European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Event-Driven

<div>
<div>
<h3>Trends</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Spreads have generally tightened during the last five weeks, with some notorious exceptions like Roche and Volkswagen.</p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<h3>Interesting situations and trades</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<p>The discount of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/carlsberg-a-s" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22320:1" rel="noopener">Carlsberg A/S (CARLB DC)</a> B shares (2 voting rights per share) has shrinked to 9.8% discount (from 28.4% on 19 April) vs. the A shares (with 20 voting rights per share). Maintain LONG B shares/short A shares on, if you can get hold of any A shares.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The discount of the preferred shares of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bayerische-motoren-werke-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21591:1" rel="noopener">Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW GR)</a> has been shrinking since reaching a maximum of 26.1% in November 2020. It is now 13.7%, roughly at the same level of mid-July, and approaching pre-Covid levels. Maintain <strong>long BMW prefs, short common shares</strong> on, with a target of a 12% discount.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuchs-petrolub-se" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21624:1" rel="noopener">Fuchs Petrolub SE (FPE GR)</a> 's preference shares premium seems to vary within a range, which is probably liquidity related. It has widened to 26.1% (from 22.3%% by mid-July). With over 50% of the ordinary shares, the Fuchs family maintains the majority vote.</p>
<p>Although there is no reason why the voting rights should be specially dear in Fuchs's case, voting rights are still valuable and neither the dividend advantage of the preferred shares nor their being members of several midcap indexes (Prime Standard/MDAX; STOXX Europe 600; DAXplus Familiy 30) justify the large premium, in my view. Maintain the trade <strong>long common/short prefs</strong> on, with a 10% target.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/henkel-ag-co-kgaa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21646:1" rel="noopener">Henkel AG &amp; Co KGaA (HEN3 GR)</a> shows a long-term trend towards a reduction of the premium of the preferred shares. The premium has recently tightened and is now 7.3% (vs. 11.5% by mid-July and 16.1% by mid-May), thus below my 10% target.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Voting rights are valuable in a company like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/volkswagen-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21738:1" rel="noopener">Volkswagen (VOW GR)</a>. Prefs discount has widened to 31.1% back to March levels (it reached a maximum of 33.4% on 12 August). Preference shares have in the past traded at a premium due to its higher liquidity and inclusion in stock indexes. That said, ordinary shares are also liquid. It seems again time to put on <strong>long prefs/short ords</strong>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The premium of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telecom-italia-sp-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21075:1" rel="noopener">Telecom Italia Sp A (TIT IM)</a> savings shares tightened to 4.4% vs. ordinary shares. The market may have given up on a conversion of savings into ords à la Buzzi Unicem or Danieli. A conversion makes financial sense as it would save the dividend advantage for the savings. But that would dilute the voting power of Vivendi (23.943% of the votes, the second largest shareholder is Cassa Depositi e Prestiti with 5.031%). <strong>Short savings/long ords</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grifols-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21274:1" rel="noopener">Grifols SA (GRF SM)</a> B shares are trading at an <strong>almost 40% discount</strong> vs. A (ordinary) shares (vs. 36.1% by mid-April and 39.7% by mid-February). Ordinary shares are unloved as of lately and so are B shares. It may be a better time now to put on the trade long B, short A shares. There are some issues around Grifols leverage and some <em>creative</em> solutions to keeping it contained. The Covid-related antitakeover provisions issued by the Spanish Government mean that the voting rights are less valuable now. Moreover, the by-laws contain a poison pill that should significantly reduce the discount in case of a takeover attempt. The discount in Grifols B shares has averaged 28% since listing of the B shares in February 2016. I recommend setting up the trade long B shares (traded on Nasdaq), short A shares (traded in Madrid). The target is a 27% discount. Please note there is FX risk, which can be hedged.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The current discount in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/atlas-copco-ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22282:1" rel="noopener">Atlas Copco AB (ATCOA SS)</a> B shares vs. A shares is 15.2%  and seems to be on a widening trend.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>On 10 May, Industrivärden divested its entire holding in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ssab-ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22492:1" rel="noopener">SSAB AB (SSABA SS)</a>. Top shareholder is now LKAB (Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag), a government owned Swedish mining company. LKAB is now consolidating its influence in SSAB "in order to take responsibility and ensure that the company continues to have a clear industrial ownership influence at a time when the steel industry is facing major change". On 7 June, LKAB communicated its increased holding in SSAB (16.0% of the votes and 10.5% of the capital). The <strong>discount has widened to 14.6%</strong> (vs. 11.3% by mid-July and 6.6% by mid-April). It seems the time to go <strong>long B shares/short A shares</strong>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<p>The discount in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/volvo-ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22521:1" rel="noopener">Volvo AB (VOLVB SS)</a> B shares has slightly tightened since mid-June, from 2.7% to 1.6%. Still highest levels since January 2016.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The <strong>discount of non-voting</strong> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/roche-holding-ag-77bd09c9-b0c2-45ea-98f1-6a7ca01dc9c5" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27906:1" rel="noopener">Roche Holding AG (ROG SW)</a> shares has <strong>widened to 9.3%</strong> (vs. 7.9% by mid-July). Shareholding seems very stable, so there is no reason for the voting shares to become dearer vs. the non-voting stock. Softbank has quietly purchased nearly $5 bn of non-voting shares, according to the FT.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The premium of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/schindler-holding-ag-a63e9700-2075-4f83-952a-d3e71b14974b" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25024:1" rel="noopener">Schindler Holding AG (SCHN SW)</a> participation certificates to Schindler Holding shares is 5.3% (vs. 3.6% by mid-July and a discount by January). Like Roche, Schindler also seems on a widening trend.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The discount in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/schroders-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22134:1" rel="noopener">Schroders PLC (SDR LN)</a> non-voting stock vs. voting one reflects Schroders' corporate governance and the influence of family control (45.4% voting rights with a 36% economic interest). The discount has <strong>widened to 31.2%</strong> (vs. 28.4% by mid-July). I would maintain long non-voting/short voting shares on. I would maintain l<strong>ong non-voting/short voting shares</strong> on.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Please read on for table and charts.</p>
</div>



