Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Back on the 6th December 2024, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a>, a PRC department store operator, announced a Scheme from Thomas Lau, its chairman/CEO and major shareholder (74.91%, including concert parties).</li>
<li>The HK$0.913 Offer price was miserly 21.7% premium to last close. But not declared final. </li>
<li>The Offer deserved a bump, and Lau has obliged. However, the <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/0116/2025011600886.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revised HK$0.98/share bid</a>, a 30.6% premium to undisturbed, remains underwhelming. Lau has declared terms final.</li>
</ul>


Back on the 6th December 2024, Lifestyle China (2136 HK), a PRC department store operator, announced a Scheme from Thomas Lau, its chairman/CEO and major shareholder (74.91%, including concert parties).
The HK$0.913 Offer price was miserly 21.7% premium to last close. But not declared final. 
The Offer deserved a bump, and Lau has obliged. However, the revised HK$0.98/share bid, a 30.6% premium to undisturbed, remains underwhelming. Lau has declared terms final.


Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Lau's Scheme - The Premium Is Still Wrong. And Now Final

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Tourism Group Duty Free / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Our earnings projections for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-tourism-group-duty-free-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36229:1" rel="noopener">China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (1880 HK)</a> are 14% and 18% below market consensus respectively. We think these are more realistic expectations.</li>
<li>At IPO price of HK$158, CDFC H-share sits on 23.9x FY23F PER. We think it is difficult to trade above 22x - the average for top consumer discretionary names.</li>
<li>Weakened visitor appetite to Sanya, potentially higher discounts, increase in border opening, higher fixed cost and uncertainties for duty free policies beyond 2025 are negative earnings factors.</li>
</ul>


Our earnings projections for China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (1880 HK) are 14% and 18% below market consensus respectively. We think these are more realistic expectations.
At IPO price of HK$158, CDFC H-share sits on 23.9x FY23F PER. We think it is difficult to trade above 22x - the average for top consumer discretionary names.
Weakened visitor appetite to Sanya, potentially higher discounts, increase in border opening, higher fixed cost and uncertainties for duty free policies beyond 2025 are negative earnings factors.


CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Our Earnings Forecasts and Views on H-Share Fair Value

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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a> disclosed a revised offer from Mr Thomas Lau at HK$0.98 per share, a 7.3% premium to the previous HK$0.913 offer. The offer has been declared final. </li>
<li>The bump was unsurprising. Crucially, the shares have traded above the revised offer on 20 of the 25 trading days since the previous offer was announced. </li>
<li>The revised offer remains light, and minorities remain unimpressed. The high AGM minority participation rates remain a vote risk. Head for the exit as the shares are trading at terms. </li>
</ul>



Lifestyle China (2136 HK) disclosed a revised offer from Mr Thomas Lau at HK$0.98 per share, a 7.3% premium to the previous HK$0.913 offer. The offer has been declared final. 
The bump was unsurprising. Crucially, the shares have traded above the revised offer on 20 of the 25 trading days since the previous offer was announced. 
The revised offer remains light, and minorities remain unimpressed. The high AGM minority participation rates remain a vote risk. Head for the exit as the shares are trading at terms. 


Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau Bumps, but the Offer Remains Light

<ul>
<li>After <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lifestyle-china-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26090:1" rel="noopener">Lifestyle China (2136 HK)</a> was suspended pursuant to then Takeovers Code, the takeaway was that Thomas Lau with 74.91% of shares out would table a Scheme.</li>
<li>Which is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/compose/insight/169377/Lifestyle%20China%20(2136%20HK):%20Thomas%20Yau%20Scheme%20Expected.%20Read%20more:" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exactly what unfolded</a>. What was not expected was a stingy 21.7% premium to last close. </li>
<li>
The Offer Price has not been declared final. Lifestyle China is trading at 0.11x P/B. This Offer deserves a bump. Otherwise minorities should vote this down.</li>
</ul>


After Lifestyle China (2136 HK) was suspended pursuant to then Takeovers Code, the takeaway was that Thomas Lau with 74.91% of shares out would table a Scheme.
Which is exactly what unfolded. What was not expected was a stingy 21.7% premium to last close. 

The Offer Price has not been declared final. Lifestyle China is trading at 0.11x P/B. This Offer deserves a bump. Otherwise minorities should vote this down.


Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau's Scheme - The Premium Is Wrong

<ul>
<li>Reportedly, Ito Junro's MBO for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-i-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1041:1" rel="noopener">Seven &amp; I (3382 JP)</a> includes a US assets IPO to help pay down MBO debt to Japanese banks.  Possible strategic mistake by Ito-san here.</li>
<li>Starwood/Warburg Pincus' firm Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27983:1" rel="noopener">ESR Group (1821 HK)</a> secures support from 30.79% of the register.</li>
<li>We may be wrong on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sanrio-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16476:1" rel="noopener">Sanrio (8136 JP)</a> by a big factor but the multiple and the concentration risk of momentum factor means you are in an illiquid stock.</li>
</ul>


Reportedly, Ito Junro's MBO for Seven &amp; I (3382 JP) includes a US assets IPO to help pay down MBO debt to Japanese banks.  Possible strategic mistake by Ito-san here.
Starwood/Warburg Pincus' firm Offer for ESR Group (1821 HK) secures support from 30.79% of the register.
We may be wrong on Sanrio (8136 JP) by a big factor but the multiple and the concentration risk of momentum factor means you are in an illiquid stock.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Seven & I Holdings, ESR Group, Sanrio, HKBN

Hong Kong

Lifestyle International Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates lifestyle department store and other retail outlets.  The Company also owns most of the properties at which its department store is situated.  At present, Lifestyle International operates the Sogo store, Nufront, and Daiso Land Ten-dollar Shop in Hong Kong.

Lifestyle International Holdings (1212 HK)

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Lifestyle International Holdings (1212 HK)

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Lau's Scheme - The Premium Is Still Wrong. And Now Final

IF illiquid arbs are your thing and you think this get up, pay up to HK$0.95/share for a 3.4%/15% gross/annualised return (where possible), if mid...

David Blennerhassett

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau Bumps, but the Offer Remains Light

The revised offer remains light. The high AGM minority participation rates remain a vote risk. Head for the exit as the shares are trading at the...

Arun George

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau's Scheme - The Premium Is Wrong

The Offer Price has not been declared final. Lifestyle China is trading at 0.11x P/B. This Offer deserves a bump. Otherwise minorities should vote...

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: Seven & I Holdings, ESR Group, Sanrio, HKBN

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Lau's Scheme - The Premium Is Still Wrong. And Now Final

IF illiquid arbs are your thing and you think this get up, pay up to HK$0.95/share for a 3.4%/15% gross/annualised return (where possible), if mid...

David Blennerhassett

CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Our Earnings Forecasts and Views on H-Share Fair Value

CDFC's H-share lPO is priced too high relative to fair value based on our earnings forecasts. There are potentially better entry levels when the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau Bumps, but the Offer Remains Light

The revised offer remains light. The high AGM minority participation rates remain a vote risk. Head for the exit as the shares are trading at the...

Arun George

Lifestyle China (2136 HK): Thomas Lau's Scheme - The Premium Is Wrong

The Offer Price has not been declared final. Lifestyle China is trading at 0.11x P/B. This Offer deserves a bump. Otherwise minorities should vote...

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: Seven & I Holdings, ESR Group, Sanrio, HKBN

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett