Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Last week, shareholders of <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> rejected all four of the board nominees proposed by ValueAct.</li>
<li>ValueAct, seeing their higher vote count as a modest success, sent a letter to Seven &amp; I, requesting a resumption of discussions despite the failed attempt to remove senior leadership.</li>
<li>We think the company is unlikely to seriously consider Value Act's proposals any longer, indicating the end of the investor activism campaign.</li>
</ul>


Last week, shareholders of Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) rejected all four of the board nominees proposed by ValueAct.
ValueAct, seeing their higher vote count as a modest success, sent a letter to Seven &amp; I, requesting a resumption of discussions despite the failed attempt to remove senior leadership.
We think the company is unlikely to seriously consider Value Act's proposals any longer, indicating the end of the investor activism campaign.


Seven & I: ValueAct's Proposals Unlikely to Be Considered, Investor Activism Effectively Over

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. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Retail media in its traditional sense is nothing new, simply referring to the use of advertising in stores, but in modern terms retail media is something far, far bigger. </li>
<li>It is not only a trend in the US, but one that is about to explode in Japan – although in a very different format.</li>
<li>With purchase rates up two-fold in early experiments, the potential for brands advertising through retail stores will be significant with some estimates suggesting a ¥20 trillion market.</li>
</ul>


Retail media in its traditional sense is nothing new, simply referring to the use of advertising in stores, but in modern terms retail media is something far, far bigger. 
It is not only a trend in the US, but one that is about to explode in Japan – although in a very different format.
With purchase rates up two-fold in early experiments, the potential for brands advertising through retail stores will be significant with some estimates suggesting a ¥20 trillion market.


Retail Ads: A New Revenue Stream for Seven & I and Rival Convenience Stores

<ul>
<li>Seven &amp; I will have its entire 7-11 chain online by 2025 and could use the service to bind all its food retail assets into a more coherent whole. </li>
<li>Rivals are doing the same thing through Uber Eats and other services, but Seven thinks its proprietary system will provide a long term advantage, especially in ease of use.</li>
<li>While Q-commerce deliveries from CVS are growing, the inherent proximity of stores to homes suggests an online adjunct is sub-optimal – but will be ideal for Seven's "new" SIP format.</li>
</ul>


Seven &amp; I will have its entire 7-11 chain online by 2025 and could use the service to bind all its food retail assets into a more coherent whole. 
Rivals are doing the same thing through Uber Eats and other services, but Seven thinks its proprietary system will provide a long term advantage, especially in ease of use.
While Q-commerce deliveries from CVS are growing, the inherent proximity of stores to homes suggests an online adjunct is sub-optimal – but will be ideal for Seven's "new" SIP format.


Seven & I Finally Making E-Commerce Work? 7Now at 5,000 Stores and Perfect for SIP

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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trial-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36821:1" rel="noopener">Trial Holdings (5882 JP)</a> is looking to raise up to US$393m in its Japan IPO.</li>
<li>TH operates a network of retail stores that offer one-stop shopping under its everyday low price model, across a variety of daily necessities, food items and other products.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about implied valuations in the IPO price range</li>
</ul>



Trial Holdings (5882 JP) is looking to raise up to US$393m in its Japan IPO.
TH operates a network of retail stores that offer one-stop shopping under its everyday low price model, across a variety of daily necessities, food items and other products.
In this note, we talk about implied valuations in the IPO price range


Trial Holdings IPO - Sector Lagging Margins Warrant a Discount

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/trial-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36821:1" rel="noopener">Trial Holdings (5882 JP)</a>, a discount store operator in Japan, is seeking to raise US$380 million at the IPO reference price of JPY2,000. Pricing on 26 March.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/trial-holdings-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:97757" rel="noopener">Trial Holdings IPO: The Bull Case</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/trial-holdings-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:97798" rel="noopener">Trial Holdings IPO: The Bear Case</a>.  </li>
<li>In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Trial is attractively valued at the IPO reference price of JPY2,000. We would participate in the IPO.</li>
</ul>



Trial Holdings (5882 JP), a discount store operator in Japan, is seeking to raise US$380 million at the IPO reference price of JPY2,000. Pricing on 26 March.
We previously discussed the IPO in Trial Holdings IPO: The Bull Case and Trial Holdings IPO: The Bear Case.  
In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Trial is attractively valued at the IPO reference price of JPY2,000. We would participate in the IPO.


Japan

LAWSON, INC. operates a chain of convenience stores in Japan. The Company sells a variety of products including fast food, beverages, snacks, magazines, newspapers, and sundry goods.

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Lawson Inc (2651 JP)

Seven & I: ValueAct's Proposals Unlikely to Be Considered, Investor Activism Effectively Over

ValueAct, despite failed leadership removal attempt, requests discussions, but Seven & I is unlikely to consider proposals further, suggesting the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Retail Ads: A New Revenue Stream for Seven & I and Rival Convenience Stores

Japanese convenience stores have reached stagnation so new sources of revenue to support same-store growth are key. And they may have found it:...

Michael Causton

Seven & I Finally Making E-Commerce Work? 7Now at 5,000 Stores and Perfect for SIP

Seven & I may finally have turned the corner and found an e-commerce solution that works. If it has, the potential to roll it out beyond just the...

Michael Causton

Trial Holdings IPO - Sector Lagging Margins Warrant a Discount

Trial Holdings (5882 JP) is looking to raise up to US$393m in its Japan IPO. In this note, we talk about implied valuations.

Sumeet Singh

Trial Holdings IPO: Valuation Insights

Our analysis suggests that Trial is attractively valued at the IPO reference price of JPY2,000. We would participate in the IPO.

Arun George

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