Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a> announced a third major buyback on the eve of its Q4 report. This brings total commitments to ¥3 trillion ($28bn) and represents 30% of market cap assuming an average cost of ¥5,000/share.  With shares up 22% from the first buyback announcement and 44% from the second, it is surprising on the surface to see Softbank lining up a third program. News that Jack Ma has resigned from the board may be one trigger of softer sentiment although that more likely reflects Softbank plans to sell a large chunk of its Alibaba stake to fund these initiatives. We think it is more likely that Vision Fund news will get worse before it gets better (we'll see in a few hours)  but a healthy boost to shareholder returns should keep investors onside and the share price up. </p>

Softbank Group (9984 JP) announced a third major buyback on the eve of its Q4 report. This brings total commitments to ¥3 trillion ($28bn) and represents 30% of market cap assuming an average cost of ¥5,000/share.  With shares up 22% from the first buyback announcement and 44% from the second, it is surprising on the surface to see Softbank lining up a third program. News that Jack Ma has resigned from the board may be one trigger of softer sentiment although that more likely reflects Softbank plans to sell a large chunk of its Alibaba stake to fund these initiatives. We think it is more likely that Vision Fund news will get worse before it gets better (we'll see in a few hours)  but a healthy boost to shareholder returns should keep investors onside and the share price up. 

Softbank Group: A Third Buyback Provides Cover for More Bad News

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Event-Driven

<p>In the face of monster losses from bets gone sour, the activity surrounding Softbank is looking increasingly… interesting. Over the weekend and early this morning we found out that the PIF, Saudi Arabias SWF was looking to raise USD10bn in margin loans potentially backed by its Vision Fund holdings (the PIF has denied this) and that Alibaba founder Jack Ma would be resigning from Softbank’s board. Curiouser and curiouser…</p>

In the face of monster losses from bets gone sour, the activity surrounding Softbank is looking increasingly… interesting. Over the weekend and early this morning we found out that the PIF, Saudi Arabias SWF was looking to raise USD10bn in margin loans potentially backed by its Vision Fund holdings (the PIF has denied this) and that Alibaba founder Jack Ma would be resigning from Softbank’s board. Curiouser and curiouser…

Softbank – Ma Follows Yanai and Schwartz Out the Door as PIF Looks to Collateralise Vision Fund

Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

<p>Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.</p><ul><li><a href='#lucror-entity-315'>Softbank Group</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-10646'>Tahps Group Bhd</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-7817'>Zoomlion Heavy Industry H</a></li></ul>

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.Softbank GroupTahps Group BhdZoomlion Heavy Industry H

Morning Views Asia: Softbank Group, Tahps Group Bhd, Zoomlion Heavy Industry H

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/748/original/2020-05-16_08-18-15.png?1589584720" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133748"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>"WORSENING"</strong> - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from our Results &amp; Revision Score data series. The correlation between the series is 0.80, with the only significant deviation occurring in 2016, Coincident conditions are assessed as "worsening" wording that is unchanged since August 2019. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/788/original/2020-05-16_12-10-50.png?1589598664" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133788"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>DECOMPOSED</strong> - Our Score is decomposed into a Results Score, an Annual Forecast/Revision Score and an Interim Forecast Revision Score.  The last two are ten-year lows; the first should join them next week. A notable limiting factor is the shortage of forecasts being made. Without this reticence, both forecast Scores would be considerably lower.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/795/original/2020-05-16_12-47-02.png?1589600841" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133795"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RETICENCE</strong> - 77% by number and 81% by value of companies with year-ends in  March, June, September, or December have already reported. Of these 2,464 companies representing ¥438 trillion of market cap, just 1,119 have issued annual forecasts for the current year, and 583 have made interim forecasts. Of all listed companies, one-third by market value are currently unable to see ahead twelve months and only 16% by value and 23% by number are prepared to look forward four-and-a-half months. This unusual degree of reticence leaves the sell-side without their regular anchoring comfort blanket.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/802/original/2020-05-16_13-27-57.png?1589605282" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133802"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>NOT CHEAP</strong> -  Even allowing for the lack of a full complement of forecasts, the market's forward multiple is at a five-year high with Net Income expected to reach levels first seen in 2015, 37% below the December 2018 peak. The ten-year peak trailing multiple was 29 on aggregate Net Income of  ¥14.6 trillion, which was ten times the 2009 trough.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/801/original/2020-05-16_14-00-16.png?1589605245" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133801"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>FIDDLING ABOUT</strong> - The Bank of Japan has reduced the amount of its daily ETF program for a second time; however, intervened for the last three days of last week seemingly intent on keeping the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> above 20,000. The cumulative total of BoJ purchases represents over 5% of the Total Market Value.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/884/original/2020-05-17_12-54-22.png?1589687679" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133884"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> below, we review some market data trends, look at the Results &amp; Revision Score trends by Sector (a 15-year timeline is shown above), apply some KPMG 'recovery analysis' to Japan and look at Friday's results and revisions.</p><div><ul>
<li>The balance between positive/neutral/negative of the <strong>490</strong> results announcements was <strong>206:45:239</strong>. The average change in Results Score was <strong>-0.2</strong>.</li>
<li>For the <strong>205</strong> revisions/initial forecasts, the split was <strong>49:10:146</strong>, and the average Revision Score was <strong>-7.5</strong>. Of the <strong>364</strong> companies declaring full-year results, <strong>47%</strong> made forecasts for the current year.</li>
<li>Fifty-one will announce today, the largest of which by market capitalisation will be <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/terumo-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6708:1" rel="noopener">Terumo Corp (4543 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/komatsu-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8416:1" rel="noopener">Komatsu (6301 JP).</a>
</li>
</ul></div>