Trends



Spreads have generally tightened during the last five weeks, with some notorious exceptions like Roche and Volkswagen.



Interesting situations and trades





The discount of Carlsberg A/S (CARLB DC) B shares (2 voting rights per share) has shrinked to 9.8% discount (from 28.4% on 19 April) vs. the A shares (with 20 voting rights per share). Maintain LONG B shares/short A shares on, if you can get hold of any A shares.


The discount of the preferred shares of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW GR) has been shrinking since reaching a maximum of 26.1% in November 2020. It is now 13.7%, roughly at the same level of mid-July, and approaching pre-Covid levels. Maintain long BMW prefs, short common shares on, with a target of a 12% discount.


Fuchs Petrolub SE (FPE GR) 's preference shares premium seems to vary within a range, which is probably liquidity related. It has widened to 26.1% (from 22.3%% by mid-July). With over 50% of the ordinary shares, the Fuchs family maintains the majority vote.
Although there is no reason why the voting rights should be specially dear in Fuchs's case, voting rights are still valuable and neither the dividend advantage of the preferred shares nor their being members of several midcap indexes (Prime Standard/MDAX; STOXX Europe 600; DAXplus Familiy 30) justify the large premium, in my view. Maintain the trade long common/short prefs on, with a 10% target.


Henkel AG &amp; Co KGaA (HEN3 GR) shows a long-term trend towards a reduction of the premium of the preferred shares. The premium has recently tightened and is now 7.3% (vs. 11.5% by mid-July and 16.1% by mid-May), thus below my 10% target.


Voting rights are valuable in a company like Volkswagen (VOW GR). Prefs discount has widened to 31.1% back to March levels (it reached a maximum of 33.4% on 12 August). Preference shares have in the past traded at a premium due to its higher liquidity and inclusion in stock indexes. That said, ordinary shares are also liquid. It seems again time to put on long prefs/short ords.





The premium of Telecom Italia Sp A (TIT IM) savings shares tightened to 4.4% vs. ordinary shares. The market may have given up on a conversion of savings into ords à la Buzzi Unicem or Danieli. A conversion makes financial sense as it would save the dividend advantage for the savings. But that would dilute the voting power of Vivendi (23.943% of the votes, the second largest shareholder is Cassa Depositi e Prestiti with 5.031%). Short savings/long ords.





