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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/frasers-hospitality-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:913:1" rel="noopener">Frasers Hospitality Trust (FHT SP)</a> announced a privatisation proposal from Frasers Property Limited at S$0.70 cash per share + permitted distributions (estimated 1.2961 cents).  </li>
<li>The offer is the culmination of a strategic review announced on 8 April. The offer price is attractive in comparison to historical multiples, precedent transactions and historical unit prices.</li>
<li>At the last close and for the September end effective date, the gross and annualised spread to the total offer price of S$0.713 per unit is 3.3% and 11.1%, respectively. </li>
</ul>



Frasers Hospitality Trust (FHT SP) announced a privatisation proposal from Frasers Property Limited at S$0.70 cash per share + permitted distributions (estimated 1.2961 cents).  
The offer is the culmination of a strategic review announced on 8 April. The offer price is attractive in comparison to historical multiples, precedent transactions and historical unit prices.
At the last close and for the September end effective date, the gross and annualised spread to the total offer price of S$0.713 per unit is 3.3% and 11.1%, respectively. 


Fraser Hospitality Trust’s Privatisation Offer from Frasers Property Limited

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>With a little under a week to the Scheme Meeting, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10934:1" rel="noopener">ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)</a> revised terms to S$0.097 cash plus 1.7729 new EREIT Units for each <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ara-logos-logistics-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:937:1" rel="noopener">ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP)</a> unit.</li>
<li>The revised terms provide an indicative Offer price of S$0.933, a 5.3% increase over the original Scheme consideration. </li>
<li>The Scheme Meeting for ARA Logos  - and ESR's EGM - have been deferred. No definite timetable was provided for its rescheduling although late February is probably a reasonable estimate. </li>
</ul>


With a little under a week to the Scheme Meeting, ESR-REIT (EREIT SP) revised terms to S$0.097 cash plus 1.7729 new EREIT Units for each ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP) unit.
The revised terms provide an indicative Offer price of S$0.933, a 5.3% increase over the original Scheme consideration. 
The Scheme Meeting for ARA Logos  - and ESR's EGM - have been deferred. No definite timetable was provided for its rescheduling although late February is probably a reasonable estimate. 


ARA Logos (ALLT SP): ESR Bumps. Scheme Meeting Delayed

<ul>
<li>The Scheme Document for the S$1.4bn <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10934:1" rel="noopener">ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)</a>/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ara-logos-logistics-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:937:1" rel="noopener">ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP)</a> merger has now been <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/ALOG%20-%20Scheme%20Document.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=696721" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dispatched</a>.</li>
<li>The Scheme Meeting will take place on the 27 January with the expected date for the payment of the Cash Consideration and issuance of Consideration Units on the 28 February. </li>
<li>The IFA (ING Bank) considered the terms of the Scheme to be fair and reasonable.</li>
</ul>


The Scheme Document for the S$1.4bn ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)/ ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP) merger has now been dispatched.
The Scheme Meeting will take place on the 27 January with the expected date for the payment of the Cash Consideration and issuance of Consideration Units on the 28 February. 
The IFA (ING Bank) considered the terms of the Scheme to be fair and reasonable.


ARA Logos (ALLT SP): Scheme Doc Out. Meeting On 27 Jan

<section>
<div id="ember10949">
<div id="ember10950">
<div>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10934:1" rel="noopener">ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ara-logos-logistics-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:937:1" rel="noopener">ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP)</a> (ALOG) have <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/ALOG%20-%20Joint%20Announcement%20-%20Proposed%20Merger%20with%20ESR-REIT%20by%20way%20of%20a%20Trust%20Scheme%20of%20Arrangement.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=686935" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> a S$1.4bn merger, where ESR-Reit will acquire all of ALOG's units in a cash &amp; scrip transaction by way of a Scheme.
ALOG unitholders will receive an indicative Scheme Consideration of S$0.95/ALOG unit,  comprising S$0.095 in cash and 1.6765 new ESR-Reit units, to be issued at S$0.51/unit. However, if using ESR's last closing price, the implied Offer is $0.8746/unit, or a 6.46% discount last close. 
</div>
<div>
That discount to the undisturbed is less than inspiring. However, the indicative Offer Price is a six-year high, you're receiving 90% of the consideration in scrip, and the exchange ratio is in line with the 12-month average. That's probably enough to get it over the line 
</div>
<div>
More below the fold.
</div>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<section>

</section>





ESR-REIT (EREIT SP) and ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP) (ALOG) have proposed a S$1.4bn merger, where ESR-Reit will acquire all of ALOG's units in a cash &amp; scrip transaction by way of a Scheme.
ALOG unitholders will receive an indicative Scheme Consideration of S$0.95/ALOG unit,  comprising S$0.095 in cash and 1.6765 new ESR-Reit units, to be issued at S$0.51/unit. However, if using ESR's last closing price, the implied Offer is $0.8746/unit, or a 6.46% discount last close. 


