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

Rikki Malik

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Tailwinds are turning to headwinds for the Japanese Trading companies.</li>
<li>Risks rising in the short term due to JPY strength, weakening commodity prices and the upcoming US recession.</li>
<li>Massive outperformance over the last two years, most recently due to multiple expansion</li>
</ul>


Tailwinds are turning to headwinds for the Japanese Trading companies.
Risks rising in the short term due to JPY strength, weakening commodity prices and the upcoming US recession.
Massive outperformance over the last two years, most recently due to multiple expansion


Risks Ahead for Japanese Trading Companies. Marubeni, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In April 2022, after long prep and considerable public comment as to desires and design, the TSE launched its new market segments designed to encourage governance and foreign investment.</li>
<li>At the time, the TSE wanted to showcase Japan's best blue chips. In March, JPX announced JPX Prime 150, designed to make visible</li>
<li>In March 2023, JPX announced JPX Prime 150, to "make visible the leading Japanese companies that are estimated to create value." Ambitious? Yes. Fated to fail? Probably. Badly constructed?  Definitely. </li>
</ul>


In April 2022, after long prep and considerable public comment as to desires and design, the TSE launched its new market segments designed to encourage governance and foreign investment.
At the time, the TSE wanted to showcase Japan's best blue chips. In March, JPX announced JPX Prime 150, designed to make visible
In March 2023, JPX announced JPX Prime 150, to "make visible the leading Japanese companies that are estimated to create value." Ambitious? Yes. Fated to fail? Probably. Badly constructed?  Definitely. 


The TSE's New 'Better' Index:  JPX Prime 150

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)</a> yesterday announced earnings, forecast for FY23, higher dividend guidance, and a buyback. The headline number is 6% of shares and ¥300bn (which is nearer 4% now).</li>
<li>¥200bn of that ¥300bn is actually FY2022 "Additional Return" tacked onto a ¥100bn buyback for this year (FY23).  </li>
<li>As is often the case, <strong>Shareholder Structure Matters</strong>. Because Berkshire Hathaway owns a large chunk of stock (7.4% according to interviews), that carves out a fair chunk not for sale.</li>
</ul>



Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP) yesterday announced earnings, forecast for FY23, higher dividend guidance, and a buyback. The headline number is 6% of shares and ¥300bn (which is nearer 4% now).
¥200bn of that ¥300bn is actually FY2022 "Additional Return" tacked onto a ¥100bn buyback for this year (FY23).  
As is often the case, Shareholder Structure Matters. Because Berkshire Hathaway owns a large chunk of stock (7.4% according to interviews), that carves out a fair chunk not for sale.


MitCorp (8058 JP) Earnings and Buyback - Shareholder Structure Matters

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/t-gaia-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T Gaia Corp (3738 JP)</a> disclosed a Bain tender offer at JPY2,670, a 35.9% premium to the undisturbed price but a 27.2% discount to the last close.</li>
<li>Bain has set the minimum number of shares to be purchased at a 12.67% ownership ratio to appease the Board, which has a neutral recommendation. </li>
<li>Bain hopes the offer’s harsh reality check will burst the share price bubble, nudging minorities to accept. An auction process suggests that the chance of a competing offer is low.   </li>
</ul>



T Gaia Corp (3738 JP) disclosed a Bain tender offer at JPY2,670, a 35.9% premium to the undisturbed price but a 27.2% discount to the last close.
Bain has set the minimum number of shares to be purchased at a 12.67% ownership ratio to appease the Board, which has a neutral recommendation. 
Bain hopes the offer’s harsh reality check will burst the share price bubble, nudging minorities to accept. An auction process suggests that the chance of a competing offer is low.   


T-Gaia (3738 JP): Reality Check as Bain Launches a Takeunder

<ul>
<li>On Friday 13 September, the Ministry of Finance of Japan released revisions to the list (<a href="https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/international_policy/gaitame_kawase/press_release/20240913.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japanese</a>, <a href="https://www.mof.go.jp/english/policy/international_policy/fdi/Related_Guidance_and_Documents/20240913.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">English</a>) of company classifications under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA)</li>
<li>It appears 72 names were newly upgraded to "Core" ("3"), 21 newly listed companies (since the last list in Nov 2021) were labeled "3", and six lost their Type3 designation. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-i-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1041:1" rel="noopener">Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP)</a> saw breathless news articles Friday suggesting a foreign takeover became more difficult. Not really. </li>
</ul>


On Friday 13 September, the Ministry of Finance of Japan released revisions to the list (Japanese, English) of company classifications under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA)
It appears 72 names were newly upgraded to "Core" ("3"), 21 newly listed companies (since the last list in Nov 2021) were labeled "3", and six lost their Type3 designation. 

Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) saw breathless news articles Friday suggesting a foreign takeover became more difficult. Not really. 


The New FEFTA List (With 7&I (3382) As "Core") Is Not a Big Hurdle for Couche-Tard

Japan

Sumitomo Corp is a general trading company.  The Company imports and exports a wide variety of goods such as metals, machinery, chemicals, fuel,food products, and textiles.  Sumitomo also operates real estate, construction, shipping, insurance, finance, and leasing businesses.

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Sumitomo Corp (8053 JP)

Risks Ahead for Japanese Trading Companies. Marubeni, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi

The investment thesis is starting to work as the reasoning behind the trade is playing out as the Japanese Yen strengthens.

Rikki Malik

The TSE's New 'Better' Index: JPX Prime 150

The TSE is launching a new JPX Prime 150 Index on 3 July 2023. It is 150 stocks with high PBRs and high "Equity Spread" (ROE vs cost of capital)...

Travis Lundy

MitCorp (8058 JP) Earnings and Buyback - Shareholder Structure Matters

MitCorp announced good earnings, a lower FY23 forecast (expected as commodity-related over-profitability falls back), and a large buyback. It is...

Travis Lundy

T-Gaia (3738 JP): Reality Check as Bain Launches a Takeunder

Bain hopes the offer’s harsh reality check will burst the share price bubble, nudging minorities to accept. An auction process suggests that the...

Arun George

The New FEFTA List (With 7&I (3382) As "Core") Is Not a Big Hurdle for Couche-Tard

The Japan Ministry of Finance made an updated FEFTA classification list on Friday. 7 and i got "upgraded" to Type 3 as Core. That doesn't change...

Travis Lundy

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