Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkbn-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:289:1" rel="noopener">HKBN Ltd (1310 HK)</a> spiked 12.3% yesterday in response to media reports (like <a href="https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/202702/China-Mobile-explores-acquiring-Hong-Kong-telecom-firm-HKBN%C2%A0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this one</a>) that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> was running a ruler over the company.</li>
<li>This follows Bloomberg reports last month and in May last year, that I Square's HGC Global Communications and numerous PE outfits were kicking tyres of the Hong Kong broadband play.</li>
<li>Over the weekend, Hong Kong's security chief was quoted as saying "the internet could become a major loophole when maintaining national security". <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkt-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:874:1" rel="noopener">HKT (6823 HK)</a> is a potential privatisation candidate. </li>
</ul>



HKBN Ltd (1310 HK) spiked 12.3% yesterday in response to media reports (like this one) that China Mobile (941 HK) was running a ruler over the company.
This follows Bloomberg reports last month and in May last year, that I Square's HGC Global Communications and numerous PE outfits were kicking tyres of the Hong Kong broadband play.
Over the weekend, Hong Kong's security chief was quoted as saying "the internet could become a major loophole when maintaining national security". HKT (6823 HK) is a potential privatisation candidate. 


<ul>
<li>Reportedly, Chinese investors, as well as Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, have expressed interest in acquiring a "significant " minority stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pccw-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:873:1" rel="noopener">PCCW Ltd (8 HK)</a>'s fibre ops. </li>
<li>Preceding my comments on PCCW are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>


Reportedly, Chinese investors, as well as Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, have expressed interest in acquiring a "significant " minority stake in PCCW Ltd (8 HK)'s fibre ops. 
Preceding my comments on PCCW are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


StubWorld: Rumoured Interest In PCCW's Fibre

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pccw-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:873:1" rel="noopener">PCCW Ltd (8 HK)</a> is coming up "cheap" on my monitor, both from a discount to NAV and implied stub angle. </li>
<li>Preceding my comments PCCW / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkt-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:874:1" rel="noopener">HKT Ltd (6823 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-kyoto" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5248:1" rel="noopener">Bank of Kyoto (8369 JP)</a> are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos. </li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>



PCCW Ltd (8 HK) is coming up "cheap" on my monitor, both from a discount to NAV and implied stub angle. 
Preceding my comments PCCW / HKT Ltd (6823 HK) and Bank of Kyoto (8369 JP) are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos. 
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


In two SCMP articles on the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3128495/im-very-dissatisfied-tvbs-performance-says-chinese-media-tycoon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7 April</a>, PRC media tycoon Li Ruigang, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/television-broadcasts-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19341:1" rel="noopener">Television Broadcasts (511 HK)</a>'s largest shareholder (via Young Lion Holdings), discussed his dissatisfaction with TVB's performance, saying:
<blockquote>
As a free broadcaster, TVB should be a public open platform welcoming other players in the media and entertainment industry to participate.
</blockquote>
Under the broadcasting ordinance in Hong Kong, non-permanent residents - such as Li - cannot apply for a free TV or pay TV licence, and are branded “disqualified persons”. Li added:
<blockquote>
We respect the ordinance. In the past five years, CMC was a passive investor. [But] if TVB does not reform now, it will shrink, then perish. I am now trying to bring it out from drowning.
</blockquote>
Yesterday, TVB <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0412/2021041200063.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Mark Lee Po On, Vice Chairman (since <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0429/2020042902252.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">April</a> last year) and Group CEO (since January 2015), had resigned. 
This follows the resignation Charles Chan (then Chairman and NED) in <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0122/2020012200238.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">January</a> last year, culminating in the re-oganisation of Young Lion Holding in last August.
One but can't help but speculate there are more changes afoot, one that may ultimately lead to changes in the ordinance.
More below the fold.

In two SCMP articles on the 7 April, PRC media tycoon Li Ruigang, Television Broadcasts (511 HK)'s largest shareholder (via Young Lion Holdings), discussed his dissatisfaction with TVB's performance, saying:

As a free broadcaster, TVB should be a public open platform welcoming other players in the media and entertainment industry to participate.

Under the broadcasting ordinance in Hong Kong, non-permanent residents - such as Li - cannot apply for a free TV or pay TV licence, and are branded “disqualified persons”. Li added:

We respect the ordinance. In the past five years, CMC was a passive investor. [But] if TVB does not reform now, it will shrink, then perish. I am now trying to bring it out from drowning.

