Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>8 days ago I wrote Murakami-san upped his stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/exedy-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6516:1" rel="noopener">Exedy Corp (7278 JP)</a> to 23.5%, could buy more into earnings, and earnings could deliver a buyback. That was ¥3495/3600.</li>
<li>He bought more, reported 24.72% as of 22-Oct). I bet he reports more in a week. Also, Exedy today reported a small yoy gain in H1 revenue. OP+76%yoy. NP+17%yoy.</li>
<li>The company also reported a BIG div hike to ¥200/yr and a giant ¥30bn buyback. Activists and Murakami hangers-on have won. So watch out! The playbook is different than expected.</li>
</ul>


8 days ago I wrote Murakami-san upped his stake in Exedy Corp (7278 JP) to 23.5%, could buy more into earnings, and earnings could deliver a buyback. That was ¥3495/3600.
He bought more, reported 24.72% as of 22-Oct). I bet he reports more in a week. Also, Exedy today reported a small yoy gain in H1 revenue. OP+76%yoy. NP+17%yoy.
The company also reported a BIG div hike to ¥200/yr and a giant ¥30bn buyback. Activists and Murakami hangers-on have won. So watch out! The playbook is different than expected.


[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Exedy (7278) - You Won, BIG Capital Payout, Murakami Up. Now Watch Out!

<ul>
<li>I wrote last when Exedy was at ¥3,900 and had just announced, good earnings, a sharp div hike, and a huge buyback. The stock reacted well, but not THAT well.</li>
<li>Murakami-San had indeed lifted his stake, and the stock is now climbing again. Presumably, the company is in the market buying. At this price, it depends on what Murakami-san does.</li>
<li>Fat div. Lots of volume to buy in the next several months, but the big story is future measures.</li>
</ul>


I wrote last when Exedy was at ¥3,900 and had just announced, good earnings, a sharp div hike, and a huge buyback. The stock reacted well, but not THAT well.
Murakami-San had indeed lifted his stake, and the stock is now climbing again. Presumably, the company is in the market buying. At this price, it depends on what Murakami-san does.
Fat div. Lots of volume to buy in the next several months, but the big story is future measures.


[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Exedy (7278) - Immediate Results Reaction Was a Damp Squib, But Climbing Now

<ul>
<li>The question of how Murakami-san would get out of his stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cosmo-energy-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26565:1" rel="noopener">Cosmo Energy Holdings (5021 JP)</a> was always a biggie. He likes to sell stock in tender offer buybacks.</li>
<li>Cosmo wasn't going to do that for him. They promised dividends and a high payout ratio, but that left the question was how he was going to get out. </li>
<li>A semi-obvious solution was to find a corporate partner to buy his stake and today, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iwatani-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15459:1" rel="noopener">Iwatani Corp (8088 JP)</a> announced that it had bought 19.86% of Murakami-san's 20.01% holding.</li>
</ul>


The question of how Murakami-san would get out of his stake in Cosmo Energy Holdings (5021 JP) was always a biggie. He likes to sell stock in tender offer buybacks.
Cosmo wasn't going to do that for him. They promised dividends and a high payout ratio, but that left the question was how he was going to get out. 
A semi-obvious solution was to find a corporate partner to buy his stake and today, Iwatani Corp (8088 JP) announced that it had bought 19.86% of Murakami-san's 20.01% holding.


Mischief Managed! Iwatani Corp (8088) Buys Out Murakami-San's Cosmo Energy Stake

<ul>
<li>This past week, activist Murakami-san's City Index Eleventh announced that the companies which jointly report now own 20.3%, which translates to 23.5% of voting rights. Average in-price?  ¥2,928/share.</li>
<li>The 2030 Plan from April saw 8% ROE by 2030, 6% by 2026. They've since bought back 11% of shares out. Better, but 1/4 of market cap is net cash+securities.</li>
<li>If one assumes they spend the net cash+securities to buy back stock 10% higher than here, pro-forma PBR is &lt;0.6x. ROE would be 7+%. There's room to run here, still. </li>
</ul>


This past week, activist Murakami-san's City Index Eleventh announced that the companies which jointly report now own 20.3%, which translates to 23.5% of voting rights. Average in-price?  ¥2,928/share.
The 2030 Plan from April saw 8% ROE by 2030, 6% by 2026. They've since bought back 11% of shares out. Better, but 1/4 of market cap is net cash+securities.
If one assumes they spend the net cash+securities to buy back stock 10% higher than here, pro-forma PBR is &lt;0.6x. ROE would be 7+%. There's room to run here, still. 


