Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Tally 50 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.</li>
<li>No new deals were discussed on Smartkarma this week; although a <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lynas-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20374:1" rel="noopener">Lynas Corp Ltd (LYC AU)</a> / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mp-materials-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33108:1" rel="noopener">MP Materials Corp (MP US)</a>tie-in (again) rumoured.</li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tietto-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28006:1" rel="noopener">Tietto Minerals (TIE AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsr-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17620:1" rel="noopener">JSR Corp (4185 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinko-electric-industries" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15066:1" rel="noopener">Shinko Electric (6967 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tdcx-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34187:1" rel="noopener">TDCX (TDCX US)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hollysys-automation-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26078:1" rel="noopener">Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)</a>.
</li>
</ul>


Tally 50 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
No new deals were discussed on Smartkarma this week; although a Lynas Corp Ltd (LYC AU) / MP Materials Corp (MP US)tie-in (again) rumoured.
Key updates took place on: Azure Minerals (AZS AU), Tietto Minerals (TIE AU), JSR Corp (4185 JP), Shinko Electric (6967 JP), TDCX (TDCX US), and Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US).



(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Lynas, Tietto Minerals, JSR, Shinko Electric, TDCX

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lynas-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20374:1" rel="noopener">Lynas Corp Ltd (LYC AU)</a> is the proverbial Aussie battler. Post the 2018 general elections, the new Malaysian government put Lynas on notice it may halt it rare-earth operations. </li>
<li>Since then, Lynas’ Malaysian facility, which cuts into China’s near-monopoly on processing elements for defense/aerospace/EV/electronics industries, has (mostly) operated without substantial disruptions. Profit peaked in FY22; but has since rolled-over.</li>
<li>Gina Rhinehart's Hancock has now disclosed a 5.82% stake in Lynas; having disclosed a 5.3% stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mp-materials-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33108:1" rel="noopener">MP Materials (MP US)</a> earlier this month. Lynas confirmed discussions with MPM in February.</li>
</ul>



Lynas Corp Ltd (LYC AU) is the proverbial Aussie battler. Post the 2018 general elections, the new Malaysian government put Lynas on notice it may halt it rare-earth operations. 
Since then, Lynas’ Malaysian facility, which cuts into China’s near-monopoly on processing elements for defense/aerospace/EV/electronics industries, has (mostly) operated without substantial disruptions. Profit peaked in FY22; but has since rolled-over.
Gina Rhinehart's Hancock has now disclosed a 5.82% stake in Lynas; having disclosed a 5.3% stake in MP Materials (MP US) earlier this month. Lynas confirmed discussions with MPM in February.


Lynas (LYC AU): Gina's Stake Revives MP Materials Merger

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is forcing the US and European administrations to wrestle with the vulnerabilities in their uranium supply chains. </li>
<li>The situation is also re-emphasising the spotlight on the future role of nuclear energy in the power grids. </li>
<li>Uranium prices are up 44% since the invasion began, with the price for nuclear fuel at a decade high.</li>
</ul>


Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is forcing the US and European administrations to wrestle with the vulnerabilities in their uranium supply chains. 
The situation is also re-emphasising the spotlight on the future role of nuclear energy in the power grids. 
Uranium prices are up 44% since the invasion began, with the price for nuclear fuel at a decade high.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona (2168 JP)</a>will pay out 10-20% of the extraordinary gain from the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/benefit-one-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14502:1" rel="noopener">Benefit One (2412 JP)</a> sale. It will take its sweet time doing so. For no apparent reason.</li>
<li>
<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>'s first-ever scrip dividend provides the means for the Chan Family to indirectly chip away at minorities. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hollysys-automation-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26078:1" rel="noopener">Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)</a> accountant resignation announcement is a nothing burger. An  update on PRC regulatory approvals would be welcome about now though. </li>
</ul>



Pasona (2168 JP)will pay out 10-20% of the extraordinary gain from the Benefit One (2412 JP) sale. It will take its sweet time doing so. For no apparent reason.

Hang Lung Properties (101 HK)'s first-ever scrip dividend provides the means for the Chan Family to indirectly chip away at minorities. 

Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US) accountant resignation announcement is a nothing burger. An  update on PRC regulatory approvals would be welcome about now though. 


Last Week in Event SPACE: Pasona/Benefit One, Hang Lung Properties, Hollysys, Azure Minerals

<ul>
<li>On the 8th April, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a> shareholders overwhelmingly <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20240408/pdf/06297mn340tk8x.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sociedad-quimica-y-minera-de-chile-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27977:1" rel="noopener">Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM US)</a>/Gina Rhinehart's Hancock transaction. Shares promptly closed down 7% on regulatory approval fears.</li>
<li>Those fears are unwarranted. China’s Tianqi Lithium would indirectly own just ~11% in Azure post-deal.  China has recently lifted anti-dumping tariffs on a range of Aussie products. FIRB won’t block.</li>
<li>An expected approval may have spurred Gina to buy more shares in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lynas-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20374:1" rel="noopener">Lynas (LYC AU)</a>. Why buy now if FIRB dings Azure; that outcome would push the whole sector lower.</li>
</ul>


On the 8th April, Azure Minerals (AZS AU) shareholders overwhelmingly approved the Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM US)/Gina Rhinehart's Hancock transaction. Shares promptly closed down 7% on regulatory approval fears.
Those fears are unwarranted. China’s Tianqi Lithium would indirectly own just ~11% in Azure post-deal.  China has recently lifted anti-dumping tariffs on a range of Aussie products. FIRB won’t block.
An expected approval may have spurred Gina to buy more shares in Lynas (LYC AU). Why buy now if FIRB dings Azure; that outcome would push the whole sector lower.


Azure Min's (AZS AU)'s "Boost" As Gina Ups Stake in Lynas

Australia

Lynas Corporation Limited explores and mines for rare earth minerals such as cerium and neodymium.

Lynas Corp Ltd (LYC AU)

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Lynas, Tietto Minerals, JSR, Shinko Electric, TDCX

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

Lynas (LYC AU): Gina's Stake Revives MP Materials Merger

Strong government and shareholder support. Confirmation of talks with key player. New facility fully operational. This looks worth dipping your toe...

David Blennerhassett

Uranium: Fuelling Fears

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is forcing the US and European administrations to wrestle with the vulnerabilities in their uranium supply chains....

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: Pasona/Benefit One, Hang Lung Properties, Hollysys, Azure Minerals

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

Azure Min's (AZS AU)'s "Boost" As Gina Ups Stake in Lynas

Trading wide at a gross spread of 7.5%. This is a BUY. Is the market really thinking FIRB would block a Rinehart/Chilean JV to prevent a Chinese...

David Blennerhassett