Yesterday, TVB announced Mark Lee Po On, Vice Chairman (since April last year) and Group CEO (since January 2015), had resigned. 
This follows the resignation Charles Chan (then Chairman and NED) in January last year, culminating in the re-oganisation of Young Lion Holding in last August.
One but can't help but speculate there are more changes afoot, one that may ultimately lead to changes in the ordinance.
More below the fold.

Equity Bottom-Up

A number of corporate developments have unfolded at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pccw-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:873:1" rel="noopener">PCCW Ltd (8 HK)</a> over the past year including a partial offer from Richard Li (<a href="https://skr.ma/97Cbz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PCCW: Partial Offer To Lift Li Above 30%</a>), lifting his stake above the general Offer threshold level of 30%; partially in-specie-ing its stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pacific-century-premium-developments-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19652:1" rel="noopener">Pacific Century Premium Developments (432 HK)</a>, such that the property developer is no longer consolidated; selling NOW TV to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkt-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:874:1" rel="noopener">HKT Ltd (6823 HK)</a>; and selling non-core related investments in Malaysia.
The Partial Offer led to a significant narrowing in PCCW's discount to NAV, where it has steadfastly remained. 
PCCW has marginally underperformed the HSI over the past year - -4% vs -1.5% - but has outperformed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkt-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:874:1" rel="noopener">HKT Ltd (6823 HK)</a>'s -13.5%. 
Despite the gradual cleaning of house, and Li's move to consolidate greater control, PCCW's stub ops - ex-HKT - stubbornly remain in the red (on an EBITDA basis), as they have done so for near-on a decade.
Reports are now emerging PCCW is in the cross-hairs to be deleted from the MSCI in the May review.
As always, more below the fold.

A number of corporate developments have unfolded at PCCW Ltd (8 HK) over the past year including a partial offer from Richard Li (PCCW: Partial Offer To Lift Li Above 30%), lifting his stake above the general Offer threshold level of 30%; partially in-specie-ing its stake in Pacific Century Premium Developments (432 HK), such that the property developer is no longer consolidated; selling NOW TV to HKT Ltd (6823 HK); and selling non-core related investments in Malaysia.
The Partial Offer led to a significant narrowing in PCCW's discount to NAV, where it has steadfastly remained. 
PCCW has marginally underperformed the HSI over the past year - -4% vs -1.5% - but has outperformed HKT Ltd (6823 HK)'s -13.5%. 
Despite the gradual cleaning of house, and Li's move to consolidate greater control, PCCW's stub ops - ex-HKT - stubbornly remain in the red (on an EBITDA basis), as they have done so for near-on a decade.
Reports are now emerging PCCW is in the cross-hairs to be deleted from the MSCI in the May review.
As always, more below the fold.

Hong Kong

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates satellites for commercial services primarily to the broadcasting and telecommunications industries.  The Company's satellite capacity is used for video, high speed Internet, broadband multimedia, and direct to home (DTH) services.

Asia Satellite Telecom Holdings Ltd (1135 HK)

Asia Satellite Telecom Holdings Ltd (1135 HK)

If HKBN Gets Taken Out, Who's Next?

Is $10/share for HKBN enough to kick out TPG? Maybe. And it's peanuts for the likes of China Mobile sitting on cash of US$33bn. Separately, HKT is...

David Blennerhassett

StubWorld: Rumoured Interest In PCCW's Fibre

A 7% premium is unsustainable for this holding company structure. Reverse the stub here. If Hong Kong fibre is in vogue. perhaps it might be...

David Blennerhassett

StubWorld: PCCW Coming Up "Cheap"

I would still be invested where Richard Li is - and therefore be Long PCCW, short HKT here. I expect the NAV discount to narrow towards its one...

David Blennerhassett

TVB (511 HK): Small Screen Saver

This stock is very beaten up. Li has a plan, it would seem. If he is given the green light, shares will pop, if not on the economics, but at least...

David Blennerhassett

PCCW (8 HK): Possible MSCI Deletion

PCCW appears to be fully priced at 2+STD on a NAV discount. I would look to unwind here if already in, and look to reverse the stub - Short PCCW,...

David Blennerhassett