In this briefing:
- Futu Holdings IPO Trading Update – Might Be Trading a Little Too High
- Last Week in GER Event-Driven Research: Myob, Rakuten, Delta, Graincorp and Hopewell Holding
- Another MGO For HKICIM As HNA Sells Stake Back To Blackstone
- Global Capital Flows Show China’s Collapsing Export Markets Could Soon Revive
1. Futu Holdings IPO Trading Update – Might Be Trading a Little Too High
Futu Holdings Ltd (FHL US)‘s IPO was priced at the top-end at US$12/ADS raising a total of US$160m, including the US$70m raised from General Atlantic via a concurrent private placement.
In my earlier insights, I looked at the company’s background, past financial performance, scored the deal on our IPO framework and compared it to Tiger Brokers:
- Futu Holdings Pre-IPO – Great Metrics but in a Commoditised Industry,
- Futu Holdings Pre-IPO – FY18 Updates And Quick Thoughts on Valuation,
- Futu Holdings IPO – Given the Team, Execution, and Backers, Might Be Worth a Look at the Low-End, and
- Futu Holdings IPO Quick Note – Comparison with Tiger Brokers – Same Market, Different Economics
In this insight, I will re-visit some of the deal dynamics, comment on share price drivers and provide a table with implied valuations.
2. Last Week in GER Event-Driven Research: Myob, Rakuten, Delta, Graincorp and Hopewell Holding
In this version of the GER weekly EVENTS research wrap, we contend that investors should cash out on the MYOB Group Ltd (MYO AU) deal and assess the NAV discount potential for Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) post the IPO launch of Lyft Inc (0812823D US) – of which Rakuten has a 13% stake. Moreover, we dig into the deals for Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB) , Graincorp Ltd A (GNC AU) and Hopewell Holdings (54 HK)
More details can be found below.
Best of luck for the new week – Rickin, Venkat and Arun
3. Another MGO For HKICIM As HNA Sells Stake Back To Blackstone
Late Friday night, Hong Kong International Construction Investment Management Group Co., (687 HK) (“HKICIM”) announced HNA Finance had entered into a SPA in which Times Holdings, a Blackstone-controlled vehicle, had conditionally agreed to buy 69.54% of HKICIM’s issued shares for HK$3/share in an HK$7bn transaction. Should the SPA complete, Times will make a mandatory unconditional offer – also at $3.00/share (14.5% premium to last close) – for the remaining 30.46% of shares out.
This proposal arrives nearly three years after HNA bought a 66% in Tysan Holdings – as HKICIM was previously known – from Blackstone for HK$4.53 per share, triggering an MGO.
This share sale underlines HNA Group’s ongoing strategy to ease its debt burden and align its core business focus towards aviation, not construction and property.
HKICIM made headlines in the past not just for its eye-watering property acquisitions at Kai Tak (up to HK$13.5k/sqft in March 2017), the former site of Hong Kong’s international airport; but that HNA was also oddly motivated to acquire these parcels of land at record breaking prices to “snatch land and pricing power from the city’s real estate cartel“.
HKICIM sold its last Kai Tak site to Wheelock & (20 HK) last month (for a loss of $740mn), leaving the company with an estimated net cash position of ~$6.0bn (using FY18 interim numbers) or ~$1.80/share, it’s foundation piling operations, a development site in Hong Kong and a residential and commercial property development project in Shenyang.
The closing of the SPA is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of various conditions. However, the short time frame (13 business days from this announcement) in which to secure, fulfill or waive these conditions suggest minimal deal risk.
This will trade tight to, if not through terms, with an anticipated completion late April. There will be no bump to the Offer. Times does not intend to avail itself to compulsory acquisition and intends to maintain HKICIM’s listing; while both Times and HKICIM will take appropriate steps to maintain a sufficient public float after the close of the Offer.
4. Global Capital Flows Show China’s Collapsing Export Markets Could Soon Revive
- Capital flows are strongly Granger causal
- Gross capital flows lead World shipping activity by 4 months
- Capital flows have been slowly rising since June 2018: in February they jumped
- Reinforces out pro-Asia and pro-China investment message
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