Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

iClick Interactive Asia Group / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The EGM to vote on the privatisation of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iclick-interactive-asia-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27314:1" rel="noopener">iClick (ICLK US)</a> takes place on the 8th March.  The Offer price is US$4.08/ADS (US$0.816/share), bang in-line with iClick's 1H23 net cash/share. </li>
<li>That's a far cry from the 2021 non-binding Offers of US$75/ADS and US$67.50/ADS from Infinity Equity Management and PAG/Oasis respectively - after adjusting for November 2022's reverse share split. </li>
<li>The Buyer Group owns 35% of shares out and 69% of the vote. The Merger requires at least two-thirds of the voting power of shares out. So this is done. </li>
</ul>


The EGM to vote on the privatisation of iClick (ICLK US) takes place on the 8th March.  The Offer price is US$4.08/ADS (US$0.816/share), bang in-line with iClick's 1H23 net cash/share. 
That's a far cry from the 2021 non-binding Offers of US$75/ADS and US$67.50/ADS from Infinity Equity Management and PAG/Oasis respectively - after adjusting for November 2022's reverse share split. 
The Buyer Group owns 35% of shares out and 69% of the vote. The Merger requires at least two-thirds of the voting power of shares out. So this is done. 


IClick (ICLK US): Offer Price In Line With Net Cash

In <a href="https://skr.ma/wEv5t" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iClick(ICLK US): PAG &amp; Oasis Shake The Trees</a>, after <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iclick-interactive-asia-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27314:1" rel="noopener">iClick Interactive Asia Group (ICLK US)</a> <a href="https://ir.i-click.com/2021-09-24-iClick-Interactive-Asia-Group-Limited-Announces-Receipt-of-a-Preliminary-Non-Binding-Indicative-Proposal-to-Acquire-the-Company" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on the 24 September it had received a preliminary indicative proposal from PAG Pegasus Fund and Oasis Management to acquire all of its outstanding shares for US$6.75 per ADS, in cash, my view was that PAG/Oasis' intention was to shake out potential suitors - including the co-founders - to make a real Offer. 
Yesterday iClick <a href="https://ir.i-click.com/2021-10-18-iClick-Interactive-Asia-Group-Limited-Announces-Receipt-of-another-Unsolicited-Preliminary-Non-Binding-Indicative-Offer-to-Acquire-the-Company" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it has received an unsolicited preliminary non-binding indicative offer - dated October 13 - from Infinity Equity Management Co. Ltd. to acquire all of its outstanding shares for US$7.50 per ADS.
iClick's board said it has "not had an opportunity to carefully review or evaluate the proposal, or make any decision with respect to the Company's response to the proposal" - similar wording in response to PAG/Oasis's proposal.
Arguably the board knows what is considered fair - and this latest Offer probably isn't. Unless co-founders Tang and Hsieh opt to join Infinity in a take-private transaction.
More below the fold.

In iClick(ICLK US): PAG &amp; Oasis Shake The Trees, after iClick Interactive Asia Group (ICLK US) announced on the 24 September it had received a preliminary indicative proposal from PAG Pegasus Fund and Oasis Management to acquire all of its outstanding shares for US$6.75 per ADS, in cash, my view was that PAG/Oasis' intention was to shake out potential suitors - including the co-founders - to make a real Offer. 
Yesterday iClick announced it has received an unsolicited preliminary non-binding indicative offer - dated October 13 - from Infinity Equity Management Co. Ltd. to acquire all of its outstanding shares for US$7.50 per ADS.
iClick's board said it has "not had an opportunity to carefully review or evaluate the proposal, or make any decision with respect to the Company's response to the proposal" - similar wording in response to PAG/Oasis's proposal.
Arguably the board knows what is considered fair - and this latest Offer probably isn't. Unless co-founders Tang and Hsieh opt to join Infinity in a take-private transaction.
More below the fold.