Grifols SA (GRF SM) B shares are trading at an almost 40% discount vs. A (ordinary) shares (vs. 36.1% by mid-April and 39.7% by mid-February). Ordinary shares are unloved as of lately and so are B shares. It may be a better time now to put on the trade long B, short A shares. There are some issues around Grifols leverage and some creative solutions to keeping it contained. The Covid-related antitakeover provisions issued by the Spanish Government mean that the voting rights are less valuable now. Moreover, the by-laws contain a poison pill that should significantly reduce the discount in case of a takeover attempt. The discount in Grifols B shares has averaged 28% since listing of the B shares in February 2016. I recommend setting up the trade long B shares (traded on Nasdaq), short A shares (traded in Madrid). The target is a 27% discount. Please note there is FX risk, which can be hedged.


The current discount in Atlas Copco AB (ATCOA SS) B shares vs. A shares is 15.2%  and seems to be on a widening trend.


On 10 May, Industrivärden divested its entire holding in SSAB AB (SSABA SS). Top shareholder is now LKAB (Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag), a government owned Swedish mining company. LKAB is now consolidating its influence in SSAB "in order to take responsibility and ensure that the company continues to have a clear industrial ownership influence at a time when the steel industry is facing major change". On 7 June, LKAB communicated its increased holding in SSAB (16.0% of the votes and 10.5% of the capital). The discount has widened to 14.6% (vs. 11.3% by mid-July and 6.6% by mid-April). It seems the time to go long B shares/short A shares.






The discount in Volvo AB (VOLVB SS) B shares has slightly tightened since mid-June, from 2.7% to 1.6%. Still highest levels since January 2016.


The discount of non-voting Roche Holding AG (ROG SW) shares has widened to 9.3% (vs. 7.9% by mid-July). Shareholding seems very stable, so there is no reason for the voting shares to become dearer vs. the non-voting stock. Softbank has quietly purchased nearly $5 bn of non-voting shares, according to the FT.


The premium of Schindler Holding AG (SCHN SW) participation certificates to Schindler Holding shares is 5.3% (vs. 3.6% by mid-July and a discount by January). Like Roche, Schindler also seems on a widening trend.


The discount in Schroders PLC (SDR LN) non-voting stock vs. voting one reflects Schroders' corporate governance and the influence of family control (45.4% voting rights with a 36% economic interest). The discount has widened to 31.2% (vs. 28.4% by mid-July). I would maintain long non-voting/short voting shares on. I would maintain long non-voting/short voting shares on.




Please read on for table and charts.


Liquid Universe of European Ordinary and Preferred Shares: August Report

Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

<p><br/> The Europe HY Trade Book for August 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with relative-value scatter plots and tables by industry.<br/></p>

  The Europe HY Trade Book for August 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with relative-value scatter plots and tables by industry. 

Europe HY Trade Book - August 2021 - Lucror Analytics

<p><br/> The Europe HY Trade Book for July 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with relative-value scatter plots and tables by industry.<br/></p>

  The Europe HY Trade Book for July 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with relative-value scatter plots and tables by industry. 

