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>The big merger between Welcia and Tsuruha is part of a wider concentration of market share in the drugstore sector as the leaders take on supermarkets and even convenience stores.</li>
<li>Japan's drugstores have morphed into multiple sub-formats, selling food and other FMCG products in ever higher ratios, creating massive pressure for other sectors. </li>
<li>The net effect is the emergence of a powerful new retail sector that is impacting all other FMCG retail formats and even lifestyle categories like cosmetics.</li>
</ul>


The big merger between Welcia and Tsuruha is part of a wider concentration of market share in the drugstore sector as the leaders take on supermarkets and even convenience stores.
Japan's drugstores have morphed into multiple sub-formats, selling food and other FMCG products in ever higher ratios, creating massive pressure for other sectors. 
The net effect is the emergence of a powerful new retail sector that is impacting all other FMCG retail formats and even lifestyle categories like cosmetics.


Japan Drugstores: More M&A as Sector Attacks Supermarkets and Conbini

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>For the month of May 2024, 10 new transactions (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$6.6bn.</li>
<li>The average premium for the new transactions announced (or first discussed) in May was ~60%. The average premium YTD is ~46%. Japan is well up yoy. Hong Kong is down.</li>
<li>This compares to the average premium for transactions in 2023 (117 transactions), 2022 (106), 2021 (165), 2020 (158), and 2019 (145 ) of 39%, 41%, 33%, 31%, and 31% respectively.</li>
</ul>


For the month of May 2024, 10 new transactions (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$6.6bn.
The average premium for the new transactions announced (or first discussed) in May was ~60%. The average premium YTD is ~46%. Japan is well up yoy. Hong Kong is down.
This compares to the average premium for transactions in 2023 (117 transactions), 2022 (106), 2021 (165), 2020 (158), and 2019 (145 ) of 39%, 41%, 33%, 31%, and 31% respectively.


(Mostly) Asia M&A, May 2024: Malaysia Airports, Alps Logistics, Nihon Housing, Great Eastern

<ul>
<li>The three big convenience store chains all posted record financial results for FY2023. </li>
<li>The format’s limitations were exposed by the pandemic, providing a catalyst for some major changes and prompting new and innovative marketing and support services.</li>
<li>These have made the sector more robust, but whether this new surge of growth will continue in 2024 will depend on how concerned customers are with higher prices.</li>
</ul>


The three big convenience store chains all posted record financial results for FY2023. 
The format’s limitations were exposed by the pandemic, providing a catalyst for some major changes and prompting new and innovative marketing and support services.
These have made the sector more robust, but whether this new surge of growth will continue in 2024 will depend on how concerned customers are with higher prices.


<ul>
<li>I tally 51 - 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>One new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: Carlyle's tiult for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kfc-holdings-japan-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12358:1" rel="noopener">KFC Holdings Japan (9873 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> suspended pursuant to the Takeovers Code.</li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <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/l-occitane-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6772:1" rel="noopener">L'Occitane (973 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bhp-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:147:1" rel="noopener">BHP Group Ltd (BHP AU)</a>/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anglo-american-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21798:1" rel="noopener">Anglo American (AAL LN)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sciclone-pharmaceuticals-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17351:1" rel="noopener">SciClone Pharmaceuticals (6600 HK)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 51 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
One new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: Carlyle's tiult for KFC Holdings Japan (9873 JP). Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK) suspended pursuant to the Takeovers Code.
Key updates took place on: Alumina Ltd (AWC AU), L'Occitane (973 HK), BHP Group Ltd (BHP AU)/ Anglo American (AAL LN), and SciClone Pharmaceuticals (6600 HK).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: KFC Holdings Japan, Shanghai Henlius, Alumina, BHP/ Anglo American, SciClone

<ul>
<li>Tally 51 - 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>Three new deals was discussed on Smartkarma this week: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/malaysia-airports-holdings-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:117:1" rel="noopener">Malaysia Airports (MAHB MK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/i-rom-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2686:1" rel="noopener">I'Rom Group (2372 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-line-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8076:1" rel="noopener">S Line (9078 JP)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/esr-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27983:1" rel="noopener">ESR Group (1821 HK)</a> also in the crosshairs. </li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/huafa-property-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5841:1" rel="noopener">Huafa Property Services Group (982 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kansai-super-market-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15519:1" rel="noopener">Kansai Super Market (9919 JP)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-eastern-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13993:1" rel="noopener">Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-occitane-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6772:1" rel="noopener">L'Occitane (973 HK)</a>.</li>
</ul>


Tally 51 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
Three new deals was discussed on Smartkarma this week: Malaysia Airports (MAHB MK), I'Rom Group (2372 JP) and S Line (9078 JP). ESR Group (1821 HK) also in the crosshairs. 
Key updates took place on: Huafa Property Services Group (982 HK), Kansai Super Market (9919 JP) , Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP) and L'Occitane (973 HK).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: ESR Group, I'Rom Group, S Line, Huafa Property Services, Kansai Super Market

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)

Japan Drugstores: More M&A as Sector Attacks Supermarkets and Conbini

The merger of Welcia and Tsuruha reflects market consolidation in Japan's drugstore sector, with major attacks on supermarkets and even conbinis....

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia M&A, May 2024: Malaysia Airports, Alps Logistics, Nihon Housing, Great Eastern

For the month of May, 10 new deals were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall deal size of just ~US$7bn. The average premium for the new deals...

David Blennerhassett

Stellar Year for Conbini Chains

Convenience store chains saw record results in FY2023, with pandemic-driven changes prompting innovation and growth, but future success may hinge...

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: KFC Holdings Japan, Shanghai Henlius, Alumina, BHP/ Anglo American, SciClone

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

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: ESR Group, I'Rom Group, S Line, Huafa Property Services, Kansai Super Market

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

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

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Japan Drugstores: More M&A as Sector Attacks Supermarkets and Conbini

​The merger of Welcia and Tsuruha reflects market consolidation in Japan's drugstore sector, with major attacks on supermarkets and even conbinis....

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia M&A, May 2024: Malaysia Airports, Alps Logistics, Nihon Housing, Great Eastern

For the month of May, 10 new deals were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall deal size of just ~US$7bn. The average premium for the new deals...

David Blennerhassett

Stellar Year for Conbini Chains

​Convenience store chains saw record results in FY2023, with pandemic-driven changes prompting innovation and growth, but future success may hinge...

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: KFC Holdings Japan, Shanghai Henlius, Alumina, BHP/ Anglo American, SciClone

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

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: ESR Group, I'Rom Group, S Line, Huafa Property Services, Kansai Super Market

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

The merger of Welcia and Tsuruha reflects market consolidation in Japan's drugstore sector, with major attacks on supermarkets and even conbinis....

Convenience store chains saw record results in FY2023, with pandemic-driven changes prompting innovation and growth, but future success may hinge...