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>Ryohin Keikaku's biggest weakness is its unwieldy and expensive supply chains, with hundreds of suppliers across its three main categories of household, apparel and food.</li>
<li>The Muji operator just acquired a large team from one of its principle clothing supply partners, Mitsubishi, to finally streamline its supply chains and improve cost performance in clothing. </li>
<li>This should have a positive impact on its cost of goods, margins and inventory levels, allowing for quicker responses to trends at a lower price at home and overseas.</li>
</ul>


Ryohin Keikaku's biggest weakness is its unwieldy and expensive supply chains, with hundreds of suppliers across its three main categories of household, apparel and food.
The Muji operator just acquired a large team from one of its principle clothing supply partners, Mitsubishi, to finally streamline its supply chains and improve cost performance in clothing. 
This should have a positive impact on its cost of goods, margins and inventory levels, allowing for quicker responses to trends at a lower price at home and overseas.


Ryohin Keikaku: Finally Fixing Its Biggest Weakness?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In April 2022, after long prep and considerable public comment as to desires and design, the TSE launched its new market segments designed to encourage governance and foreign investment.</li>
<li>At the time, the TSE wanted to showcase Japan's best blue chips. In March, JPX announced JPX Prime 150, designed to make visible</li>
<li>In March 2023, JPX announced JPX Prime 150, to "make visible the leading Japanese companies that are estimated to create value." Ambitious? Yes. Fated to fail? Probably. Badly constructed?  Definitely. </li>
</ul>


In April 2022, after long prep and considerable public comment as to desires and design, the TSE launched its new market segments designed to encourage governance and foreign investment.
At the time, the TSE wanted to showcase Japan's best blue chips. In March, JPX announced JPX Prime 150, designed to make visible
In March 2023, JPX announced JPX Prime 150, to "make visible the leading Japanese companies that are estimated to create value." Ambitious? Yes. Fated to fail? Probably. Badly constructed?  Definitely. 


The TSE's New 'Better' Index:  JPX Prime 150

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>At the October rebalance, there are 970 stocks that will have a lower FFW while 114 stocks will have a higher FFW. 493 stocks will undergo a Phased Weight Reduction.</li>
<li>Estimated one-way turnover is 2.54% resulting in a one-way trade of ¥1.815tn. 500 stocks have over 4 days ADV to trade, 100 stocks have over 9 days ADV to trade.</li>
<li>Setting the threshold at +/-US$50m to trade, the stocks with inflows have outperformed the stocks with outflows by 6.5% over the last four months.</li>
</ul>


At the October rebalance, there are 970 stocks that will have a lower FFW while 114 stocks will have a higher FFW. 493 stocks will undergo a Phased Weight Reduction.
Estimated one-way turnover is 2.54% resulting in a one-way trade of ¥1.815tn. 500 stocks have over 4 days ADV to trade, 100 stocks have over 9 days ADV to trade.
Setting the threshold at +/-US$50m to trade, the stocks with inflows have outperformed the stocks with outflows by 6.5% over the last four months.


TOPIX October Rebalance: BIG One With ¥1.8tn a Side to Trade

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lawson-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1040:1" rel="noopener">Lawson Inc (2651 JP)</a> has confirmed it will list its upscale supermarket subsidiary, Seijo Ishii early next year.</li>
<li>Seijo leads in premium supermarket retailing and is growing as fast as the wealth market does, with plenty of room left to expand.</li>
<li>Seijo Ishii is now building its own production and import capabilities to increase originality and could begin to challenge even some of their larger rivals.</li>
</ul>



Lawson Inc (2651 JP) has confirmed it will list its upscale supermarket subsidiary, Seijo Ishii early next year.
Seijo leads in premium supermarket retailing and is growing as fast as the wealth market does, with plenty of room left to expand.
Seijo Ishii is now building its own production and import capabilities to increase originality and could begin to challenge even some of their larger rivals.


