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>Aeon just announced record revenues of more than ¥9 trillion for FY2022. </li>
<li>Its supermarkets, mall developments and drugstores continue to strengthen and even the GMS business had a good year even if it still a way to go to generate consistent profit.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Aeon plans to pour ¥150 billion a year into group-wide digital technologies, after launching the most advanced food online operation Japan has seen yet this month.</li>
</ul>


Aeon just announced record revenues of more than ¥9 trillion for FY2022. 
Its supermarkets, mall developments and drugstores continue to strengthen and even the GMS business had a good year even if it still a way to go to generate consistent profit.
Meanwhile, Aeon plans to pour ¥150 billion a year into group-wide digital technologies, after launching the most advanced food online operation Japan has seen yet this month.


Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)</a>'s ¥300bn buyback means 8+% of ADV every day from here to end-Dec 2023. Buy MitCorp vs trading houses with less of a buyback impact. </li>
<li>Rumours abound of an MSCI up weight for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-matheson-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19718:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP)</a>. It wasn't a clear-cut situation. And nothing came of it. </li>
<li>There are concerns about the stability of funding for JIP’s offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a> in the event that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kioxia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29243:1" rel="noopener">Kioxia (6600 JP)</a>’s results collapse further.</li>
</ul>



Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)'s ¥300bn buyback means 8+% of ADV every day from here to end-Dec 2023. Buy MitCorp vs trading houses with less of a buyback impact. 
Rumours abound of an MSCI up weight for Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP). It wasn't a clear-cut situation. And nothing came of it. 
There are concerns about the stability of funding for JIP’s offer for Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) in the event that Kioxia (6600 JP)’s results collapse further.


Last Week in Event SPACE: MitCorp, Jardine Matheson, Toshiba, Japanese Foreign Inflows

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.

<ul>
<li>The relationship between Value Act and <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> has become toxic due to Value Act's opportunistic behaviour after the passing of the Seven &amp; I founder.</li>
<li>Seven &amp; I and Value Act have been exchanging letters more frequently, with recent ones taking on an angry tone, especially from Seven &amp; I’s side.</li>
<li>Value Act's attempt to block the reappointment of experienced directors could cause long-term value disruption, especially if their goal is to pressure a spinoff of the convenience store business.</li>
</ul>


The relationship between Value Act and Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) has become toxic due to Value Act's opportunistic behaviour after the passing of the Seven &amp; I founder.
Seven &amp; I and Value Act have been exchanging letters more frequently, with recent ones taking on an angry tone, especially from Seven &amp; I’s side.
Value Act's attempt to block the reappointment of experienced directors could cause long-term value disruption, especially if their goal is to pressure a spinoff of the convenience store business.


Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Wealthy Japanese staying in Japan, more people acquiring wealth, a return of inbound tourists and better merchandising and store investment. </li>
<li>All combined to help department stores rebound strongly in 2022 but there has been a sharp shift in where department stores make their money.</li>
<li>Further growth is expected but only for some, and in some product categories much more than others.</li>
</ul>


Wealthy Japanese staying in Japan, more people acquiring wealth, a return of inbound tourists and better merchandising and store investment. 
All combined to help department stores rebound strongly in 2022 but there has been a sharp shift in where department stores make their money.
Further growth is expected but only for some, and in some product categories much more than others.


Japan Department Stores: Transformation Amidst a Recovery

<ul>
<li>Value Act's investor activism campaign picked up steam following the death 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> founder.</li>
<li>The board of Seven &amp; I may have been aggravated by Value Act's unreasonable demands and timing, leading to their first angry response in over two years.</li>
<li>The damaged relationship between Seven &amp; I and Value Act reduces the upside risk to our short thesis from disposal of underperforming businesses.</li>
</ul>


Value Act's investor activism campaign picked up steam following the death of Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) founder.
The board of Seven &amp; I may have been aggravated by Value Act's unreasonable demands and timing, leading to their first angry response in over two years.
The damaged relationship between Seven &amp; I and Value Act reduces the upside risk to our short thesis from disposal of underperforming businesses.


Seven & I: Founder's Death Fuels Value Act's Activism, Angers The Board, Reduces Short Thesis Risk

Japan

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company which was established through the merger of Ito-Yokado Co., Seven Eleven Japan Co., and Denny's Japan. The Company plans, manages, and operates mainly convenience stores, supermarkets, and department stores.

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Seven & I Holdings (3382 JP)

Aeon: All Signs Point to Higher Returns

Aeon has long been famous for low margins and an empire of diverse business units with less than stellar efficiency. The last five years have seen...

Michael Causton

Last Week in Event SPACE: MitCorp, Jardine Matheson, Toshiba, Japanese Foreign Inflows

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

Seven & I: Investor Activism Update

The way Value Act is trying to get shareholders to vote against the reappointment of directors may prove value disruptive, particularly if the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Japan Department Stores: Transformation Amidst a Recovery

Department stores in Japan have rebounded to close to 2019 levels but the sector as a whole will return to genteel contraction once reached. Within...

Michael Causton

Seven & I: Founder's Death Fuels Value Act's Activism, Angers The Board, Reduces Short Thesis Risk

The damaged relationship between Seven & I and Value Act reduces the upside risk to our short thesis from disposal of underperforming assets.

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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