ul>



Singamas Container Holdings (716 HK) is interesting in that it has a net cash of US$300m (HK$2.35bn), but its market capitalisation is only HK$1.5bn. 
This is a possible privatisation candidate given the steep discount to cash. The thin trading volume made it difficult to function as a financing platform.
Business-Wise, it should have passed the trough as global container box plant utilisation is expected to improve in the next two years, driving profitability recovery.


Singamas (716 HK): Net Cash 1.6x of Market Cap, Why Not Privatise?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

China Merchants Holdings International Company Limited, through its subsidiaries and associated companies, operates container and cargo terminals, port transportation, and airport cargo handling.  The Company also manufactures containers, paint, and trailers as well as operates toll road, shipping, property, and dealing securities businesses.

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<li>Four years ago, almost to the day, Bloomberg ran an article, "China Merchants Group Ltd. is exploring taking China Merchants Port Holdings private". <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-port-holdings-company-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15155:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Ports (144 HK)</a> popped 23%.</li>
<li>CMP gave back (most) of that gain a month later. Shares are up just ~10% since. </li>
<li>CMP's implied stub is bouncing around a multi-year low; and the simple ratio (CMP/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-international-port-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14806:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai International Port Group (600018 CH)</a>) is around an all-time low.</li>
</ul>


Four years ago, almost to the day, Bloomberg ran an article, "China Merchants Group Ltd. is exploring taking China Merchants Port Holdings private". China Merchants Ports (144 HK) popped 23%.
CMP gave back (most) of that gain a month later. Shares are up just ~10% since. 
CMP's implied stub is bouncing around a multi-year low; and the simple ratio (CMP/ Shanghai International Port Group (600018 CH)) is around an all-time low.


Revisiting China Merchants Ports (144 HK)

Hang Lung Properties Limited, through its subsidiaries, invests in, develops, and manages properties. The Company also manages parking lots. Hang Lung Properties serves customers in Hong Kong.

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<li>In its final results on 30 January, the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-lung-properties-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49:1" rel="noopener">Hang Lung Properties (101 HK)</a> board declared a final dividend of HK$0.60 per share, which can be paid in cash or by scrip.</li>
<li>The Chan family's share of outstanding shares has steadily increased from 53.15% in 2013 to 61.89%. The scrip dividend could increase the family to 63.57% of post-dividend outstanding shares. </li>
<li>The Chan family have plenty of headroom to chip away at minorities before breaching the 25% public float requirements. HPL’s valuation is undemanding, but a privatisation offer is unlikely.</li>
</ul>


In its final results on 30 January, the Hang Lung Properties (101 HK) board declared a final dividend of HK$0.60 per share, which can be paid in cash or by scrip.
The Chan family's share of outstanding shares has steadily increased from 53.15% in 2013 to 61.89%. The scrip dividend could increase the family to 63.57% of post-dividend outstanding shares. 
The Chan family have plenty of headroom to chip away at minorities before breaching the 25% public float requirements. HPL’s valuation is undemanding, but a privatisation offer is unlikely.


Hang Lung Properties (101 HK): Scrip Div Helps the Family to Chip Away at Minorities

Privatisations
Buy before they do

ESR Group (1821 HK): Starwood Capital and SSW Partners Gauging a Privatisation Bid

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.

Arun George

Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP): OCBC’s Offer Needs a Bump to Achieve Privatisation Ambitions

While the offer is reasonable, it is not a knockout bid which would comfortably allow OCBC to privatise Great Eastern. Shares are trading slightly...

Arun George

Singamas (716 HK): Net Cash 1.6x of Market Cap, Why Not Privatise?

Singamas presents a potential privatisation opportunity with a significant cash surplus compared to the market cap. Business outlook is improving...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Revisiting China Merchants Ports (144 HK)

For now, I would expect CMG to continue to chip away at CMP (144 HK)'s minorities - it currently holds 72.02%, up from 63.09% when the...

David Blennerhassett

Hang Lung Properties (101 HK): Scrip Div Helps the Family to Chip Away at Minorities

The Chan family have plenty of headroom to chip away at minorities before breaching the 25% public float requirements. HPL’s valuation is...

Arun George

ESR Group (1821 HK): Starwood Capital and SSW Partners Gauging a Privatisation Bid

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.

Arun George

Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP): OCBC’s Offer Needs a Bump to Achieve Privatisation Ambitions

While the offer is reasonable, it is not a knockout bid which would comfortably allow OCBC to privatise Great Eastern. Shares are trading slightly...

Arun George

Singamas (716 HK): Net Cash 1.6x of Market Cap, Why Not Privatise?

​Singamas presents a potential privatisation opportunity with a significant cash surplus compared to the market cap. Business outlook is improving...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Revisiting China Merchants Ports (144 HK)

For now, I would expect CMG to continue to chip away at CMP (144 HK)'s minorities - it currently holds 72.02%, up from 63.09% when the...

David Blennerhassett

Hang Lung Properties (101 HK): Scrip Div Helps the Family to Chip Away at Minorities

The Chan family have plenty of headroom to chip away at minorities before breaching the 25% public float requirements. HPL’s valuation is...

Arun George

Singamas presents a potential privatisation opportunity with a significant cash surplus compared to the market cap. Business outlook is improving...