Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

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According to the <a href="https://investor.majorcineplex.com/en/business-characteristics/strategic-invesments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> of Thailand's largest cinema operator <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/major-cineplex-group-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16662:1" rel="noopener">Major Cineplex Group (MAJOR TB)</a>'s<a href="https://investor.majorcineplex.com/en/business-characteristics/strategic-invesments" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>, the rationale for its investment in shopping mall operator <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/siam-future-development-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4373:1" rel="noopener">Siam Future Development (SF TB)</a> (SFD) was synergistic. SFD "is an anchor tenant that generates traffic to the lifestyle malls". 
MAJOR initially acquired 77.8mn shares in SFD in 2003 at Bt1.70/share. MAJOR held <a href="https://investor.siamfuture.com/misc/ar/20170308-sf-ar2016-en-01.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">24.89%</a> (422.2mn shares) in 2016 ahead of a Tender Offer (at <a href="http://capital.sec.or.th/webapp/corp_fin/datafile/TO/0676000048247-42016-12-20e01.pdf?ts=1499458214" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bt6.20/share</a>), <a href="https://investor.siamfuture.com/misc/ar/20190311-sf-ar2018-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">26.25%</a> in 2017, 28.09% in 2018 &amp; 2019, and 29.13% as at the 31 Dec <a href="https://investor.siamfuture.com/misc/ar/20210525-sp-ar2020-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020</a>. It currently holds 647.158mn shares or 30.36%.
On the 5 July, MAJOR's board <a href="https://major.listedcompany.com/newsroom/050720211745440725E.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the entering of a MOU with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/central-pattana-pcl-0b7fb113-16e1-4535-be8b-02dce5bbcd92" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17188:1" rel="noopener">Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB)</a> in relation to its shares in SFD, at a price of Bt12/share.
An IFA was appointed to assess the sale and its opinion on the <a href="https://major.listedcompany.com/newsroom/060820211832280109E.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">19 July</a>, concluded the "Transaction is reasonable with price and conditions that are fair".
A SPA was <a href="https://major.listedcompany.com/newsroom/250820211847500685E.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered into</a> yesterday with an expected completion on the 30 August. 
In Thailand, the obligation to make a mandatory offer is triggered when an acquirer obtains shares of the target company of more than 25%, 50%, or 75% of the total voting rights of the target company. 
Therefore CPN is required to make a tender offer for the remaining shares in SFD at the same price of Bt12/each upon the completion of the SPA.  A mandatory tender offer must be unconditional. 
SFD shares gained ~40% in the month prior to the 5 July announcement, on evident news leakage. Bt12/share is also a lifetime high. I would not be surprised if the tender offer leads to a subsequent delisting offer from CPN.
More below the fold.
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According to the website of Thailand's largest cinema operator Major Cineplex Group (MAJOR TB)'s, the rationale for its investment in shopping mall operator Siam Future Development (SF TB) (SFD) was synergistic. SFD "is an anchor tenant that generates traffic to the lifestyle malls". 
MAJOR initially acquired 77.8mn shares in SFD in 2003 at Bt1.70/share. MAJOR held 24.89% (422.2mn shares) in 2016 ahead of a Tender Offer (at Bt6.20/share), 26.25% in 2017, 28.09% in 2018 &amp; 2019, and 29.13% as at the 31 Dec 2020. It currently holds 647.158mn shares or 30.36%.
On the 5 July, MAJOR's board approved the entering of a MOU with Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB) in relation to its shares in SFD, at a price of Bt12/share.
An IFA was appointed to assess the sale and its opinion on the 19 July, concluded the "Transaction is reasonable with price and conditions that are fair".
A SPA was entered into yesterday with an expected completion on the 30 August. 
In Thailand, the obligation to make a mandatory offer is triggered when an acquirer obtains shares of the target company of more than 25%, 50%, or 75% of the total voting rights of the target company. 
Therefore CPN is required to make a tender offer for the remaining shares in SFD at the same price of Bt12/each upon the completion of the SPA.  A mandatory tender offer must be unconditional. 
SFD shares gained ~40% in the month prior to the 5 July announcement, on evident news leakage. Bt12/share is also a lifetime high. I would not be surprised if the tender offer leads to a subsequent delisting offer from CPN.
More below the fold.


Siam Future Development (SF TB): Central Pattana MGO As MAJOR Cineplex Exits

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

The SET50 Index is one of the very few indices that is still weighted by full market cap. Stocks need to have a minimum free float of 20% to be eligible for index inclusion but the free float is not used to determine the weight of the stock in the index.This had led to stocks with low free floats having an inordinately high weight in the index. The most recent case in point was <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/delta-electronics-thai-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20912:1" rel="noopener">Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB)</a> - the stock was an inclusion in the SET50 index at the December review. DELTA is now the third largest stock in the index with a 6.07% weighting, even though the SET free float of the stock is only 22.35%. The stock has jumped 1000% over the last year.Media reports now indicate that there are changes brewing that could result in the SET revising the calculation methodology to more accurately determine the free float of stocks, and a change to the calculation methodology of the SET50 Index that would see it move from a full market cap weighted index to a free float market cap weighted index.In this Insight, we take a look at the stocks that would be affected by the changes and the impact of passive fund trading on the stocks.

