Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

L'Occitane International S.A. is a global, natural and organic ingredient based cosmetics and well-being products enterprise.  The Company designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of cosmetics and well-being products based on natural and organic ingredients sourced principally from or near Provence.

<ul>
<li>Concurrent with its <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0429/2024042905713.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HK$34/share VGO</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-occitane-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6772:1" rel="noopener">L'Occitane (973 HK)</a>'s disinterested shareholders may be entitled to a share scrip alternative. IF afforded, up to 5% of shares out can participate.</li>
<li>The big unknown is whether you receive shares of the levered-up Bidco, at some as yet undetermined scrip ratio; or keep shares of L’Occitane as-is.</li>
<li>To trigger the rollover option, 10% of disinterested shareholders need to express interest by the 15th May (a Hong Kong holiday btw). A deadline without details. </li>
</ul>


Concurrent with its HK$34/share VGO, L'Occitane (973 HK)'s disinterested shareholders may be entitled to a share scrip alternative. IF afforded, up to 5% of shares out can participate.
The big unknown is whether you receive shares of the levered-up Bidco, at some as yet undetermined scrip ratio; or keep shares of L’Occitane as-is.
To trigger the rollover option, 10% of disinterested shareholders need to express interest by the 15th May (a Hong Kong holiday btw). A deadline without details. 


L'Occitane (973 HK): The Rollover Option, And Alternate Listing Valuations

Adbri Limited supplies construction materials. The Company distributes cement, concrete, aggregates, industrial lime, clinker, and other related products. Adbri serves customers in Australia.

<ul>
<li>On the 27 Feb 2024, construction play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/adbri-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20166:1" rel="noopener">Adbri (ABC AU)</a> entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/crh-plc-054117b2-cd70-470a-9efc-8f6fab2c83ec" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28655:1" rel="noopener">CRH (CRH US)</a> and 42.7%-shareholder Raymond Barro (Chairman) at $5.20/share.</li>
<li>Conditions include Adbri's shareholder approval and FIRB signing off. Optically, it doesn't appear to be a knockout price. However, Adbri's share price has laboured since the onset of Covid.</li>
<li>The <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20240503/pdf/0636skntgc54m8.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheme Booklet is now out</a>, with a Scheme Meeting to be held on the 12th June. Expected implementation on the 1 July. IE says fair &amp; reasonable.</li>
</ul>


On the 27 Feb 2024, construction play Adbri (ABC AU) entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed with CRH (CRH US) and 42.7%-shareholder Raymond Barro (Chairman) at $5.20/share.
Conditions include Adbri's shareholder approval and FIRB signing off. Optically, it doesn't appear to be a knockout price. However, Adbri's share price has laboured since the onset of Covid.
The Scheme Booklet is now out, with a Scheme Meeting to be held on the 12th June. Expected implementation on the 1 July. IE says fair &amp; reasonable.


Adbri (ABC AU): 12th June Shareholder Vote

West Japan Railway Company provides rail transportation services including the shinkansen network (bullet train) in North Kyushu, Kinki, Chugoku, and Hokuriku including Kyoto and Osaka.  The Company also operates ferries in Miyajima, manages real estate, shopping centers, and hotels, and offers leisure-related services such as travel packaging products.

<ul>
<li>
Tax-Loss Selling's a subject of interest in Australia. Retail investors will take gains on stocks which run up in price, or get taken over, then look for losses to offset.</li>
<li>Investors are caught out as the Aussie government "approves" <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hanwha-ocean-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12531:1" rel="noopener">Hanwha Ocean (042660 KS)</a> buyng <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/austal-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14420:1" rel="noopener">Austal Ltd (ASB AU)</a>. There is evidently a lot more going on in the background. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/west-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12077:1" rel="noopener">West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP)</a> announces a biggish buyback. One could buy dips, but one should probably not chase. For that, suggest this acts as a range trade.</li>
</ul>



Tax-Loss Selling's a subject of interest in Australia. Retail investors will take gains on stocks which run up in price, or get taken over, then look for losses to offset.
Investors are caught out as the Aussie government "approves" Hanwha Ocean (042660 KS) buyng Austal Ltd (ASB AU). There is evidently a lot more going on in the background. 

West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP) announces a biggish buyback. One could buy dips, but one should probably not chase. For that, suggest this acts as a range trade.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Aussie Tax-Loss Selling, Austal, West Japan Railway, PICC/PICC P&C

<ul>
<li>Tally 47 - 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 was discussed on Smartkarma this week: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-occitane-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6772:1" rel="noopener">L'Occitane (973 HK)</a>'s VGO from major shareholder, Reinold Geiger. A deal for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kfc-holdings-japan-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12358:1" rel="noopener">KFC Holdings Japan (9873 JP)</a> is apparently imminent. </li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/csr-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17380:1" rel="noopener">CSR Ltd (CSR AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cimc-vehicles-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28012:1" rel="noopener">CIMC Vehicle Group Co Ltd (1839 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chilled-frozen-logistics-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40987:1" rel="noopener">Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


Tally 47 - 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 was discussed on Smartkarma this week: L'Occitane (973 HK)'s VGO from major shareholder, Reinold Geiger. A deal for KFC Holdings Japan (9873 JP) is apparently imminent. 
Key updates took place on: CSR Ltd (CSR AU), Azure Minerals (AZS AU), CIMC Vehicle Group Co Ltd (1839 HK), and Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: L'Occitane, KFC Holdings Japan, CSR, Azure Minerals, CIMC, Chilled & Frozen

Equity Bottom-Up

People's Insurance (PICC) / Equity Bottom-Up

The People's Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited, through its subsidiaries, offers a range of property and casualty insurance products. The Company also offers asset management services for a variety of customers throughout China.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/people-s-insurance-co-group-of-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:362:1" rel="noopener">People's Insurance (PICC) (1339 HK)</a> has bounced off its lifetime low implied stub and simple ratio (PICC/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/picc-property-casualty-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:350:1" rel="noopener">PICC Property &amp; Casualty (2328 HK)</a>); but still trades below its historical trailing/forward metrics.</li>
<li>Preceding my comments on PICC are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>



People's Insurance (PICC) (1339 HK) has bounced off its lifetime low implied stub and simple ratio (PICC/PICC Property &amp; Casualty (2328 HK)); but still trades below its historical trailing/forward metrics.
Preceding my comments on PICC are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


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

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