[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Murakami Group Now 23.5% on Exedy (7278) - LOTS of Room Left To Run

Japanese Equity Specialist, Ortus Advisors

Andrew Jackson

Japanese Equity Specialist

Ortus Advisors

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Server related names higher after some big sales numbers and new product launches from SMCI should be a positive for Nidec</li>
<li>Watch for P&amp;C weakness in Japan following losses for peers overnight as Hurricane Milton intensifies as it approaches the Florida coast line</li>
<li>Oil back above $80 will continue to push related names higher; possible refiner pair with 4 days of TPX FFW selling for recent outperformer Idemitsu</li>
</ul>


Server related names higher after some big sales numbers and new product launches from SMCI should be a positive for Nidec
Watch for P&amp;C weakness in Japan following losses for peers overnight as Hurricane Milton intensifies as it approaches the Florida coast line
Oil back above $80 will continue to push related names higher; possible refiner pair with 4 days of TPX FFW selling for recent outperformer Idemitsu


Japan Morning Connection: Oil Through $80 While P&C Take a Hit on Hurricane Milton

Japan

Cosmo Energy Holdings Co., Ltd. operates as a holding company.  The Company, through its subsidiaries, imports, refines, and sells crude oil as well engages in the independent development of oil resources.

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Cosmo Energy Holdings (5021 JP)

[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Exedy (7278) - You Won, BIG Capital Payout, Murakami Up. Now Watch Out!

Exedy (7278) Earnings were OK/decent. Murakami-san has gone to 24.7%. We have a sharply higher dividend payout and policy, and a HUGE buyback....

Travis Lundy

[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Exedy (7278) - Immediate Results Reaction Was a Damp Squib, But Climbing Now

Murakami-san is at 26% of voting rights and together with the first buyback, the entire Aisin offering is now covered. The next large buyback is...

Travis Lundy

Mischief Managed! Iwatani Corp (8088) Buys Out Murakami-San's Cosmo Energy Stake

Murakami-san is OUT of Cosmo Energy. Petro/Industrial Gases co Iwatani Corp has bought a 19.9% stake. This may be without warning to Cosmo. It's...

Travis Lundy

[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Murakami Group Now 23.5% on Exedy (7278) - LOTS of Room Left To Run

Muirakami-san continues to accumulate Exedy. Now at 23.5%. Remaining overhang from the 36+% offering is 2%. Earnings are in a week. Excess capital...

Travis Lundy

Japan Morning Connection: Oil Through $80 While P&C Take a Hit on Hurricane Milton

Positive sales numbers and new product launches from SMCI could benefit Nidec; P&C weakness expected due to Hurricane Milton; Oil above $80...

Andrew Jackson

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[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Exedy (7278) - You Won, BIG Capital Payout, Murakami Up. Now Watch Out!

Exedy (7278) Earnings were OK/decent. Murakami-san has gone to 24.7%. We have a sharply higher dividend payout and policy, and a HUGE buyback....

Travis Lundy

[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Exedy (7278) - Immediate Results Reaction Was a Damp Squib, But Climbing Now

Murakami-san is at 26% of voting rights and together with the first buyback, the entire Aisin offering is now covered. The next large buyback is...

Travis Lundy

Mischief Managed! Iwatani Corp (8088) Buys Out Murakami-San's Cosmo Energy Stake

Murakami-san is OUT of Cosmo Energy. Petro/Industrial Gases co Iwatani Corp has bought a 19.9% stake. This may be without warning to Cosmo. It's...

Travis Lundy

[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Murakami Group Now 23.5% on Exedy (7278) - LOTS of Room Left To Run

Muirakami-san continues to accumulate Exedy. Now at 23.5%. Remaining overhang from the 36+% offering is 2%. Earnings are in a week. Excess capital...

Travis Lundy

Japan Morning Connection: Oil Through $80 While P&C Take a Hit on Hurricane Milton

​Positive sales numbers and new product launches from SMCI could benefit Nidec; P&C weakness expected due to Hurricane Milton; Oil above $80...

Andrew Jackson

Positive sales numbers and new product launches from SMCI could benefit Nidec; P&C weakness expected due to Hurricane Milton; Oil above $80...