The SET50 Index is one of the very few indices that is still weighted by full market cap. Stocks need to have a minimum free float of 20% to be eligible for index inclusion but the free float is not used to determine the weight of the stock in the index.This had led to stocks with low free floats having an inordinately high weight in the index. The most recent case in point was Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB) - the stock was an inclusion in the SET50 index at the December review. DELTA is now the third largest stock in the index with a 6.07% weighting, even though the SET free float of the stock is only 22.35%. The stock has jumped 1000% over the last year.Media reports now indicate that there are changes brewing that could result in the SET revising the calculation methodology to more accurately determine the free float of stocks, and a change to the calculation methodology of the SET50 Index that would see it move from a full market cap weighted index to a free float market cap weighted index.In this Insight, we take a look at the stocks that would be affected by the changes and the impact of passive fund trading on the stocks.

SET50 Index: Change to Free Float Weighting In the Works?

Index Rebalance

Delta Electronics (Thailand) / Index Rebalance

Last evening post market close, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) announced the results of the semi-annual review of the SET50 index with the changes taking effect after the close of trading on 30 December.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bangkok-commercial-asset-management-public-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28442:1" rel="noopener">Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM TB)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/com7-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27411:1" rel="noopener">Com7 PCL (COM7 TB)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/delta-electronics-thai-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20912:1" rel="noopener">Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB)</a> have been included in the index, replacing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banpu-power-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23631:1" rel="noopener">Banpu Power PCL (BPP TB)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/irpc-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19051:1" rel="noopener">IRPC PCL (IRPC TB)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wha-corp-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:104:1" rel="noopener">WHA Corp Pcl (WHA TB)</a>. This was our base case scenario, though DELTA had the lowest probability of index inclusion.Terrible timing! <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/delta-electronics-thai-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20912:1" rel="noopener">Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB)</a> has gained 543.72% since it was deleted from the SET50 index at the June review, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banpu-power-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23631:1" rel="noopener">Banpu Power PCL (BPP TB)</a> has gained just 2.99% since it was included in the index at the June review. Not implementing this change in June would have led to the SET50 index return being over 3.5% higher than its actual return.One-way turnover for the rebalance is 4.92%. The impact of the changes does not appear like a lot, but the active funds trading ahead of implementation date could cause the stocks to move around a lot compared to their peers.This Insight is labelled Bullish as we expect DELTA to outperform its peers post the inclusion in the SET50 index. The stock could move lower post implementation date due to its higher valuations.

Last evening post market close, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) announced the results of the semi-annual review of the SET50 index with the changes taking effect after the close of trading on 30 December.Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM TB), Com7 PCL (COM7 TB) and Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB) have been included in the index, replacing Banpu Power PCL (BPP TB), IRPC PCL (IRPC TB) and WHA Corp Pcl (WHA TB). This was our base case scenario, though DELTA had the lowest probability of index inclusion.Terrible timing! Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB) has gained 543.72% since it was deleted from the SET50 index at the June review, while Banpu Power PCL (BPP TB) has gained just 2.99% since it was included in the index at the June review. Not implementing this change in June would have led to the SET50 index return being over 3.5% higher than its actual return.One-way turnover for the rebalance is 4.92%. The impact of the changes does not appear like a lot, but the active funds trading ahead of implementation date could cause the stocks to move around a lot compared to their peers.This Insight is labelled Bullish as we expect DELTA to outperform its peers post the inclusion in the SET50 index. The stock could move lower post implementation date due to its higher valuations.

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Equity Bottom-Up

If the country were to change its target to the wealthy clients then the question is whether <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/airports-of-thailand-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:239:1" rel="noopener">Airports of Thailand (AOT TB)</a> going to be a good proxy for tourism's sweet spot in Thailand? Before COVID-19 break, Thailand's tourism scene was popular with the Chinese middle class and tons of backpackers from all over the world thanks, partly to a couple of Hollywood movies such as The Beach and Hangover Part II that presented the world with the opposite views of what the country has to offer for tourists. 
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) recently mentioned that the ban on commercial international flights might not be lifted on July 1st as previously planned, and if at some point the ban will be lifted, business travelers will likely be the first allowed to travel. 
Concession service (26% contribution) will be reduced by 20% and 50% EBITDA followed by 15 ppts EBITDA margin reduction as the company extended rent holiday to its tenants. 
The bigger question is whether AOT is still a good proxy for Thai tourism given the predictably muted growth in the tourist arrival and the Tourism Ministry's aim to focus on the quality rather than quantity? It is likely that peers such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/minor-international-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2154:1" rel="noopener">Minor International (MINT TB)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/central-plaza-hotel-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18213:1" rel="noopener">Central Plaza Hotel (CENTEL TB)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/central-pattana-pcl-0b7fb113-16e1-4535-be8b-02dce5bbcd92" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17188:1" rel="noopener">Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB)</a>, or <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bangkok-dusit-med-service" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:875:1" rel="noopener">Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS TB)</a> to benefit from the shift in focus in the short run. In addition to that, AOT is trading at 50%, 97%, and 65% premium in PER, PBR, and EV/EBITDA multiples to the Thai Tourism stock peers. No rush on having AOT in my portfolio.

