Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Back on the 19th July, online Q&amp;A play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhihu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36660:1" rel="noopener">Zhihu (2390 HK/</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhihu-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32185:1" rel="noopener">ZH US)</a> announced the <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0719/2024071901181.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buyback</a> of 46.92mn ordinary A shares (15.9% of shares out) at HK$9.11/share (US$3.50/ADS). </li>
<li>Assuming the buyback is fully taken up, chairman Yuan Zhou's stake will increase to 44.4% from 42.9% currently (held via A shares and the weighted-voting B shares). </li>
<li>The key condition is a simple majority vote from independent shareholders. Zhihu is sitting on  net cash of US$764mn. A significantly larger buyback, or higher price, could have been initiated. </li>
</ul>


Back on the 19th July, online Q&amp;A play Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US) announced the buyback of 46.92mn ordinary A shares (15.9% of shares out) at HK$9.11/share (US$3.50/ADS). 
Assuming the buyback is fully taken up, chairman Yuan Zhou's stake will increase to 44.4% from 42.9% currently (held via A shares and the weighted-voting B shares). 
The key condition is a simple majority vote from independent shareholders. Zhihu is sitting on  net cash of US$764mn. A significantly larger buyback, or higher price, could have been initiated. 


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

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>We see 38 potential and close adds and 51 potential and close deletes for the Hang Seng Composite Index in March. Some of the stocks are close on market cap/liquidity.</li>
<li>There have been many new listings in the last weeks of December. Some of them are fairly large and will be added and that increases the number of potential deletions.</li>
<li>There are stocks that have a very high percentage of holdings via Stock Connect and there could be some unwinding prior to the stocks becoming Sell-only.</li>
</ul>


We see 38 potential and close adds and 51 potential and close deletes for the Hang Seng Composite Index in March. Some of the stocks are close on market cap/liquidity.
There have been many new listings in the last weeks of December. Some of them are fairly large and will be added and that increases the number of potential deletions.
There are stocks that have a very high percentage of holdings via Stock Connect and there could be some unwinding prior to the stocks becoming Sell-only.


HSCI Index Rebalance Preview and Stock Connect: Updated Potential Changes in March 2025

<ul>
<li>We see 32 potential and close adds and 44 potential and close deletes for the Hang Seng Composite Index in March. Some of the stocks are close on market cap/liquidity.</li>
<li>We expect 29 stocks to be added to Southbound Stock Connect following the rebalance while 31 stocks could be deleted from the trading link and become Sell-only.</li>
<li>There are stocks that have a very high percentage of holdings via Stock Connect and there could be some unwinding prior to the stocks becoming Sell-only.</li>
</ul>


We see 32 potential and close adds and 44 potential and close deletes for the Hang Seng Composite Index in March. Some of the stocks are close on market cap/liquidity.
We expect 29 stocks to be added to Southbound Stock Connect following the rebalance while 31 stocks could be deleted from the trading link and become Sell-only.
There are stocks that have a very high percentage of holdings via Stock Connect and there could be some unwinding prior to the stocks becoming Sell-only.


HSCI Index Rebalance Preview and Stock Connect: Potential Changes in March 2025

<ul>
<li>
Couche-Tard execs do the rounds in Tokyo, complaining about not being able to do the rounds. This sounds like they are trying to make themselves sound nice. For now</li>
<li>First the low-balled VTOs for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/advanced-info-service-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:947:1" rel="noopener">AIS (ADVANC TB)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/thaicom-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18019:1" rel="noopener">Thaicom (THCOM TB)</a>. Then the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intouch-holdings-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17638:1" rel="noopener">Intouch (INTUCH TB)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gulf-energy-development-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26038:1" rel="noopener">Gulf Energy (GULF TB)</a> amalgamation. Then, arguably, the next unorthodox development will take place.</li>
<li>Investors buying <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samty-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43711:1" rel="noopener">SAMTY HOLDINGS (187A JP)</a> in size may withhold shares, either they'll try to become the fulcrum investor to get into the Bidco OR they will try for a bump.</li>
</ul>



Couche-Tard execs do the rounds in Tokyo, complaining about not being able to do the rounds. This sounds like they are trying to make themselves sound nice. For now
First the low-balled VTOs for AIS (ADVANC TB) and Thaicom (THCOM TB). Then the Intouch (INTUCH TB)/Gulf Energy (GULF TB) amalgamation. Then, arguably, the next unorthodox development will take place.
Investors buying SAMTY HOLDINGS (187A JP) in size may withhold shares, either they'll try to become the fulcrum investor to get into the Bidco OR they will try for a bump.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Seven & I/Couche-Tard, Intouch, SAMTY, Korea Zinc/Young Poong

<ul>
<li>I  tally 44 - 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>One new deals discussed this week: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bossini-international-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4085:1" rel="noopener">Bossini International (592 HK)</a> low-balled scrip Offer from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/viva-goods-company-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15864:1" rel="noopener">Viva Goods (933 HK)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-capital-grand-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18241:1" rel="noopener">Beijing Capital Grand (1329 HK)</a> also suspended due to the Takeovers code. </li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guotai-junan-securities-co-ltd-5dfaf2c5-76d3-4f34-a77d-118787fd7091" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23752:1" rel="noopener">GJS (2611 HK)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haitong-securities-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:166:1" rel="noopener">Haitong Securities (600837 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuji-soft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17504:1" rel="noopener">Fuji Soft Inc (9749 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hotel-property-investments" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9850:1" rel="noopener">Hotel Property Investments (HPI AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-traditional-chinese-medicine" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:351:1" rel="noopener">TCM (570 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dyna-mac-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16153:1" rel="noopener">Dyna Mac Holdings (DMHL SP)</a> </li>
</ul>


I  tally 44 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
One new deals discussed this week: Bossini International (592 HK) low-balled scrip Offer from Viva Goods (933 HK). Beijing Capital Grand (1329 HK) also suspended due to the Takeovers code. 
Key updates took place on: GJS (2611 HK)/Haitong Securities (600837 CH), Fuji Soft Inc (9749 JP), Hotel Property Investments (HPI AU), TCM (570 HK) and Dyna Mac Holdings (DMHL SP) 


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: GJS/Haitong, Fuji Soft, Bossini, Dyna-Mac, Beijing Capital Grand, TCM

China

Zhihu operates as a leading online content community and Q&A platform in China, empowering users to share knowledge, experience, and insights, and find solutions. The company offers marketing services, paid membership programs, and vocational training. Zhihu was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

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