<ul>
<li>I tally 51 - 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>Two new deals discussed on Smartkarma this week: Madison Dearborn's low-balled Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apm-human-services-internation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34808:1" rel="noopener">APM Human Services (APM AU)</a>; and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ntt-data-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11232:1" rel="noopener">NTT Data Corp (9613 JP)</a>'s Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jastec-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9201:1" rel="noopener">Jastec (9717 JP)</a>.</li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/boral-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1487:1" rel="noopener">Boral Ltd (BLD AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/genex-power-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29079:1" rel="noopener">Genex Power (GNX AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsr-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17620:1" rel="noopener">JSR Corp (4185 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chilled-frozen-logistics-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40987:1" rel="noopener">Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP)</a>, &amp; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lawson-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1040:1" rel="noopener">Lawson (2651 JP)</a>.
</li>
</ul>


I tally 51 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
Two new deals discussed on Smartkarma this week: Madison Dearborn's low-balled Offer for APM Human Services (APM AU); and NTT Data Corp (9613 JP)'s Offer for Jastec (9717 JP).
Key updates took place on: Boral Ltd (BLD AU), Azure Minerals (AZS AU), Genex Power (GNX AU), JSR Corp (4185 JP), Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP), &amp; Lawson (2651 JP).



(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: APM Human Services, Jastec, Genex, JSR Corp, Chilled & Frozen, Lawson

<ul>
<li>I tally 52 - 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>Four new deals discussed on Smartkarma: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/austal-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14420:1" rel="noopener">Austal  (ASB AU)</a>'s spurned Offer; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/best-world-international-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4600:1" rel="noopener">Best World (BEST SP)</a>'s Exit Offer; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/isetan-singapore-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6762:1" rel="noopener">Isetan Singapore (ISET SP)</a>'s parent Offer; and (maybe) <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/langham-hospitality-inv-ss" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:760:1" rel="noopener">Langham Hospitality (1270 HK)</a>'s privatisation. </li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/genex-power-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29079:1" rel="noopener">Genex Power Ltd (GNX AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intellicentrics-global-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40901:1" rel="noopener">IntelliCentrics Global Holding (6819 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsr-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17620:1" rel="noopener">JSR Corp (4185 JP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 52 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
Four new deals discussed on Smartkarma: Austal  (ASB AU)'s spurned Offer; Best World (BEST SP)'s Exit Offer; Isetan Singapore (ISET SP)'s parent Offer; and (maybe) Langham Hospitality (1270 HK)'s privatisation. 
Key updates took place on: Azure Minerals (AZS AU), Genex Power Ltd (GNX AU), IntelliCentrics Global Holding (6819 HK) and JSR Corp (4185 JP).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Austal, Best World, Isetan Singapore, Langham Hospitality, Azure, Genex Power

<ul>
<li>For the month of March 2024, 8 new transactions (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$4bn.</li>
<li>The average premium for the new transactions announced (or first discussed) in March was ~55%. The average premium YTD is ~39%.</li>
<li>This compares to the average premium for transactions in 2023 (117 transactions), 2022 (106), 2021 (165), 2020 (158), and 2019 (145 ) of 39%, 41%, 33%, 31%, and 31% respectively.</li>
</ul>


For the month of March 2024, 8 new transactions (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$4bn.
The average premium for the new transactions announced (or first discussed) in March was ~55%. The average premium YTD is ~39%.
This compares to the average premium for transactions in 2023 (117 transactions), 2022 (106), 2021 (165), 2020 (158), and 2019 (145 ) of 39%, 41%, 33%, 31%, and 31% respectively.


(Mostly) Asia M&A, Mar 2024: Chilled & Frozen, TDCX, MMA Offshore, JSR, Roland DG, SciClone

China

iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited operates as an online marketing technology platform. The Company provides digital marketing, data analysis, display solutions, software development, and other services. iClick Interactive Asia Group serves customers worldwide.

iClick Interactive Asia Group (ICLK US)

IClick (ICLK US): Offer Price In Line With Net Cash

Trading at a 4.9% gross spread (net of the ADS cancellation fee) with perhaps two months or so for payment. If small illiquid arbs are your bag,...

David Blennerhassett

IClick (ICLK US): And Look What Fell

On balance, this still looks attractive here. I expect the indicative offer price to tick up as the two bidding parties go back & forth.

David Blennerhassett

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: APM Human Services, Jastec, Genex, JSR Corp, Chilled & Frozen, Lawson

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Austal, Best World, Isetan Singapore, Langham Hospitality, Azure, Genex Power

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

(Mostly) Asia M&A, Mar 2024: Chilled & Frozen, TDCX, MMA Offshore, JSR, Roland DG, SciClone

For the month of March, 8 new deals were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall deal size of ~US$4bn. The average premium for the new deals...

David Blennerhassett