Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS: SPX +1.3% SOX +1.3%; Optimism on soft inflation print drives stocks; Consumer+Tech lead; Apple to introduce touch screens for Mac; Off-Shore Wind Giant Vesta leads in Europe</li>
<li>JAPAN: NKY Futs +0.3% vs Cash; USDJPY steady at ¥132.45; Biz lobby urgest firms to lift wages above inflatio;  Buy U/G in Lastertec, TEL,  Nexon and D/G to Nintendo </li>
<li>DAILY NUGGETS:  Fast Retailing has raised the bar for corporate Japan with with their wage hikes. </li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS: SPX +1.3% SOX +1.3%; Optimism on soft inflation print drives stocks; Consumer+Tech lead; Apple to introduce touch screens for Mac; Off-Shore Wind Giant Vesta leads in Europe
JAPAN: NKY Futs +0.3% vs Cash; USDJPY steady at ¥132.45; Biz lobby urgest firms to lift wages above inflatio;  Buy U/G in Lastertec, TEL,  Nexon and D/G to Nintendo 
DAILY NUGGETS:  Fast Retailing has raised the bar for corporate Japan with with their wage hikes. 


Good Morning Japan |Beta Rally Continues as Optimism Reigns Ahead of CPI Print

<ul>
<li>We highlight five stocks that we have talked about in the past year</li>
<li>We continue to like small cap GROWTH and we think that decarbonization will remain a key thematic</li>
<li>NEC is a standout value name where we see a potential catalyst over the coming year in Open RAN</li>
</ul>


We highlight five stocks that we have talked about in the past year
We continue to like small cap GROWTH and we think that decarbonization will remain a key thematic
NEC is a standout value name where we see a potential catalyst over the coming year in Open RAN


Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>On 28 April 2022, with full-year earnings, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujitsu-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16968:1" rel="noopener">Fujitsu Ltd (6702 JP)</a> announced a buyback programme to buy back up to 12mm shares (6.11% of shares out) for up to ¥150bn</li>
<li>That was when the shares were ¥18,540. The shares popped 10% in 2 days. Then fell 25% into end-September. Yesterday, they announced they'd bought back 1.9mm shares in November.</li>
<li>Those were the first shares bought back under the Programme. And that leaves 4 months and a lot of stock to buy. </li>
</ul>


On 28 April 2022, with full-year earnings, Fujitsu Ltd (6702 JP) announced a buyback programme to buy back up to 12mm shares (6.11% of shares out) for up to ¥150bn
That was when the shares were ¥18,540. The shares popped 10% in 2 days. Then fell 25% into end-September. Yesterday, they announced they'd bought back 1.9mm shares in November.
Those were the first shares bought back under the Programme. And that leaves 4 months and a lot of stock to buy. 


Fujitsu (6702) Buyback Just Getting Started

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>On Friday, Toshiba investors got two bits of news which have been taken as non-bullish.</li>
<li>Affiliate and former subsidiary <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kioxia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29243:1" rel="noopener">Kioxia (6600 JP)</a> announced it would cut wafer input volume by 30% starting in October, and Toshiba's announcement on the Privatisation process status implied some delay.</li>
<li>Today the shares are getting hit vs Peers. It's still a problem of lots of moving parts. </li>
</ul>


On Friday, Toshiba investors got two bits of news which have been taken as non-bullish.
Affiliate and former subsidiary Kioxia (6600 JP) announced it would cut wafer input volume by 30% starting in October, and Toshiba's announcement on the Privatisation process status implied some delay.
Today the shares are getting hit vs Peers. It's still a problem of lots of moving parts. 


<ul>
<li>Three interviews and comments by Senior Toshiba Boardmembers (chairperson and head of Special Committee) and the CEO prep the ground for a full company deal, or no deal.</li>
<li>If no deal, there's downside to the 5yr average Toshiba/Peers ratio. If you see 50% deal probability, at mid ¥6000s or better, IRRs are OK. But there is jump risk.</li>
<li>I don't see the activists just deciding to bail en masse if no deal. I think they take it further, which means I think the Board wants a deal.</li>
</ul>


Three interviews and comments by Senior Toshiba Boardmembers (chairperson and head of Special Committee) and the CEO prep the ground for a full company deal, or no deal.
If no deal, there's downside to the 5yr average Toshiba/Peers ratio. If you see 50% deal probability, at mid ¥6000s or better, IRRs are OK. But there is jump risk.
I don't see the activists just deciding to bail en masse if no deal. I think they take it further, which means I think the Board wants a deal.


Toshiba (6502 JP) Getting Closer to Crunch Time So Ongoing News "Leaks" Likely

Japan

Canon Inc. is a professional and consumer imaging solutions company and patent-holder of digital imaging technologies. The Company's products include networked multifunction devices, digital and analog copiers, computer peripherals, facsimile machines, image filing systems, camcorders, cameras and lenses, semiconductor, and broadcast and medical equipment.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation develops, sells and services Imaging, Information, and Document Solutions.  Its products include color films, digital cameras, photofinishing products and equipment.  The Group also manufactures medical and graphic art use equipment and materials, FPD materials, and optical devices, and provides services on office copy machines, printers, and related equipment.

BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD. manufactures and markets communications and office equipment.  The Company's main products include facsimiles, digital copy machines, label printers, and word processors.  Brother Industries also manufactures and sells sewing machines and other tools.  The Company operates its business worldwide.

RICOH COMPANY, LTD. manufactures and markets office automation equipment, electronic devices, and photographic instruments.  The Company's diverse product line includes facsimiles, image scanners, printers, digital cameras, and personal computers, as well as a full range of analog, digital, and color copiers. Ricoh operates with a network of sales offices and tie-ups worldwide.

Seiko Epson Corporation manufactures communications equipment, electronic devices, and precision products.  The Company's products include printers, scanners, Liquid Crystal Projectors, semiconductors, quartz devices, and watches.

Konica Minolta Inc is mainly engaged in manufacturing office equipment and performance materials. It also operates health care businesses. The Company also makes copiers, personal computer peripherals, optical lenses, and measuring instruments.

Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. manufactures various photo processors.  The Company specializes in high-speed mini-photo processing lab systems.  Noritsu Koki also produces OEM (original equipment manufacturer) supply for Kodak and Konica.

MCJ Co., Ltd. manufactures and markets personal computers and its related products.  The Company provides desktop and laptop computers, computer memories, printers, and hard drives.

TOSHIBA TEC CORPORATION manufactures electronic equipment for distribution system, document processing, and household use.  The Company's products include Point of Sale (POS) systems, bar code scanners, copy machines, printers, and vacuum cleaners.

ELECOM CO., LTD. designs, manufactures, and markets computer peripherals, supplies, and accessories.  The Company offers a diverse range of products including adapters, cables, switches, local area network (LAN) devices, paper, keyboard covers, and chairs.

Western Digital Corporation is a global provider of solutions for the collection, storage, management, protection and use of digital content, including audio and video. The Company's products include hard drives, solid-state drives, and home entertainment and networking products.

Wistron Corporation manufactures and markets notebook computers, personal computers, and other related information products.

Quanta Computer Inc. manufactures and markets notebook computers and related peripheral equipment.

HP Inc. provides imaging and printing systems, computing systems, mobile devices, solutions, and services for business and home. The Company offers products which includes laser and inkjet printers, scanners, copiers and faxes, personal computers, workstations, storage solutions, and other computing and printing systems. HP sells its products worldwide.

Advantech Co., Ltd. manufactures and markets embedded personal computers (PC), network computing products, industrial automation products, and panel PCs.

Seagate Technology Holdings Public Limited Company offers computer hardware products. The Company designs, manufactures, and markets hard disk drives for enterprise applications, client compute applications, client non-compute applications, personal data backup systems, portable external storage systems and digital media systems.

Asustek Computer Inc. manufactures and markets computer motherboards, interface cards, notebook computers, and other related products.

Lenovo Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, sells, and manufactures personal computers and handheld devices. The Company also provides Internet services and IT services, and contracting manufacturing business.

Focus Media Information Technology Co., Ltd. engages in media network for advertisements including within cinemas, posters and advertising displays in commercial offices or buildings.

Focus Media Information Technology Co, Ltd. (002027 CH)

Focus Media Information Technology Co, Ltd.

NetApp, Inc. provides storage and data management solutions. The Company's storage solutions include specialized hardware, software, and services that provide storage management for open network environments. NetApp  serves enterprises, government agencies, and universities worldwide.

NEC Corporation manufactures and markets computers, telecommunication equipment, electronic devices, semiconductors, and software.  The Company's products include printers, modems, cellular phones, plasma display panels (PDP), network systems, memory, integrated circuits (IC), thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), and printed circuit boards (PCB). NEC operates worldwide.

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NEC Corp (6701 JP)

Good Morning Japan |Beta Rally Continues as Optimism Reigns Ahead of CPI Print

OVERSEAS. Optimism on soft inflation drives stocks. JAPAN: Biz lobby urgest firms to lift wages above inflation; Buy U/G in Lastertec, TEL, Nexon....

Mark Chadwick

Five Japanese Stocks to Watch in 2023

We highlight 5 Japanese companies that investors should watch in 2023. We continue to see investment opportunities under the theme of decarbonization

Mark Chadwick

Fujitsu (6702) Buyback Just Getting Started

Fujitsu announced their buyback many months ago (late April 2022) but bought nothing til last month when they were 15%. Expect 11-15% of volume...

Travis Lundy

Two Bits of Non-Bullish Toshiba News

Toshiba's possible deal timeline extended just as semi sector troubles start to make themselves better-known. Not bullish. But not hugely bearish....

Travis Lundy

Toshiba (6502 JP) Getting Closer to Crunch Time So Ongoing News "Leaks" Likely

Bidders are approaching 2nd Round deadlines, and news/comments are starting to seep out. Expect more. I expect a decision at/after H1 results. If...

Travis Lundy

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