Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Evergrande Property Services Group / Event-Driven

Evergrande Property Services Group (6666 HK)

<p>The plight of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-evergrande-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:479:1" rel="noopener">Evergrande (3333 HK)</a>, the "<em>world's most indebted property developer</em>" has been exhaustively covered and picked apart both here at Smartkarma and in the media. (<em>Although I highly recommend <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/travis-lundy" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:25" rel="noopener">Travis Lundy</a>'s Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-20/understanding-evergrande-the-chinese-real-estate-conglomerate-that-s-nearing-collapse?sref=frV97TwV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">podcast</a> for his bird's eye synopsis</em>).</p>
<p>Concerns for the embattled real estate play are leading to formerly friendly and close shareholders exiting at massive losses, such as recently suspended <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chinese-estates-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20954:1" rel="noopener">Chinese Estates Holdings (127 HK)</a> (as discussed in <em><a href="https://skr.ma/1HQM2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese Estates (127 HK): Potential Privatisation?</a>); </em>and spreading to smaller investors such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/blue-river-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20130:1" rel="noopener">Blue River Holdings (498 HK)</a> <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/1004/2021100403346.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dumping</a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-evergrande-new-energy-vehicle-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:713:1" rel="noopener">Evergrande Vehicle (708 HK)</a> (reportedly missed its last payroll payment) at a material loss - Blue River also sold stakes in Evergrande and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergrande-property-services" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30921:1" rel="noopener">Evergrande Property Services (6666 HK)</a> (EPS). <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-strategic-hldgs-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20588:1" rel="noopener">China Strategic Hldgs (235 HK)</a> <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0921/2021092101057.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on the 21 September it proposes to sell its 1.37% stake in Evergrande Vehicle. </p>
<p>Evergrande has also been selling off assets, most recently a <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0929/2021092900039.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">19.93% stake</a> in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shengjing-bank-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:96:1" rel="noopener">Shengjing Bank Co Ltd H (2066 HK)</a> for ~RMB10bn. </p>
<p>Now we have Evergrande <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/1004/2021100400771.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended</a> due to a material transaction; EPS due to a <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/1004/2021100400799.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">possible general Offer</a>; and the intriguing part, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hopson-development-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8108:1" rel="noopener">Hopson Development (754 HK)</a> <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/1004/2021100400101.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended</a> due the acquisition of a company "<em>and the relevant possible mandatory offer to acquire the shares of the</em>" company.</p>
<p>China's state-backed Global Times <a href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202110/1235627.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Hopson will buy a 51% stake in EPS "and the deal could be valued at more than 40 billion HKD" ($5.1bn). One of those media sources appears to be <a href="https://www.cls.cn/detail/846513" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cailian Press</a>, which also has SOE affiliation. Jiemian.com, Cailian's sister publication - the two merged in <a href="https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2018/02/28/chinese-media-firms-jiemian-cailian-press-merge-creating-financial-information-giant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">February 2018</a> - <a href="https://www.jiemian.com/article/6667341.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reckons</a> the fine print on a deal won't be known for a few days.<a href="https://www.jiemian.com/article/6667341.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p>
<p>All three companies remain suspended at the time of writing. Given this transaction could come out any old way, this insight touches on some of the permutations Hopson may take to gain majority control in EPS, if that is the end-game.</p>