Europe HY Trade Book - July 2021 - Lucror Analytics

<div>
<div>
<h3>Trends</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Discounts have not kept a clear trend since mid-June.</p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<h3>Interesting situations and trades</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/carlsberg-a-s" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22320:1" rel="noopener">Carlsberg A/S (CARLB DC)</a> B shares (with 1/10th of the voting rights of the A shares) are trading at a <strong>18.3% discount</strong> (down from July, coming from a 28.4% discount on 19 April) vs. the A shares), some demand for illiquid A shares seems to be the explanation. <strong>Maintain</strong> Long B shares/short A shares on, if you can get hold of any A shares.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bayerische-motoren-werke-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21591:1" rel="noopener">Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW GR)</a> exhibited a trend towards a reduction of the discount of preferred shares, until March 2020. The <strong>discount has tightened to 13.8%</strong> (vs. 22.1% by mid-April). The discount is approaching pre-Covid levels. Maintain <strong>long BMW prefs, short common</strong> shares on, with a target of a 12% discount.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuchs-petrolub-se" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21624:1" rel="noopener">Fuchs Petrolub SE (FPE GR)</a>'s <strong>preference shares premium</strong> seems to vary within a range, which is probably liquidity related. It has <strong>tightened to 22.3%</strong> (down from 29.4% by mid-February and 34.4% in my October report). With over 50% of the ordinary shares, the Fuchs family maintains the majority vote. They have never stated they would consolidate and pride to be #1 among the independent suppliers of lubricants.</p>
<p>Although there is no reason why the voting rights should be specially dear in Fuchs's case, voting rights are still valuable and neither the dividend advantage of the preferred shares nor their being members of several midcap indexes (Prime Standard/MDAX; STOXX Europe 600; DAXplus Familiy 30) justify the large premium, in my view. Maintain the trade <strong>long common/short prefs</strong> on, with a 10% target.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/henkel-ag-co-kgaa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21646:1" rel="noopener">Henkel AG &amp; Co KGaA (HEN3 GR)</a> shows a long-term trend towards a reduction of the premium of the preferred shares. The <strong>premium has tightened to 11.5% </strong>(vs. 15.7% by mid-May). Maintain the trade short prefs/long common shares with a 10% premium target.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Voting rights are valuable in a company like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/volkswagen-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21738:1" rel="noopener">Volkswagen (VOW GR)</a>. <strong>Prefs discount has widened to 25.9%</strong> (vs. 20.5% by mid-May, 16.6% by mid-April and 31.8% on 18 March, highest levels since November 2009). Preference shares have in the past traded at a premium due to its higher liquidity and inclusion in stock indexes. That said, the ordinary shares are also liquid. The shareholder structure of Volkswagen is stable, and there seems to be no reason why the discount of the prefs should widen. Volkswagen was considering a separate listing of its Porsche sports car brand in a deal that could boost its valuation, according to Bloomberg, but the company seems to have put those plans on ice. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/traton-se" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28140:1" rel="noopener">Traton SE (8TRA GR)</a>, a subsidiary majority owned by Volkswagen, is squeezing out the minorities (both ordinary and preferred shares) in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/man-se" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21670:1" rel="noopener">MAN SE (MAN GR)</a>. Recommendation is to <strong>avoid this trade for the time being</strong>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/danieli-c-officine-meccaniche" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21177:1" rel="noopener">Danieli &amp; C. Officine Meccaniche (DAN IM)</a>:  the mandatory conversion and extraordinary dividend were approved on the shareholders meetings on 28 October. The conversion date is yet to be announced but expected soon (I am aware I have been repeating this since November, but there has no been any further update from Danieli). Since announcement, the adjusted spread has ranged between -5.48% and 7.69%. It is currently 1.3%. Long Danieli ords/short Danieli savings shares, if and when the discount widens.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telecom-italia-sp-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21075:1" rel="noopener">Telecom Italia Sp A (TIT IM)</a> savings shares are trading at a 10.2% premium to ordinary shares (vs. a 7.9% premium by mid-May). The market may think of a conversion of savings into ords à la Buzzi Unicem or Danieli, which makes financial sense as it would save the savings' dividend advantage. That would dilute the voting power of Vivendi (23.943% of the votes), albeit Vivendi could put its capital to better use than keeping an investment in Telecom Italia. <strong>Short savings/long ords</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grifols-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21274:1" rel="noopener">Grifols SA (GRF SM)</a>B shares are trading at a <strong>35.0% discount</strong> (vs. 36.1% by mid-April and 39.7% by mid-February), there is a trend towards the tightening of this discount since March 2020 lows, albeit it is taking some time. There are some issues around Grifols leverage and some creative solutions to keeping it contained. The Covid-related antitakeover provisions issued by the Spanish Government mean that the voting rights are less valuable now. Also, the Spanish government plans to introduce double voting rights for "loyal" shareholders (those who have kept the shares for at least two years). Moreover, the by-laws contain a poison pill that should significantly reduce the discount in case of a takeover attempt. The discount in Grifols B shares has averaged 28% since listing of the B shares in February 2016. I recommend setting up the trade <strong>long B shares (traded on Nasdaq), short A shares (traded in Madrid)</strong>. The target is a 27% discount. Please note there is FX risk, which can be hedged.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The current discount in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/atlas-copco-ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22282:1" rel="noopener">Atlas Copco AB (ATCOA SS)</a> B shares vs. A shares is 15.2%  and seems to be on a <strong>widening trend</strong>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>On 10 May, Industrivärden divested its entire holding in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ssab-ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22492:1" rel="noopener">SSAB AB (SSABA SS)</a> . Top shareholder is now LKAB (Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag), a government owned Swedish mining company. LKAB is now consolidating its influence in SSAB "in order to take responsibility and ensure that the company continues to have a clear industrial ownership influence at a time when the steel industry is facing major change". On 7 June, LKAB communicated its increased holding in SSAB (16.0% of the votes and 10.5% of the capital). The <strong>discount has tightened to 11.3%</strong>, lower than July, due to LKAB not increasing its stake. It seems the time to go <strong>long B shares/short A shares</strong>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<p>The discount in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/volvo-ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22521:1" rel="noopener">Volvo AB (VOLVB SS)</a> B shares has slightly tightened since mid-June, from 3.0% to 2.7% (vs. 0.8% discount by mid-February). Still <strong>highest levels since January 2016</strong>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The discount of non-voting <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/roche-holding-ag-77bd09c9-b0c2-45ea-98f1-6a7ca01dc9c5" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27906:1" rel="noopener">Roche Holding AG (ROG SW)</a> shares has <strong>widened to 7.9%</strong> (vs. 6.6% by mid-June, and it recently reached 8%), an unseen level since November 2011. The Hoffman family and related holds 45% of the voting rights (shareholder pooling agreement) whilst Novartis holds 33.3% of the voting rights. LTM average daily liquidity (in number of shares traded) for non-voting is 1,656k and 73k, for voting shares. So voting shares have blue-chip liquidity in their own right.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The discount in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/schroders-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22134:1" rel="noopener">Schroders PLC (SDR LN)</a> has <strong>widened to 28.4%</strong> (vs 25.7% by mid-June, 30.6% by mid-March and 34.1% by mid-February). I would maintain long non-voting/short voting shares on.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Please read on for table and charts.</p>
</div>