Source • Japan Analytics"WORSENING" - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from our Results &amp; Revision Score data series. The correlation between the series is 0.80, with the only significant deviation occurring in 2016, Coincident conditions are assessed as "worsening" wording that is unchanged since August 2019. Source • Japan AnalyticsDECOMPOSED - Our Score is decomposed into a Results Score, an Annual Forecast/Revision Score and an Interim Forecast Revision Score.  The last two are ten-year lows; the first should join them next week. A notable limiting factor is the shortage of forecasts being made. Without this reticence, both forecast Scores would be considerably lower.Source • Japan AnalyticsRETICENCE - 77% by number and 81% by value of companies with year-ends in  March, June, September, or December have already reported. Of these 2,464 companies representing ¥438 trillion of market cap, just 1,119 have issued annual forecasts for the current year, and 583 have made interim forecasts. Of all listed companies, one-third by market value are currently unable to see ahead twelve months and only 16% by value and 23% by number are prepared to look forward four-and-a-half months. This unusual degree of reticence leaves the sell-side without their regular anchoring comfort blanket.Source • Japan AnalyticsNOT CHEAP -  Even allowing for the lack of a full complement of forecasts, the market's forward multiple is at a five-year high with Net Income expected to reach levels first seen in 2015, 37% below the December 2018 peak. The ten-year peak trailing multiple was 29 on aggregate Net Income of  ¥14.6 trillion, which was ten times the 2009 trough.Source • Japan AnalyticsFIDDLING ABOUT - The Bank of Japan has reduced the amount of its daily ETF program for a second time; however, intervened for the last three days of last week seemingly intent on keeping the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) above 20,000. The cumulative total of BoJ purchases represents over 5% of the Total Market Value.Source • Japan AnalyticsIn the DETAIL below, we review some market data trends, look at the Results &amp; Revision Score trends by Sector (a 15-year timeline is shown above), apply some KPMG 'recovery analysis' to Japan and look at Friday's results and revisions.
The balance between positive/neutral/negative of the 490 results announcements was 206:45:239. The average change in Results Score was -0.2.
For the 205 revisions/initial forecasts, the split was 49:10:146, and the average Revision Score was -7.5. Of the 364 companies declaring full-year results, 47% made forecasts for the current year.
Fifty-one will announce today, the largest of which by market capitalisation will be Softbank Group (9984 JP), Terumo Corp (4543 JP), and Komatsu (6301 JP).



🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE 18th May - "Worsening"

<p>Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.</p><ul><li><a href='#lucror-entity-1457'>China Oil And Gas</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-18387'>CIFI Holdings</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-28672'>Powerlong Commercial Management Holdings</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-14882'>Seazen (Formerly Future Land)</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-315'>Softbank Group</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-10646'>Tahps Group Bhd</a></li></ul>

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.China Oil And GasCIFI HoldingsPowerlong Commercial Management HoldingsSeazen (Formerly Future Land)Softbank GroupTahps Group Bhd

Morning Views Asia: China Oil And Gas, CIFI Holdings, Powerlong Commercial Management Holdings

Japan

SoftBank Group Corp. provides telecommunication services. The Company also operates ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and fiber optic high-speed Internet connection, e-Commerce businesses, and Internet based advertising and auction businesses.

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Softbank Group (9984 JP)

Softbank Group: A Third Buyback Provides Cover for More Bad News

Softbank Group (9984 JP) announced a third major buyback on the eve of its Q4 report. This brings total commitments to ¥3 trillion ($28bn) and...

Kirk Boodry

Softbank – Ma Follows Yanai and Schwartz Out the Door as PIF Looks to Collateralise Vision Fund

In the face of monster losses from bets gone sour, the activity surrounding Softbank is looking increasingly… interesting. Over the weekend and...

Mio Kato

Morning Views Asia: Softbank Group, Tahps Group Bhd, Zoomlion Heavy Industry H

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region,...

Lucror Analytics

🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE 18th May - "Worsening"

"WORSENING" - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from...

Campbell Gunn

Morning Views Asia: China Oil And Gas, CIFI Holdings, Powerlong Commercial Management Holdings

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region,...

Lucror Analytics

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