That discount to the undisturbed is less than inspiring. However, the indicative Offer Price is a six-year high, you're receiving 90% of the consideration in scrip, and the exchange ratio is in line with the 12-month average. That's probably enough to get it over the line 


More below the fold.









ARA Logos (ALLT SP) To Merge with ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Equity Bottom-Up

<figure>
 <img src='https://api2.sgx.com/sites/default/files/2021-03/Capture_6.PNG' alt='MPM-CEO' />
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 <div class='content-caption'>MPM-CEO</div>
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It was during some of the darkest days in his entrepreneurial journey that Sean Lee learnt what it takes to forge ahead, despite overwhelming odds.

The Chief Executive Officer of SGX-listed Marco Polo Marine Ltd struggled for many months to keep his marine logistics company afloat, amidst a protracted downturn in the oil and gas industry that began with plunging crude prices in mid-2015.

“Those days were the toughest I had ever encountered,” Lee recalled. “Everything crumbled when oil prices collapsed. Most of my peers in the industry went belly-up because funding from the banks evaporated. If we had also thrown in the towel, all our stakeholders, employees, and subcontractors would have suffered, so we chose the hardest route, which is to try and save the company instead.”

Lee spent nearly a year looking for investors and liquidity sources to shore up Marco Polo. In November 2017, he found nine new investors who pooled together S$60 million in rescue financing for the Group. Apricot Capital, Yanlord, Penguin International, Soilbuild, Goldbell, and Oxley were some of the companies named in association with the equity injection deal.

“When we were searching for investors, I visited 150 people, and was rejected 141 times. The process of knocking on every single door - one after another - wasn’t an easy one,” he admitted.

At the end of the day, it was all about staying the course. “As cliched as it may sound, I really learnt what perseverance, stamina and commitment means,” he added. “It all boils down to a ‘never say die’ attitude.”

Four years on, following a massive debt restructuring and refinancing exercise, Marco Polo has cleaned up its balance sheet, and swung from a net debt to a net cash position. As at 30 September 2020, net debt to equity was a negative 14%, while cash and cash equivalents stood at S$13.6 million.

“That period was quite a rollercoaster ride, and now, the Group is finally out of the woods,” Lee said.

“Today, while oil and gas remains our bread and butter, we’re actively expanding our business ventures, and focused on transitioning into the renewable energy sector. This is a fledgling industry with huge opportunities, as countries and organisations increasingly turn to green energy sources. This augurs well for our growth prospects.”

Post-Restructuring Pivot

Listed on the then SGX Sesdaq in 2007 and migrated to the Mainboard in 2009, Marco Polo Marine principally engages in shipping and shipyard operations. Its shipping business revolves around the chartering of Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs), which comprise Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels for deployment in regional waters, as well as chartering of tugboats and barges by customers engaged in the mining, commodities, construction, infrastructure and land reclamation industries.

The shipyard operations focus on shipbuilding as well as ship maintenance, repair, outfitting and conversion services, carried out in its shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. Occupying a total land area of about 34 hectares with a seafront of approximately 650 meters, the shipyard also houses three dry docks, boosting the Group’s technical capabilities and service offerings to undertake projects involving mid-sized and sophisticated vessels.

Tapping on this core expertise, Marco Polo is pivoting to the renewables sector, providing customised solutions in the chartering, development, fabrication, and construction of bespoke renewable energy assets for its customers.

In particular, the Group is actively pursuing contracts for the construction of offshore wind farm vessels in the region. Although the specifications are different from those used in oil and gas exploration projects, vessels can be deployed to support certain parts of the wind farm installation and construction, without additional capital expenditure.

“Offshore wind farms are low-hanging fruit in the region - there is a lot of potential for the construction and installation of such projects in Taiwan and many opportunities in countries like South Korea, Japan and Vietnam,” Lee said.

