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

Irongate (IAP AU) Rejects Third Proposal From 360 Capital

Irongate Enters Into SIA With Charter Hall And PGGM

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

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After ARA Asset Management <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20180308/pdf/43s8dgxs8plthf.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquired</a> a 19.5% stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cromwell-property-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2780:1" rel="noopener">Cromwell Property (CMW AU)</a> on the 7 March 2018, the relationship between the two became increasingly acrimonious. This was discussed in <a href="https://skr.ma/x55u7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cromwell/ARA: A Festering Relationship</a>.
ARA finally <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20200623/pdf/44jw1gy2d3dqg4.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a proportional off-market takeover bid to acquire 29% of shares out in CMW, not already owned, which subsequently turned <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20200824/pdf/44lsvxks2gjc60.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unconditional</a>, and ARA proceeded to appoint its own people to the board - appointments that had previously been blocked by Cromwell.
On the 4 August, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-cayman-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27983:1" rel="noopener">ESR Cayman (1821 HK)</a> <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/202108_01%20Major%20and%20Connected%20Transaction%20in%20Relation%20to%20the%20Proposed%20Acquisition%20of%20ARA%20Asset%20Managament%20Limited.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=677405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it was acquiring unlisted ARA Asset Management for US$5.2bn, the completion of which will result in the world's third-largest real estate management company with total assets under management of ~US$129bn. (<a href="https://skr.ma/fJECF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESR Cayman (1821 HK) Takes Out ARA Asset Management</a>)
On the 14 October, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10934:1" rel="noopener">ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ara-logos-logistics-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:937:1" rel="noopener">ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP)</a> (ALOG) <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/ALOG%20-%20Joint%20Announcement%20-%20Proposed%20Merger%20with%20ESR-REIT%20by%20way%20of%20a%20Trust%20Scheme%20of%20Arrangement.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=686935" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> a S$1.4bn merger, where ESR-Reit will acquire all of ALOG's units in a cash &amp; scrip transaction by way of a Scheme - see <a href="https://skr.ma/wqrQU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ARA Logos (ALLT SP) To Merge with ESR-REIT (EREIT SP)</a>. ALOG is managed by ARA LOGOS Logistics Trust Management Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of LOGOS. ARA Asset Management Limited is a majority shareholder of LOGOS, which operates as ARA’s logistics real estate platform. ESR Funds Management Limited, the manager of ESR-Reit, is owned by ESR Cayman Limited (67.3%).
On Irongate
Back on the 28 January of this year, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/360-capital-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29046:1" rel="noopener">360 Capital REIT (TOT AU)</a> <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02335484-2A1277317?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquired</a> a 9.18% stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/irongate-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30897:1" rel="noopener">Irongate Group (IAP AU)</a> for $78.6mn, or ~A$1.40/security.  Together with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/360-capital-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11865:1" rel="noopener">360 Capital (TGP AU)</a>, that stake was bumped to 15.08% on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02361516-2A1291600?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8 April</a>, 16.26% on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02380390-2A1301075?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">28 May</a>, 17.34% on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02384090-2A1303268?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9 June</a>, &amp; 19.11% on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02398322-2A1311372?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">20 July</a>. This was split 12.84% &amp; 6.27% between TOT &amp; TGP. 
IAP also placed out 34mn shares at A$1.47/security on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02384942-2A1303629?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">16 June</a>. 
