US/Europe Event-Driven Analyst

John DeMasi

Event-Driven

StarTek, Inc. offers outsourced process management services primarily to Fortune 1000 companies and owns and operates branded vertical market Internet Web sites. The Company's process management service platforms include high-end technical support, technical services management, supply chain management, and internet support services.

<ul>
<li>Singapore-Based private equity firm Capital Square Partners (“CSP”) engineered combination of Aegis Global and “old” Startek in 2018 to create “new” Startek.</li>
<li>Microcap business process outsourcing ("BPO") company runs outsourced customer contact centers, has improving sales and profitability, and a declining stock price.</li>
<li>On 20December2021, CSP disclosed that it had submitted a “preliminary, non-binding proposal” to acquire all outstanding shares of SRT US not already owned by it for $5.40 per share.</li>
</ul>


Singapore-Based private equity firm Capital Square Partners (“CSP”) engineered combination of Aegis Global and “old” Startek in 2018 to create “new” Startek.
Microcap business process outsourcing ("BPO") company runs outsourced customer contact centers, has improving sales and profitability, and a declining stock price.
On 20December2021, CSP disclosed that it had submitted a “preliminary, non-binding proposal” to acquire all outstanding shares of SRT US not already owned by it for $5.40 per share.


Startek Inc. – SRT US 55% Owner Proposes $5.40 Cash Per Share Squeeze Out

Sanderson Farms, Inc. produces, processes, markets, and distributes fresh and frozen chicken products.  The Company also processes, markets, and distributes processed and prepared food items.  Sanderson Farms sells its chicken, primarily under the Sanderson Farms brand name, to retailers, distributors, and fast food operators in the southeastern, southwestern, and western United States.

<ul>
<li>Cargill/Continental Grain announced joint acquisition of Sanderson Farms on 9th August 2021 for $203/share cash.</li>
<li>Poultry Market in the USA is not concentrated; deal presents little traditional competition risk.</li>
<li>Recent accusations of price-fixing in poultry sector present political risk, but SAFM is cheap even if deal were to get blocked.</li>
</ul>


Cargill/Continental Grain announced joint acquisition of Sanderson Farms on 9th August 2021 for $203/share cash.
Poultry Market in the USA is not concentrated; deal presents little traditional competition risk.
Recent accusations of price-fixing in poultry sector present political risk, but SAFM is cheap even if deal were to get blocked.


Sanderson Farms (SAFM US) – Pending Takeover Offers Favourable Risk/Reward

Activision Blizzard, Inc. publishes, develops, and distributes interactive entertainment software and peripheral products. The Company's products cover diverse game categories, including action/adventure, action sports, racing, role playing, simulation, first-person action, music-based gaming and strategy.

<ul>
<li>Microsoft’s largest-ever acquisition provides boost for cloud gaming and metaverse ambitions.</li>
<li>Deal comes as Activision Blizzard’s been mired in gender pay disparity and sexual harassment storm.</li>
<li>Controversial CEO Bobby Kotick to continue in his role as head of Activision Blizzard, though WSJ says otherwise.</li>
</ul>


Microsoft’s largest-ever acquisition provides boost for cloud gaming and metaverse ambitions.
Deal comes as Activision Blizzard’s been mired in gender pay disparity and sexual harassment storm.
Controversial CEO Bobby Kotick to continue in his role as head of Activision Blizzard, though WSJ says otherwise.


Microsoft Got Game! Plans to Buy Activision Blizzard for $95/Share or $68.7 Billion

Casper Sleep Inc. manufactures home furnishing products. The Company designs, produces, and markets range of mattresses, sheets, pillows, duvet, and bed frames. Casper Sleep serves customers worldwide.

<ul>
<li>The acquisition of Casper by a PE firm announced in mid-November 2021 offers a 35% annualized rate of return to a late January 2022 closing, but with considerable downside risk.</li>
<li>Mattress-In-A-Box disrupter IPOd in February 2020 at $12 a share but never closed at/above that price again despite rapid growth due to intensifying competition and lack of scale.</li>
<li>The deal allows the buyer (Durational Capital Management) to breach the deal (and essentially walk) with a $24.375 million reverse termination fee payment to CSPR.</li>
</ul>


The acquisition of Casper by a PE firm announced in mid-November 2021 offers a 35% annualized rate of return to a late January 2022 closing, but with considerable downside risk.
Mattress-In-A-Box disrupter IPOd in February 2020 at $12 a share but never closed at/above that price again despite rapid growth due to intensifying competition and lack of scale.
The deal allows the buyer (Durational Capital Management) to breach the deal (and essentially walk) with a $24.375 million reverse termination fee payment to CSPR.


Casper Sleep Inc. Buyout – Juicy Arb Return or Sleepless Nights? Maybe Both.

Ferguson PLC distributes HVAC and industrial supplies. The Company offers products for heating and ventilation, fabrication, facilities supply, and residential construction. Ferguson serves customers in North America.

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ferguson-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28304:1" rel="noopener">Ferguson PLC (FERG LN)</a> is a UK-listed, FTSE 100 distributor of plumbing and heating products in the USA, Canada, and the UK. In the latest fiscal year ended July 31, 2019, the UK accounted for only about 10.2% of revenues and about 4% of trading profits, with the balance coming mainly from the USA, and to a much smaller extent, from Canada.Despite the Company’s predominant focus in the USA, it has traditionally traded at the more modest multiples of British distributors. On June 13, 2019, U.S. activist investment firm Trian Fund Management announced it had acquired a 5.98% position in FERG LN though affiliates including T1F LN, then worth approximately £736 million.Trian stated it believes Ferguson is an attractive business that trades at a discount to comparable U.S. peers. It also said it looks forward to working with Ferguson’s management to explore and implement initiatives that it believes can create long-term shareholder value.This research piece looks, from an event-driven point of view, at Ferguson’s business, valuation and potential catalyst to address any undervaluation.

Ferguson PLC (FERG LN) is a UK-listed, FTSE 100 distributor of plumbing and heating products in the USA, Canada, and the UK. In the latest fiscal year ended July 31, 2019, the UK accounted for only about 10.2% of revenues and about 4% of trading profits, with the balance coming mainly from the USA, and to a much smaller extent, from Canada.Despite the Company’s predominant focus in the USA, it has traditionally traded at the more modest multiples of British distributors. On June 13, 2019, U.S. activist investment firm Trian Fund Management announced it had acquired a 5.98% position in FERG LN though affiliates including T1F LN, then worth approximately £736 million.Trian stated it believes Ferguson is an attractive business that trades at a discount to comparable U.S. peers. It also said it looks forward to working with Ferguson’s management to explore and implement initiatives that it believes can create long-term shareholder value.This research piece looks, from an event-driven point of view, at Ferguson’s business, valuation and potential catalyst to address any undervaluation.

Ferguson Plc (FERG LN) – Plumbing for Value

CFA, CPA (New York State, status: inactive) with 20+ years on buyside (PM & analyst) at numerous hedge funds and proprietary trading desks in NYC and London, covering North American and European event driven investments.