Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>I tally 51 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. I've yet to see a solid rationality why they would block.</li>
<li>One new deal was discussed this week: Bain's Tender Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jamco-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14741:1" rel="noopener">Jamco Corp (7408 JP)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ho-bee-land-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18298:1" rel="noopener">Ho Bee Land Ltd (HOBEE SP)</a> also countered for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/avjennings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12578:1" rel="noopener">AVJennings Ltd (AVJ AU)</a>.</li>
<li>Key updates/news took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/insignia-financial-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12349:1" rel="noopener">Insignia Financial (IFL AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/advanced-info-service-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:947:1" rel="noopener">Advanced Info Service (ADVANC TB)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/thaicom-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18019:1" rel="noopener">Thaicom Pcl (THCOM TB)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 51 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. I've yet to see a solid rationality why they would block.
One new deal was discussed this week: Bain's Tender Offer for Jamco Corp (7408 JP). Ho Bee Land Ltd (HOBEE SP) also countered for AVJennings Ltd (AVJ AU).
Key updates/news took place on: Insignia Financial (IFL AU), Lifestyle China (2136 HK), and Advanced Info Service (ADVANC TB)/Thaicom Pcl (THCOM TB).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Jamco, AVJennings, Insignia Financial, Advanced Info Service/Thaicom

<ul>
<li>After CC Capital waded in on the 6th January with a A$4.30/share NBIO for wealth manager <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/insignia-financial-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12349:1" rel="noopener">Insignia Financial (IFL AU)</a>, trumping Bain's A$4.00/share proposal, Bain subsequently matched CC Capital's terms.  </li>
<li>CC Capital has now lifted is indicative Offer to <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20250117/pdf/06dm4ygnv88lmw.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A$4.60/share</a>, a ~50% premium to undisturbed. Time for IFL to engage. And for Tanarra to be supportive. </li>
<li>And Bain? I expect them to match CC Capital's terms, again; if not a small premium. </li>
</ul>


After CC Capital waded in on the 6th January with a A$4.30/share NBIO for wealth manager Insignia Financial (IFL AU), trumping Bain's A$4.00/share proposal, Bain subsequently matched CC Capital's terms.  
CC Capital has now lifted is indicative Offer to A$4.60/share, a ~50% premium to undisturbed. Time for IFL to engage. And for Tanarra to be supportive. 
And Bain? I expect them to match CC Capital's terms, again; if not a small premium. 


Insignia Financial (IFL AU): Bumpity Bumpity. Expect Bain To Match - Or Exceed - CC Capital's Terms

<ul>
<li>Back on the 6th December 2024, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a>, a PRC department store operator, announced a Scheme from Thomas Lau, its chairman/CEO and major shareholder (74.91%, including concert parties).</li>
<li>The HK$0.913 Offer price was miserly 21.7% premium to last close. But not declared final. </li>
<li>The Offer deserved a bump, and Lau has obliged. However, the <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/0116/2025011600886.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revised HK$0.98/share bid</a>, a 30.6% premium to undisturbed, remains underwhelming. Lau has declared terms final.</li>
</ul>


Back on the 6th December 2024, Lifestyle China (2136 HK), a PRC department store operator, announced a Scheme from Thomas Lau, its chairman/CEO and major shareholder (74.91%, including concert parties).
The HK$0.913 Offer price was miserly 21.7% premium to last close. But not declared final. 
The Offer deserved a bump, and Lau has obliged. However, the revised HK$0.98/share bid, a 30.6% premium to undisturbed, remains underwhelming. Lau has declared terms final.


Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Lau's Scheme - The Premium Is Still Wrong. And Now Final

Head of Research, Krungthai XSpring

Waraporn Wiboonkanarak

Head of Research

A full service Thai brokerage

Krungthai XSpring

Krungthai XSpring is a full service broker. The company provides a wide range of investment services such as Securities Brokerage, Derivative Agent Business, Securities Borrowing and Lending, Securities Trading, Underwriting, Financial Advisory, Wealth Advisory, Private Fund Management and International Markets Securities Trading. 

In terms of credibility, Fitch Ratings has assigned Krunghtai XSpring a long-term rating of AA- and a national short-term rating of F1+ with stable outlook.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Technically, the SET Index is expected to move sideways up, with the resistance at 1,360/1,365 points and the support at 1,344/1,340 points.</li><li>US: The December retail sales report is expected to show growth of +0.6% MoM and +4% YoY (vs. +0.7% MoM and +3.8% YoY in November).</li><li>US stock markets posted the largest single-day gain in two months, boosted by lower-than-expected core inflation.</li></ul>

Technically, the SET Index is expected to move sideways up, with the resistance at 1,360/1,365 points and the support at 1,344/1,340 points.US: The December retail sales report is expected to show growth of +0.6% MoM and +4% YoY (vs. +0.7% MoM and +3.8% YoY in November).US stock markets posted the largest single-day gain in two months, boosted by lower-than-expected core inflation.

US Retail Sales and 4Q24 Earnings Results

<ul><li>TASCO is added to the portfolio thanks to the recovery in government budget disbursements, which is expected to strongly boost the 4Q24E performance compared to the previous year.</li><li>INTUCH is also added, ranked at the bottom of the table, with its share price still at an 8.1% discount to the market value of its ADVANC holdings and the potential for a special dividend ahead of the amalgamation.</li><li>KTX's Tactical Picks portfolio is constructed within SET100 Index constituents.</li></ul>

TASCO is added to the portfolio thanks to the recovery in government budget disbursements, which is expected to strongly boost the 4Q24E performance compared to the previous year.INTUCH is also added, ranked at the bottom of the table, with its share price still at an 8.1% discount to the market value of its ADVANC holdings and the potential for a special dividend ahead of the amalgamation.KTX's Tactical Picks portfolio is constructed within SET100 Index constituents.

Krungthai Xspring KTX Tactical Picks - January 15, 2025 (Eng.)

Thailand

Advanced Info Service is Thailand's largest telecommunications and technology company, providing mobile phone services, including prepaid, postpaid, and 5G network services, along with mobile devices. The company also offers high-speed home broadband services under the AIS Fibre and 3BB brands, as well as digital services such as cloud solutions, IoT, digital payments, and enterprise solutions. Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, the company was founded in 1986.

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Advanced Info Service (ADVANC-R TB)

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Jamco, AVJennings, Insignia Financial, Advanced Info Service/Thaicom

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

Insignia Financial (IFL AU): Bumpity Bumpity. Expect Bain To Match - Or Exceed - CC Capital's Terms

Both Offers remain non-binding. IFL should engage. Which means Bain needs to step up to at least match CC Capital. I'd be surprised if Tanarra...

David Blennerhassett

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Lau's Scheme - The Premium Is Still Wrong. And Now Final

IF illiquid arbs are your thing and you think this get up, pay up to HK$0.95/share for a 3.4%/15% gross/annualised return (where possible), if mid...

David Blennerhassett

US Retail Sales and 4Q24 Earnings Results

Technically, the SET Index is expected to move sideways up, with the resistance at 1,360/1,365 points and the support at 1,344/1,340 points. US:...

Krungthai XSpring

Krungthai Xspring KTX Tactical Picks - January 15, 2025 (Eng.)

TASCO is added to the portfolio thanks to the recovery in government budget disbursements, which is expected to strongly boost the 4Q24E...

Krungthai XSpring

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