<ul>
<li>Today after the close, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsui-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20799:1" rel="noopener">Mitsui &amp; Co Ltd (8031 JP)</a> announced that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ms-ad-insurance-group-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:631:1" rel="noopener">MS&amp;AD Insurance (8725 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sumitomo-mitsui-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:217:1" rel="noopener">Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316 JP)</a> would sell 14.9mm shares in an offering.</li>
<li>This will get priced today or tomorrow, sold to institutional investors. This is ¥107bn, 4 days of ADV and 1% of shares out. It is not dilutive. </li>
<li>Mitsui &amp; Co has a buyback program with ¥123bn left til end-Sep, when presumably it will reload. Looks easy today, but measuring Mitsui &amp; Co vs Peers is less flattering.</li>
</ul>


Today after the close, Mitsui &amp; Co Ltd (8031 JP) announced that MS&amp;AD Insurance (8725 JP) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316 JP) would sell 14.9mm shares in an offering.
This will get priced today or tomorrow, sold to institutional investors. This is ¥107bn, 4 days of ADV and 1% of shares out. It is not dilutive. 
Mitsui &amp; Co has a buyback program with ¥123bn left til end-Sep, when presumably it will reload. Looks easy today, but measuring Mitsui &amp; Co vs Peers is less flattering.


Mitsui & Co (8031) - ¥100bn Overnight Equity Offering

Japan

Sumitomo Corp is a general trading company.  The Company imports and exports a wide variety of goods such as metals, machinery, chemicals, fuel,food products, and textiles.  Sumitomo also operates real estate, construction, shipping, insurance, finance, and leasing businesses.

Marubeni Corporation is a trading company with business divisions in iron & steel, information technology, utility & infrastructure, energy, food, metals & mineral resources, development & construction, and chemicals.  The Company markets its products globally through a network of sales offices and representative firms.

TOYOTA TSUSHO CORPORATION, a member of the Toyota Group, is a trading company. The Company markets automobiles, trucks, steel products, industrial machinery, chemical products, and energy in both domestic and overseas markets.  Toyota Tsusho primarily exports Toyota cars to Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, and Latin America.

ITOCHU Corporation is a general trading firm handling textiles, wood, machinery, metals, food, chemicals, construction materials, commodities, and energy related products such as oil and gas. The Company operates around the world. Itochu diversifies by operating in satellite communication and data communication businesses.

MITSUI & CO., LTD. is a general trading company.  The Company has operating groups including Iron and Steel, Non-Ferrous Metals, Machinery, Chemicals, Foods, Energy, Textiles, and General Merchandise.  Mitsui also operates real estate and overseas development projects.

MonotaRO Co., Ltd. mainly sells machine tools, engine parts, and factory consumable goods on the web site.

Sojitz Corporation is a general trading company.  The Company has business divisions such as Machinery & Aerospace, Energy & Mineral Resources, Chemicals & Plastics, Real Estate Development & Forest Products, Consumer Lifestyle Business, and New Business Development Group.  Sojitz was formed through the business integration between Nichimen and Nissho Iwai.

MISUMI Group Inc. distributes precision machinery parts by mail order. The products include a variety of components such as press die, plastic mold, automated machinery, pc & network, and wiring.  The Company also sells supplies for factories, hospitals, and restaurants and semi-conductors by mail order.

IWATANI CORPORATION is a trading company supplying gases for industrial and household use.  The Company also handles fuel, consumer products, industrial materials, minerals, construction, agriculture, and medical products.  Iwatani produces liquid hydrogen with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

NAGASE & COMPANY, LTD. is a trading firm specializing in chemical products such as dyestuff, synthetic resins and rubber, and inorganic and organic chemicals.  The Company also handles electronics such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment and liquid crystal display (LCD) materials, as well as health care products such as cosmetics and medical equipment.

Adani Enterprises Limited is an international trading house that operates from offices in India as well as other countries. The Company is involved in coal mining, cargo handling and power generation.  Adani also trades in a large number of products including textiles, energy, metals and agricultural products.

United Rentals, Inc., through its subsidiary, is an equipment rental company operating a network of locations in the United States and Canada.  The Company serves the construction industry, industrial and commercial concerns, homeowners, and other individuals.

Fastenal Company sell industrial and construction supplies in a wholesale and retail fashion.  The Company markets its products and services throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Singapore, China, and The Netherlands.

