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.

Event-Driven

Hollysys Automation Technologies / Event-Driven

Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US)

<ul>
<li>The <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> Board succumbs to shareholder pressure by announcing the formation of a special committee to conduct a formal sale process.</li>
<li>Hollysys has received non-binding proposals from six parties since December 2020. The most recent is a non-binding proposal from the Recco consortium at US$25.00 per share.</li>
<li>The Board’s change of heart should encourage previous bidders to re-engage. Recco’s offer, while attractive, is not a knockout bid, suggesting a possible bidding war. </li>
</ul>


The Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI US) Board succumbs to shareholder pressure by announcing the formation of a special committee to conduct a formal sale process.
Hollysys has received non-binding proposals from six parties since December 2020. The most recent is a non-binding proposal from the Recco consortium at US$25.00 per share.
The Board’s change of heart should encourage previous bidders to re-engage. Recco’s offer, while attractive, is not a knockout bid, suggesting a possible bidding war. 


Hollysys (HOLI US): Board Starts a Formal Sale Process

European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

<ul>
<li>Schneider increased its cash offer by 4% to 3,225p/share, 47% premium, implied equity value of c.£9,863m and EV of £10,569m, 27.8x EV/Fwd EBIT. Schneider said the sweetened bid is final.</li>
<li>The deal seems dilutive for Schneider: it would mean an implied Fwd P/E of 31.4x vs. 18.7x for Schneider and should increase Schneider's debt leverage to 1.9x.</li>
<li>The increased offer had been anticipated as the spread had been positive since the offer announcement. Gross spread has now turned negative and is -1.91% (including dividend) as of 14 November. Long.</li>
</ul>


Schneider increased its cash offer by 4% to 3,225p/share, 47% premium, implied equity value of c.£9,863m and EV of £10,569m, 27.8x EV/Fwd EBIT. Schneider said the sweetened bid is final.
The deal seems dilutive for Schneider: it would mean an implied Fwd P/E of 31.4x vs. 18.7x for Schneider and should increase Schneider's debt leverage to 1.9x.
The increased offer had been anticipated as the spread had been positive since the offer announcement. Gross spread has now turned negative and is -1.91% (including dividend) as of 14 November. Long.


<ul>
<li>Davidson Kempner and others may seek an improved offer of up to 3,500p/share, 29.7x EV/Fwd EBIT, in line with Ideagen's acquisition multiples. Gross spread is +2.38%.</li>
<li>Assuming AVEVA can reach 2018a 34.7% EBITDA margins and increase revenues, the offer price would seem cheap. An increase to 3,300p seems feasible, £4,073 million, similar to the Bridge Facility.</li>
<li>Current net debt/EBITDA is 1.3x and EBIT/interest is 33.6x, so it could comfortably take on that additional debt. At 3,300p, proforma net debt/EBITDA would be 1.9x, before adding any synergies.</li>
</ul>


Davidson Kempner and others may seek an improved offer of up to 3,500p/share, 29.7x EV/Fwd EBIT, in line with Ideagen's acquisition multiples. Gross spread is +2.38%.
Assuming AVEVA can reach 2018a 34.7% EBITDA margins and increase revenues, the offer price would seem cheap. An increase to 3,300p seems feasible, £4,073 million, similar to the Bridge Facility.
Current net debt/EBITDA is 1.3x and EBIT/interest is 33.6x, so it could comfortably take on that additional debt. At 3,300p, proforma net debt/EBITDA would be 1.9x, before adding any synergies.


Schneider Electric/​Aveva: Potential Offer Price Sweetening

<ul>
<li>Schneider has agreed a 3,100p (+13p interim) cash offer for the remaining 40.86% of AVEVA (41% premium, 26.7x EV/Fwd EBIT, 30.5x Fwd P/E), which some dub opportunistic.</li>
<li>The offer price is in line with average multiples for the last 5Y, and there's execution risk in the model transition of AVEVA, but riches may lie ahead. </li>
<li>Gross spread is +0.8% (+interim), the market expects a sweetening (no large shareholder has irrevocably undertaken to tender); the daily average GBP volume since 23 August has been c.£62 million.</li>
</ul>


Schneider has agreed a 3,100p (+13p interim) cash offer for the remaining 40.86% of AVEVA (41% premium, 26.7x EV/Fwd EBIT, 30.5x Fwd P/E), which some dub opportunistic.
The offer price is in line with average multiples for the last 5Y, and there's execution risk in the model transition of AVEVA, but riches may lie ahead. 
Gross spread is +0.8% (+interim), the market expects a sweetening (no large shareholder has irrevocably undertaken to tender); the daily average GBP volume since 23 August has been c.£62 million.


