Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was down 0.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 0.5%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.6%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.3%).</li><li>Energy Technology (13.0% of the index) was up 0.3%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (45.7% of the index) was down 0.2%, ClimateTech Mining was down 0.5%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (22.0% of the index) was down 0.6%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: VVPR, LITM, LAZR, AEVA, FHYD, EGT, WUC, NIU, SOL, AZRE</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 0.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 0.5%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.6%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.3%).Energy Technology (13.0% of the index) was up 0.3%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (45.7% of the index) was down 0.2%, ClimateTech Mining was down 0.5%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (22.0% of the index) was down 0.6%.Top 10 Performers: VVPR, LITM, LAZR, AEVA, FHYD, EGT, WUC, NIU, SOL, AZRE

Sustainable Investing Surveyor: Focus on Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE)

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ioof-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12349:1" rel="noopener">Insignia Financial (IFL AU)</a>, a wealth manager and previously known as IOOF, has announced a <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20241213/pdf/06clql94x0mq9g.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A$4.00/share non-binding and indicative proposal</a> from PE outfit Bain Capital.</li>
<li>The Offer, should it proceed, will be by way of a Scheme.  Apart from IFL's shareholder approval, a firm bid requires FIRB signing off. </li>
<li>IFL's board is weighing up the Offer's pros and cons. This probably requires a small bump.</li>
</ul>



Insignia Financial (IFL AU), a wealth manager and previously known as IOOF, has announced a A$4.00/share non-binding and indicative proposal from PE outfit Bain Capital.
The Offer, should it proceed, will be by way of a Scheme.  Apart from IFL's shareholder approval, a firm bid requires FIRB signing off. 
IFL's board is weighing up the Offer's pros and cons. This probably requires a small bump.


Insignia Financial (IFL AU): Bain's A$4.00/Share NBIO. Needs More Gruel

<ul>
<li>On the 18th July, diagnostic imaging provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/capitol-health-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14504:1" rel="noopener">Capitol Health (CAJ AU)</a> entered a Scheme with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/integral-diagnostics-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24306:1" rel="noopener">Integral Diagnostics (IDX AU)</a>. IDX will issue 0.12849 new IDX shares for each Capitol share</li>
<li>Upon completing the transaction, Integral would hold ~63% in the MergeCo. They key risk is the ACCC signing off. A decision is expected on (or around) the 28th November.  </li>
<li>The Scheme Booklet is <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20240924/pdf/0687rhtyjsbvt0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now out</a>, with a Scheme Meeting to be held on the 31st October. Expected implementation on the 14th November. The IE says fair &amp; reasonable.</li>
</ul>


On the 18th July, diagnostic imaging provider Capitol Health (CAJ AU) entered a Scheme with Integral Diagnostics (IDX AU). IDX will issue 0.12849 new IDX shares for each Capitol share
Upon completing the transaction, Integral would hold ~63% in the MergeCo. They key risk is the ACCC signing off. A decision is expected on (or around) the 28th November.  
The Scheme Booklet is now out, with a Scheme Meeting to be held on the 31st October. Expected implementation on the 14th November. The IE says fair &amp; reasonable.


Capitol Health (CAJ AU)/Integral Diagnostics (IDX AU):  31st Oct Merger Vote

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

DZT Research

DZT Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Aug 23rd (reported today) which has an aggregated short interest worth USD24.7bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in Goodman, Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Westgold Resources, Charter Hall, Aristocrat Leisure.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Aug 23rd (reported today) which has an aggregated short interest worth USD24.7bn.
We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in Goodman, Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Westgold Resources, Charter Hall, Aristocrat Leisure.


ASX Short Interest Weekly (Aug 23rd): Goodman, Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Westgold Resources

<ul>
<li>Back in April 2022, Australia's largest private hospital operator <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ramsay-health-care-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:673:1" rel="noopener">Ramsay Health Care (RHC AU)</a> announced an unsolicited, non-binding Offer from KKR at A$88.00/share. Arguably, KKR dodged a bullet.</li>
<li>RHC's share price took another leg down last week after RHC announced weaker-than-expected FY24 earnings; plus a write-down of its European/UK ops. RHC is now ~50% adrift of KKR's NBIO.</li>
<li>Not altogether surprisingly, various media sources are reporting private equity outfits are (again) running a diagnostic check on RHC. </li>
</ul>


Back in April 2022, Australia's largest private hospital operator Ramsay Health Care (RHC AU) announced an unsolicited, non-binding Offer from KKR at A$88.00/share. Arguably, KKR dodged a bullet.
RHC's share price took another leg down last week after RHC announced weaker-than-expected FY24 earnings; plus a write-down of its European/UK ops. RHC is now ~50% adrift of KKR's NBIO.
Not altogether surprisingly, various media sources are reporting private equity outfits are (again) running a diagnostic check on RHC. 


Private Equity Examining Ramsay Health (RMC AU). Again.

Australia

Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Company Limited is an investment holding company. The Company owns shares and properties, coal mining, bulk handling, commercial television licensee, telecommunications carrier, merchant banking, funds management, pharmaceutical retailing, manufacture, processing and marketing of biscuits and cakes.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (SOL AU)

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Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (SOL AU)

Sustainable Investing Surveyor: Focus on Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE)

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 0.3% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (up 0.5%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.6%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.3%).

Water Tower Research

Capitol Health (CAJ AU)/Integral Diagnostics (IDX AU): 31st Oct Merger Vote

Trading wide at a ~5.2%/45% gross/annualised spread. I'm still not comfortable with the ACCC risk here. I'd avoid the arb. I'd be looking...

David Blennerhassett

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Aug 23rd): Goodman, Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Westgold Resources

We analyzed ASX short interest report for the past week and highlight short interest changes in Goodman, Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Westgold...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Private Equity Examining Ramsay Health (RMC AU). Again.

Ramsay's share price is pretty beaten up. FY24 earnings are expected to be roughly in line with FY22 figures. And KKR was still willing to pay...

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Sustainable Investing Surveyor: Focus on Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE)

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 0.3% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (up 0.5%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.6%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.3%).

Water Tower Research

Insignia Financial (IFL AU): Bain's A$4.00/Share NBIO. Needs More Gruel

Not the Australian's finest moment. After an article flagged Tanarra Capital to be reportedly "backing Bain Capital’s bid", Tanarra responded by...

David Blennerhassett

Capitol Health (CAJ AU)/Integral Diagnostics (IDX AU): 31st Oct Merger Vote

Trading wide at a ~5.2%/45% gross/annualised spread. I'm still not comfortable with the ACCC risk here. I'd avoid the arb. I'd be looking...

David Blennerhassett

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Aug 23rd): Goodman, Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Westgold Resources

We analyzed ASX short interest report for the past week and highlight short interest changes in Goodman, Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Westgold...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Private Equity Examining Ramsay Health (RMC AU). Again.

Ramsay's share price is pretty beaten up. FY24 earnings are expected to be roughly in line with FY22 figures. And KKR was still willing to pay...

David Blennerhassett