Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Today, the Victorian government rejected a A$250mn 300-metre floating gas terminal proposal at Mornington Peninsula. Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the Crib Point terminal would have had "<a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02358799-2A1289920?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unacceptable environmental effects</a>" in Western Port.
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/198/047/original/image_90576892521617071507869.png?1617071510" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="198047"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source: ABC. A protester in a wetsuit taking his concerns about the terminal to the Victorian Parliament in early March</div>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/agl-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:554:1" rel="noopener">AGL Energy Ltd (AGL AU)</a>, which has already outlayed millions of dollars on the Crib Point project, <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02358799-2A1289920?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it was “considering its position” on the minister’s decision.
Concurrent with this rejection, AGL <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02358644-2A1289840?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it was splitting into two separate companies: a thermal coal generation business and a separate zero-carbon energy retailer. 
The split follows a raft of new initiatives/developments recently including an <a href="https://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/media-centre/asx-and-media-releases/2021/january/agl-announces-suppliers-for-grid-scale-battery-plans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreement</a> with suppliers for grid-scale battery plans, the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02355442-2A1288076?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">renewal</a> of the Portland smelter contract, and the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02353382-2A1286980?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">participation</a> in PowAR's acquisition of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tilt-renewables-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24371:1" rel="noopener">Tilt Renewables Ltd (TLT NZ)</a> (<a href="https://skr.ma/i5ugg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tilt Renewables: Mercury/PowAr's Big Blow</a>).
Speculation of a demerger has been running hot since Australia's oldest energy unity grappled with softening power prices, and a <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02340133-2A1279818?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A$2.29bn</a> loss in the 1H21, exacerbated by A$2.7bn in <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02337704-2A1278422?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impairment charges</a>. 
The share price reaction to the split was largely muted. 
As always, more below the fold.

Today, the Victorian government rejected a A$250mn 300-metre floating gas terminal proposal at Mornington Peninsula. Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the Crib Point terminal would have had "unacceptable environmental effects" in Western Port.

Source: ABC. A protester in a wetsuit taking his concerns about the terminal to the Victorian Parliament in early March
AGL Energy Ltd (AGL AU), which has already outlayed millions of dollars on the Crib Point project, announced it was “considering its position” on the minister’s decision.
Concurrent with this rejection, AGL announced it was splitting into two separate companies: a thermal coal generation business and a separate zero-carbon energy retailer. 
The split follows a raft of new initiatives/developments recently including an agreement with suppliers for grid-scale battery plans, the renewal of the Portland smelter contract, and the participation in PowAR's acquisition of Tilt Renewables Ltd (TLT NZ) (Tilt Renewables: Mercury/PowAr's Big Blow).
Speculation of a demerger has been running hot since Australia's oldest energy unity grappled with softening power prices, and a A$2.29bn loss in the 1H21, exacerbated by A$2.7bn in impairment charges. 
The share price reaction to the split was largely muted. 
As always, more below the fold.

AGL Energy (AGL AU): Carbon/Zero-Carbon Split

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

As long as market dynamics remain largely positive and the MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US), ACWI ex-US (ACWX-US), and EM (EEM-US) indexes are above their respective intermediate-term support levels we believe a constructive outlook is warranted. To reiterate, support levels to watch include $90 on ACWI-US, $53 on ACWX-US, and $52 on EEM-US. Open the attached file to read our complete International Strategy document, and to find links to detailed comments and recommendations for each of our 12 Sectors.

As long as market dynamics remain largely positive and the MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US), ACWI ex-US (ACWX-US), and EM (EEM-US) indexes are above their respective intermediate-term support levels we believe a constructive outlook is warranted. To reiterate, support levels to watch include $90 on ACWI-US, $53 on ACWX-US, and $52 on EEM-US. Open the attached file to read our complete International Strategy document, and to find links to detailed comments and recommendations for each of our 12 Sectors.

Global Equity Strategy: Constructive Pullback; Overweight Value

Our bullish outlook remains intact and is supported by the absence of breakdowns across major global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EM, and EAFE) and ongoing positive market dynamics. Until this changes, we believe global equities are headed higher in the coming weeks and months.

Our bullish outlook remains intact and is supported by the absence of breakdowns across major global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EM, and EAFE) and ongoing positive market dynamics. Until this changes, we believe global equities are headed higher in the coming weeks and months.

