Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Over the weekend there was an article in the Nikkei saying that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/welcia-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20895:1" rel="noopener">Welcia Holdings (3141 JP)</a> were considering a merger. Other media outlets followed.</li>
<li>This has been a possible outcome. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)</a> owns 51% of Welcia, 13.6% in Tsuruha, and is negotiating to buy another 13% in Tsuruha from Oasis.</li>
<li>This would create a behemoth. ¥2.2trln in revenues vs ¥1trln for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/matsukiyococokara-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2259:1" rel="noopener">MatsukiyoCocokara (3088 JP)</a>. It would be 25% of the market. Questions will be asked about concentration. </li>
</ul>


Over the weekend there was an article in the Nikkei saying that Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP) and Welcia Holdings (3141 JP) were considering a merger. Other media outlets followed.
This has been a possible outcome. Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP) owns 51% of Welcia, 13.6% in Tsuruha, and is negotiating to buy another 13% in Tsuruha from Oasis.
This would create a behemoth. ¥2.2trln in revenues vs ¥1trln for MatsukiyoCocokara (3088 JP). It would be 25% of the market. Questions will be asked about concentration. 


Tsuruha (3391) And Welcia (3141) - Aeon Tsuruha Stake Buy Followed by Merger?

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)</a> owns 13% of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP)</a>. Oasis owns 13% too. Oasis ran a governance campaign but lost last summer's AGM. Aeon supported Tsuruha.</li>
<li>Tsuruha shares popped in November when Tsuruha said it was looking at its strategic options. BBG reported PE firms were circling. Now Aeon wants to buy Oasis' stake. </li>
<li>That would put Aeon in a near-blocking position without consolidating. And it would mean minorities stayed minorities. The real question is whether this is what Tsuruha wants.</li>
</ul>



Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP) owns 13% of Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP). Oasis owns 13% too. Oasis ran a governance campaign but lost last summer's AGM. Aeon supported Tsuruha.
Tsuruha shares popped in November when Tsuruha said it was looking at its strategic options. BBG reported PE firms were circling. Now Aeon wants to buy Oasis' stake. 
That would put Aeon in a near-blocking position without consolidating. And it would mean minorities stayed minorities. The real question is whether this is what Tsuruha wants.


Aeon (8267) Wants To Buy a Bigger Stake in Tsuruha (3391); What Does Tsuruha Want?

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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Major food-drugstores like Kusuri no Aoki and Genky Drugstores continue to pressure local supermarket competition. </li>
<li>The model of funding discount foods and FMCG via high profit pharmaceutical and cosmetics ranges is one that traditional food chains cannot match.</li>
<li>Now the largest players are creating brands and expanding into new regions. Many analysts have predicted saturation in the sector in the last decade. They continue to be wrong.</li>
</ul>


Major food-drugstores like Kusuri no Aoki and Genky Drugstores continue to pressure local supermarket competition. 
The model of funding discount foods and FMCG via high profit pharmaceutical and cosmetics ranges is one that traditional food chains cannot match.
Now the largest players are creating brands and expanding into new regions. Many analysts have predicted saturation in the sector in the last decade. They continue to be wrong.


Japan's Drugstores Taking on – and Beating – Supermarkets

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

<ul>
<li>
Market: The broader Topix Index ended the week 59 points, or -2.6%,</li>
<li>
Movers: Kusuri No Aoki Holdings shares rose sharply this week after the Japanese drugstore operator's first-quarter profit climbed (+49% yoy)</li>
<li>
Activist Watch: Dalton have also taken significant positions in Rinnai and Nitta</li>
</ul>



Market: The broader Topix Index ended the week 59 points, or -2.6%,

Movers: Kusuri No Aoki Holdings shares rose sharply this week after the Japanese drugstore operator's first-quarter profit climbed (+49% yoy)