The plight of Evergrande (3333 HK), the "world's most indebted property developer" has been exhaustively covered and picked apart both here at Smartkarma and in the media. (Although I highly recommend Travis Lundy's Bloomberg podcast for his bird's eye synopsis).
Concerns for the embattled real estate play are leading to formerly friendly and close shareholders exiting at massive losses, such as recently suspended Chinese Estates Holdings (127 HK) (as discussed in Chinese Estates (127 HK): Potential Privatisation?); and spreading to smaller investors such as Blue River Holdings (498 HK) dumping Evergrande Vehicle (708 HK) (reportedly missed its last payroll payment) at a material loss - Blue River also sold stakes in Evergrande and Evergrande Property Services (6666 HK) (EPS). China Strategic Hldgs (235 HK) announced on the 21 September it proposes to sell its 1.37% stake in Evergrande Vehicle. 
Evergrande has also been selling off assets, most recently a 19.93% stake in Shengjing Bank Co Ltd H (2066 HK) for ~RMB10bn. 
Now we have Evergrande suspended due to a material transaction; EPS due to a possible general Offer; and the intriguing part, Hopson Development (754 HK) suspended due the acquisition of a company "and the relevant possible mandatory offer to acquire the shares of the" company.
China's state-backed Global Times said Hopson will buy a 51% stake in EPS "and the deal could be valued at more than 40 billion HKD" ($5.1bn). One of those media sources appears to be Cailian Press, which also has SOE affiliation. Jiemian.com, Cailian's sister publication - the two merged in February 2018 - reckons the fine print on a deal won't be known for a few days.
All three companies remain suspended at the time of writing. Given this transaction could come out any old way, this insight touches on some of the permutations Hopson may take to gain majority control in EPS, if that is the end-game.

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

<p><strong><em>*Disposal of Shengjing Bank Stake:</em></strong> China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] announced that it is selling a 19.93% stake in Shengjing Bank (2066.HK) at a take-under price of CNY 5.70 per share (19.8% below market) or at a P/BV or 51.4% - representing a MTM loss of CNY 9.9 bn (USD 1.53 bn) or approximately 2.5% of Evergrande’s stated equity; and  </p><p><strong><em>*Systemic Banking Risk Highlighted: </em></strong>Evergrande is alleged to have USD 20 bn in “direct and indirect” risk due to Shengjing Bank, which would represent a true systemic challenge given the bank's size and importance. If the Evergrande exposure of CNY 129.4 bn is remotely correct, it would appear that Shenjiang Bank has been materially under-reporting NPLs. If this figure is correct, a reserve shortfall of CNY 128.4 (USD 19.9 bn) would appear to exist – representing 158% of 2Q21 stated equity and intimating Shengjing Bank is technically insolvent.</p>

*Disposal of Shengjing Bank Stake: China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] announced that it is selling a 19.93% stake in Shengjing Bank (2066.HK) at a take-under price of CNY 5.70 per share (19.8% below market) or at a P/BV or 51.4% - representing a MTM loss of CNY 9.9 bn (USD 1.53 bn) or approximately 2.5% of Evergrande’s stated equity; and  *Systemic Banking Risk Highlighted: Evergrande is alleged to have USD 20 bn in “direct and indirect” risk due to Shengjing Bank, which would represent a true systemic challenge given the bank's size and importance. If the Evergrande exposure of CNY 129.4 bn is remotely correct, it would appear that Shenjiang Bank has been materially under-reporting NPLs. If this figure is correct, a reserve shortfall of CNY 128.4 (USD 19.9 bn) would appear to exist – representing 158% of 2Q21 stated equity and intimating Shengjing Bank is technically insolvent.

China Evergrande Group – Daisy Chain Pulled

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<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chinese-estates-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20954:1" rel="noopener">Chinese Estates Holdings (127 HK)</a>,  a leading property developer in Hong Kong - and avid securities investor - is currently <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0929/2021092900219.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended</a> pursuant to the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers. There are, as yet, no further details, although shares did gain 33% before being halted at 11.10am today. </p>
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<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/charoen-pokphand-foods-public-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16131:1" rel="noopener"></a>Joseph Lau and his wife Chan Hoi Wan control <a href="https://di.hkex.com.hk/di/NSAllSSList.aspx?sa2=as&amp;sid=206&amp;corpn=Chinese+Estates+Holdings+Ltd.&amp;sd=29/09/2013&amp;ed=29/09/2021&amp;cid=0&amp;sa1=cl&amp;scsd=29%2f09%2f2013&amp;sced=29%2f09%2f2021&amp;sc=127&amp;src=MAIN&amp;lang=EN&amp;g_lang=en&amp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">74.99%</a> of the company.</p>
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<p>This insight provides some brief background on Chinese Estates, plus speculates on a fair price should a firm Offer unfold. </p>
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Chinese Estates Holdings (127 HK),  a leading property developer in Hong Kong - and avid securities investor - is currently suspended pursuant to the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers. There are, as yet, no further details, although shares did gain 33% before being halted at 11.10am today. 


