Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

HK Type 4 license through Ballingal Investment Advisors Ltd. 

I'm a highly experienced sell-side analyst with in excess of 22 years of covering Asia Pacific equities, the past 19 years immersed in event strategies encompassing M&A risk arbitrage, directional long/short, stub trades and restructuring.  

My background also includes accountancy (liquidation/bankruptcy/receivership) earlier in my career and as a chief financial officer of a global commodity company based in the US and Mexico.

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Link Group (LNK AU): KKR Opens The Bidding For PEXA

Link Admin (LNK AU) Goes IPO Route For PEXA Afterall

Link Admin: Hardball Tactics After Meagre Bump

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

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<p>On the 12 October,  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/link-administration-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:970:1" rel="noopener">Link Administration Holdings (LNK AU)</a> <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02292481-2A1255763?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a conditional, non-binding indicative proposal from a consortium comprising PEP and the Carlyle Group, by way of a Scheme. The indicative cash price was A$5.20/share, a 30% premium to last close. Perpetual, holding 9.65% of shares out, said it would vote for a firm Offer of $5.20/share and above.</p>
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<div>On the 23 October, Link <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02297758-2A1258281?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the proposal from PEP/Carlyle "<em>materially undervalued the company</em>". </div>
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<div>Three days later PEP/Carlyle <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02298663-2A1258716?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tabled</a> a A$5.40/share non-binding indicative Offer, in cash. The proposal includes an option of a cash offer for Link ex-Property Exchange Australia (PEXA) of A$3.80/share, along with the ability to take an indirect interest in PEXA. Shareholders with <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02298654-2A1258715?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">14.62%</a> of shares out stated their intention to vote in favour of PEP/Carlyle's latest proposal, in the absence of a superior offer.</div>
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<p>PEP/Carlyle said it required six weeks of due diligence, and if DD access was not provided by the 28 October, they would walk. Link <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02300645-2A1259592?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> that the proposal was not compelling - but gave the consortium DD access nonetheless.</p>
<h3>The New News</h3>
<p>Software provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ss-c-technologies-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3464:1" rel="noopener">Ss&amp;C Technologies (SSNC US)</a> has now pitched a non-binding indicative proposal, by way of Scheme, at A$5.65/share, 4.6% above PEP/Carlyle's proposal.</p>
<p>Conditions to this proposal largely mirror that of PEP/Carlyle's: confirmatory DD, obtaining debt financing, FIRB (and ACCC). And no further dividends.</p>
<p>Less than six weeks ago, Link's board said a $5.40/share Offer did not represent compelling value for Link. It is difficult to believe an offer 4.6% higher will change that view.</p>
<p>More below the fold.</p>
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On the 12 October,  Link Administration Holdings (LNK AU) announced a conditional, non-binding indicative proposal from a consortium comprising PEP and the Carlyle Group, by way of a Scheme. The indicative cash price was A$5.20/share, a 30% premium to last close. Perpetual, holding 9.65% of shares out, said it would vote for a firm Offer of $5.20/share and above.


On the 23 October, Link said the proposal from PEP/Carlyle "materially undervalued the company". 

Three days later PEP/Carlyle tabled a A$5.40/share non-binding indicative Offer, in cash. The proposal includes an option of a cash offer for Link ex-Property Exchange Australia (PEXA) of A$3.80/share, along with the ability to take an indirect interest in PEXA. Shareholders with 14.62% of shares out stated their intention to vote in favour of PEP/Carlyle's latest proposal, in the absence of a superior offer.



PEP/Carlyle said it required six weeks of due diligence, and if DD access was not provided by the 28 October, they would walk. Link responded that the proposal was not compelling - but gave the consortium DD access nonetheless.
The New News
Software provider Ss&amp;C Technologies (SSNC US) has now pitched a non-binding indicative proposal, by way of Scheme, at A$5.65/share, 4.6% above PEP/Carlyle's proposal.
Conditions to this proposal largely mirror that of PEP/Carlyle's: confirmatory DD, obtaining debt financing, FIRB (and ACCC). And no further dividends.
Less than six weeks ago, Link's board said a $5.40/share Offer did not represent compelling value for Link. It is difficult to believe an offer 4.6% higher will change that view.
More below the fold.


Link Admin (LNK AU): SS&C Trumps PEP/Carlyle