Trends



Discounts have not kept a clear trend since mid-June.



Interesting situations and trades





Carlsberg A/S (CARLB DC) B shares (with 1/10th of the voting rights of the A shares) are trading at a 18.3% discount (down from July, coming from a 28.4% discount on 19 April) vs. the A shares), some demand for illiquid A shares seems to be the explanation. Maintain Long B shares/short A shares on, if you can get hold of any A shares.


Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW GR) exhibited a trend towards a reduction of the discount of preferred shares, until March 2020. The discount has tightened to 13.8% (vs. 22.1% by mid-April). The discount is approaching pre-Covid levels. Maintain long BMW prefs, short common shares on, with a target of a 12% discount.


Fuchs Petrolub SE (FPE GR)'s preference shares premium seems to vary within a range, which is probably liquidity related. It has tightened to 22.3% (down from 29.4% by mid-February and 34.4% in my October report). With over 50% of the ordinary shares, the Fuchs family maintains the majority vote. They have never stated they would consolidate and pride to be #1 among the independent suppliers of lubricants.
Although there is no reason why the voting rights should be specially dear in Fuchs's case, voting rights are still valuable and neither the dividend advantage of the preferred shares nor their being members of several midcap indexes (Prime Standard/MDAX; STOXX Europe 600; DAXplus Familiy 30) justify the large premium, in my view. Maintain the trade long common/short prefs on, with a 10% target.


Henkel AG &amp; Co KGaA (HEN3 GR) shows a long-term trend towards a reduction of the premium of the preferred shares. The premium has tightened to 11.5% (vs. 15.7% by mid-May). Maintain the trade short prefs/long common shares with a 10% premium target.


Voting rights are valuable in a company like Volkswagen (VOW GR). Prefs discount has widened to 25.9% (vs. 20.5% by mid-May, 16.6% by mid-April and 31.8% on 18 March, highest levels since November 2009). Preference shares have in the past traded at a premium due to its higher liquidity and inclusion in stock indexes. That said, the ordinary shares are also liquid. The shareholder structure of Volkswagen is stable, and there seems to be no reason why the discount of the prefs should widen. Volkswagen was considering a separate listing of its Porsche sports car brand in a deal that could boost its valuation, according to Bloomberg, but the company seems to have put those plans on ice. Traton SE (8TRA GR), a subsidiary majority owned by Volkswagen, is squeezing out the minorities (both ordinary and preferred shares) in MAN SE (MAN GR). Recommendation is to avoid this trade for the time being.






Danieli &amp; C. Officine Meccaniche (DAN IM):  the mandatory conversion and extraordinary dividend were approved on the shareholders meetings on 28 October. The conversion date is yet to be announced but expected soon (I am aware I have been repeating this since November, but there has no been any further update from Danieli). Since announcement, the adjusted spread has ranged between -5.48% and 7.69%. It is currently 1.3%. Long Danieli ords/short Danieli savings shares, if and when the discount widens.