Activist Watch: Dalton have also taken significant positions in Rinnai and Nitta


Japan Weekly | Kusuri No Aoki, Inpex, Mit Motors, Rinnai

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS. SPX new 52W highs on Bank earnings, AI (thx to MSFT), and Resilient Retail print; MSFT prices Copilot at high end; US bank CEOs showing optimism. </li>
<li>JAPAN. NKY Futures +0.8% vs Cash; USDJPY 138.8; Look for continued follow through in Japan equity bid; Bank bid thematic gaining more traction on BOJ tweak view;   Kishida cabinet reshuffle?</li>
<li>NUGGET. Isuzu(7202) - Big EV Spending but Still looks Cheap at 1x PBR. A 15% FY3/26 ROE as per mid term plan makes this look interesting for LT investors here.</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS. SPX new 52W highs on Bank earnings, AI (thx to MSFT), and Resilient Retail print; MSFT prices Copilot at high end; US bank CEOs showing optimism. 
JAPAN. NKY Futures +0.8% vs Cash; USDJPY 138.8; Look for continued follow through in Japan equity bid; Bank bid thematic gaining more traction on BOJ tweak view;   Kishida cabinet reshuffle?
NUGGET. Isuzu(7202) - Big EV Spending but Still looks Cheap at 1x PBR. A 15% FY3/26 ROE as per mid term plan makes this look interesting for LT investors here.


Ohayo Japan | Bullish Banks, Ai , US Consumer; NUGGET: Isuzu(7202) - EV Outlook Better for Trucks

Japan

Kusuri no Aoki Holdings Co., Ltd. operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides medicines, cosmetics, health foods, beauty care, and household products. Kusuri no Aoki Holdings serves customers in Japan.

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Kusuri no Aoki Holdings (3549 JP)

Tsuruha (3391) And Welcia (3141) - Aeon Tsuruha Stake Buy Followed by Merger?

Over the weekend we have news suggesting Aeon is pushing Tsuruha and Welcia towards a merger after buying Oasis' Tsuruha stake. Both stocks are up....

Travis Lundy

Aeon (8267) Wants To Buy a Bigger Stake in Tsuruha (3391); What Does Tsuruha Want?

Aeon today said it was negotiating to buy activist Oasis' 13% stake in Tsuruha. Aeon wants to own a dominant position in drug stores. It could. The...

Travis Lundy

Japan's Drugstores Taking on – and Beating – Supermarkets

Major food-drugstores dominate local supermarkets, leveraging high-profit pharmaceutical and cosmetics to discount foods. These players are...

Michael Causton

Japan Weekly | Kusuri No Aoki, Inpex, Mit Motors, Rinnai

Japanese market declines as Topix Index falls 2.6%, while Kusuri No Aoki Holdings sees profit rise and Dalton takes positions in Rinnai and Nitta.

Mark Chadwick

Ohayo Japan | Bullish Banks, Ai , US Consumer; NUGGET: Isuzu(7202) - EV Outlook Better for Trucks

US equities hit new highs on bank and AI optimism; NKY Futures +0.8% vs Cash; USDJPY 138.8; Bank bid thematic gaining more traction on BOJ tweak...

Mark Chadwick

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Tsuruha (3391) And Welcia (3141) - Aeon Tsuruha Stake Buy Followed by Merger?

Over the weekend we have news suggesting Aeon is pushing Tsuruha and Welcia towards a merger after buying Oasis' Tsuruha stake. Both stocks are up....

Travis Lundy

Aeon (8267) Wants To Buy a Bigger Stake in Tsuruha (3391); What Does Tsuruha Want?

Aeon today said it was negotiating to buy activist Oasis' 13% stake in Tsuruha. Aeon wants to own a dominant position in drug stores. It could. The...

Travis Lundy

Japan's Drugstores Taking on – and Beating – Supermarkets

​Major food-drugstores dominate local supermarkets, leveraging high-profit pharmaceutical and cosmetics to discount foods. These players are...

Michael Causton

Japan Weekly | Kusuri No Aoki, Inpex, Mit Motors, Rinnai

​Japanese market declines as Topix Index falls 2.6%, while Kusuri No Aoki Holdings sees profit rise and Dalton takes positions in Rinnai and Nitta.

Mark Chadwick

Ohayo Japan | Bullish Banks, Ai , US Consumer; NUGGET: Isuzu(7202) - EV Outlook Better for Trucks

US equities hit new highs on bank and AI optimism; NKY Futures +0.8% vs Cash; USDJPY 138.8; Bank bid thematic gaining more traction on BOJ tweak...

Mark Chadwick

Major food-drugstores dominate local supermarkets, leveraging high-profit pharmaceutical and cosmetics to discount foods. These players are...

Japanese market declines as Topix Index falls 2.6%, while Kusuri No Aoki Holdings sees profit rise and Dalton takes positions in Rinnai and Nitta.