Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>According to Sing Tao, two PRC firms and a mainland bank have formed a consortium to acquire <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hongkong-land-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15465:1" rel="noopener">Hongkong Land (HKL SP)</a>'s 33-storey Three Exchange Square.</li>
<li>This "news" is straight out of left field. For its part, HKL said the market rumour is pure speculation.</li>
<li>HKL's P/B of 0.24x is closing in on its all-time low of 0.21x during the depths of Covid. </li>
</ul>


According to Sing Tao, two PRC firms and a mainland bank have formed a consortium to acquire Hongkong Land (HKL SP)'s 33-storey Three Exchange Square.
This "news" is straight out of left field. For its part, HKL said the market rumour is pure speculation.
HKL's P/B of 0.24x is closing in on its all-time low of 0.21x during the depths of Covid. 


Hongkong Land: Exchange Square Sale Would Be BIG News. (If True)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-cycle-carriage-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:347:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage (JCNC SP)</a>'s current implied stub value is around its highest-ever level.</li>
<li>The simple ratio of JCNC/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International (ASII IJ)</a> is around its highest level outside the 2008 GFC.</li>
<li>A weak Indonesian rupiah is likely a factor. Still, JCNC is trading rich to its NAV. A takeover from parent <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-matheson-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19718:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP)</a> is idealistic.</li>
</ul>



Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage (JCNC SP)'s current implied stub value is around its highest-ever level.
The simple ratio of JCNC/Astra International (ASII IJ) is around its highest level outside the 2008 GFC.
A weak Indonesian rupiah is likely a factor. Still, JCNC is trading rich to its NAV. A takeover from parent Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP) is idealistic.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-cycle-carriage-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:347:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage (JCNC SP)</a>'s implied stub value is around its highest-ever level, dating back to 2004. </li>
<li>The simple ratio of JCNC/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International (ASII IJ)</a> is also the highest level outside the brief spikes post-Covid and during the 2008 GFC.</li>
<li>There is no apparent justification for the current valuation. And a takeover from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-matheson-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19718:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP)</a> at these levels appears unrealistic. </li>
</ul>



Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage (JCNC SP)'s implied stub value is around its highest-ever level, dating back to 2004. 
The simple ratio of JCNC/ Astra International (ASII IJ) is also the highest level outside the brief spikes post-Covid and during the 2008 GFC.
There is no apparent justification for the current valuation. And a takeover from Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP) at these levels appears unrealistic. 


Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>China's swift and sudden abolishment of its Covid rules triggered across-the-board outperformance for Hong Kong stocks. The HSI is up ~13% since early December 2022. </li>
<li>A strong rebound of inbound tourism and the resumption of normalised travel between Hong Kong and the mainland should underpin the city's recovery.</li>
<li>The retail sector, notably the high street shop segment, should lead this post-Covid recovery in terms of both rents and prices. </li>
</ul>


China's swift and sudden abolishment of its Covid rules triggered across-the-board outperformance for Hong Kong stocks. The HSI is up ~13% since early December 2022. 
A strong rebound of inbound tourism and the resumption of normalised travel between Hong Kong and the mainland should underpin the city's recovery.
The retail sector, notably the high street shop segment, should lead this post-Covid recovery in terms of both rents and prices. 


Hong Kong Property: Retail Reopening Front-Runners

Mandarin Oriental International / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Hong Kong is - very gradually - rolling back Covid restrictions</li>
<li>That's a welcome relief for tourists, and for hospitality companies dependent on tourism. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mandarin-oriental-international-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4773:1" rel="noopener">Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP)</a> is trading cheap at 0.7x P/B against 1.8x on average (five years) pre-Covid.</li>
</ul>


Hong Kong is - very gradually - rolling back Covid restrictions
That's a welcome relief for tourists, and for hospitality companies dependent on tourism. 

Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP) is trading cheap at 0.7x P/B against 1.8x on average (five years) pre-Covid.


Mandarin Oriental (MAND SP): Life Is Suite

Hong Kong

Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management and development group. 

The Group owns and manages more than 850,000 sq. m. of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing and Jakarta.  The Group also has a number of high quality residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects under development in cities across Greater China and Southeast Asia.  In Singapore, its subsidiary, MCL Land, is a well-established residential developer.  

Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore.  The Group’s assets and investments are managed from Hong Kong by Hongkong Land Limited.  Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

Hongkong Land (HKL SP)

Hongkong Land: Exchange Square Sale Would Be BIG News. (If True)

Reportedly two PRC firms and a mainland bank intend to acquire Hongkong Land''s Three Exchange Square. HKL said the rumor is pure speculation....

David Blennerhassett

Jardine Cycle & Carriage Is A Short

Jardine Cycle & Carriage's premium to NAV is not justifiable. I'd look to reverse the stub here - Short JCNC, Long Astra.

David Blennerhassett

JCNC's Logic-Defying Valuation

There is no apparent justification for the current level. Expect Matheson to chip away at minorities. But a full-blown Offer appears unrealistic....

David Blennerhassett

Hong Kong Property: Retail Reopening Front-Runners

HKL is cheap at a forward P/B of 0.32x. Both Link and Wharf will benefit from the HK/China border fully opening. But Wharf REIC's two premier...

David Blennerhassett

Mandarin Oriental (MAND SP): Life Is Suite

Mandarin Oriental is trading cheap at 0.7x P/B against 1.8x on average (5 years) pre-Covid. Business will continue to improve from here. The...

David Blennerhassett