An AGM notice was issued on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02401181-2A1312628?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30 July</a>, in which it detailed 360 Capital's nomination of Tony Pitt and James Storey to the board. The board recommended shareholders vote against these two board nominations. 360 Capital attempted to withdraw its nominations on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02413122-2A1318981?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">26 August</a>, but IAP said it was too late. At the AGM on the <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02415982-2A1320409?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">31 August</a>, those two appointments were voted down. 
The New News
IAP <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02436879-2A1331471?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> this morning it has it received an unsolicited, highly conditional, and indicative non-binding proposal from 360 Capital REIT and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/360-capital-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11865:1" rel="noopener">360 Capital (TGP AU)</a>, the REIT's largest shareholder, by way of a Scheme.
The consideration price is A$1.6047/security, in cash, or a headline price of A$1.65 less the anticipated distribution of A$0.0453/security for the half-year ended 30 September 2021.
360 Capital currently holds 128.97mn securities or 19.99%. 
The indicative proposal is also conditional on "one or more of ESR Real Estate (Australia) Pty Ltd or its affiliate’s managed funds (together, ESR Australia) entering into an agreement with 360 Capital to purchase an undisclosed number of selected assets from IAP’s portfolio on terms yet to be agreed".
Hardly a clean approach. This is leaning towards a Hostile Offer. 
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More below the fold.
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After ARA Asset Management acquired a 19.5% stake in Cromwell Property (CMW AU) on the 7 March 2018, the relationship between the two became increasingly acrimonious. This was discussed in Cromwell/ARA: A Festering Relationship.
ARA finally announced a proportional off-market takeover bid to acquire 29% of shares out in CMW, not already owned, which subsequently turned unconditional, and ARA proceeded to appoint its own people to the board - appointments that had previously been blocked by Cromwell.
On the 4 August, ESR Cayman (1821 HK) announced it was acquiring unlisted ARA Asset Management for US$5.2bn, the completion of which will result in the world's third-largest real estate management company with total assets under management of ~US$129bn. (ESR Cayman (1821 HK) Takes Out ARA Asset Management)
On the 14 October, ESR-REIT (EREIT SP) and ARA LOGOS (ALLT SP) (ALOG) proposed a S$1.4bn merger, where ESR-Reit will acquire all of ALOG's units in a cash &amp; scrip transaction by way of a Scheme - see ARA Logos (ALLT SP) To Merge with ESR-REIT (EREIT SP). ALOG is managed by ARA LOGOS Logistics Trust Management Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of LOGOS. ARA Asset Management Limited is a majority shareholder of LOGOS, which operates as ARA’s logistics real estate platform. ESR Funds Management Limited, the manager of ESR-Reit, is owned by ESR Cayman Limited (67.3%).
On Irongate
Back on the 28 January of this year, 360 Capital REIT (TOT AU) acquired a 9.18% stake in Irongate Group (IAP AU) for $78.6mn, or ~A$1.40/security.  Together with 360 Capital (TGP AU), that stake was bumped to 15.08% on the 8 April, 16.26% on the 28 May, 17.34% on the 9 June, &amp; 19.11% on the 20 July. This was split 12.84% &amp; 6.27% between TOT &amp; TGP. 
IAP also placed out 34mn shares at A$1.47/security on the 16 June. 
An AGM notice was issued on the 30 July, in which it detailed 360 Capital's nomination of Tony Pitt and James Storey to the board. The board recommended shareholders vote against these two board nominations. 360 Capital attempted to withdraw its nominations on the 26 August, but IAP said it was too late. At the AGM on the 31 August, those two appointments were voted down. 
The New News
IAP announced this morning it has it received an unsolicited, highly conditional, and indicative non-binding proposal from 360 Capital REIT and 360 Capital (TGP AU), the REIT's largest shareholder, by way of a Scheme.
The consideration price is A$1.6047/security, in cash, or a headline price of A$1.65 less the anticipated distribution of A$0.0453/security for the half-year ended 30 September 2021.
360 Capital currently holds 128.97mn securities or 19.99%. 
The indicative proposal is also conditional on "one or more of ESR Real Estate (Australia) Pty Ltd or its affiliate’s managed funds (together, ESR Australia) entering into an agreement with 360 Capital to purchase an undisclosed number of selected assets from IAP’s portfolio on terms yet to be agreed".
Hardly a clean approach. This is leaning towards a Hostile Offer. 


More below the fold.


Irongate (IAP AU): 360 Capital's Tilt Reminiscent Of ARA/Cromwell Stoush