Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The Berkshire Hathaway <a href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/2024ar/2024ar.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annual Shareholder Letter for 2024</a> was released this weekend. Much was made in Japanese twitter-space of the comments he made on the Japanese trading houses. </li>
<li>He said Berkshire Hathaway's admiration of these companies "has consistently grown" and Berkshire likes their capital deployment, managements, and their attitude in respect to investors. They also pay themselves reasonably.</li>
<li>He mentioned Berkshire will increase their stakes somewhat in the trading houses "over time." That comment deserves some exploration, as does the comment about yen funding.</li>
</ul>


The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Letter for 2024 was released this weekend. Much was made in Japanese twitter-space of the comments he made on the Japanese trading houses. 
He said Berkshire Hathaway's admiration of these companies "has consistently grown" and Berkshire likes their capital deployment, managements, and their attitude in respect to investors. They also pay themselves reasonably.
He mentioned Berkshire will increase their stakes somewhat in the trading houses "over time." That comment deserves some exploration, as does the comment about yen funding.


Warren Buffett and the Japanese Trading Houses I

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>On 13 November, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kansai-electric-power-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18907:1" rel="noopener">Kansai Electric Power (9503 JP)</a> announced an equity offering to raise capital for capex expenditures over the next several years. It is significantly dilutive.</li>
<li>The shares responded by falling 23% to 8-months lows of ¥1,850 last Thursday and Friday. That puts the stock at the same forward PER post-offering as it was pre-offering. </li>
<li>That's probably not an awful place to own now that the stock will have been slightly de-risked/de-levered. </li>
</ul>


On 13 November, Kansai Electric Power (9503 JP) announced an equity offering to raise capital for capex expenditures over the next several years. It is significantly dilutive.
The shares responded by falling 23% to 8-months lows of ¥1,850 last Thursday and Friday. That puts the stock at the same forward PER post-offering as it was pre-offering. 
That's probably not an awful place to own now that the stock will have been slightly de-risked/de-levered. 


Kansai Electric Power (9503 JP) - Huge Offering Is Smaller Now; Reward/Risk Skews Upwards

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>On 13 September, the Ministry of Finance of Japan added 7&amp;I to <a href="https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/international_policy/gaitame_kawase/press_release/20240913.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a list of "core" designated companies</a> based on results of voluntary inquiries to all listed companies.</li>
<li>Several media reports suggest that the change in 7&amp;I’s designation to core would complicate the proposed acquisition by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alimentation-couche-tard-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25103:1" rel="noopener">Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD CN)</a>. The core designation will not change Couche-Tard's strategy.</li>
<li>The change to 7&amp;I’s designation to core will paradoxically push Couche-Tard to firm up its revised offer. An undemanding valuation protects the downside of a no-deal situation.</li>
</ul>


On 13 September, the Ministry of Finance of Japan added 7&amp;I to a list of "core" designated companies based on results of voluntary inquiries to all listed companies.
Several media reports suggest that the change in 7&amp;I’s designation to core would complicate the proposed acquisition by Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD CN). The core designation will not change Couche-Tard's strategy.
The change to 7&amp;I’s designation to core will paradoxically push Couche-Tard to firm up its revised offer. An undemanding valuation protects the downside of a no-deal situation.


Seven & I Holdings (3382 JP): Core Designation Does Not Change Couche-Tard’s Calculus

<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

China Traditional Chinese Medicine / Event-Driven

<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/yichang-hec-changjiang-pharmaceutical" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21040:1" rel="noopener">Yichang HEC Changjiang Pharma (1558 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-traditional-chinese-medicine" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:351:1" rel="noopener">China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 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/a8-new-media-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3444:1" rel="noopener">A8 New Media (800 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asia-cement-china-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3374:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement China (743 HK)</a>. 
</li>
<li>Lowest spreads: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl Corp (4921 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tatsuta-electric-wire-cable-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12509:1" rel="noopener">Tatsuta Electric Wire &amp; Cable (5809 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alumina-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:939:1" rel="noopener">Alumina Ltd (AWC AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nagatanien-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8059:1" rel="noopener">Nagatanien Holdings (2899 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mimasu-semiconductor-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5531:1" rel="noopener">Mimasu Semiconductor Industry (8155 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/infocom-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8412:1" rel="noopener">Infocom Corp (4348 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: Yichang HEC Changjiang Pharma (1558 HK), China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK), Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK), A8 New Media (800 HK), Asia Cement China (743 HK). 

Lowest spreads: Fancl Corp (4921 JP), Tatsuta Electric Wire &amp; Cable (5809 JP), Alumina Ltd (AWC AU), Nagatanien Holdings (2899 JP), Mimasu Semiconductor Industry (8155 JP), Infocom Corp (4348 JP). 



Merger Arb Mondays (15 Jul) - China TCM, Canvest, Henlius, Hollysys, Second Chance, Anasarda, Rex

Japan

Electric Power Development Co.,Ltd. generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power using hydroelectric, wind-power, nuclear, coal-fired and other thermal power stations throughout Japan.

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Electric Power Development C (9513 JP)

Warren Buffett and the Japanese Trading Houses I

Today, National Indemnity - BRK's holdco for owning Japanese trading co shares - announced it had upped its stake in each of the five trading...

Travis Lundy

Kansai Electric Power (9503 JP) - Huge Offering Is Smaller Now; Reward/Risk Skews Upwards

KEPCO has fallen 23% then rebounded 2% since announcing its equity offering which dilutes 20%. The discount is worthwhile catching. The combo of...

Travis Lundy

Seven & I Holdings (3382 JP): Core Designation Does Not Change Couche-Tard’s Calculus

The change to 7&I’s designation to core will paradoxically push Couche-Tard to firm up its revised offer. An undemanding valuation protects 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

Merger Arb Mondays (15 Jul) - China TCM, Canvest, Henlius, Hollysys, Second Chance, Anasarda, Rex

This week, the highest gross spreads are HEC Pharma (134.8%), China TCM (32.2%), Canvest (13.4%), A8 New Media (12.5%), Asia Cement (11.8%), GA...

Arun George

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