Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

National Storage REIT is a Real Estate Investment Trust.  The Trust owns self storage facilities in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast in Queensland, Sydney Western Suburbs in New South Wales, Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria, Adelaide in South Australia, Perth in Western Australia and Hobart in Tasmania.

<ul>
<li>After <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/national-storage-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13762:1" rel="noopener">National Storage REIT (NSR AU)</a> entered a trading halt on the 26th Nov, it subsequently <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20251208/pdf/06t1s3h18mpq02.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a NBIO from Brookfield and Singapore's GIC. </li>
<li>Brookfield and GIC tabled a A$2.86/share (~1.11x P/NTA 30th June 2025) Offer, by way of a Scheme. Any 1H26 distribution would be netted (not added, as I incorrectly posted previously).</li>
<li>This morning, NSR announced it has <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20251126/pdf/06sjvswlkfm83c.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered into a Scheme</a> on the same terms. Implementation expected late April 2026. FIRB and NZ's OIO approvals required, in addition to the vote. </li>
</ul>


After National Storage REIT (NSR AU) entered a trading halt on the 26th Nov, it subsequently announced a NBIO from Brookfield and Singapore's GIC. 
Brookfield and GIC tabled a A$2.86/share (~1.11x P/NTA 30th June 2025) Offer, by way of a Scheme. Any 1H26 distribution would be netted (not added, as I incorrectly posted previously).
This morning, NSR announced it has entered into a Scheme on the same terms. Implementation expected late April 2026. FIRB and NZ's OIO approvals required, in addition to the vote. 


National Storage REIT (NSR AU): Brookfield/GIC Firm A$2.86/Share Offer

TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION, a member of the Toyota Motor Group, assembles motor vehicles and manufactures automotive parts such as engines and air conditioner compressors.  The Company also produces industrial equipment and textile machinery as well as electronic devices such as computer modems and power inverters.

<ul>
<li>The process in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-industries-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4500:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Industries (6201 JP)</a> transaction is egregiously bad and lacking in  transparency. This deal, as structured, is block-able, even if bumped.</li>
<li>There's been a lot of enthusiasm for HK spin-offs of late (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zijin-mining-group-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6358:1" rel="noopener">Zijin Mining (2899 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/miniso-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36659:1" rel="noopener">MINISO (9896 HK)</a>). I'm not convinced <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dongfeng-motor-group-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:910:1" rel="noopener">Dongfeng Motor (489 HK)</a> deserves similar accolades.  </li>
<li>If you've the ability to borrow <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon (8267 JP)</a>, this promises to be fun/interesting. If you're a long-only investor, it's more nuanced. And it depends on where you are post-tender.</li>
</ul>


The process in the Toyota Industries (6201 JP) transaction is egregiously bad and lacking in  transparency. This deal, as structured, is block-able, even if bumped.
There's been a lot of enthusiasm for HK spin-offs of late (Zijin Mining (2899 HK) and MINISO (9896 HK)). I'm not convinced Dongfeng Motor (489 HK) deserves similar accolades.  
If you've the ability to borrow Aeon (8267 JP), this promises to be fun/interesting. If you're a long-only investor, it's more nuanced. And it depends on where you are post-tender.


Last Week In Event SPACE: Toyota Inds, Dongfeng Motors, Aeon/TSURUHA, Jinke Smart, Genting Malaysia

ANE (Cayman) Inc. operates as an integrated logistics company. The Company provides sorting, line-haul transportation, pickup and dispatch services, and other services. ANE (Cayman) offers services in China.

<ul>
<li>I tally 37 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - arb transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Those arbs metrics and upcoming events are detailed below.</li>
<li>Three new deals were discussed on Smartkarma this week: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/predictive-discovery-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15374:1" rel="noopener">Predictive Discovery (PDI AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/african-gold-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29028:1" rel="noopener">African Gold Ltd (A1G AU)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/low-keng-huat-singapore-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1928:1" rel="noopener">Low Keng Huat Singapore (LKH SP)</a>.</li>
<li>Key updates/news also took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ane-cayman-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35025:1" rel="noopener">ANE Cayman Inc (9956 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/steadfast-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8181:1" rel="noopener">Steadfast (SDF AU)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/spindex-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17868:1" rel="noopener">Spindex Industries (SPE SP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 37 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - arb transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Those arbs metrics and upcoming events are detailed below.
Three new deals were discussed on Smartkarma this week: Predictive Discovery (PDI AU), African Gold Ltd (A1G AU), and Low Keng Huat Singapore (LKH SP).
Key updates/news also took place on: ANE Cayman Inc (9956 HK), Steadfast (SDF AU), and Spindex Industries (SPE SP).


Asia-Pac M&A Weekly Wrap: ANE (Cayman), Predictive Discovery, African Gold, Steadfast, Spindex

Steadfast Group Ltd is a provider of services to broker businesses across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The Company has equity interests in insurance broker businesses, underwriting agencies and other complementary businesses.

