September 22, 2010

When the Risk/ Reward Proposition Changes

Price is what makes an investment attractive or not. Price changes the risk reward proposition of any business even good ones. As such there is few issues that have to exist my portfolio: Dr. Pepper and some credit instruments.

I am going to sell some of the preferred issues that I bought during 2008 and early 2009. The risk reward proposition has changed significantly. I have discussed how investors are becoming yield pigs and I want to exist before the party is over. The low yield environment is forcing some instruments to trade higher artificially. Some of the credit issues like junk bonds, bank loans and preferred shares made sense in late 2008 and early 2009 but now it is

Here is an example of an issue I bought in November 2008, Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) issue BAM-O. I have bought additional issues from Brookfield as well like a yield floater, detailed here. The O issue gave me an IRR of 36% when I bought it, now it is yielding 2.5% to 6%, depending on the redemption or conversion of the issue. This issue trades at fair value now, if you consider the IRR to be the equivalent of YTM, then a BBB issuer like BAM is trading around the 6% mark. if I hold to maturity the upside is an expected rate of return of 4%, the downside is significantly more than that. I would never buy this issue now given its price so it is time to exist.

I am existing also most of my bonds positions however I am keeping a couple of floater preferred shares because they should do well in rising interest rate environment, given that there is no market surprise.

I sold Dr. Pepper (DPS ) as well for the same reason: risk reward profile changed. DPS is a spin off investment that was loathed by the market: too much debt, weak earnings and declining US carbonated volume sales. However, the reduced expectation and the strong brand portfolio made it a good investment. Now it is a good business but not a good investment. DPS has managed to drive efficiencies to its distribution and supply chain network, promote brands and gain market share, reduce debt and increase cash flows and dividends. The turnaround in operations made it a good business and share price followed. The risk reward profile changed. DPS is not fully valued at this point I reckon $40 is the mark but from where I sold it at $ 36 the upside potential is not significant to justify risk losing if they had a bad quarter.

September 11, 2010

Merger Arbitrage : TRBN/ EBS


I usually do not get interested in risk arbitrage situation unless there is the potential to earn out-sized absolute return. Most risk arbitrage offer around 15-20% annualized returns, and actually less on large deals. However this one offers great odds for the price of participation.

The idea is not mine it was emailed to me from a reader so hat tip to G&B.

Emergent BioSolutions (EBS) is acquiring Trubion Pharmaceuticals (TRBN) in a deal valued at up to $135.5 million. Emergent will pay $96.8 million, or $4.55 per share in cash and stock, upfront for the company and issue milestone-based Contingent Value Rights (CVR) worth up to $38.7 million more. Milestones are based on mid- and late stage clinical trials of TRU-016 for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is partnered with Abbott (ABT).

The math is simple for this merger arbitrage: there are no returns from the merger cash and stock consideration. However you will get the CVR for free at current prices, well close to it for 2 cents. SO effectively you have a cost free shot at earning $1.9 over the next 36 months. You can’t get better odds than these.

When the deal was announced the implied value of the CVR was 27 cents. However now it is 2 cents. See the progression of the implied value in the table below.
Risks
  • Will the merger close:
    • financing issues: cash consideration for the financing is $27 million only, while TRBN has cash and short term investment of $45 million on its balance sheet as of June 30, 2010. So EBS is actually getting paid to take the company to ensure its going concern.
    • TRBN shareholder’s vote. Management own is 5% of the company and I think there is abig likelihood that shareholders will vote yes for the deal
    • regulatory approval: already cleared.
  • Will the CVR pay out?
    • Pfizer potential for cancellation of their clinical studies as they have cancelled a program before merger announcement in July. The amount at risk is $12million. Pfizer decided to pare the dumped drug, TRU-015, comes as Trubion released trial results showing a higher than usual placebo response in a mid-stage trial, or not so exciting results. Pfizer picked up rights to both drugs as part of its 2009 acquisition of Wyeth. It is possible that Pfizer is paring rationalizing its R&D spending so some of these clinical studies will be canned.
Even a 5% probability of CVR payout will ensure to earn four times your invested capital. I was in at 3 cents CVR implied value.