Schneider Electric/Aveva: Recommended Minorities Buyout

Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tuya-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32158:1" rel="noopener">Tuya Inc (1869782D US)</a> provides a backend service for IoT (internet of things) device makers. Tuya offers its customers a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) for IoT devices that handles the connectivity, device software and application development. In 2020, Tuya was the largest IoT PaaS business globally as measured by the volume of smart devices powered, according to CIC.Tuya is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a> (10.8% stake) and NEA (23.9% stake). Jeff Immelt, the former chairman and CEO of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/general-electric-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:782:1" rel="noopener">General Electric Co (GE US)</a>, is a venture partner at NEA and has been appointed as a director at Tuya. Tuya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $1 billion, according to press reports. Despite the growing user demand for smart IoT enabled devices driven by increased affordability and improved user experiences, most products are not connected yet. Devices related to smart home and smart business reached 762.8 million in 2019 and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion by 2024, representing a CAGR of 26.7%, according to CIC. This is a huge opportunity for companies that can offer their customers a cost-effective solution to bring their products online. <div class="content-highlight">PaaS is a key enabler to accelerate the launch of smart IoT enabled devices by making the software development cycles and feature update process time and cost-efficient. PaaS is a platform where third-party providers deliver software, infrastructure and hardware tools needed for software developers to build and manage software efficiently. Tuya’s PaaS solutions are well-positioned to benefit from the rising need for third-party IoT PaaS providers who can provide the required tools. Overall, we believe that Tuya’s fundamentals are attractive.</div>

Tuya Inc (1869782D US) provides a backend service for IoT (internet of things) device makers. Tuya offers its customers a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) for IoT devices that handles the connectivity, device software and application development. In 2020, Tuya was the largest IoT PaaS business globally as measured by the volume of smart devices powered, according to CIC.Tuya is backed by Tencent Holdings (700 HK) (10.8% stake) and NEA (23.9% stake). Jeff Immelt, the former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co (GE US), is a venture partner at NEA and has been appointed as a director at Tuya. Tuya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $1 billion, according to press reports. Despite the growing user demand for smart IoT enabled devices driven by increased affordability and improved user experiences, most products are not connected yet. Devices related to smart home and smart business reached 762.8 million in 2019 and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion by 2024, representing a CAGR of 26.7%, according to CIC. This is a huge opportunity for companies that can offer their customers a cost-effective solution to bring their products online. PaaS is a key enabler to accelerate the launch of smart IoT enabled devices by making the software development cycles and feature update process time and cost-efficient. PaaS is a platform where third-party providers deliver software, infrastructure and hardware tools needed for software developers to build and manage software efficiently. Tuya’s PaaS solutions are well-positioned to benefit from the rising need for third-party IoT PaaS providers who can provide the required tools. Overall, we believe that Tuya’s fundamentals are attractive.

France

Schneider Electric SE manufactures power distribution and automation systems. The Company produces circuit breakers, remote installation management equipment, panelboards, programmable logic controllers, industrial control products, detectors, human-machine interfaces, and process controls.  Schneider's products are sold various brands.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Schneider Electric Se (SU FP)

Hollysys (HOLI US): Board Starts a Formal Sale Process

The Board’s change of heart should encourage previous bidders to re-engage. While attractive, Recco’s US$25 per share offer is not a knockout bid,...

Arun George

Schneider Electric Sweetens AVEVA Bid

Schneider increased its cash offer by 4% to a final 3,225p/share, which represents an implied equity value of c. £9,863 million and an EV of...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Schneider Electric/Aveva: Potential Offer Price Sweetening

Hedge fund Davidson Kempner Capital Management is building a stake in Aveva (currently 3.5%) and will join others in pushing Schneider Electric...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Schneider Electric/Aveva: Recommended Minorities Buyout

The offer price does not come as a surprise and the operation, however dilutive, makes strategic sense for Schneider. Gross spread is positive and...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Tuya IPO Initiation: Connected Future

Tencent-backed Tuya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $1 billion, according to press reports. Overall, we believe that Tuya’s...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Hollysys (HOLI US): Board Starts a Formal Sale Process

The Board’s change of heart should encourage previous bidders to re-engage. While attractive, Recco’s US$25 per share offer is not a knockout bid,...

Arun George

Schneider Electric Sweetens AVEVA Bid

Schneider increased its cash offer by 4% to a final 3,225p/share, which represents an implied equity value of c. £9,863 million and an EV of...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Schneider Electric/​Aveva: Potential Offer Price Sweetening

Hedge fund Davidson Kempner Capital Management is building a stake in Aveva (currently 3.5%) and will join others in pushing Schneider Electric...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Schneider Electric/Aveva: Recommended Minorities Buyout

The offer price does not come as a surprise and the operation, however dilutive, makes strategic sense for Schneider. Gross spread is positive and...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Tuya IPO Initiation: Connected Future

Tencent-backed Tuya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $1 billion, according to press reports. Overall, we believe that Tuya’s...

Arun George

Schneider Electric/Aveva: Potential Offer Price Sweetening