Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

*Bankrupt: On February 5, 2021, Luckin filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection - less than a year after Luckin’s admission that its former COO, Jian Liu, “had engaged in certain misconduct, including fabricating certain transactions" beginning in 2019 amounting to about USD 310 mn ahead of its IPO; and*Will CAR Crash Next?: In addition to the common ownership of Luckin Coffee and CAR, Inc. (699.HK), and common former senior company officer problem, we also note that Ernst &amp; Young in mainland China audits both Luckin Coffee and CAR, Inc. That in and of itself does not suggest there is a problem, but the commonality does raise eyebrows. While we are not suggesting that there is a problem with CAR Inc., there are areas where we see where the investment community could challenge CAR Inc. and seek a re-audit for CAR between 2008-18.

*Bankrupt: On February 5, 2021, Luckin filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection - less than a year after Luckin’s admission that its former COO, Jian Liu, “had engaged in certain misconduct, including fabricating certain transactions" beginning in 2019 amounting to about USD 310 mn ahead of its IPO; and*Will CAR Crash Next?: In addition to the common ownership of Luckin Coffee and CAR, Inc. (699.HK), and common former senior company officer problem, we also note that Ernst &amp; Young in mainland China audits both Luckin Coffee and CAR, Inc. That in and of itself does not suggest there is a problem, but the commonality does raise eyebrows. While we are not suggesting that there is a problem with CAR Inc., there are areas where we see where the investment community could challenge CAR Inc. and seek a re-audit for CAR between 2008-18. 

Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year, with a substantial share of them being SOEs. We review broader trends as well as select cases, and discuss our takeaways on how best to asses the credit profiles of Chinese issuers. The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the “In-Focus” section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.

  In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year, with a substantial share of them being SOEs. We review broader trends as well as select cases, and discuss our takeaways on how best to asses the credit profiles of Chinese issuers.   The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the “In-Focus” section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.  

Asia HY Monthly - USD Bond Defaults In China - Lucror Analytics

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<div>
There were some anxious moments after China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) <a href="http://www.samr.gov.cn/fldj/ajgs/jzjyajgs/202011/t20201125_323881.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on the 25 November it was reviewing the MBK/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/car-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:942:1" rel="noopener">Car Inc (699 HK)</a> <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1113/2020111301538.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deal</a> as a simple case  - then promptly took near-on sixty day to assess the transaction rather than the "normal" 30 days. But Car <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0125/2021012501159.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on 25 January the pre-conditions had been fulfilled and the Composite Document would be despatched on or before 29 January. 
That despatch was pushed to the <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0129/2021012901138.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 February</a>, and now the Doc is <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0131/2021013100161.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">out</a>. 
The First Closing Date is the 22 February. The IFA (Halcyon) says "fair &amp; reasonable."
</div>
<div>
The Offer is subject to a 50% tendering condition - with MBK holding 47.43% at the completion of its SPA with UCAR, together with irrevocables. Warburg/Amber, holding 4.96% at last count, is a seller. This is done.
</div>
<div>
More thoughts below the fold.
</div>


There were some anxious moments after China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced on the 25 November it was reviewing the MBK/ Car Inc (699 HK) deal as a simple case  - then promptly took near-on sixty day to assess the transaction rather than the "normal" 30 days. But Car announced on 25 January the pre-conditions had been fulfilled and the Composite Document would be despatched on or before 29 January. 
That despatch was pushed to the 1 February, and now the Doc is out. 
The First Closing Date is the 22 February. The IFA (Halcyon) says "fair &amp; reasonable."


The Offer is subject to a 50% tendering condition - with MBK holding 47.43% at the completion of its SPA with UCAR, together with irrevocables. Warburg/Amber, holding 4.96% at last count, is a seller. This is done.


More thoughts below the fold.


Car (699 HK): Doc Out. IFA Says Fair. Done Deal

The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of January includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds in the Lucror Asia HY index.

  The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of January includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds in the Lucror Asia HY index. 

Asia HY Trade Book - January 2021 - Lucror Analytics

China Traditional Chinese Medicine / Event-Driven

China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK)



For the month of January, 22 new deals were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$52bn.


Clicking on the company name in the table below will take you to the entity page where you can read the initial insight(s) written by Smartkarma contributors on these new deals and follow up discussions, or simply click on the insight link(s) below the name.





