Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Through all the upheavals in discretionary product distribution in the last decade, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18448:1" rel="noopener">Itochu Corp (8001 JP)'s</a> Itochu Textile subsidiary has managed to maintain huge power in the channel.</li>
<li>While the trading firm has traditionally focused on premium fashion brands, in the last few years it has invested heavily in the sports market, including its growing investment in Descente.</li>
<li>The move is part of wider plans to take lead share in sports, footwear and department store brands.</li>
</ul>


Through all the upheavals in discretionary product distribution in the last decade, Itochu Corp (8001 JP)'s Itochu Textile subsidiary has managed to maintain huge power in the channel.
While the trading firm has traditionally focused on premium fashion brands, in the last few years it has invested heavily in the sports market, including its growing investment in Descente.
The move is part of wider plans to take lead share in sports, footwear and department store brands.


Descente a Key Part of Itochu's Plans in Sports

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/descente-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8225:1" rel="noopener">Descente Ltd (8114 JP)</a> has recommended a pre-conditional tender offer from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18448:1" rel="noopener">Itochu Corp (8001 JP)</a> at JPY4,350, 16.6% premium to the undisturbed price. </li>
<li>The pre-condition is approval under the competition laws of Japan and China. The offer is anticipated to commence in early November. In January 2019, Itochu completed a hostile partial offer.</li>
<li>While the offer is attractive vs peer multiples, it is light vs historical trading ranges. Securing the required acceptance rate could prove challenging as the price is light. </li>
</ul>



Descente Ltd (8114 JP) has recommended a pre-conditional tender offer from Itochu Corp (8001 JP) at JPY4,350, 16.6% premium to the undisturbed price. 
The pre-condition is approval under the competition laws of Japan and China. The offer is anticipated to commence in early November. In January 2019, Itochu completed a hostile partial offer.
While the offer is attractive vs peer multiples, it is light vs historical trading ranges. Securing the required acceptance rate could prove challenging as the price is light. 


Descente (8114 JP): Itochu’s (8001 JP) Light Pre-Conditional Offer

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Warren Buffett is investing more in Japan's trading companies for a variety of reasons but Itochu stands alone in its dominance of Japan's fashion sector.</li>
<li>Itochu continues to emphasise investment in consumer brands, particularly fashion and sports, but will now adjust its decades-old playbook, introducing more direct oversight of subsidiaries and affiliates.</li>
<li>This will include a big new push to turn Vivienne Westwood into a luxury brand, upgrading Paul Smith and bringing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/descente-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8225:1" rel="noopener">Descente Ltd (8114 JP)</a> in-house</li>
</ul>


Warren Buffett is investing more in Japan's trading companies for a variety of reasons but Itochu stands alone in its dominance of Japan's fashion sector.
Itochu continues to emphasise investment in consumer brands, particularly fashion and sports, but will now adjust its decades-old playbook, introducing more direct oversight of subsidiaries and affiliates.
This will include a big new push to turn Vivienne Westwood into a luxury brand, upgrading Paul Smith and bringing Descente Ltd (8114 JP) in-house


Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Canvest Environmental Protection Group / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>I tally 40 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.</li>
<li>Four new deals discussed this week: Schemes for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-capital-grand-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18241:1" rel="noopener">Beijing Capital Grand (1329 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cm-hi-tech-cleanroom-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44057:1" rel="noopener">CM Hi-Tech (2115 HK)</a>, and Tender Offers for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elematec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2866:1" rel="noopener">Elematec (2715 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nec-networks-system-integr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16396:1" rel="noopener">Nec Networks (1973 JP)</a>.</li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hotel-property-investments" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9850:1" rel="noopener">Hotel Property Investments (HPI AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canvest-environmental-protection-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:100:1" rel="noopener">Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/capitol-health-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14504:1" rel="noopener">Capitol Health (CAJ AU)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 40 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
Four new deals discussed this week: Schemes for Beijing Capital Grand (1329 HK) and CM Hi-Tech (2115 HK), and Tender Offers for Elematec (2715 JP) and Nec Networks (1973 JP).
Key updates took place on: Hotel Property Investments (HPI AU), Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK) and Capitol Health (CAJ AU).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Beijing Capital Grand, Elematec, Nec Networks, Hotel Property Invest, Canvest

<ul>
<li>We summarise the latest spreads and newsflow of merger arb situations we cover across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese ADRs.</li>
<li>Highest spreads: <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-henlius-biotech-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27888:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canvest-environmental-protection-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:100:1" rel="noopener">Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/greatview-aseptic-packaging" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10802:1" rel="noopener">Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinko-electric-industries" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15066:1" rel="noopener">Shinko Electric Industries (6967 JP)</a>. 
</li>
<li>Lowest spreads: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/silverlake-axis-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14150:1" rel="noopener">Silverlake Axis (SILV SP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trancom-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13043:1" rel="noopener">Trancom Co Ltd (9058 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/t-gaia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8339:1" rel="noopener">T Gaia Corp (3738 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wide-bay-australia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18747:1" rel="noopener">Auswide Bank (ABA AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/raysum-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6084:1" rel="noopener">Raysum Co Ltd (8890 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/descente-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8225:1" rel="noopener">Descente Ltd (8114 JP)</a>. </li>
</ul>


We summarise the latest spreads and newsflow of merger arb situations we cover across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese ADRs.
Highest spreads: Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP), Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK), Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK), Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK), Shinko Electric Industries (6967 JP). 

Lowest spreads: Silverlake Axis (SILV SP), Trancom Co Ltd (9058 JP), T Gaia Corp (3738 JP), Auswide Bank (ABA AU), Raysum Co Ltd (8890 JP), Descente Ltd (8114 JP). 


Merger Arb Mondays (28 Oct) - Henlius, Canvest, CPMC, Seven & I, Shinko, Capitol, Auswide

Japan

DESCENTE, LTD. manufactures athletic clothing including golf wear and ski wear. The Company also manufactures tennis shoes, skies, and sports bags.

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Descente Ltd (8114 JP)

Descente a Key Part of Itochu's Plans in Sports

This is background on why Itochu's just announced tender for the remaining shares in Descente is part of a wider brief to become a powerhouse in...

Michael Causton

Descente (8114 JP): Itochu’s (8001 JP) Light Pre-Conditional Offer

Securing the required acceptance rate could prove challenging as the offer price is light. There is a reasonable chance the shares will trade above...

Arun George

Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Beijing Capital Grand, Elematec, Nec Networks, Hotel Property Invest, Canvest

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

Merger Arb Mondays (28 Oct) - Henlius, Canvest, CPMC, Seven & I, Shinko, Capitol, Auswide

This week, the highest gross spreads are Seven & I (22.3%), Henlius (13.9%), Canvest (11.1%), GA Pack (10.9%), Shinko Electric (9.9%), Haitong...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Descente a Key Part of Itochu's Plans in Sports

This is background on why Itochu's just announced tender for the remaining shares in Descente is part of a wider brief to become a powerhouse in...

Michael Causton

Descente (8114 JP): Itochu’s (8001 JP) Light Pre-Conditional Offer

Securing the required acceptance rate could prove challenging as the offer price is light. There is a reasonable chance the shares will trade above...

Arun George

Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

​Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Beijing Capital Grand, Elematec, Nec Networks, Hotel Property Invest, Canvest

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

Merger Arb Mondays (28 Oct) - Henlius, Canvest, CPMC, Seven & I, Shinko, Capitol, Auswide

This week, the highest gross spreads are Seven & I (22.3%), Henlius (13.9%), Canvest (11.1%), GA Pack (10.9%), Shinko Electric (9.9%), Haitong...

Arun George

Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...