Joseph Lau and his wife Chan Hoi Wan control 74.99% of the company.


This insight provides some brief background on Chinese Estates, plus speculates on a fair price should a firm Offer unfold. 


Chinese Estates (127 HK): Potential Privatisation?

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<p>In StubWorld this week ...</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/indofood-sukses-makmur-tbk-p" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1053:1" rel="noopener"></a>Beleaguered <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-evergrande-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:479:1" rel="noopener">Evergrande Real Estate Group (3333 HK)</a>'s shares bounced after the company <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0810/2021081001009.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it is in talks to sell stakes in two of its units. But optimism over improved capital management appears naive. </p>
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<p>Preceding my comments on Evergrande are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</p>
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<p>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.</p>
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<p>As always, more below the fold.</p>
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In StubWorld this week ...




Beleaguered Evergrande Real Estate Group (3333 HK)'s shares bounced after the company said it is in talks to sell stakes in two of its units. But optimism over improved capital management appears naive. 




Preceding my comments on Evergrande are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.


These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.


As always, more below the fold.


Travis Lundy

<p>On Friday, it became known that S&amp;P Global ratings had lowered the ratings on Evergrande by two full notches, from B- to CCC, which is now four notches above Default. USD bonds issued by Scenery Journey were lowered from CCC+ to CCC-. </p><p>That was the second time in about ten days that S&amp;P had lowered rates (after the agency had lower rates after the Guangfa Bank account freezing episode, later resolved, and the issue in Shaoyang City which had accused Evergrande of not depositing pre-sale funds into the escrow accounts properly). </p><p>According to a Reuters article...</p><blockquote><p data-testid="paragraph-3">"We lowered the ratings because Evergrande's liquidity position is eroding more quickly and by more than we previously expected," the rating agency said.</p></blockquote><div><div><div><div><blockquote><div id="reuters_desktop_native_1">It added the firm's nonpayment risk is escalating not only for the substantial public bond maturities in 2022, but also for its bank and trust loans and other debt liabilities over the next 12 months.</div></blockquote></div></div></div></div><p>This move followed Fitch and Moody's which had both dinged the ratings at end June and again on 28 July and 2 August, respectively. </p><p>To possibly make it worse on the ratings agency front, as of Friday after the close, China's financial regulators are also on the case, trying to root out weakness in "construction of ratings methods and systems" (which could be taken to mean corruption). The PBOC (announcement <a href="http://www.pbc.gov.cn/goutongjiaoliu/113456/113469/4311502/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">link</a> in Chinese), in conjunction with the NDRC, the Ministry of Finance, the CBRC, and the CSRC, jointly issued the <em>"Notice on Promoting the Healthy Development of the Bond Market Credit Rating Industry"</em></p><p>On Friday, Caixin Media <a href="https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-08-06/exclusive-one-court-will-handle-developer-evergrandes-multitude-of-debt-lawsuits-101751875.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the Supreme People's Court - the top court in China - had directed that all cases involving debts owed by Evergrande and its related parties be transferred to the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court. According to Caixin... </p><blockquote><p>A court insider said this kind of decision — known as “centralized jurisdiction” — is usually made when a company is involved in a large number of lawsuits across regions and the situation has the potential to cause a significant social impact.</p></blockquote><p>The article notes that other companies which have been subject to <em>centralized jurisdiction</em> include Peking University Founder Group, HNA Group - which have been put through bankruptcy and/or restructuring - and China Fortune Land Development which <a href="https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-02-02/developer-china-fortune-defaults-on-53-billion-yuan-in-debt-101659497.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defaulted</a> on repayment of debt in February, and <a href="https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-03-10/developer-china-fortune-defaults-on-another-13-billion-in-debt-101673624.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">again</a> in March. </p><p>Vice Premier Liu He apparently apparently pointed out in a State Council meeting the week before last that Evergrande's problems are one of "liquidity stress" rather than an "insolvency" situation. I'd note that a MinNews <a href="https://min.news/en/economy/aff8aa102018d13ea3af930f62859bdb.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> quoting a REDD report says HNA Group, China Fortune Land Development, and China Minsheng Investment were also assessed as having liquidity stress and "non-insolvent debt"</p><p>Banks have been asked to curb lending and in May were asked to stress-test their Evergrande exposure. Evergrande affiliate Shengjing Bank was fined in May for illegally financing real estate projects.</p><p>It would appear that Evergrande has decreasing room for manoeuvre. And that room for manoeuvre depends on others' confidence in stability of outcome. </p>

