Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

Kokusai Electric  / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>KKR is looking to raise around US$750m via selling a stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> (KE) in its Japan IPO.</li>
<li>KE main business activities consist of the manufacturing, sales and maintenance service of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.</li>
</ul>


KKR is looking to raise around US$750m via selling a stake in Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) (KE) in its Japan IPO.
KE main business activities consist of the manufacturing, sales and maintenance service of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.


Kokusai Electric Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Can't Avoid the Cycles

<ul>
<li>KKR is looking to raise around US$750m via selling a stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> (KE) in its Japan IPO.</li>
<li>KE main business activities consist of the manufacturing, sales and maintenance service of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the positive aspects of the deal.</li>
</ul>


KKR is looking to raise around US$750m via selling a stake in Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) (KE) in its Japan IPO.
KE main business activities consist of the manufacturing, sales and maintenance service of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
In this note, we talk about the positive aspects of the deal.


Kokusai Electric Pre-IPO - The Positives - Well Established with High Market Share

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Nikkei reported last week that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-telegraph-telephone-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:623:1" rel="noopener">NTT (Nippon Telegraph &amp; Telephone) (9432 JP)</a> is developing a generative AI and plans to offer services to the company’s corporate clients by Next March.</li>
<li>Over the recent years, NTT has been extensively investing on AI, robotics and other data-driven products and services to boost its top line growth as its core business is saturating.</li>
<li>AI and semiconductors are two key policy areas of Japanese government for development as the country is dealing with population and other demographic changes.</li>
</ul>


Nikkei reported last week that NTT (Nippon Telegraph &amp; Telephone) (9432 JP) is developing a generative AI and plans to offer services to the company’s corporate clients by Next March.
Over the recent years, NTT has been extensively investing on AI, robotics and other data-driven products and services to boost its top line growth as its core business is saturating.
AI and semiconductors are two key policy areas of Japanese government for development as the country is dealing with population and other demographic changes.


NTT: Developing Industry-Specific AI Offerings as AI Becomes One of Government's Key Focus Areas

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)</a> has, for over a decade, been restructuring itself by selling subsidiaries here and buying them in there. There are two remaining after the somewhat recent sale of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14457:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Chemical (4217 JP)</a>, de-consolidation of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-capital-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14410:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Capital (8586 JP)</a>, and buy-in of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-high-tech-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7046:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi High-Tech (8036 JP)</a> (after a flurry of other deals to sell out stakes in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-kokusai-electric-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2523:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Kokusai Electric (6756 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-koki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18359:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Koki (6581 JP)</a>, Hitachi Maxell and Clarion in the previous few years).
In October last year, I addressed the issue of the selldown of the last two <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-metals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8561:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Metals (5486 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-construction-machinery" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19433:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP)</a> in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/the-right-trade-may-be-hitachi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44551" rel="noopener">The Right Trade May Be Hitachi</a>, which argued that Hitachi itself was probably the better deal than the subs. Since then, Hitachi is up 39.3%, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-construction-machinery" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19433:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP)</a> is up 3.6%, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-metals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8561:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Metals (5486 JP)</a> is up 23%. 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/mio-kato" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:713" rel="noopener">Mio Kato</a> has written a few times about Hitachi Metals and about how one might not be able to expect a very high takeout price through the sale process that Hitachi was running. I wholly agreed with Mio, because I think it is not an easy asset to sell later, but I couldn't come up with a reason to sell the stock because I expect funding is available, costs can be cut, Hitachi might keep 20% and sell a call option to help with funding, and if a company needs a lot of work to restructure, I am sure that Bain Consulting could be prevailed upon to provide their consulting services for a price (one of the dirty little secrets of private equity is that GPs get management and incentive fees on assets and sales, but profits in the interim come with costs, and some of those costs can be allocated to the GP as well).
Hitachi took in bids earlier this spring after running an auction process and three weeks ago an <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/659a5857-9369-4f9b-8595-06bb89888772" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> in the FT hit the tape saying "Bain nears $8bn deal to buy Hitachi Metals." That was around current market price give or take net debt so people were thinking there might not be a premium.
<div class="content-highlight">
Today, we got a deal announcement. Indeed, Bain is paying near US$8bn, but it is structured in such a way that Bain pays ¥1675/share to Hitachi and ¥2181/share to minorities, which produces a combined price just over ¥1900/share.
This approximates a decent result for everyone involved.  
</div>
More below the fold.

Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP) has, for over a decade, been restructuring itself by selling subsidiaries here and buying them in there. There are two remaining after the somewhat recent sale of Hitachi Chemical (4217 JP), de-consolidation of Hitachi Capital (8586 JP), and buy-in of Hitachi High-Tech (8036 JP) (after a flurry of other deals to sell out stakes in Hitachi Kokusai Electric (6756 JP), Hitachi Koki (6581 JP), Hitachi Maxell and Clarion in the previous few years).
In October last year, I addressed the issue of the selldown of the last two Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) and Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP) in The Right Trade May Be Hitachi, which argued that Hitachi itself was probably the better deal than the subs. Since then, Hitachi is up 39.3%, Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP) is up 3.6%, and Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) is up 23%. 
Mio Kato has written a few times about Hitachi Metals and about how one might not be able to expect a very high takeout price through the sale process that Hitachi was running. I wholly agreed with Mio, because I think it is not an easy asset to sell later, but I couldn't come up with a reason to sell the stock because I expect funding is available, costs can be cut, Hitachi might keep 20% and sell a call option to help with funding, and if a company needs a lot of work to restructure, I am sure that Bain Consulting could be prevailed upon to provide their consulting services for a price (one of the dirty little secrets of private equity is that GPs get management and incentive fees on assets and sales, but profits in the interim come with costs, and some of those costs can be allocated to the GP as well).
Hitachi took in bids earlier this spring after running an auction process and three weeks ago an article in the FT hit the tape saying "Bain nears $8bn deal to buy Hitachi Metals." That was around current market price give or take net debt so people were thinking there might not be a premium.

