Financial News, Analysis and Data, FNArena

FNArena

Financial News, Analysis and Data

Online financial media company focused on Australian equities, with a global perspective

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>In a turbulent market, Sigma Healthcare could prove a defensive alternative driven by Chemist Warehouse&rsquo;s value offering and the company&rsquo;s international growth.</li><li> Sigma Healthcare's solid first half overshadowed by war in the Middle East Chemist Warehouse a defensive retail business Store numbers growing in New Zealand, Ireland and the UAE Analysts are net positive in the current environment</li></ul>

In a turbulent market, Sigma Healthcare could prove a defensive alternative driven by Chemist Warehouse&rsquo;s value offering and the company&rsquo;s international growth. Sigma Healthcare's solid first half overshadowed by war in the Middle East Chemist Warehouse a defensive retail business Store numbers growing in New Zealand, Ireland and the UAE Analysts are net positive in the current environment

The Defensive Proposition Of Sigma Healthcare

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day. Data in this insight is up to 23rd March, published ~9AM on the 27th March.</li>
<li>The largest industry net increase in the past week was into "Healthcare Distributors"; the largest industry net decrease was out of "Diversified Metals &amp; Mining". Net shorts declined A$2.3bn week-on-week.</li>
<li>Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pilbara-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7460:1" rel="noopener">Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sigma-healthcare-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15966:1" rel="noopener">Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yancoal-australia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4145:1" rel="noopener">Yancoal Australia (YAL AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lotus-resources-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13978:1" rel="noopener">Lotus Resources (LOT AU)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/treasury-wine-estates-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:710:1" rel="noopener">Treasury Wine Estates (TWE AU)</a>.</li>
</ul>


Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day. Data in this insight is up to 23rd March, published ~9AM on the 27th March.
The largest industry net increase in the past week was into "Healthcare Distributors"; the largest industry net decrease was out of "Diversified Metals &amp; Mining". Net shorts declined A$2.3bn week-on-week.
Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU), Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU), Yancoal Australia (YAL AU), Lotus Resources (LOT AU), and Treasury Wine Estates (TWE AU).


Aussie Shorts (23rd Mar 2026): Pilbara Minerals, Sigma Healthcare, Yancoal, Treasury Wine Estates

<ul>
<li>Cuscaden Peak, the sponsor of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paragon-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5994:1" rel="noopener">Paragon REIT (PGNREIT SP)</a> and 61.5% shareholder, has offered S$0.98/unit, in cash; or S$1.003/unit, a 7% premium to NAV, when including FY24's S$0.0233/unit cash distribution.</li>
<li>The Offer is by way of a Scheme. The Offer price has NOT been declared final. A switch option into a voluntary Offer is afforded should a competing Offer emerge.</li>
<li>Looks pretty clean. Assuming mid-late May payment, pay up to S$0.97/share for a 4%/15% gross/annualised spread. It may trade tighter given the early distribution payment.</li>
</ul>


Cuscaden Peak, the sponsor of Paragon REIT (PGNREIT SP) and 61.5% shareholder, has offered S$0.98/unit, in cash; or S$1.003/unit, a 7% premium to NAV, when including FY24's S$0.0233/unit cash distribution.
The Offer is by way of a Scheme. The Offer price has NOT been declared final. A switch option into a voluntary Offer is afforded should a competing Offer emerge.
Looks pretty clean. Assuming mid-late May payment, pay up to S$0.97/share for a 4%/15% gross/annualised spread. It may trade tighter given the early distribution payment.


Paragon REIT (PGNREIT SP)'s Privatisation Offer

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sigma-healthcare-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15966:1" rel="noopener">Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)</a>'s transformational merger with Chemist Warehouse is pending ACCC approval. ACCC is expected to announce its findings on 7 November.</li>
<li>If approvals from ACCC, NZ OIO and others are obtained, the merger could complete early 2025 and the MergeCo will have a market cap of around A$21.7bn.</li>
<li>That means upward migrations for MergoCo in the S&amp;P/ASX indices and as well as global indices. There will be significant impact on MergeCo from passive tracker buying.</li>
</ul>



Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)'s transformational merger with Chemist Warehouse is pending ACCC approval. ACCC is expected to announce its findings on 7 November.
If approvals from ACCC, NZ OIO and others are obtained, the merger could complete early 2025 and the MergeCo will have a market cap of around A$21.7bn.
That means upward migrations for MergoCo in the S&amp;P/ASX indices and as well as global indices. There will be significant impact on MergeCo from passive tracker buying.


Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)/ Chemist Warehouse Merger: Over US$1bn to Buy; Timing Is Important

<ul>
<li>I tally 50 - 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>Three new deals discussed this week: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl (4921 JP)</a>'s Tender offer, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/a8-new-media-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3444:1" rel="noopener">A8 New Media (800 HK)</a>'s Scheme, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jeisys-medical-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36766:1" rel="noopener">Jeisys Medical (287410 KS)</a>'s delisting offer. Bain also approached <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bapcor-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8433:1" rel="noopener">Bapcor (BAP AU)</a>.</li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sigma-healthcare-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15966:1" rel="noopener">Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alumina-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:939:1" rel="noopener">Alumina (AWC AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/greatview-aseptic-packaging" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10802:1" rel="noopener">Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/helios-techno-holding-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13934:1" rel="noopener">Helios Techno (6927 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tatsuta-electric-wire-cable-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12509:1" rel="noopener">Tatsuta Electric Wire &amp; Cable (5809 JP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 50 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
Three new deals discussed this week: Fancl (4921 JP)'s Tender offer, A8 New Media (800 HK)'s Scheme, and Jeisys Medical (287410 KS)'s delisting offer. Bain also approached Bapcor (BAP AU).
Key updates took place on: Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU), Alumina (AWC AU), Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK), Helios Techno (6927 JP), and Tatsuta Electric Wire &amp; Cable (5809 JP).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Fancl, Jeisys Medical, A8 New Media, Bapcor, Helios Techno,Tatsuta Electric

Australia

Sigma Healthcare Limited wholesales and distributes pharmaceutical products. The Company offers prescription, over-the-counter, and generic drugs. Sigma Healthcare serves customers in Australia.

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

Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)

The Defensive Proposition Of Sigma Healthcare

In a turbulent market, Sigma Healthcare could prove a defensive alternative driven by Chemist Warehouse’s value offering and the company’s...

FNArena

Aussie Shorts (23rd Mar 2026): Pilbara Minerals, Sigma Healthcare, Yancoal, Treasury Wine Estates

As at the 23rd March 2026, total shares short amounted to ~A$52.2bn down~A$2.3bn in the past week. The largest industry net increase in the past...

David Blennerhassett

Paragon REIT (PGNREIT SP)'s Privatisation Offer

Looks pretty clean. A 7% premium to NAV and a roughly two-year high. If payment on or around late May, I'd pay up to S$0.97/share for a gross...

David Blennerhassett