Analysts point out that the offshore wind as well as oil and gas industries share technologies and elements of their supply chains. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that 40% of the full-lifetime costs of an offshore wind project, including construction, has significant synergies with the offshore oil and gas sector.

“The burgeoning offshore wind energy industry in Asia is in its nascent stage, where structures are still installed in shallow waters with depths of up to 50-60 metres. This presents a tremendous area of opportunity for Marco Polo Marine, whose fleet specialises in those depths,” UOB-Kay Hian said in a company report published in August last year.

“Of particular interest is the Taiwan offshore wind market, one of the fastest growing in the world - the government targets to produce 15.5 gigawatts of electricity through offshore wind by 2035, making it the most sought-after destination for the world’s top offshore wind developers as they seek a foothold in Asia,” it added.

Green Economy Focus

Meanwhile, Marco Polo continues to grapple with a number of challenges, not the least of which is weaker oil demand due to the global downturn following COVID-19. Oil prices fell dramatically in the early stages of the pandemic, and have only partially recovered to pre-crisis levels.

For its ship chartering business, the Group will step up marketing efforts and explore additional revenue sources by going beyond Southeast Asia, although the success of such efforts ultimately depends on containment of the pandemic. Utilisation of its tugboats and barges is expected to improve as construction activity in Singapore progressively resumes. As for the shipyard division, it will focus on securing ship repair and maintenance orders from regional ship owners.

One saving grace is that the COVID-19 has brought sustainability and clean energy sources into even greater focus, Lee noted.

“Investors have shied away from traditional coal projects and a lot of liquidity has poured into renewables - this has picked up during the pandemic,” he added. “The move towards a sustainable and green economy is developing faster than anticipated, and we want to ensure that we are part of that shift.”

Understandably, there’s much to keep the 44-year-old up late into the night. “I am a worrier, an over-thinker,” Lee admitted with a laugh. “I constantly worry about the ever-changing business environment, and I’m always turning over in mind all the “what ifs”.”

“But I have learnt to take it much easier now. If turning around the company didn’t floor me then, there’s very little that would kill me now. We just have to face each problem, and solve it one step at a time. I always remind myself that no matter how tough the situation may appear to be, with perseverance and hard work, we can still get through it,” he added.

Lee has two daughters and a son, aged six to 20. The values that he wants to impart to his children include honesty and sheer grit.

“Integrity is one of the key reasons our investors were willing to put their money with Marco Polo Marine - when they invested, they invested in me and my team,” Lee said.

“Likewise, without determination, we would not be here today. I always tell my kids, never be scared of what is ahead, just do it, and when you need to make a decision, just make it. If it doesn’t work out, keep at it, work at it, until it does - these should be your life’s values.” Marco Polo Marine Ltd

Listed on SGX Mainboard since 2007, Marco Polo Marine is an integrated marine logistics company, which has expanded to become a reputable player in the region. The Group’s ship chartering business provides Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) as well as tugboats and barges, which are deployed in regional waters for its customers in the offshore oil and gas, mining, commodities, construction and infrastructure sectors. The Group’s shipyard business undertakes shipbuilding and maintenance as well as repair, outfitting and conversion services in Batam, Indonesia.

The company website is: <a href="http://www.marcopolomarine.com.sg">www.marcopolomarine.com.sg</a> 
Click <a href="https://www.sgx.com/securities/equities/5LY">here </a>for the company's StockFacts page. 
For the year ended 30 September 2020 financial results, click <a href="https://links.sgx.com/1.0.0/corporate-announcements/QQYC4T8CH6OZ2TJB/640673_MPML-%20FY2020%20Results%20Announcement.pdf">here</a>. 
 

About kopi-C: the Company brew

Text: Jennifer Tan-Stanisic Photo: Company file kopi-C is a regular column on the SGX Research website that features C-level executives of leading companies listed on Singapore Exchange. These interviews are profiles of senior management aimed at helping investors better understand the individuals who run these corporations. 
For previous editions of kopi-C: the Company brew, please click <a href="https://www.sgx.com/research-education/market-dialogues">here</a>.   
For more information, or if you would like your senior executives to be featured on SGX Market Dialogues, please send suggestions to <a href="https://www.sgx.com/jennifer.t@sgx.com">jennifer.t@sgx.com</a>.
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    MPM-CEO


It was during some of the darkest days in his entrepreneurial journey that Sean Lee learnt what it takes to forge ahead, despite overwhelming odds.