On Friday, it became known that S&amp;P Global ratings had lowered the ratings on Evergrande by two full notches, from B- to CCC, which is now four notches above Default. USD bonds issued by Scenery Journey were lowered from CCC+ to CCC-. That was the second time in about ten days that S&amp;P had lowered rates (after the agency had lower rates after the Guangfa Bank account freezing episode, later resolved, and the issue in Shaoyang City which had accused Evergrande of not depositing pre-sale funds into the escrow accounts properly). According to a Reuters article..."We lowered the ratings because Evergrande's liquidity position is eroding more quickly and by more than we previously expected," the rating agency said.It added the firm's nonpayment risk is escalating not only for the substantial public bond maturities in 2022, but also for its bank and trust loans and other debt liabilities over the next 12 months.This move followed Fitch and Moody's which had both dinged the ratings at end June and again on 28 July and 2 August, respectively. To possibly make it worse on the ratings agency front, as of Friday after the close, China's financial regulators are also on the case, trying to root out weakness in "construction of ratings methods and systems" (which could be taken to mean corruption). The PBOC (announcement link in Chinese), in conjunction with the NDRC, the Ministry of Finance, the CBRC, and the CSRC, jointly issued the "Notice on Promoting the Healthy Development of the Bond Market Credit Rating Industry"On Friday, Caixin Media reported that the Supreme People's Court - the top court in China - had directed that all cases involving debts owed by Evergrande and its related parties be transferred to the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court. According to Caixin... A court insider said this kind of decision — known as “centralized jurisdiction” — is usually made when a company is involved in a large number of lawsuits across regions and the situation has the potential to cause a significant social impact.The article notes that other companies which have been subject to centralized jurisdiction include Peking University Founder Group, HNA Group - which have been put through bankruptcy and/or restructuring - and China Fortune Land Development which defaulted on repayment of debt in February, and again in March. Vice Premier Liu He apparently apparently pointed out in a State Council meeting the week before last that Evergrande's problems are one of "liquidity stress" rather than an "insolvency" situation. I'd note that a MinNews article quoting a REDD report says HNA Group, China Fortune Land Development, and China Minsheng Investment were also assessed as having liquidity stress and "non-insolvent debt"Banks have been asked to curb lending and in May were asked to stress-test their Evergrande exposure. Evergrande affiliate Shengjing Bank was fined in May for illegally financing real estate projects.It would appear that Evergrande has decreasing room for manoeuvre. And that room for manoeuvre depends on others' confidence in stability of outcome. 

Evergrande's Room for Manoeuvre - A Question of Confidence

Hong Kong

Chinese Estates Holdings Limited is an investment holding company primarily engaged in property investment for rental and property development. The company develops mid to high-end commercial and residential properties and manages investment properties including retail and office assets. It also has interests in building and property management, securities investment, money lending, and cosmetics distribution. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong and was founded in 1986.

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Chinese Estates (127 HK)

Hopson Navigates Evergrande's Fire Sale

Indebted Evergrande and Hopson in trading halt over the possible sale of property management unit, the completion of which may trigger a general...

David Blennerhassett

China Evergrande Group – Daisy Chain Pulled

EVERGRANDE: Evergrande is selling a 19.9% stake in Shengjing Bank, leading to a MTM loss of USD 1.53 bn or 2.5% of equity. It's risk outstanding is...

Thomas J. Monaco