Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Since the resumption of trading on the 21st August 2025, insurance play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-eastern-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13993:1" rel="noopener">Great Eastern (GE SP)</a>, currently trading at S$15.65/share, is up ~30% from its suspended price. Not including dividends.</li>
<li>That's well adrift of the S$30.15/share Exit Offer from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oversea-chinese-banking-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:114:1" rel="noopener">OCBC Bank (OCBC SP)</a> that was voted down by minority shareholders on the 8th July 2025. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/20260506%20GEH%20Media%20Release.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=887690" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 1Q26 profit</a> remained steady year-on-year "despite less favourable investment environment". Sales and new business embedded value increased 16% and 31% yoy. </li>
</ul>


Since the resumption of trading on the 21st August 2025, insurance play Great Eastern (GE SP), currently trading at S$15.65/share, is up ~30% from its suspended price. Not including dividends.
That's well adrift of the S$30.15/share Exit Offer from OCBC Bank (OCBC SP) that was voted down by minority shareholders on the 8th July 2025. 

 1Q26 profit remained steady year-on-year "despite less favourable investment environment". Sales and new business embedded value increased 16% and 31% yoy. 


Great Eastern (GE SP): Economic Insurance

Insurance, Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Insurance, Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

KT Capital Group

Principal investments and advisory firm that focuses on connecting the CIS countries with East Asia.

Principal investments and advisory firm

Private Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>HSBC reported to have shortlisted 3 bidders for its Singapore life insurance manufacturing business at a valuation of up to USD 2 billion, a premium valuation given its 2024 BV.</li>
<li>We view that Sumitomo Life appears the most competitive bidder, esp. given its previous willingness to pay premium valuations to acquire life insurance assets in Singapore.</li>
<li>Allianz retains strategic conviction, underscored by its earlier, ultimately aborted attempt to acquire Income Insurance, but likely faces a much higher price hurdle now than in 2024.</li>
</ul>


HSBC reported to have shortlisted 3 bidders for its Singapore life insurance manufacturing business at a valuation of up to USD 2 billion, a premium valuation given its 2024 BV.
We view that Sumitomo Life appears the most competitive bidder, esp. given its previous willingness to pay premium valuations to acquire life insurance assets in Singapore.
Allianz retains strategic conviction, underscored by its earlier, ultimately aborted attempt to acquire Income Insurance, but likely faces a much higher price hurdle now than in 2024.


HSBC Life Singapore Sale: Which Bidder Is Likely Going to Win?

<ul>
<li>This insight is part of a series of M&amp;A guides our Quiddity* team are publishing to aid investors in understanding the rules, parameters, possibilities, and processes when companies conduct M&amp;A.</li>
<li>The initial guide - <a href="https://skr.ma/iRcDn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quiddity Singapore M&amp;A Guide 2019</a> - was published in April 2019. Since that time, there have been various new developments. </li>
<li>This is an update.These insights are designed to be used as a reference. They are not actionable. For a list of Quiddity M&amp;A Guides, click <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/search?q=%22quiddity%20M%26A%20Guide%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</li>
</ul>


This insight is part of a series of M&amp;A guides our Quiddity* team are publishing to aid investors in understanding the rules, parameters, possibilities, and processes when companies conduct M&amp;A.
The initial guide - Quiddity Singapore M&amp;A Guide 2019 - was published in April 2019. Since that time, there have been various new developments. 
This is an update.These insights are designed to be used as a reference. They are not actionable. For a list of Quiddity M&amp;A Guides, click here.


<ul>
<li>I tally 50 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.</li>
<li>Three new deals discussed this week: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl (4921 JP)</a>'s Tender offer, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/a8-new-media-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3444:1" rel="noopener">A8 New Media (800 HK)</a>'s Scheme, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jeisys-medical-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36766:1" rel="noopener">Jeisys Medical (287410 KS)</a>'s delisting offer. Bain also approached <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bapcor-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8433:1" rel="noopener">Bapcor (BAP AU)</a>.</li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sigma-healthcare-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15966:1" rel="noopener">Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alumina-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:939:1" rel="noopener">Alumina (AWC AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/greatview-aseptic-packaging" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10802:1" rel="noopener">Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/helios-techno-holding-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13934:1" rel="noopener">Helios Techno (6927 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tatsuta-electric-wire-cable-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12509:1" rel="noopener">Tatsuta Electric Wire &amp; Cable (5809 JP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 50 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
Three new deals discussed this week: Fancl (4921 JP)'s Tender offer, A8 New Media (800 HK)'s Scheme, and Jeisys Medical (287410 KS)'s delisting offer. Bain also approached Bapcor (BAP AU).
Key updates took place on: Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU), Alumina (AWC AU), Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK), Helios Techno (6927 JP), and Tatsuta Electric Wire &amp; Cable (5809 JP).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Fancl, Jeisys Medical, A8 New Media, Bapcor, Helios Techno,Tatsuta Electric

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-eastern-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13993:1" rel="noopener">Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP)</a> delisting resolution failed as it was not approved by at least 75% of disinterested shareholders.</li>
<li>The resumption of trading resolutions to restore the 10% free float requirement was passed. Trading will resume once the 10% free float requirement is met. </li>
<li>Minorities have secured a pyrrhic victory as the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oversea-chinese-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:114:1" rel="noopener">OCBC (OCBC SP)</a> offer was light, but there is no obvious catalyst to re-rate the shares. Deal break price around S$21.49.</li>
</ul>


The Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP) delisting resolution failed as it was not approved by at least 75% of disinterested shareholders.
The resumption of trading resolutions to restore the 10% free float requirement was passed. Trading will resume once the 10% free float requirement is met. 
Minorities have secured a pyrrhic victory as the OCBC (OCBC SP) offer was light, but there is no obvious catalyst to re-rate the shares. Deal break price around S$21.49.


Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP): Minorities Secure a Pyrrhic Victory

Singapore

Great Eastern provides insurance and investment management services, specializing in life and health insurance, annuities, and unit-linked products. It offers a comprehensive range of personal and business insurance, including life, health, accident, property, and casualty coverage, alongside asset management services. The company was founded in Singapore in 1908.

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Great Eastern (GE SP)