Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In early February, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a> made an unsolicited bid for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shibaura-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12704:1" rel="noopener">Shibaura Electronics (6957 JP)</a> at ¥4,300/share. They had approached in October 2024, and continued approaches through end-January.</li>
<li>Shibaura's bankers approached <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/minebea-mitsumi-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5032:1" rel="noopener">Minebea Mitsumi (6479 JP)</a> in January. Due diligence, then bids. They bid ¥4,600. Not enough said the SC. Then Trump. Then ¥4,400. Now ¥4,500 accepted 9 April.</li>
<li>But Trump tariffs relief came 9 April US time. And the Offer Price is below the mid-point of ALL three different financial advisors. I think this is not done yet.</li>
</ul>


In early February, Yageo Corporation (2327 TT) made an unsolicited bid for Shibaura Electronics (6957 JP) at ¥4,300/share. They had approached in October 2024, and continued approaches through end-January.
Shibaura's bankers approached Minebea Mitsumi (6479 JP) in January. Due diligence, then bids. They bid ¥4,600. Not enough said the SC. Then Trump. Then ¥4,400. Now ¥4,500 accepted 9 April.
But Trump tariffs relief came 9 April US time. And the Offer Price is below the mid-point of ALL three different financial advisors. I think this is not done yet.


Minebea Mitsumi Overbids Yageo for Shibaura Electronics (6957)

<ul>
<li>On Friday, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/welcia-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20895:1" rel="noopener">Welcia Holdings (3141 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)</a> announced the Tsuruha/Welcia merger and Partial Tender to get Aeon to 50+% of NEWCO.</li>
<li>The scrip ratio short-changes Tsuruha shareholders. The subsequent partial offer to raise Aeon's stake above 50% is low too. 9.7% shareholder Orbis is already out with a complaint.</li>
<li>But... all is not lost. There are some interesting angles here to complain. </li>
</ul>


On Friday, Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP), Welcia Holdings (3141 JP), and Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP) announced the Tsuruha/Welcia merger and Partial Tender to get Aeon to 50+% of NEWCO.
The scrip ratio short-changes Tsuruha shareholders. The subsequent partial offer to raise Aeon's stake above 50% is low too. 9.7% shareholder Orbis is already out with a complaint.
But... all is not lost. There are some interesting angles here to complain. 


Tsuruha (3391), Welcia (3141), and Aeon (8267) Do a Deal, Short-Changing Tsuruha Minorities

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/welcia-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20895:1" rel="noopener">Welcia Holdings (3141 JP)</a> announced a merger through a share exchange followed by a partial tender offer by Aeon for a 50.90% stake of the merged entity.</li>
<li>The share exchange terms favour Welcia over Tsuruha shareholders. The Tsuruha shareholder vote is high risk as Orbis, the second-largest shareholder, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250411005584/en/Orbis-Statement-on-Proposed-Merger-Between-Tsuruha-and-Welcia-and-Proposed-Tender-Offer-by-Aeon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intends to vote NO</a>. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)</a>’s follow-up partial offer for Tsuruha is unattractive compared to its previous offer for the Oasis stake, peer multiples and premium to the undisturbed price.   </li>
</ul>



Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP) and Welcia Holdings (3141 JP) announced a merger through a share exchange followed by a partial tender offer by Aeon for a 50.90% stake of the merged entity.
The share exchange terms favour Welcia over Tsuruha shareholders. The Tsuruha shareholder vote is high risk as Orbis, the second-largest shareholder, intends to vote NO. 

Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)’s follow-up partial offer for Tsuruha is unattractive compared to its previous offer for the Oasis stake, peer multiples and premium to the undisturbed price.   


Tsuruha (3391 JP): Welcia (3141 JP) Share Exchange and Aeon (8267 JP) Partial Offer Unattractive

Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook</li>
<li>The new Trump Administration’s “plan” for China is becoming clearer</li>
<li>What’s next for markets after the tumultuous events of the last week</li>
</ul>


A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook
The new Trump Administration’s “plan” for China is becoming clearer
What’s next for markets after the tumultuous events of the last week


Overview #22 – The Lunatics Have Taken over the Asylum

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas, Azabu Research

Michael Allen

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas

Azabu Research

Azabu Research is a publishing and consulting firm focused on distressed equities in the Japanese market. We specialize in turnaround strategies, corporate combinations, divestitures, and restructuring.

