Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>2024 marked our ninth year covering Equity Capital Markets in Asia-Pacific. In 2024, IPO volumes were mainly driven by India, even as Hong Kong showed signs of turning a corner.</li>
<li>We ended 2024 with an accuracy rate of 79.4% across 68 IPOs that we covered and 68.8% across 109 placements.</li>
<li>For those not familiar with our coverage, we aim to cover all IPOs and placements with a minimum deal size of US$100m across Asia-Pacific, including China ADRs.</li>
</ul>


2024 marked our ninth year covering Equity Capital Markets in Asia-Pacific. In 2024, IPO volumes were mainly driven by India, even as Hong Kong showed signs of turning a corner.
We ended 2024 with an accuracy rate of 79.4% across 68 IPOs that we covered and 68.8% across 109 placements.
For those not familiar with our coverage, we aim to cover all IPOs and placements with a minimum deal size of US$100m across Asia-Pacific, including China ADRs.


Aequitas 2024 IPOs and Placements Performance Review-India Driving Volumes as HK Shows Signs of Life

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Forensic Accounting

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> was a logical suitor for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkbn-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:289:1" rel="noopener">HKBN Ltd (1310 HK)</a>. A non-PRC (or government-affiliated) corporation taking over a media/broadband/telco in Hong Kong is probably a non-starter.</li>
<li>China Mobile has a made a <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/1202/2024120203351.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pre-conditional voluntary Offer</a> at HK$5.23/share, a 40.97% premium to undisturbed. The price is final. </li>
<li>Pre-Cons are the usual suspects (NDRC, Mofcom &amp; SASAC). The Offer itself conditional on a 50% acceptance hurdle, with 24.96% in the bag. The intention is to maintain HKBN's listing. </li>
</ul>



China Mobile (941 HK) was a logical suitor for HKBN Ltd (1310 HK). A non-PRC (or government-affiliated) corporation taking over a media/broadband/telco in Hong Kong is probably a non-starter.
China Mobile has a made a pre-conditional voluntary Offer at HK$5.23/share, a 40.97% premium to undisturbed. The price is final. 
Pre-Cons are the usual suspects (NDRC, Mofcom &amp; SASAC). The Offer itself conditional on a 50% acceptance hurdle, with 24.96% in the bag. The intention is to maintain HKBN's listing. 


HKBN (1310 HK): China Mobile's "Fair" Tendering Offer

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkbn-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:289:1" rel="noopener">HKBN Ltd (1310 HK)</a>, a Hong Kong broadband play, is never short on privatisation rumours. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> is reportedly (again) holding talks with HKBN's major shareholders. </li>
<li>China Mobile is a logical suitor. I highly doubt a non-PRC (government-affiliated) corporation would be permitted to take HKBN private.</li>
<li>Previous takeover rumours over the years came to nought. It may be different this time. HKBN was <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/1119/2024111900127.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended this morning</a> pursuant to the Takeovers Code.
</li>
</ul>



HKBN Ltd (1310 HK), a Hong Kong broadband play, is never short on privatisation rumours. China Mobile (941 HK) is reportedly (again) holding talks with HKBN's major shareholders. 
China Mobile is a logical suitor. I highly doubt a non-PRC (government-affiliated) corporation would be permitted to take HKBN private.
Previous takeover rumours over the years came to nought. It may be different this time. HKBN was suspended this morning pursuant to the Takeovers Code.



HKBN (1310 HK): China Mobile Comes Knocking. Again.

<ul>
<li>
<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> selling <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16063:1" rel="noopener">Seven Bank (8410 JP)</a> is obvious. It has been obvious. It is non-core. It's always been non-core. It was made  clear in previous Strategy announcements,</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pccw-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:873:1" rel="noopener">PCCW Ltd (8 HK)</a>'s premium to NAV is unjustified. However reversing the stub has not been going to plan of late, as the NAV premium continues to widen.</li>
<li>Mavcom HAS approved the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/malaysia-airports-holdings-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:117:1" rel="noopener">Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB MK)</a> deal. But still welcomes public consultation. So, approved or not?</li>
</ul>



Seven &amp; I (3382 JP) selling Seven Bank (8410 JP) is obvious. It has been obvious. It is non-core. It's always been non-core. It was made  clear in previous Strategy announcements,

PCCW Ltd (8 HK)'s premium to NAV is unjustified. However reversing the stub has not been going to plan of late, as the NAV premium continues to widen.
Mavcom HAS approved the Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB MK) deal. But still welcomes public consultation. So, approved or not?


Last Week in Event SPACE: Seven & I/Seven Bank, PCCW, Malaysia Airports, I'rom Group

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pccw-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:873:1" rel="noopener">PCCW Ltd (8 HK)</a> was trading at an unjustifiable premium to NAV at the time of my last report back in August. Now it's even more unjustifiable. </li>
<li>Preceding my comments on PCCW/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkt-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:874:1" rel="noopener">HKT Ltd (6823 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arm-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21816:1" rel="noopener">ARM Holdings (ARM US)</a>, are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>



PCCW Ltd (8 HK) was trading at an unjustifiable premium to NAV at the time of my last report back in August. Now it's even more unjustifiable. 
Preceding my comments on PCCW/HKT Ltd (6823 HK), and Softbank Group (9984 JP)/ARM Holdings (ARM US), are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


StubWorld: PCCW's Questionable NAV Premium. Plus Softbank Vs. Arm

Hong Kong

PCCW Limited is a Hong Kong-based information and communication technology (ICT) and telecommunications company. It provides fixed-line, broadband, mobile communication, and media entertainment services, including the OTT video streaming service Viu, alongside IT solutions and property development. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong and was founded in 1925.

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PCCW (8 HK)

Aequitas 2024 IPOs and Placements Performance Review-India Driving Volumes as HK Shows Signs of Life

2024 marked our ninth year covering Equity Capital Markets in Asia-Pacific. We had an accuracy rate of 79.4% for IPOs and 68.8% for placements in...

Sumeet Singh

HKBN (1310 HK): China Mobile's "Fair" Tendering Offer

Say a conservative six months to secure reg approvals, and an additional two months to complete the Offer - I'd pay ~HK$4.95/share - perhaps up to...

David Blennerhassett

HKBN (1310 HK): China Mobile Comes Knocking. Again.

Shares are suspended - so there's nothing to be done right now. A rumoured HK$5/share is probably ok. A 16% premium to last close. But perhaps ~33%...

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: Seven & I/Seven Bank, PCCW, Malaysia Airports, I'rom Group

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

StubWorld: PCCW's Questionable NAV Premium. Plus Softbank Vs. Arm

Valuation-wise, PCCW is trading full. I'd reverse the stub here, however this unjustifiable NAV premium has become even more unjustiifiable. Avoid....

David Blennerhassett

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