Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Back on the 19th July, online Q&amp;A play <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhihu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36660:1" rel="noopener">Zhihu (2390 HK/</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhihu-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32185:1" rel="noopener">ZH US)</a></strong> announced the <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0719/2024071901181.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buyback</a> of 46.92mn ordinary A shares (15.9% of shares out) at HK$9.11/share (US$3.50/ADS). </li>
<li>Assuming the buyback is fully taken up, chairman Yuan Zhou's stake will increase to 44.4% from 42.9% currently (held via A shares and the weighted-voting B shares). </li>
<li>The key condition is a simple majority vote from independent shareholders. Zhihu is sitting on  net cash of US$764mn. A significantly larger buyback, or higher price, could have been initiated. </li>
</ul>


Back on the 19th July, online Q&amp;A play Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US) announced the buyback of 46.92mn ordinary A shares (15.9% of shares out) at HK$9.11/share (US$3.50/ADS). 
Assuming the buyback is fully taken up, chairman Yuan Zhou's stake will increase to 44.4% from 42.9% currently (held via A shares and the weighted-voting B shares). 
The key condition is a simple majority vote from independent shareholders. Zhihu is sitting on  net cash of US$764mn. A significantly larger buyback, or higher price, could have been initiated. 


Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The removal of their cross-holding structure has had a negligible effect on the respective discounts to NAV for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/prosus-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28104:1" rel="noopener">Prosus NV (PRX NA)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naspers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21085:1" rel="noopener">Naspers (NPN SJ)</a>.</li>
<li>We have seen a remarkable turnaround in Prosus’s operating performance during FY2024 and the market will focus on whether the new CEO can achieve his ambitions for “profitable growth”.</li>
<li>The open-ended share repurchase program will continue as long as the discount remains “elevated”.</li>
</ul>


The removal of their cross-holding structure has had a negligible effect on the respective discounts to NAV for Prosus NV (PRX NA) and Naspers (NPN SJ).
We have seen a remarkable turnaround in Prosus’s operating performance during FY2024 and the market will focus on whether the new CEO can achieve his ambitions for “profitable growth”.
The open-ended share repurchase program will continue as long as the discount remains “elevated”.


Prosus (PRX-NA): Profitable Growth, Elevated Discount

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/robosense-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:39903:1" rel="noopener">Robosense Technology (2498 HK)</a> raised around US$126m in its Hong Kong IPO in Jan 2024. The lockup on its shareholders will expire soon.</li>
<li>The company provides LiDAR and perception solutions to its customers. As of March 2024, it had design wins for mass production of LiDAR products with 22 automotive OEMs and suppliers.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the upcoming lock-up expiry and possible deal dynamics.</li>
</ul>



Robosense Technology (2498 HK) raised around US$126m in its Hong Kong IPO in Jan 2024. The lockup on its shareholders will expire soon.
The company provides LiDAR and perception solutions to its customers. As of March 2024, it had design wins for mass production of LiDAR products with 22 automotive OEMs and suppliers.
In this note, we talk about the upcoming lock-up expiry and possible deal dynamics.


Robosense IPO Lock-Up Expiry - US$2.8bn Lockup Expiry for 99% of the Stock, CCASS Movement

<ul>
<li>With <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota (7203 JP)</a> having sold some of its stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/denso-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18703:1" rel="noopener">Denso</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kddi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:639:1" rel="noopener">KDDI</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/harmonic-drive-systems-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10238:1" rel="noopener">Harmonic Drive</a> this year, it has firmly set the ball rolling for unwinding some of its cross-shareholding.</li>
<li>Toyota has a shareholding in around 60 listed companies, with its combined disposable stake worth over US$26bn.</li>
<li>In this note, we take a look at its stakes in various companies to see which ones could possibly be candidates for further selldowns.</li>
</ul>


With Toyota (7203 JP) having sold some of its stake in Denso, KDDI and Harmonic Drive this year, it has firmly set the ball rolling for unwinding some of its cross-shareholding.
Toyota has a shareholding in around 60 listed companies, with its combined disposable stake worth over US$26bn.
In this note, we take a look at its stakes in various companies to see which ones could possibly be candidates for further selldowns.


Toyota Cross-Shareholding - To Say a Whole Lot Is Left Would Be a US$26bn Understatement

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/a8-new-media-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3444:1" rel="noopener">A8 New Media (800 HK)</a> disclosed a Cayman scheme privatisation offer from Mr Liu Xiaosong (Founder, Chairman, CEO) at HK$0.36 per share, a 162.8% premium to the last close price. </li>
<li>The massive premium is unsurprising, as A8’s EV has been negative since April 2023 due to headwinds from the weak Chinese leasing sector and uncertainty about cash use.  </li>
<li>The high takeover premium, no shareholder holding a blocking stake, and low AGM minority participation rate point to a done deal. However, this is a small-cap illiquid stock.  </li>
</ul>



A8 New Media (800 HK) disclosed a Cayman scheme privatisation offer from Mr Liu Xiaosong (Founder, Chairman, CEO) at HK$0.36 per share, a 162.8% premium to the last close price. 
The massive premium is unsurprising, as A8’s EV has been negative since April 2023 due to headwinds from the weak Chinese leasing sector and uncertainty about cash use.  
The high takeover premium, no shareholder holding a blocking stake, and low AGM minority participation rate point to a done deal. However, this is a small-cap illiquid stock.  


A8 New Media (800 HK): A Scheme with a 162% Takeover Premium

China

Tencent Holdings Ltd. is a Chinese multinational technology and entertainment conglomerate. It provides a wide range of internet-related services and products, including social communication platforms like Weixin/WeChat and QQ, online games, digital content, and fintech services. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, China.

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Tencent (700 HK)

Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US)'s Cheeky Buyback

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David Blennerhassett

Prosus (PRX-NA): Profitable Growth, Elevated Discount

In this insight, we analyse Prosus’s discount to NAV, the performance of its underlying consolidated operations, cash flow generation, capital...

Wium Malan, CFA

Robosense IPO Lock-Up Expiry - US$2.8bn Lockup Expiry for 99% of the Stock, CCASS Movement

The pre-IPO shareholders came out of lockup today, leading to a 67% drop in the share price with an accompanying spike in volumes.

Sumeet Singh

Toyota Cross-Shareholding - To Say a Whole Lot Is Left Would Be a US$26bn Understatement

Toyota, Toyota Industries and Denso are tag teaming to unwind some of their stake in Aisin, in a deal worth over US$1bn. While the timing of the...

Sumeet Singh

A8 New Media (800 HK): A Scheme with a 162% Takeover Premium

The high takeover premium, no shareholder holding a blocking stake, and low AGM minority participation rate point to a done deal. However, this is...

Arun George

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