Publisher of the Tokyo Turnaround Letter, which conducts the most thorough research possible of publicly available information, including forensic tests for fraudulent overstatement of assets and understatement of liabilities, as well as rigorous market and industry analysis to assess the underlying strengths of the company’s products or services, the appropriateness of the company’s turnaround strategy, and the skill of its current management team. The average length of a report exceeds 25 pages of text and tables, excluding any disclosures or executive summaries.

We have more than 30 years of experience in applying this process to distressed equities in Japan. Additionally, subscribers have free access to detailed, yet easily navigated earnings models for the target company as well as the top five comparable companies, and unlimited access to the analyst for follow-up questions.

Azabu Research also conducts be-spoke research on a project basis, and provides consulting services to companies looking to restructure, divest, make acquisitions, go public, or improve investor sentiment toward their stock.

Independent Research and Consulting Firm

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Japan is sending a delegation of top trade negotiators to the U.S, but both sides are making the same mistakes that led to WWII.</li>
<li>I asked Grok to use game theory to map out the most likely scenarios for how Japanese and U.S. governments might avoid the worst-case scenario. </li>
<li>According to Grok, both sides have a strong motivation to delay any agreement no matter what the other side offers.</li>
</ul>


Japan is sending a delegation of top trade negotiators to the U.S, but both sides are making the same mistakes that led to WWII.
I asked Grok to use game theory to map out the most likely scenarios for how Japanese and U.S. governments might avoid the worst-case scenario. 
According to Grok, both sides have a strong motivation to delay any agreement no matter what the other side offers.


Minebea Mitsumi Overbids Yageo for Shibaura Electronics (6957)

When Shibaura Electronics was approached by YAGEO, they deferred, and then got another bidder in. Now Minebea has announced a higher price. I bet...

Travis Lundy

Tsuruha (3391), Welcia (3141), and Aeon (8267) Do a Deal, Short-Changing Tsuruha Minorities

The Tsuruha/Welcia/Aeon deal was announced Friday with Welcia Q2 results. Not great Bob. The Tsuruha/Welcia deal takes place well on the wrong side...

Travis Lundy

Overview #22 – The Lunatics Have Taken over the Asylum

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. What happens next for markets after the events of the last week

Rikki Malik

Will Japan's Trade-War Gamble Pay Off?

Japan's top trade negotiators are on their way to Washington, but both sides are at risk of repeating WWII mistakes. I asked Grok to use game...

Michael Allen

Minebea Mitsumi Overbids Yageo for Shibaura Electronics (6957)

When Shibaura Electronics was approached by YAGEO, they deferred, and then got another bidder in. Now Minebea has announced a higher price. I bet...

Travis Lundy

Tsuruha (3391), Welcia (3141), and Aeon (8267) Do a Deal, Short-Changing Tsuruha Minorities

The Tsuruha/Welcia/Aeon deal was announced Friday with Welcia Q2 results. Not great Bob. The Tsuruha/Welcia deal takes place well on the wrong side...

Travis Lundy

Tsuruha (3391 JP): Welcia (3141 JP) Share Exchange and Aeon (8267 JP) Partial Offer Unattractive

Unsurprisingly, Orbis has opposed the transactions, as the terms of the share exchange and partial offer are unfavourable for Tsuruha shareholders....

Arun George

Overview #22 – The Lunatics Have Taken over the Asylum

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. What happens next for markets after the events of the last week

Rikki Malik

Will Japan's Trade-War Gamble Pay Off?

​Japan's top trade negotiators are on their way to Washington, but both sides are at risk of repeating WWII mistakes. I asked Grok to use game...

Michael Allen

Japan's top trade negotiators are on their way to Washington, but both sides are at risk of repeating WWII mistakes. I asked Grok to use game...