Watsco, Inc. distributes air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment, as well as related parts and supplies.  The Company operates various locations in the United States, with primary markets in the Sunbelt.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. distributes maintenance, repair and operating supplies, and related information to the commercial, industrial, contractor, and institutional markets in North America.  The Company's products include motors, HVAC equipment, lighting, hand and power tools, pumps, and electrical equipment.

Ashtead Group Plc is an international equipment rental company servicing customers nationwide in the US and the UK. The Company rents construction and industrial equipment. Ashtead generates approximately 85% of its revenue in the US through its subsidiary, Sunbelt Rentals with 388 locations across the US. The Group's UK business, A-Plant, has 106 locations nationwide.

Bunzl plc is a distribution group supplying a range of non-food consumable products for customers to operate their businesses but which they do not actually sell. The Company partners with both suppliers and customers in providing outsourcing solutions and service oriented distribution. Bunzl's main customer markets include grocery, foodservice, cleaning and safety.

AerCap Holdings NV is the world's largest aircraft leasing firm by fleet value, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER). It has its headquarters in Dublin with offices in Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Shannon, Fort Lauderdale, Singapore, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Seattle and Toulouse.

Ferguson PLC distributes HVAC and industrial supplies. The Company offers products for heating and ventilation, fabrication, facilities supply, and residential construction. Ferguson serves customers in North America.

Ashtead Group plc operates as an international equipment rental company. The Company rents construction and industrial equipment. Ashtead Group serves customers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

Mitsubishi Corporation is a general trading company.  The Company has business groups such as New Business Initiatives, IT & Electronics, Fuels, Metals, Machinery, Chemicals, Living Essentials, and Professional Services.  Mitsubishi diversifies by satellite communications through a joint venture.

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Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)

Ryohin Keikaku: Finally Fixing Its Biggest Weakness?

Muji operator Ryohin Keikaku looks set to improve its supply chains and cost performance in clothing by acquiring a team from Mitsubishi, leading...

Michael Causton

The TSE's New 'Better' Index: JPX Prime 150

The TSE is launching a new JPX Prime 150 Index on 3 July 2023. It is 150 stocks with high PBRs and high "Equity Spread" (ROE vs cost of capital)...

Travis Lundy

TOPIX October Rebalance: BIG One With ¥1.8tn a Side to Trade

Lower FFWs on 970 stocks and higher FFWs on 114 stocks will result in one-way turnover of 2.52% leading to a one-way trade of ¥1.8tn at the close...

Brian Freitas

Lawson Confirms Seijo Ishii IPO

Lawson plans to list its upscale supermarket subsidiary Seijo Ishii. The latter is one of the best supermarket operators in the country and is...

Michael Causton

Mitsui & Co (8031) - ¥100bn Overnight Equity Offering

MSAD Insurance, SMBC are selling 1.0% of TSO of Mitsui & Co (8031). Small deal at US$670mm and 3.7d of ADV on popular name. There's a buyback to...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Ryohin Keikaku: Finally Fixing Its Biggest Weakness?

​Muji operator Ryohin Keikaku looks set to improve its supply chains and cost performance in clothing by acquiring a team from Mitsubishi, leading...

Michael Causton

The TSE's New 'Better' Index: JPX Prime 150

The TSE is launching a new JPX Prime 150 Index on 3 July 2023. It is 150 stocks with high PBRs and high "Equity Spread" (ROE vs cost of capital)...

Travis Lundy

TOPIX October Rebalance: BIG One With ¥1.8tn a Side to Trade

Lower FFWs on 970 stocks and higher FFWs on 114 stocks will result in one-way turnover of 2.52% leading to a one-way trade of ¥1.8tn at the close...

Brian Freitas

Lawson Confirms Seijo Ishii IPO

Lawson plans to list its upscale supermarket subsidiary Seijo Ishii. The latter is one of the best supermarket operators in the country and is...

Michael Causton

Mitsui & Co (8031) - ¥100bn Overnight Equity Offering

MSAD Insurance, SMBC are selling 1.0% of TSO of Mitsui & Co (8031). Small deal at US$670mm and 3.7d of ADV on popular name. There's a buyback to...

Travis Lundy

Muji operator Ryohin Keikaku looks set to improve its supply chains and cost performance in clothing by acquiring a team from Mitsubishi, leading...