<ul>
<li>First, EQT, then CVC joined, in a A$45/share NBIO for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aub-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11179:1" rel="noopener">AUB (AUB AU)</a>, an insurance "matchmaker": <a href="https://skr.ma/J2CwJ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CVC Joins EQT In Pursuit Of AUB Group (AUB AU)</a>. Talks <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20251201/pdf/06sr2bsh6yv802.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ceased</a> this week. </li>
<li>Reportedly, AUB’s larger insurance rival, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/steadfast-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8181:1" rel="noopener">Steadfast (SDF AU)</a>, is now attracting PE interest, such as Blackstone.</li>
<li>Steadfast is down ~25% from its recent high following a workplace complaint towards CEO/MD/founder Robert Kelly - now concluded on "a confidential basis", with Kelly resuming his roles. </li>
</ul>


First, EQT, then CVC joined, in a A$45/share NBIO for AUB (AUB AU), an insurance "matchmaker": CVC Joins EQT In Pursuit Of AUB Group (AUB AU). Talks ceased this week. 
Reportedly, AUB’s larger insurance rival, Steadfast (SDF AU), is now attracting PE interest, such as Blackstone.
Steadfast is down ~25% from its recent high following a workplace complaint towards CEO/MD/founder Robert Kelly - now concluded on "a confidential basis", with Kelly resuming his roles. 


Steadfast (SDF AU): Suitors Circle As Share Price Languishes After Internal Complaint

Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited, through joint ventures, designs, manufactures, and markets diesel engines, light trucks, automobiles, castings, and related spare parts.

<ul>
<li>Back on the 22nd August 2025, SOE-backed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dongfeng-motor-group-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:910:1" rel="noopener">Dongfeng Motor (489 HK)</a> announced a privatisation; together with a concurrent listing of its EV arm, VOYAH. The two proposals are interconditional.</li>
<li>In its October <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/app/sehk/2025/107757/documents/sehk25100202720.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">application proof</a>, VOYAH turned a profit in 7M25.  The market was implying a price-to-trailing-sales of 1.5x for VOYAH, versus the basket average of 2.1x. It's now ~1.2x.</li>
<li>Key PRC reg approvals (Mofcom/NDRC/SAFE) remain outstanding. Meanwhile, a basket of peers are down 21% since the dual proposals were announced. And their average price-to-trailing-sales are down to 1.7x. </li>
</ul>


Back on the 22nd August 2025, SOE-backed Dongfeng Motor (489 HK) announced a privatisation; together with a concurrent listing of its EV arm, VOYAH. The two proposals are interconditional.
In its October application proof, VOYAH turned a profit in 7M25.  The market was implying a price-to-trailing-sales of 1.5x for VOYAH, versus the basket average of 2.1x. It's now ~1.2x.
Key PRC reg approvals (Mofcom/NDRC/SAFE) remain outstanding. Meanwhile, a basket of peers are down 21% since the dual proposals were announced. And their average price-to-trailing-sales are down to 1.7x. 


Dongfeng (489 HK): Revisiting VOYAH's Spin-Off Valuation

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.

David Blennerhassett
Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events
• Quiddity Advisors

Last Week In Event SPACE: Toyota Inds, Dongfeng Motors, Aeon/TSURUHA, Jinke Smart, Genting Malaysia

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

Asia-Pac M&A Weekly Wrap: ANE (Cayman), Predictive Discovery, African Gold, Steadfast, Spindex

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

Dongfeng (489 HK): Revisiting VOYAH's Spin-Off Valuation

There's been a lot of enthusiasm for HK spin-offs of late, such as Zijin Mining and MINISO. I'm not convinced Dongfeng Motor deserves similar...

David Blennerhassett

National Storage REIT (NSR AU): Brookfield/GIC Firm A$2.86/Share Offer

Clean deal. Trading tight at ~2.9%/7.9% gross/annualised, assuming late April completion. Some extra shekels in franking credits for those who can...

David Blennerhassett

Last Week In Event SPACE: Toyota Inds, Dongfeng Motors, Aeon/TSURUHA, Jinke Smart, Genting Malaysia

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

Asia-Pac M&A Weekly Wrap: ANE (Cayman), Predictive Discovery, African Gold, Steadfast, Spindex

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

Steadfast (SDF AU): Suitors Circle As Share Price Languishes After Internal Complaint

There is, as yet, no Offer. Steadfast's share price has failed to recover from the internal complaint. EQTCVC walking from AUB does no favours....

David Blennerhassett

Dongfeng (489 HK): Revisiting VOYAH's Spin-Off Valuation

There's been a lot of enthusiasm for HK spin-offs of late, such as Zijin Mining and MINISO. I'm not convinced Dongfeng Motor deserves similar...

David Blennerhassett