Once upon<\/p>\n
\u2026a perpetually undervalued ASX-listed investment fund, an idea (quite late in the season) arose wherein the sum of the parts was greater than the whole\u2026<\/p>\n
Via PPT<\/em><\/p>\n T\u2019was a terrific idea. And there was much rejoicing.<\/p>\n But \u2013 as often happens in the cut-throat world of corporate finance \u2013 literally moments after Perpetual floated said cunning strategy to liberate more shareholder value by divvying up PPT\u2019s highly successful and entirely detachable Corporate Trust and Wealth Management units along came a spider in major shareholder Washington H Soul Pattinson (ASX:SOL).<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SOL told the ASX it\u2019d struck upon exactly the same idea, minus the costs and I guess the hefty capital gains tax PPT would likely incur in such a move.<\/p>\n And there was less rejoicing:<\/strong><\/p>\n Via PPT<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A Sum Of The Parts (SOTP) valuation is an approach to valuing a firm by separately assessing the value of each business segment or subsidiary and adding them up to get the total value of the firm.<\/p>\n SOL sees terrific value in PPT, but thinks it could unlock and fast-track a lot more with a more mercenary mid-80\u2019s shake and bake move.<\/p>\n In fact, Soul Patts likes the idea so much it not only claimed it for itself, but bought a lot more of PPT on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Via ASX<\/em><\/p>\n Bursting with cash and keen for a bargain, the Soul Patts offer values Perpetual at $27 a share (circa +28.5% premium) to PPT\u2019s November 13 closing price of $21.<\/p>\n There\u2019s more to PPT than $27 dollarbucks:<\/p>\n Via Google<\/em><\/p>\n On November 14,\u00a0 Soul Patts revealed it\u2019d accumulated a significant interest in PPT of up to 9.99% in a substantial shareholding notice. And yesterday it upped its stake to 11.66%. So the race is on.<\/p>\n SOL reckons PPT\u2019s Wealth Management and Corporate Trust businesses could go at $1.06 billion WHSP scrip with what\u2019d be about $2bn scrip for the Asset Management business as part of an offer which would divvy up Perpetual\u2019s three core businesses for a total implied equity value of $3 billion.<\/p>\n Perhaps both a little miffed and reluctant to talk shop mid-Santa rally, the Perpetual Board were unmoved:<\/p>\n \u201cPerpetual has three high-quality, unique businesses that have attracted market interest from time to time. As announced this morning, Perpetual believes there is merit to exploring the separation of Perpetual\u2019s businesses as part of a strategic review. The Board remains focused on exploring options to maximise shareholder value.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Now, in the wake of last week\u2019s $3bn PPT bid, and after nearby ASX-listed fundie Magellan Financial Group (ASX:MFG)<\/strong><\/a> gained a lazy +16% over the last five sessions,<\/strong><\/a> Market Matters CIO James Gerrish<\/a> runs his ruler over a few of these SOPT spotlit ASX fund managers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve discussed (PPTs) break-up potential on multiple occasions and it seems both the Board and SOL had the same thoughts,\u201d James says.<\/p>\n Which naturally led the MM team to, \u201cponder if further value is lurking in the sector.\u201d<\/p>\n Via Google<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Via<\/p>\n Magellan had a very tough time, post-COVID \u2013 at one stage, down over -90% from its August 2020 high.<\/p>\n However, according to James, the last few months of business have totally reshaped the MFG discussion.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the last 8-weeks, (Magellan) has been one of the ASX200\u2019s standout performers, advancing well over 40%.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve remained patient with our holdings in the Fund Manager, holding positions across two portfolios from just below current levels, given our view around the embedded value in the franchise.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week saw MFG deal with one issue that was hanging over its head, entering an agreement to buy back 650m of the 1,060m options (MGFO) at 10c each.<\/p>\n \u201cThe original granting of these options is an example of financial over-engineering that had unintended consequences, however, markets hate uncertainty, and this is one piece of the distracting hassle that\u2019s been dealt with by MFG.\u201d<\/p>\n James says a new CEO is next on the agenda for MFG\u2019s turnaround story.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd with a very solid balance sheet, underpinned by ~$1bn of assets that could be used for some form of capital management, our original thesis remains intact, especially since performance seems to have turned for the better in November.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are looking for MFG to test the $10-11 area into 2024: we are long MFG in our Active Growth and Active Income Portfolios.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth of our positions are now showing paper profits after struggling badly in October, but although it would be easy to \u2018grab them\u2019, we see another 15-20% upside.\u201d<\/p>\n MM remains long and bullish toward MFG in the short-term:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n Via MarketIndex Dec. 13<\/em><\/p>\n RPL is a smaller $740mn Sydney-based fund manager that has shown an aggressive tilt towards growth, with FUM now sitting at ~$10bn.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we view the stock as reasonably expensive relative to their FUM, recent growth builds scale and diversification with a distinct skew towards alternative strategies. Phil King heads up the group and he is a deal maker, our view being that Phil is looking to get big, then get out.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe RPL has the potential to evolve strongly with plenty of growth opportunities moving forward, a forecasted 4% yield over the next 12-months helps the impatient investor, however this is not the reason to own RPL.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are long RPL in our Emerging Companies Portfolio, initially targeting the $3-3.50 area.\u201d<\/p>\n MM remains long and bullish toward RPL:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n \u201cLast week saw SOL bid $27 for PPT as they looked to split up the business to deliver quick value to shareholders \u2013 very Gorden Gekko (Wall Street) and the 1980s.<\/p>\n \u201cThe SOL bid trumped the earlier news that PPT itself was considering a very similar value-unlocking strategy to appease disgruntled shareholders.<\/p>\n \u201cPPT has rejected the SOL bid, yet the stock remains ~$1.50 below their initial salvo, \u2018the game is afoot\u2019, and with SOL owning 9.9% of PPT, it\u2019s likely to have a major say in what comes next \u2013 if they\u2019re prepared to pay $27, they must believe it\u2019s worth well over $30.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should also remember the PPT board rejected the $33 bid from the Regal \/ BPEA EQT consortium only ~12 months ago.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can see PPT trading above $30 before it retests $20, but the risk\/reward isn\u2019t overly compelling after last week\u2019s move.\u201d MM likes PPT below $25<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n The views, information, or opinions expressed in the interview in this article are solely those of Market Matters<\/a> and do not represent the views of Stockhead.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Stockhead has not provided, endorsed or otherwise assumed responsibility for any financial product advice contained in this article.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Fantasy M&A: Which ASX fundie would you acquire?<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SOTP! In the Name of Love<\/h2>\n
Fantasy M&A: ASX Fund Managers<\/h2>\n
Popular Players \u2014 Season-to-date<\/h2>\n
Magellan Financial Group (ASX:MFG)<\/strong><\/a> $8.78<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
Regal Partners (RPL)<\/a> $2.46<\/h2>\n
Perpetual (ASX:PPT)<\/strong><\/a> current price: $25.06<\/h2>\n\n
\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n