New Deals


Industry


Size (US$bn)


Type


Premium




Australia




Bingo Industries (BIN AU) 
Waste collection
1.8
Scheme
19.8%



Bingo Industries (ASX: BIN): Talking Trash
Bingo Industries (BIN AU): CPE/MIRA's Scavenger Hunt




Hong Kong




China Machinery Engineering (1829 HK) 
Construction
0.4
Merger by Absorption
45.1%



China Machinery Engineering (1829 HK): Possible Offer
China Machinery Engineering (1829 HK): Delisting Offer From Parent




Polytec Asset Holdings (208 HK) 
Real Estate
0.4
Scheme
61.3%


Polytec Asset (208 HK): Offer By Way Of A Scheme



HKC Holdings (190 HK) 
Holding Co.
0.2
Scheme
120.39%



China Renewable Energy (987 HK): Possible Privatisation Offer
HKC (190 HK): Take-Private Offer By Way Of A Scheme




New Century REIT (1275 HK) 
Hospitality
0.25
Scheme-like
14.3%


New Century (1275 HK): Closing Down Sale



Rivera Holdings (281 HK) 
Real estate
0.1
Scheme
62.5%


Rivera (281 HK): Scheme Or Face Delisting



China Traditional Chinese (570 HK) 
TCM
3.0
??
??


Trad Chi Med (570 HK): Sinopharm's Feverish Proposal



Zhejiang New Century Hotel (1158 HK) 
Hospitality
0.65
Merger by Absorption
24.7%


Zhejiang New Century (1158 HK): Pre-Conditional Offer



Zhuhai Holdings Investment (908 HK) 
Ports
0.2
Scheme
37.8%


Zhuhai Holdings (908 HK): Zhuhai SASAC Reloads With Scheme Offer



India




Engineers India (ENGR IN) 
Engineering
0.1
Buyback tender
10%


Hefty Engineers India Buyback Tender - Worth The Arb If You Own



Japan




Tokyo Rope Mfg (5981 JP) 
Wire rope
0.2
Partial
39%



Nippon Steel's HOSTILE Partial Tender Offer for Tokyo Rope: A Move to Mark Territory?
New Money for Old Rope? Gaming Out A Hostile Partial Offer on Tokyo Rope (5981)




Singapore




CEI Limited (CEI SP) 
Electronics
0.1
VGO
16.2%


CEI Limited (CEI SP): Privatization Deal by AEM Holdings (AEM SP) Trading with a View to Complete



GL Ltd (GLL SP) 
Hospitality
0.2
VGO
25.0%


GL Limited (GLL SP): Privatisation Offer Renews Interest In Guoco



Penguin International (PBS SP) 
Boat builder
0.1
VGO
30%


Penguin International (PBS SP): Friendly Privatization Deal Might Need A Bump



Europe




CA Immobilien Anlagen AG (CAI AV) 
Real estate
3.8
Offer
16.9%


CA Immo - Starwood: Mandatory Offer



Carrefour SA (CA FP) 
Convenience
20.0
Merger
29.3%


Carrefour - Alimentation Couche-Tard Non-Binding Offer



Enlabs AB (NLAB SS) 
Sports betting
0.3
Offer
1.1%


Enlabs - Entain Beefing Up



Entain (ENT LN) 
Entertainment
11.0
Offer
22%


MGM's Prospective Offer for Entain



Liberbank SA (LBK SM) 
Financing
0.9
Merger



Liberbank - Unicaja Agreed Merger



Naturgy Energy Group SA (NTGY SM) 
Energy
6.0
Partial offer
20%


IFM Investors to Launch a Partial Hostile Tender Offer for Naturgy



Handicare Group AB (HANDI SS) 
Medi aid
0.4
Offer
22.0%


Handicare - Savaria: Recommended Offer



Tikkurila Oyj (TIK1V FH) 
Paints
1.7
Offer
84.5%


Akzo Nobel Tops PPG's Offer for Tikkurila


Source: Smartkarma Insights




The average premium for the new deals announced (or first discussed) in January was ~35%. This compared to the average premium in 2020 and 2019 of 31% and 31.5% respectively. 




Summary of News in January of Arb Situations On Smartkarma's Radar


(Again, click on the company names to take to you to the insights and/or discussion posts for a more comprehensive read-through on each situation. Where a new insight was written on these names in July, I've included a link, in bold, to that insight in italics.)






