Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Today post-close, life insurer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dai-ichi-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1109:1" rel="noopener">Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP)</a> announced plans to launch a Tender Offer to buy out all minorities in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/benefit-one-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14502:1" rel="noopener">Benefit One Inc (2412 JP)</a> at ¥1,800/share. </li>
<li>M3's Partial (55%) Tender at ¥1,600/share ending next week is obviously a question. </li>
<li>This is GREAT news for M&amp;A in Japan. It's good for holders of Benefit One and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona Group (2168 JP)</a> too.</li>
</ul>


Today post-close, life insurer Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP) announced plans to launch a Tender Offer to buy out all minorities in Benefit One Inc (2412 JP) at ¥1,800/share. 
M3's Partial (55%) Tender at ¥1,600/share ending next week is obviously a question. 
This is GREAT news for M&amp;A in Japan. It's good for holders of Benefit One and Pasona Group (2168 JP) too.


Dai-Ichi Life (8750) Proposes a Full Takeover of Benefit One (2412), Overbidding M3

David Blennerhassett

<ul>
<li>The value realisation of selling cross-holdings should not be contingent on selling your shares to someone else too cheaply but that is exactly what Toyota is proposing here.</li>
<li>OCBC is doing the right thing. Although a 17.8% bump in terms for <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>'s minorities is probably not enough to dislodge Palliser.</li>
<li>Cosette has lodged a termination notice, which <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mayne-pharma-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:757:1" rel="noopener">Mayne Pharma (MYX AU)</a> rejects. It's anyone's guess whether this saga concludes with a price cut; or Cosette walking.</li>
</ul>


The value realisation of selling cross-holdings should not be contingent on selling your shares to someone else too cheaply but that is exactly what Toyota is proposing here.
OCBC is doing the right thing. Although a 17.8% bump in terms for Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP)'s minorities is probably not enough to dislodge Palliser.
Cosette has lodged a termination notice, which Mayne Pharma (MYX AU) rejects. It's anyone's guess whether this saga concludes with a price cut; or Cosette walking.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Toyota Indust. Great Eastern, Mayne Pharma, Shibaura Elect., New World

Keisei Electric Railway Co / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Last October, activist Palliser Capital launched a campaign (<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231017540912/en/Palliser-Capital-Responds-to-Media-Article-Regarding-Investment-in-Keisei-Electric-Railway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presentation</a>) on well-known "stub trade" <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keisei-electric-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10876:1" rel="noopener">Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP)</a> with a stake of about 1.6%. </li>
<li>The proposal? Monetise a decent stake in Oriental Land (4661 JP), repurchase shares, and invest for growth. Keisei responded 6-8 weeks ago with a buyback and 1% OLC stake sale.</li>
<li>I thought that was time to bail. That was it. But now, Palliser has re-engaged. Today a press release (<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240423026545/ja/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japanese</a>/<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240423405941/en/Palliser-Capital-Proposes-Advisory-Resolution-to-Give-Shareholders-a-Voice-at-Keisei%E2%80%99s-Forthcoming-AGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">English</a>) and a <a href="https://mms.businesswire.com/media/20240423405941/en/2107923/1/53951785_PALLISER_CAPITAL_20240424_Letter_to_Keisei_English_2.pdf?download=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Letter to the Board</a>.</li>
</ul>


Last October, activist Palliser Capital launched a campaign (presentation) on well-known "stub trade" Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP) with a stake of about 1.6%. 
The proposal? Monetise a decent stake in Oriental Land (4661 JP), repurchase shares, and invest for growth. Keisei responded 6-8 weeks ago with a buyback and 1% OLC stake sale.
I thought that was time to bail. That was it. But now, Palliser has re-engaged. Today a press release (Japanese/English) and a Letter to the Board.


Activist Palliser Re-Engages on Keisei Electric (9009) But The Oppty Remains Unconvincing

External reports (aggregated public sources), Value Investors Club

Value Investors Club

External reports (aggregated public sources)

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Pasona (2168.JP) is a long investment opportunity due to its ownership of a majority stake in Benefit One (2412.JP), which is the subject of a bidding war between M3 (2413.JP) and Dai-Ichi Life (8750.JP).</li><li>Potential bids for Benefit One could result in a significant cash windfall for Pasona, estimated at around 50% more than its current enterprise value, as well as an operating business valued at an additional 50% of its current EV.</li><li>With the founder of Pasona being 71 years old, the bidding war could lead to a management buy-out or a substantial return of capital program for the company.</li></ul>This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.

Pasona (2168.JP) is a long investment opportunity due to its ownership of a majority stake in Benefit One (2412.JP), which is the subject of a bidding war between M3 (2413.JP) and Dai-Ichi Life (8750.JP).Potential bids for Benefit One could result in a significant cash windfall for Pasona, estimated at around 50% more than its current enterprise value, as well as an operating business valued at an additional 50% of its current EV.With the founder of Pasona being 71 years old, the bidding war could lead to a management buy-out or a substantial return of capital program for the company.This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona (2168 JP)</a>will pay out 10-20% of the extraordinary gain from the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/benefit-one-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14502:1" rel="noopener">Benefit One (2412 JP)</a> sale. It will take its sweet time doing so. For no apparent reason.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-lung-properties-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49:1" rel="noopener">Hang Lung Properties (101 HK)</a>'s first-ever scrip dividend provides the means for the Chan Family to indirectly chip away at minorities. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hollysys-automation-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26078:1" rel="noopener">Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)</a> accountant resignation announcement is a nothing burger. An  update on PRC regulatory approvals would be welcome about now though. </li>
</ul>



Pasona (2168 JP)will pay out 10-20% of the extraordinary gain from the Benefit One (2412 JP) sale. It will take its sweet time doing so. For no apparent reason.

Hang Lung Properties (101 HK)'s first-ever scrip dividend provides the means for the Chan Family to indirectly chip away at minorities. 

Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US) accountant resignation announcement is a nothing burger. An  update on PRC regulatory approvals would be welcome about now though. 


Last Week in Event SPACE: Pasona/Benefit One, Hang Lung Properties, Hollysys, Azure Minerals

Japan

Pasona Group Inc. manages companies that provide placement and staffing services for clients in the information technology sector.

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Pasona Group (2168 JP)

Dai-Ichi Life (8750) Proposes a Full Takeover of Benefit One (2412), Overbidding M3

Dai Ichi Life launches a last-minute overbid for all of Benefit One (2412), gazumping the M3 deal. This puts Benefit One's Board in a quandary. But...

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Last Week in Event SPACE: Toyota Indust. Great Eastern, Mayne Pharma, Shibaura Elect., New World

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

Activist Palliser Re-Engages on Keisei Electric (9009) But The Oppty Remains Unconvincing

Since I wrote this piece, Keisei vs OLC is down small. Since I wrote the previous one, it is down more. I think there is room to go, but...

Travis Lundy

Pasona (2168) - Tuesday, Jan 23, 2024

With the founder of Pasona being 71 years old, the bidding war could lead to a management buy-out or a substantial return of capital program for...

Value Investors Club

Last Week in Event SPACE: Pasona/Benefit One, Hang Lung Properties, Hollysys, Azure Minerals

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

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