Telecom Italia Sp A (TIT IM) savings shares are trading at a 10.2% premium to ordinary shares (vs. a 7.9% premium by mid-May). The market may think of a conversion of savings into ords à la Buzzi Unicem or Danieli, which makes financial sense as it would save the savings' dividend advantage. That would dilute the voting power of Vivendi (23.943% of the votes), albeit Vivendi could put its capital to better use than keeping an investment in Telecom Italia. Short savings/long ords.





Grifols SA (GRF SM)B shares are trading at a 35.0% discount (vs. 36.1% by mid-April and 39.7% by mid-February), there is a trend towards the tightening of this discount since March 2020 lows, albeit it is taking some time. There are some issues around Grifols leverage and some creative solutions to keeping it contained. The Covid-related antitakeover provisions issued by the Spanish Government mean that the voting rights are less valuable now. Also, the Spanish government plans to introduce double voting rights for "loyal" shareholders (those who have kept the shares for at least two years). Moreover, the by-laws contain a poison pill that should significantly reduce the discount in case of a takeover attempt. The discount in Grifols B shares has averaged 28% since listing of the B shares in February 2016. I recommend setting up the trade long B shares (traded on Nasdaq), short A shares (traded in Madrid). The target is a 27% discount. Please note there is FX risk, which can be hedged.


The current discount in Atlas Copco AB (ATCOA SS) B shares vs. A shares is 15.2%  and seems to be on a widening trend.


On 10 May, Industrivärden divested its entire holding in SSAB AB (SSABA SS) . Top shareholder is now LKAB (Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag), a government owned Swedish mining company. LKAB is now consolidating its influence in SSAB "in order to take responsibility and ensure that the company continues to have a clear industrial ownership influence at a time when the steel industry is facing major change". On 7 June, LKAB communicated its increased holding in SSAB (16.0% of the votes and 10.5% of the capital). The discount has tightened to 11.3%, lower than July, due to LKAB not increasing its stake. It seems the time to go long B shares/short A shares.






The discount in Volvo AB (VOLVB SS) B shares has slightly tightened since mid-June, from 3.0% to 2.7% (vs. 0.8% discount by mid-February). Still highest levels since January 2016.


The discount of non-voting Roche Holding AG (ROG SW) shares has widened to 7.9% (vs. 6.6% by mid-June, and it recently reached 8%), an unseen level since November 2011. The Hoffman family and related holds 45% of the voting rights (shareholder pooling agreement) whilst Novartis holds 33.3% of the voting rights. LTM average daily liquidity (in number of shares traded) for non-voting is 1,656k and 73k, for voting shares. So voting shares have blue-chip liquidity in their own right.


The discount in Schroders PLC (SDR LN) has widened to 28.4% (vs 25.7% by mid-June, 30.6% by mid-March and 34.1% by mid-February). I would maintain long non-voting/short voting shares on.




Please read on for table and charts.


Liquid Universe of European Ordinary and Preferred Shares: July Report

<p><br/> The Europe HY Trade Book for June 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with relative-value scatter plots and tables by industry.<br/></p>

  The Europe HY Trade Book for June 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with relative-value scatter plots and tables by industry. 

Europe HY Trade Book - June 2021 - Lucror Analytics

Italy

Telecom Italia is a multinational telecommunications company providing fixed and mobile telephony services, broadband internet, and digital solutions for individuals, households, and businesses. The company develops 4G and 5G mobile networks and fibre network infrastructure. It operates in Italy and Brazil. Telecom Italia was founded on July 27, 1994, and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.

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Telecom Italia (TITR IM)

Liquid Universe of European Ordinary and Preferred Shares: August Report

Spreads have generally tightened during the last five weeks, with some notorious exceptions like Roche and Volkswagen. It seems the time to put the...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Europe HY Trade Book - August 2021 - Lucror Analytics

The Europe HY Trade Book for August 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with...

Lucror Analytics

Europe HY Trade Book - July 2021 - Lucror Analytics

The Europe HY Trade Book for July 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with...

Lucror Analytics

Liquid Universe of European Ordinary and Preferred Shares: July Report

Discounts/Premiums have not followed a clear trend since mid-June. Interesting situations are Henkel, BMW, and SSAB, in my view.

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Europe HY Trade Book - June 2021 - Lucror Analytics

The Europe HY Trade Book for June 2021 includes high-conviction trade ideas drawn from our European HY coverage universe, along with...

Lucror Analytics

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