Global Equity Strategy: Stick With Reflation & Reopening Theme

European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

The Spanish Government ends, de facto, the liberalizing regime that ruled over the Spanish economy since 1999, because it considers necessary to limit the possible acquisitions of strategic Spanish companies by ANY foreign investor after the COVID-19 hit.
The Spanish Government enhances anti-takeover rules:
<ul>
<li>Temporarily until June 30, 2021, the Government has suspended the liberalization regime for foreign direct investments made by residents and other countries of the EU and the EFTA. Any attempt to acquire over 10% of a Spanish listed company by any EU or EFTA corporate or investor must be approved by the Cabinet.
</li>
<li>In the case of investments of non-EU origin, the suspension of the liberalization regime is maintained indefinitely, until a new legislative change is introduced.</li>
<li>This protects the Ibex 35 companies from takeover raids by European rivals.</li>
</ul>
This rule could make it possible to avoid hypothetical bids of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/total-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:812:1" rel="noopener">Total Sa (FP FP)</a> or <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/eni-spa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21185:1" rel="noopener">Eni SpA (ENI IM)</a> for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/repsol-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21292:1" rel="noopener">Repsol SA (REP SM)</a> or <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/deutsche-telekom-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21611:1" rel="noopener">Deutsche Telekom Ag (DTE GR)</a> for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telefonica-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21299:1" rel="noopener">Telefonica SA (TEF SM)</a> , which have been the subject of rumours in the market.
<ul>
<li>Analysts see Repsol and Telefónica as the most vulnerable members of the IBEX 35 index, due to their current low valuation. Repsol trades at 4.9x EV/Forward EBITDA vs. the median of comparable companies, 6.3x. Telefonica is trading at 5.2x EV/Forward EBITA vs. the median of comparable companies, 6.5x.</li>
</ul>
Some transactions that are underway could be affected. For example, the French group Vinci agreed to buy the industrial services division of ACS, for over €5 bn (for reference: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/acs-unlocking-value-via-disposals" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44311" rel="noopener">ACS: Unlocking Value Via Disposals</a>).

The Spanish Government ends, de facto, the liberalizing regime that ruled over the Spanish economy since 1999, because it considers necessary to limit the possible acquisitions of strategic Spanish companies by ANY foreign investor after the COVID-19 hit.
The Spanish Government enhances anti-takeover rules:

Temporarily until June 30, 2021, the Government has suspended the liberalization regime for foreign direct investments made by residents and other countries of the EU and the EFTA. Any attempt to acquire over 10% of a Spanish listed company by any EU or EFTA corporate or investor must be approved by the Cabinet.

In the case of investments of non-EU origin, the suspension of the liberalization regime is maintained indefinitely, until a new legislative change is introduced.
This protects the Ibex 35 companies from takeover raids by European rivals.

This rule could make it possible to avoid hypothetical bids of Total Sa (FP FP) or Eni SpA (ENI IM) for Repsol SA (REP SM) or Deutsche Telekom Ag (DTE GR) for Telefonica SA (TEF SM) , which have been the subject of rumours in the market.

Analysts see Repsol and Telefónica as the most vulnerable members of the IBEX 35 index, due to their current low valuation. Repsol trades at 4.9x EV/Forward EBITDA vs. the median of comparable companies, 6.3x. Telefonica is trading at 5.2x EV/Forward EBITA vs. the median of comparable companies, 6.5x.

Some transactions that are underway could be affected. For example, the French group Vinci agreed to buy the industrial services division of ACS, for over €5 bn (for reference: ACS: Unlocking Value Via Disposals).

Enhanced Limits to Investments in Spanish Companies

Credit

With the end of the cycle, precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic, central banks will step in and there is no risk of interest rates increasing anytime soon.
Redemptions and lack of liquidity have brought down bond prices, and have, therefore, created attractive entry points for some issuers. Prices may not be as extreme as two weeks ago, but still there are opportunities aplenty.
The European Central Bank will purchase sovereign and corporate debt at a pace never seen before. It will provide a strong support for investment grade issuers. However, the credit market remains fragmented. The activity on primary market has not recovered for riskier issuers.
I have compiled a list of bonds by Spanish issuers (or whose parent is Spanish) in a variety of sectors. Most are multinational companies and should be able to emerge less harmed by the looming crisis.
Please read on.
(All data have been sourced from Capital IQ)

With the end of the cycle, precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic, central banks will step in and there is no risk of interest rates increasing anytime soon.
Redemptions and lack of liquidity have brought down bond prices, and have, therefore, created attractive entry points for some issuers. Prices may not be as extreme as two weeks ago, but still there are opportunities aplenty.
The European Central Bank will purchase sovereign and corporate debt at a pace never seen before. It will provide a strong support for investment grade issuers. However, the credit market remains fragmented. The activity on primary market has not recovered for riskier issuers.
I have compiled a list of bonds by Spanish issuers (or whose parent is Spanish) in a variety of sectors. Most are multinational companies and should be able to emerge less harmed by the looming crisis.
Please read on.
(All data have been sourced from Capital IQ)

Spain

Repsol S.A., through subsidiaries, explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas, refines petroleum, and transports petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).  The Company retails gasoline and other products through its chain of gasoline filling stations.  Repsol's petroleum reserves are in Spain, Latin America, Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East and United States.

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Repsol SA (REP SM)

AGL Energy (AGL AU): Carbon/Zero-Carbon Split

The demerger announcement provides shareholders with a carbon exposure choice. Arguably, the split should be positive for forward growth for both...

David Blennerhassett

Global Equity Strategy: Constructive Pullback; Overweight Value

As long as the MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US), ACWI ex-US (ACWX-US), and EM (EEM-US) indexes are above their respective intermediate-term support levels we...

Vermilion Research

Global Equity Strategy: Stick With Reflation & Reopening Theme

Our bullish outlook remains intact supported by the absence of breakdowns across major global indexes. Until this changes, we believe global...

Vermilion Research

Enhanced Limits to Investments in Spanish Companies

Any attempt to acquire over 10% of a Spanish listed company by any foreign investor must be approved by the Cabinet. This could prevent bids of...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Spanish Issuers' Credit Opportunities

With the end of the cycle, precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic, central banks will step in and there is no risk of interest rates increasing...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

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