Australia


Comments (with links to announcements &amp; insights)




3P Learning (3PL AU) 

21-Jan: Non-binding term sheet entered into




amaysim Australia (AYS AU) 

18-Jan:
WAM Capital Ltd (WAM AU) has bumped its Offer for amaysim Australia (AYS AU) to 1 new WAM share for every 2.675 AYS share; or A$0.70/share cash per share, from 1 new WAM share for every 2.7 AYS share; or A$0.695/share cash per share. AYS' largest shareholder, Longfrist with 19.19%, supports WAM's Offer.




Asaleo Care Ltd (AHY AU) 

27-Jan: Independent board rejects non-binding proposal




Cardinal Resources (CDV AU) 

27-Jan: Shandong to compulsory acquire shares. Shares to be cease trading on the 3 Feb




Coca Cola Amatil (CCL AU) 

6-Jan: Coca-Cola Amatil Takeover Offer: A Bump Forthcoming?




Link Administration Holdings (LNK AU) 

3-Jan: SS&amp;C withdraws proposal for Link Administration Holdings (LNK AU).




Regis Healthcare (REG AU) 

20-Jan Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. (SOL AU)withdraws




Think Childcare (TNK AU) 

20-Jan: Think Childcare (TNK AU): Bigger Bid by Busy Bees




Vitalharvest Freehold Trust (VTH AU) 

No January update




WPP PLC (WPP LN) 

No January update










Hong Kong


Comments (with links to announcements &amp; insights)




Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy (579 HK) 

31-Dec: Beijing Jingneng (579 HK): Doc Out. IFA Says Fair &amp; Reasonable
11-Jan: As expected, SAIF (6.13% of total issued H  shares, and 11.53% of independent H shares; and Goldwind (2.83% &amp; 5.32% respectively) have given letters of intent to support the Offer. 
25-Jan:Quiddity M&amp;A : A Guide To Mergers By Absorption




Car Inc (699 HK) 

7-Jan: Car Inc (699 HK):  Are We Missing Anything?
26-Jan: Car Inc (699 HK):  No, We Are Not Missing Anything




China Logistics Property Holdings (1589 HK) 

18-Jan: Bloomberg is reporting that Blackstone Group Inc., ESR Cayman Ltd., and JD Logistics Inc. are among bidders for control of China Logistics Property Holdings (1589 HK). Meituan (3690 HK) is also reportedly in the mix.




Cowell E Holdings (1415 HK) 

1-Jan: Cowell E Holdings (1415 HK) delays the dispatch of the Composite Doc to the 22 January. 
15-Jan: Doc issued. Fist close is the 5 Feb




Huifu Payment Limited (1806 HK) 

27-Jan: Huifu Payment (1806 HK): Scheme Doc Out. IFA Says Fair




I.T Ltd (999 HK) 

20-Jan: Pre-cons satisfied. 




Shanghai Prime Machinery H (2345 HK) 

11-Jan: Shanghai Prime Machinery H (2345 HK) shareholders approved the merger. 12 Jan was the last day of trading. 




SHK Hong Kong Industries (666 HK) 

No January update




Tonly Electronics Holdings (1249 HK) 

29-Jan: Tonly Electronics (1249 HK): Scheme Doc Out. IFA Says Fair




China Zhongdi Dairy (1492 HK) 

18-Jan:  Zhongdi Dairy (1492 HK): Doc Out. Compulsory Acquisition Afforded










India


Comments (with links to insights)




Allcargo Logistics (AGLL IN) 

No January update




INEOS Styrolution India Limited (INEOS IN) 

No January update




Vedanta Ltd (VEDL IN) 

11-Jan: Vedanta (VEDL IN) Promoter To Launch an Open Offer To Buy More










Japan


Comments (with links to insights)




Cocokara Fine (3098 JP) 
No January update



Honshu Chemical Industry (4115 JP) 

No January update




Japan Asia (3751 JP) 

11-Dec: City Index Eleventh is now 14.91% of the register at Japan Asia (3751 JP).
18-Jan: Murakami Fund's Tender for JAG (3751):  May Be Rangebound Near-Term
26-Jan: Japan Asia Group (3751): Murakami Wins the Mother Of All Bumps +100% 




Joban Kaihatsu (1782 JP) 

4-Jan: Black Clover today reported they owned 12.29% of Joban Kaihatsu (1782 JP) 
23-Jan: Joban Kaihatsu MBO Price Bumped, Tender Extended: Still Not Rolling In Clover




Keihanshin Building (8818 JP) 

13-Jan Tender offer fails. Funny that. 