The Chief Executive Officer of SGX-listed Marco Polo Marine Ltd struggled for many months to keep his marine logistics company afloat, amidst a protracted downturn in the oil and gas industry that began with plunging crude prices in mid-2015.

“Those days were the toughest I had ever encountered,” Lee recalled. “Everything crumbled when oil prices collapsed. Most of my peers in the industry went belly-up because funding from the banks evaporated. If we had also thrown in the towel, all our stakeholders, employees, and subcontractors would have suffered, so we chose the hardest route, which is to try and save the company instead.”

Lee spent nearly a year looking for investors and liquidity sources to shore up Marco Polo. In November 2017, he found nine new investors who pooled together S$60 million in rescue financing for the Group. Apricot Capital, Yanlord, Penguin International, Soilbuild, Goldbell, and Oxley were some of the companies named in association with the equity injection deal.

“When we were searching for investors, I visited 150 people, and was rejected 141 times. The process of knocking on every single door - one after another - wasn’t an easy one,” he admitted.

At the end of the day, it was all about staying the course. “As cliched as it may sound, I really learnt what perseverance, stamina and commitment means,” he added. “It all boils down to a ‘never say die’ attitude.”

Four years on, following a massive debt restructuring and refinancing exercise, Marco Polo has cleaned up its balance sheet, and swung from a net debt to a net cash position. As at 30 September 2020, net debt to equity was a negative 14%, while cash and cash equivalents stood at S$13.6 million.

“That period was quite a rollercoaster ride, and now, the Group is finally out of the woods,” Lee said.

“Today, while oil and gas remains our bread and butter, we’re actively expanding our business ventures, and focused on transitioning into the renewable energy sector. This is a fledgling industry with huge opportunities, as countries and organisations increasingly turn to green energy sources. This augurs well for our growth prospects.”

Post-Restructuring Pivot

Listed on the then SGX Sesdaq in 2007 and migrated to the Mainboard in 2009, Marco Polo Marine principally engages in shipping and shipyard operations. Its shipping business revolves around the chartering of Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs), which comprise Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels for deployment in regional waters, as well as chartering of tugboats and barges by customers engaged in the mining, commodities, construction, infrastructure and land reclamation industries.

The shipyard operations focus on shipbuilding as well as ship maintenance, repair, outfitting and conversion services, carried out in its shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. Occupying a total land area of about 34 hectares with a seafront of approximately 650 meters, the shipyard also houses three dry docks, boosting the Group’s technical capabilities and service offerings to undertake projects involving mid-sized and sophisticated vessels.

Tapping on this core expertise, Marco Polo is pivoting to the renewables sector, providing customised solutions in the chartering, development, fabrication, and construction of bespoke renewable energy assets for its customers.

In particular, the Group is actively pursuing contracts for the construction of offshore wind farm vessels in the region. Although the specifications are different from those used in oil and gas exploration projects, vessels can be deployed to support certain parts of the wind farm installation and construction, without additional capital expenditure.

“Offshore wind farms are low-hanging fruit in the region - there is a lot of potential for the construction and installation of such projects in Taiwan and many opportunities in countries like South Korea, Japan and Vietnam,” Lee said.

Analysts point out that the offshore wind as well as oil and gas industries share technologies and elements of their supply chains. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that 40% of the full-lifetime costs of an offshore wind project, including construction, has significant synergies with the offshore oil and gas sector.

“The burgeoning offshore wind energy industry in Asia is in its nascent stage, where structures are still installed in shallow waters with depths of up to 50-60 metres. This presents a tremendous area of opportunity for Marco Polo Marine, whose fleet specialises in those depths,” UOB-Kay Hian said in a company report published in August last year.

“Of particular interest is the Taiwan offshore wind market, one of the fastest growing in the world - the government targets to produce 15.5 gigawatts of electricity through offshore wind by 2035, making it the most sought-after destination for the world’s top offshore wind developers as they seek a foothold in Asia,” it added.

Green Economy Focus

Meanwhile, Marco Polo continues to grapple with a number of challenges, not the least of which is weaker oil demand due to the global downturn following COVID-19. Oil prices fell dramatically in the early stages of the pandemic, and have only partially recovered to pre-crisis levels.