If the country were to change its target to the wealthy clients then the question is whether Airports of Thailand (AOT TB) going to be a good proxy for tourism's sweet spot in Thailand? Before COVID-19 break, Thailand's tourism scene was popular with the Chinese middle class and tons of backpackers from all over the world thanks, partly to a couple of Hollywood movies such as The Beach and Hangover Part II that presented the world with the opposite views of what the country has to offer for tourists. 
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) recently mentioned that the ban on commercial international flights might not be lifted on July 1st as previously planned, and if at some point the ban will be lifted, business travelers will likely be the first allowed to travel. 
Concession service (26% contribution) will be reduced by 20% and 50% EBITDA followed by 15 ppts EBITDA margin reduction as the company extended rent holiday to its tenants. 
The bigger question is whether AOT is still a good proxy for Thai tourism given the predictably muted growth in the tourist arrival and the Tourism Ministry's aim to focus on the quality rather than quantity? It is likely that peers such as Minor International (MINT TB) , Central Plaza Hotel (CENTEL TB) , Central Pattana Pub (CPN TB), or Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS TB) to benefit from the shift in focus in the short run. In addition to that, AOT is trading at 50%, 97%, and 65% premium in PER, PBR, and EV/EBITDA multiples to the Thai Tourism stock peers. No rush on having AOT in my portfolio. 

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/airports-of-thailand-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:239:1" rel="noopener">Airports of Thailand (AOT TB)</a> share price has rallied post the initial sell-off in the back of COVID-19 yet the key revenue driver, tourists' arrival, has not shown any sign of improvement as no vaccine has been found and governments are taking a very cautious stance on cross border travel fearing a second outbreak. 
Thailand's Ministry of Finance, a major shareholder of AOT, may need to sell some stake in AOT as they have to deal with Thai Airway's bankruptcy proceeding and difficult economic environment due to lack of tourists' arrival (17% of GDP).
AOT is still trading at 41x PER, 6x PBR, and 27x EV/EBITDA - a 75% PER premium, 164% PBR premium, and 107% EV/EBITDA premium to its peers.  The valuations clearly do not reflect the gloomy outlook of the tourism industry in Thailand that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/airports-of-thailand-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:239:1" rel="noopener">Airports of Thailand (AOT TB)</a> is in. Still Negative...

Airports of Thailand (AOT TB) share price has rallied post the initial sell-off in the back of COVID-19 yet the key revenue driver, tourists' arrival, has not shown any sign of improvement as no vaccine has been found and governments are taking a very cautious stance on cross border travel fearing a second outbreak. 
Thailand's Ministry of Finance, a major shareholder of AOT, may need to sell some stake in AOT as they have to deal with Thai Airway's bankruptcy proceeding and difficult economic environment due to lack of tourists' arrival (17% of GDP).
AOT is still trading at 41x PER, 6x PBR, and 27x EV/EBITDA - a 75% PER premium, 164% PBR premium, and 107% EV/EBITDA premium to its peers.  The valuations clearly do not reflect the gloomy outlook of the tourism industry in Thailand that Airports of Thailand (AOT TB) is in. Still Negative...

Airport of Thailand (AOT): No Sign of Improvement Yet

Thailand

Central Pattana is Thailand's leading retail property developer and investor, specializing in large-scale shopping centers, residential projects, office buildings, and hotels. The company focuses on developing integrated mixed-use properties, combining retail spaces with complementary facilities to offer diverse lifestyle experiences. Central Pattana is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, and was founded on June 17, 1980.

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Central Pattana (CPN TB)

Siam Future Development (SF TB): Central Pattana MGO As MAJOR Cineplex Exits

This is a done deal. Just a question of timing. At Bt11.70/share, you're looking at a gross/annualised spread of 20.6%/10.9%, assuming late...

David Blennerhassett

SET50 Index: Change to Free Float Weighting In the Works?

There is a strong possibility that the SET revises the calculation methodology to more accurately determine the free float of stocks, and changes...

Brian Freitas

SET50 Index Rebalance: DELTA to Buy

BAM, COM7 and DELTA have been added to the SET50 index replacing BPP, IRPC and WHA with the changes effective after the close on 30 Dec. With 11...

Brian Freitas

AOT: Still a Valid Proxy for Tourism?

If the country were to change its target to the wealthy clients then the question is whether Airports of Thailand (AOT TB) going to be a good proxy...

Henry Soediarko

Airport of Thailand (AOT): No Sign of Improvement Yet

Airports of Thailand (AOT TB) share price has rallied post the initial sell-off in the back of COVID-19 yet the key revenue driver, tourists'...

Henry Soediarko

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