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>E-Commerce growth slowed marginally as the sector consolidated post-Covid but remained higher than any other channel in 2022. </li>
<li>By 2025-26, it will be the largest channel, overtaking convenience stores – but Japan’s continuing support for retail stores means that omnichannel will be the main model.</li>
<li>As a result, the majority of transactions will be researched, initiated, and fulfilled through a combination of online and physical stores.</li>
</ul>


E-Commerce growth slowed marginally as the sector consolidated post-Covid but remained higher than any other channel in 2022. 
By 2025-26, it will be the largest channel, overtaking convenience stores – but Japan’s continuing support for retail stores means that omnichannel will be the main model.
As a result, the majority of transactions will be researched, initiated, and fulfilled through a combination of online and physical stores.


E-Commerce in Japan: Omnichannel Consolidation

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.

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>, a discount store operator in Japan, is seeking to raise US$236 million at the IPO reference price of JPY1,550 per share.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <em><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/trial-holdings-ipo-the-investment-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:130521" rel="noopener">Trial Holdings IPO: The Investment Case</a></strong></em>. </li>
<li>In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Trial is attractively valued at the IPO reference price of JPY1,550. We would participate in the IPO.</li>
</ul>



Trial Holdings (5882 JP), a discount store operator in Japan, is seeking to raise US$236 million at the IPO reference price of JPY1,550 per share.
We previously discussed the IPO in Trial Holdings IPO: The Investment Case. 
In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Trial is attractively valued at the IPO reference price of JPY1,550. We would participate in the IPO.


Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Aeon will almost definitely increase its stake in Tsuruha Holdings, which on its own will catalyse drugstore competitors to consider their mergeable options.</li>
<li>Tsuruha MAY merge with Welcia under Aeon and just talk of this will catalyse drugstore competitors even more.</li>
<li>But the ongoing fusion of drugstore retailing and FMCG formats like supermarkets and convenience stores, will also spur the entire FMCG sector to respond to Aeon's massive potential dominance.</li>
</ul>


Aeon will almost definitely increase its stake in Tsuruha Holdings, which on its own will catalyse drugstore competitors to consider their mergeable options.
Tsuruha MAY merge with Welcia under Aeon and just talk of this will catalyse drugstore competitors even more.
But the ongoing fusion of drugstore retailing and FMCG formats like supermarkets and convenience stores, will also spur the entire FMCG sector to respond to Aeon's massive potential dominance.


Aeon (Maybe) Gets Tsuruha, Could Trigger Wave of Mergers in the Sector (And Beyond)

<ul>
<li>The growth in retail media (brand advertising delivered in stores based on detailed customer data) continues to be one of the big trends in 2024.</li>
<li>Large retailers are keen to add this new revenue stream – and lots of brands want to advertise with them – and companies like Rakuten are offering this service directly.</li>
<li>For many retailers, they still need help from experts in advertising and data analysis to make it work, providing an opportunity for Hakuhodo among others.</li>
</ul>


The growth in retail media (brand advertising delivered in stores based on detailed customer data) continues to be one of the big trends in 2024.
Large retailers are keen to add this new revenue stream – and lots of brands want to advertise with them – and companies like Rakuten are offering this service directly.
For many retailers, they still need help from experts in advertising and data analysis to make it work, providing an opportunity for Hakuhodo among others.


Retail Media in Japan: More Revenue for Retailers, More Sales for Brands

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Tsuruha is the latest retailer to come under attack from an activist investment fund. </li>
<li>As with Seven &amp; I, the company fended off demands to shake up its board, crucially with the support of Aeon, its largest stakeholder.</li>
<li>The move will likely lead to some careful reconsideration of how Tsuruha and Aeon could work together and may even lead to a Welcia/Tsuruha merger.</li>
</ul>


Tsuruha is the latest retailer to come under attack from an activist investment fund. 
As with Seven &amp; I, the company fended off demands to shake up its board, crucially with the support of Aeon, its largest stakeholder.
The move will likely lead to some careful reconsideration of how Tsuruha and Aeon could work together and may even lead to a Welcia/Tsuruha merger.


Activists May Be Pushing Tsuruha Towards a Merger with Welcia

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)

E-Commerce in Japan: Omnichannel Consolidation

E-commerce growth in Japan remains strong post-Covid, set to overtake convenience stores by 2025-26, with omnichannel model becoming dominant for...

Michael Causton

Trial Holdings IPO: Valuation Thoughts

Trial has upsized its IPO from US$236m to US$260m by launching its IPO at JPY1,600-1,700 per share vs. the reference price of JPY1,550. The offer...

Arun George

Aeon (Maybe) Gets Tsuruha, Could Trigger Wave of Mergers in the Sector (And Beyond)

Aeon's potential increased stake in Tsuruha Holdings and possible merger with Welcia will likely prompt drugstore competitors to consider their...

Michael Causton

Retail Media in Japan: More Revenue for Retailers, More Sales for Brands

Retail media, a big trend in 2024, offers major revenue potential for retailers as well as intermediaries like Hakuhodo in advertising and data...

Michael Causton

Activists May Be Pushing Tsuruha Towards a Merger with Welcia

This insight from last September looked at the likelihood of a merger attempt by Aeon between Welcia and Tsuruha. The reasons for this are similar...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

E-Commerce in Japan: Omnichannel Consolidation

​E-commerce growth in Japan remains strong post-Covid, set to overtake convenience stores by 2025-26, with omnichannel model becoming dominant for...

Michael Causton

Trial Holdings IPO: Valuation Thoughts

Trial has upsized its IPO from US$236m to US$260m by launching its IPO at JPY1,600-1,700 per share vs. the reference price of JPY1,550. The offer...

Arun George

Aeon (Maybe) Gets Tsuruha, Could Trigger Wave of Mergers in the Sector (And Beyond)

​Aeon's potential increased stake in Tsuruha Holdings and possible merger with Welcia will likely prompt drugstore competitors to consider their...

Michael Causton

Retail Media in Japan: More Revenue for Retailers, More Sales for Brands

​Retail media, a big trend in 2024, offers major revenue potential for retailers as well as intermediaries like Hakuhodo in advertising and data...

Michael Causton

Activists May Be Pushing Tsuruha Towards a Merger with Welcia

This insight from last September looked at the likelihood of a merger attempt by Aeon between Welcia and Tsuruha. The reasons for this are similar...

Michael Causton

E-commerce growth in Japan remains strong post-Covid, set to overtake convenience stores by 2025-26, with omnichannel model becoming dominant for...

Aeon's potential increased stake in Tsuruha Holdings and possible merger with Welcia will likely prompt drugstore competitors to consider their...

Retail media, a big trend in 2024, offers major revenue potential for retailers as well as intermediaries like Hakuhodo in advertising and data...