Kenedix Inc (4321 JP) 

9-Jan: Kenedix Inc (4321 JP) reported  that SMFL MIrai Partners had completed the Tender Offer for Kenedix shares and ended up with 62.35%
12-Jan: FTSE announced today that it would reduce the weight of Kenedix Inc (4321 JP) in its index from 97.7309% to 34.90958490918% while keeping the share count unchanged at 218,917,200 shares. The change takes place at the close of business on the 14th of January




Medical &amp; Biological Laboratories (4557 JP) 

Delisted 13 January




Pressance Corp (3254 JP) 

17-Jan: Pressance Partial Tender - Almost EVERYONE Tendered




Softbrain (4779 JP) 

Delisted on Jan 19




Tokyo Dome Corp (9681 JP) 

19-Jan: Mitsui Fudosan (8801 JP) announced the results of its Tender Offer for Tokyo Dome Corp (9681 JP). That will trigger an EGM and a resulting squeezeout.  It will also trigger a FTSE and MSCI downweight.




Toa Oil Co Ltd (5008 JP) 

13-Jan: Toa Oil (5008) Tender Offer Update - Looks Bumpity
14-Jan: Cornwall Capital announced it had increased its position in Toa Oil Co Ltd (5008 JP) from 20.86% (as of the last report) to 21.89% (as of the 6th of January). 
28-Jan: Cornwall Capital announced it had increased its position to 22.98%










Malaysia


Comments (with links to insights)




Batu Kawan Bhd (BAK MK) 

No January update




FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV MK) 

26-Jan: FGV (FGB MK): IFA Says Offer Not Fair








New Zealand


Comments (with links to insights and announcements)




Infratil Ltd (IFT NZ) 

28-Jan: Announced a strategic review of 51%-held Trustpower Ltd (TPW NZ) 








Philippines


Comments (with links to insights and announcements)




Lopez Holdings (LPZ PM) 

21-Jan: Tender Offer report despatched. Closing date is the 19 Feb,










Singapore


Comments 




Hi P International (HIP SP) 

No January update




Soilbuild Business Space REIT (SBREIT SP) 

24-Jan: First court hearing to be held on the 8 Feb.








Taiwan


Comments (with links to insights)




Jih Sun Financial (5820 TT) 

6-Jan: Fubon Financial Offer for Jih Sun Gets Even Weirder
7-Jan: Taiwanese news agency CNA has said that the FSC is investigating whether or not Capital Target Limited and its Responsible Officer Derek MD Chen (who I had believed to be the Responsible Person) is indeed the controller of Capital Target Limited.




Thinflex Corp (3144 TT) 

Tender Offer was completed, 100% pro-ration. (Japanese)













Europe/UK


Comments (with links to announcements and insights)




Altice NV A (ATC NA) 


22-Jan: Offer declared unconditional




Calisen PLC (1779730D LN) 


18-Jan: Sche doc issued




Entra ASA (ENTRA NO) 

No January update




KAZ Minerals (KAZ LN) 

25-Jan:  KAZ Minerals




Siltronic AG (WAF GR) 

25-Jan: GlobalWafers Ups Offer for Siltronic




Recipharm AB (RECIB SS) 
28-Jan: Roar bumps Offer



RSA Insurance (RSA LN) 
No January update



Tele Columbus AG (TC1 GR) 
No January update



Veolia Environnement SA (VIE FP) 
11-Jan: Veolia Steps up Pressure on Suez






China

CAR Inc. is a professional car rental service provider offering short-term rental, long-term rental, and financial leasing. The company provides a range of auto mobility solutions. It was founded in September 2007 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

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CAR (CAR HK)

Luckin Coffee – Chapter 15

LUCKIN COFFEE: On February 5, 2021, Luckin filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection after COO engaged in misconduct. Luckin and CAR have common...

Thomas J. Monaco

Asia HY Monthly - USD Bond Defaults In China - Lucror Analytics

In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year,...

Lucror Analytics

Car (699 HK): Doc Out. IFA Says Fair. Done Deal

This is a done deal. Trading tight at 0.5%/6.3% gross/annualised. Watch for any last-minute weakness to pick up a spread o two below here.

David Blennerhassett

Asia HY Trade Book - January 2021 - Lucror Analytics

The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of January includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also...

Lucror Analytics

(Mostly) Asia M&A: January 2021 Roundup

The average premium for the new deals announced (or first discussed) in January was ~36%. This compared to the average premium in 2020 and 2019 of...

David Blennerhassett

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