For its ship chartering business, the Group will step up marketing efforts and explore additional revenue sources by going beyond Southeast Asia, although the success of such efforts ultimately depends on containment of the pandemic. Utilisation of its tugboats and barges is expected to improve as construction activity in Singapore progressively resumes. As for the shipyard division, it will focus on securing ship repair and maintenance orders from regional ship owners.

One saving grace is that the COVID-19 has brought sustainability and clean energy sources into even greater focus, Lee noted.

“Investors have shied away from traditional coal projects and a lot of liquidity has poured into renewables - this has picked up during the pandemic,” he added. “The move towards a sustainable and green economy is developing faster than anticipated, and we want to ensure that we are part of that shift.”

Understandably, there’s much to keep the 44-year-old up late into the night. “I am a worrier, an over-thinker,” Lee admitted with a laugh. “I constantly worry about the ever-changing business environment, and I’m always turning over in mind all the “what ifs”.”

“But I have learnt to take it much easier now. If turning around the company didn’t floor me then, there’s very little that would kill me now. We just have to face each problem, and solve it one step at a time. I always remind myself that no matter how tough the situation may appear to be, with perseverance and hard work, we can still get through it,” he added.

Lee has two daughters and a son, aged six to 20. The values that he wants to impart to his children include honesty and sheer grit.

“Integrity is one of the key reasons our investors were willing to put their money with Marco Polo Marine - when they invested, they invested in me and my team,” Lee said.

“Likewise, without determination, we would not be here today. I always tell my kids, never be scared of what is ahead, just do it, and when you need to make a decision, just make it. If it doesn’t work out, keep at it, work at it, until it does - these should be your life’s values.”   Marco Polo Marine Ltd

Listed on SGX Mainboard since 2007, Marco Polo Marine is an integrated marine logistics company, which has expanded to become a reputable player in the region. The Group’s ship chartering business provides Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) as well as tugboats and barges, which are deployed in regional waters for its customers in the offshore oil and gas, mining, commodities, construction and infrastructure sectors. The Group’s shipyard business undertakes shipbuilding and maintenance as well as repair, outfitting and conversion services in Batam, Indonesia.

The company website is: www.marcopolomarine.com.sg  
Click here for the company's StockFacts page.  
For the year ended 30 September 2020 financial results, click here.  
 

About kopi-C: the Company brew

Text: Jennifer Tan-Stanisic Photo: Company file  kopi-C is a regular column on the SGX Research website that features C-level executives of leading companies listed on Singapore Exchange. These interviews are profiles of senior management aimed at helping investors better understand the individuals who run these corporations.  
For previous editions of kopi-C: the Company brew, please click here.    
For more information, or if you would like your senior executives to be featured on SGX Market Dialogues, please send suggestions to jennifer.t@sgx.com.



Marco Polo Marine Turns Tide, Steers into New Chapter

Singapore

Soilbuild Business Space REIT is a real estate investment trust. The Trust makes investmets in a portfolio of income-producing real estate used primarily for business space purposes in Singapore as well as real estate-related assets.

Soilbuild Business Space REIT (SBREIT SP)

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Soilbuild Business Space REIT (SBREIT SP)

Fraser Hospitality Trust’s Privatisation Offer from Frasers Property Limited

The offer price is attractive. At the last close and for the September end effective date, the annualised spread to the total offer price of...

Arun George

ARA Logos (ALLT SP): ESR Bumps. Scheme Meeting Delayed

I don't see the revised terms swaying the proxy advisors. The recent voting for Soilbuild Business Space REIT's Scheme was very close. 89.32% voted...

David Blennerhassett

ARA Logos (ALLT SP): Scheme Doc Out. Meeting On 27 Jan

There's a strong enough argument here for the deal to get up. It is, however, worth pointing out the recent voting for Soilbuild. Trading almost at...

David Blennerhassett

ARA Logos (ALLT SP) To Merge with ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)

On balance, there's probably enough here for the deal to get up. But the recent voting for Soilbuild does lend an element of risk. But at this...

David Blennerhassett

Marco Polo Marine Turns Tide, Steers into New Chapter

It was during some of the darkest days in his entrepreneurial journey that Sean Lee learnt what it takes to forge ahead,...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

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