Today, we got a deal announcement. Indeed, Bain is paying near US$8bn, but it is structured in such a way that Bain pays ¥1675/share to Hitachi and ¥2181/share to minorities, which produces a combined price just over ¥1900/share.
This approximates a decent result for everyone involved.  

More below the fold. 

Bain Bids Up BIG For Hitachi Metals (5486) - Now We Wait

It was reported by several news media outlets including the Nikkei, Bloomberg and Reuters that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)</a>  is planning to sell a 60% stake in its overseas home appliance business to major Turkish consumer electronics maker Arcelik AS.The two companies are in advanced talks and an agreement is expected to be reached over the next few weeks. The deal could be valued at around US$300-500m.Hitachi’s home appliance business generates only about 20% of its revenues from overseas markets whereas China and Southeast Asia accounting for bulk of the overseas revenues.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcelik-as" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24759:1" rel="noopener">Arcelik AS (ARCLK TI)</a> , together with its subsidiaries produces and sells consumer durable goods and consumer electronics in Turkey and internationally. Its products are sold under Arcelik, Beko, Blomberg, Arctic, Leisure, Defy and several other brands.By partnering up with Arcelik, Hitachi aims to expand the sale of its consumer appliances products in markets such as Europe and Africa, where Arcelik has a strong foothold in these markets.

It was reported by several news media outlets including the Nikkei, Bloomberg and Reuters that Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)  is planning to sell a 60% stake in its overseas home appliance business to major Turkish consumer electronics maker Arcelik AS.The two companies are in advanced talks and an agreement is expected to be reached over the next few weeks. The deal could be valued at around US$300-500m.Hitachi’s home appliance business generates only about 20% of its revenues from overseas markets whereas China and Southeast Asia accounting for bulk of the overseas revenues.Arcelik AS (ARCLK TI) , together with its subsidiaries produces and sells consumer durable goods and consumer electronics in Turkey and internationally. Its products are sold under Arcelik, Beko, Blomberg, Arctic, Leisure, Defy and several other brands.By partnering up with Arcelik, Hitachi aims to expand the sale of its consumer appliances products in markets such as Europe and Africa, where Arcelik has a strong foothold in these markets.

Hitachi to Sell Overseas Home Appliance Business; Attempt to Reach Its Mid-Term Management Targets

Japan

Hitachi High-Tech Corporation is a trading company handling a variety of products such as computers and peripherals, scientific instruments and systems, electronic devices, and industrial machinery and materials.  The Company, a subsidiary of Hitachi, operates worldwide.

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Hitachi High-Tech (8036 JP)

Kokusai Electric Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Can't Avoid the Cycles

KKR is looking to raise around US$750m via selling a stake in Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) (KE) in its Japan IPO. In this note we talk about the not...

Sumeet Singh

NTT: Developing Industry-Specific AI Offerings as AI Becomes One of Government's Key Focus Areas

NTT is developing a generative AI to offer to corporate clients. AI and semiconductors are two key focus areas of the govt which should benefit NTT...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Bain Bids Up BIG For Hitachi Metals (5486) - Now We Wait

Hitachi has agreed to sell Hitachi Metals to Bain/JIP/JIS. It is a complex transaction designed to get Hitachi out, get minorities a premium, get...

Travis Lundy

Hitachi to Sell Overseas Home Appliance Business; Attempt to Reach Its Mid-Term Management Targets

It was reported by several news media outlets that Hitachi is planning to sell a 60% stake in its overseas home appliance business to major Turkish...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Kokusai Electric Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Can't Avoid the Cycles

KKR is looking to raise around US$750m via selling a stake in Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) (KE) in its Japan IPO. In this note we talk about the not...

Sumeet Singh

Kokusai Electric Pre-IPO - The Positives - Well Established with High Market Share

KKR is looking to raise around US$750m via selling a stake in Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) (KE) in its Japan IPO. In this note we talk about the...

Sumeet Singh

NTT: Developing Industry-Specific AI Offerings as AI Becomes One of Government's Key Focus Areas

NTT is developing a generative AI to offer to corporate clients. AI and semiconductors are two key focus areas of the govt which should benefit NTT...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Bain Bids Up BIG For Hitachi Metals (5486) - Now We Wait

Hitachi has agreed to sell Hitachi Metals to Bain/JIP/JIS. It is a complex transaction designed to get Hitachi out, get minorities a premium, get...

Travis Lundy

Hitachi to Sell Overseas Home Appliance Business; Attempt to Reach Its Mid-Term Management Targets

It was reported by several news media outlets that Hitachi is planning to sell a 60% stake in its overseas home appliance business to major Turkish...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA