Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>At one point Softbank stock rose as much as 17% on a ¥1trn buyback that sounded surprisingly unconfident.</li>
<li>It closed today at just 0.8% above the pre-announcement price. </li>
<li>We believe the 47% holdco discount offers little protection due to stretched valuations for its holdings.</li>
</ul>


At one point Softbank stock rose as much as 17% on a ¥1trn buyback that sounded surprisingly unconfident.
It closed today at just 0.8% above the pre-announcement price. 
We believe the 47% holdco discount offers little protection due to stretched valuations for its holdings.


Softbank – Uuuge Buyback!... Aaand It’s Gone

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<p>A few years ago I started this series, and I updated it last year. Since last year, it has been a top 10 insight in terms of views. </p><p>I personally think it is important for investors of all types to understand WHO OWNS WHAT. </p><p>Many fundamental investors are reticent to spend any time on this but there are many reasons why active investors in Japan should be interested in understanding the ownership and shareholder dynamics of passive investors in Japan.</p><div><p>Some of the places active investors will see their influence are:</p></div><div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Stories intermittently published about the BOJ's presence in Japanese ETFs (especially the fact that it owns 85+% of the outstanding ETF market),</li>
<li>Relatively constant interest in Nikkei 225 rebalances like the one we saw in July 2020, which helped push up <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-exchange-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11266:1" rel="noopener">Japan Exchange Group (8697 JP)</a> by 30+% from May to July, then helped it slide 13% in a week, or the changes in the Nikkei 225 review rules published earlier this year which may change what happens this September to a few large caps, and the announcement of the BOJ that it would no longer buy Nikkei 225 ETFs which started a long slide in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> shares against comps and the Nikkei itself. Long "held up" by 'market inventory' and Nikkei 225 ETF buying, when the BOJ stopped, it removed the cushion and existing inventory holders had to sell out. </li>
<li>Then if you look at the shareholder structure of Fast Retailing today, you will see that it is STILL fundamentally a serious problem for large foreign active investors who would actually wish to take an <em>active</em> (but not activist) position. <em>Real World Float</em> on the stock is, by my calculation, less than 15% of shares outstanding. </li>
<li>The relatively recent policy of increased stewardship regarding the passive management portion of the GPIF (the Government Pension Investment Fund) - an investing heavyweight in Japan.</li>
<li>The timing and quantum of after-event support or overhang on corporate actions such as buybacks, secondary offerings, primary offerings, mergers, etc. </li>
<li>Index inclusions mean big flows. If you follow the insights on <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/collections/topix-inclusion/insights?item=54585" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TOPIX Inclusions</a></strong> by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/janaghan-jeyakumar-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:3173" rel="noopener">Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA</a> and myself, you will often see big moves. Sometimes these stocks move 50% between when we write about them and when they go into the index. If you own them and are considering an exit, you need to know when to take profits, and the dynamic of the liquidity. If you are thinking about getting in for fundamental reasons, it pays to know early so you can get ahead of the major flow.</li>
<li>The return of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a> to the TSE First Section in Q1 this year changed the foreign shareholder percentage ownership, lowering it by 10%. Smartkarma readers knew this last year and in January, which prepared them for the June AGM when the shareholder category ownership was released.</li>
<li>The changes to the TSE's market structure, which will affect TOPIX membership, which will affect many companies' issuance, buyback, share cancellation, etc decisions over the next several months. They are doing this because of the TSE Prime listing rules which will effectively also determine whether or not they will be included in TOPIX in future, or whether they will fall out of TSE Prime and will see constant selling over late 2022 to early 2025. </li>
</ul>
<p>Of course, TOPIX is just over half of the passive tracking AUM in Japan. There's more. </p>
<p>Find out WHO OWNS WHAT in Japan Passive below the fold. </p>
</div>

A few years ago I started this series, and I updated it last year. Since last year, it has been a top 10 insight in terms of views. I personally think it is important for investors of all types to understand WHO OWNS WHAT. Many fundamental investors are reticent to spend any time on this but there are many reasons why active investors in Japan should be interested in understanding the ownership and shareholder dynamics of passive investors in Japan.Some of the places active investors will see their influence are:

Stories intermittently published about the BOJ's presence in Japanese ETFs (especially the fact that it owns 85+% of the outstanding ETF market),
Relatively constant interest in Nikkei 225 rebalances like the one we saw in July 2020, which helped push up Japan Exchange Group (8697 JP) by 30+% from May to July, then helped it slide 13% in a week, or the changes in the Nikkei 225 review rules published earlier this year which may change what happens this September to a few large caps, and the announcement of the BOJ that it would no longer buy Nikkei 225 ETFs which started a long slide in Fast Retailing (9983 JP) shares against comps and the Nikkei itself. Long "held up" by 'market inventory' and Nikkei 225 ETF buying, when the BOJ stopped, it removed the cushion and existing inventory holders had to sell out. 
Then if you look at the shareholder structure of Fast Retailing today, you will see that it is STILL fundamentally a serious problem for large foreign active investors who would actually wish to take an active (but not activist) position. Real World Float on the stock is, by my calculation, less than 15% of shares outstanding. 
The relatively recent policy of increased stewardship regarding the passive management portion of the GPIF (the Government Pension Investment Fund) - an investing heavyweight in Japan.
The timing and quantum of after-event support or overhang on corporate actions such as buybacks, secondary offerings, primary offerings, mergers, etc. 
Index inclusions mean big flows. If you follow the insights on TOPIX Inclusions by Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA and myself, you will often see big moves. Sometimes these stocks move 50% between when we write about them and when they go into the index. If you own them and are considering an exit, you need to know when to take profits, and the dynamic of the liquidity. If you are thinking about getting in for fundamental reasons, it pays to know early so you can get ahead of the major flow.
The return of Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) to the TSE First Section in Q1 this year changed the foreign shareholder percentage ownership, lowering it by 10%. Smartkarma readers knew this last year and in January, which prepared them for the June AGM when the shareholder category ownership was released.
The changes to the TSE's market structure, which will affect TOPIX membership, which will affect many companies' issuance, buyback, share cancellation, etc decisions over the next several months. They are doing this because of the TSE Prime listing rules which will effectively also determine whether or not they will be included in TOPIX in future, or whether they will fall out of TSE Prime and will see constant selling over late 2022 to early 2025. 

Of course, TOPIX is just over half of the passive tracking AUM in Japan. There's more. 
Find out WHO OWNS WHAT in Japan Passive below the fold. 


Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

<ul>
<li>In 1HFY23, a weak JPY – with it having depreciated from JPY132 to JPY149 to the USD – has actively supported the group’s valuation, contributing 12% to SoftBank group’s NAV</li>
<li>The BoJ is looking to tighten monetary policy, whilst all other major central banks are set to cut rates; under this scenario, it is likely for the JPY to strengthen</li>
<li>Softbank shares trade at a 51%+ stated NAV discount yet we believe that there is downside risk to at least Arm’s high valuations, which could tighten the discount significantly</li>
</ul>


In 1HFY23, a weak JPY – with it having depreciated from JPY132 to JPY149 to the USD – has actively supported the group’s valuation, contributing 12% to SoftBank group’s NAV
The BoJ is looking to tighten monetary policy, whilst all other major central banks are set to cut rates; under this scenario, it is likely for the JPY to strengthen
Softbank shares trade at a 51%+ stated NAV discount yet we believe that there is downside risk to at least Arm’s high valuations, which could tighten the discount significantly


Softbank (9984 JP): Adding a Strengthening JPY to the Mix

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Softbank’s exposure to WeWork continues to haunt it beyond the close of 2QFY23, due to its credit support agreements</li>
<li>Aside from WeWork, we continue to see risks to valuations supporting the NAV; in particular, Arm Holdings and SVF2 which accounted for 45% of group equity value</li>
<li>Softbank shares trade at a 45% discount to the stated NAV yet there is downside risk to Arm’s valuation along with questions over private company valuations at SVF1 and SVF2</li>
</ul>


Softbank’s exposure to WeWork continues to haunt it beyond the close of 2QFY23, due to its credit support agreements
Aside from WeWork, we continue to see risks to valuations supporting the NAV; in particular, Arm Holdings and SVF2 which accounted for 45% of group equity value
Softbank shares trade at a 45% discount to the stated NAV yet there is downside risk to Arm’s valuation along with questions over private company valuations at SVF1 and SVF2


Softbank (9984 JP): WeWork Hangover and Other Challenges

<ul>
<li>WeWork appears to be approaching bankruptcy; we expect SoftBank’s exposure to be at least USD1.4bn including credit lines</li>
<li>Arm Holdings post-IPO performance has been lacklustre, but we continue to believe that it remains dangerously over-valued against peers – and Arm provides 30% of the group’s equity value</li>
<li>We believe that JPY depreciation has supported SoftBank Group’s share price (given the high share of USD-denominated portfolio assets); in addition, we still see risks to current private company valuations</li>
</ul>


WeWork appears to be approaching bankruptcy; we expect SoftBank’s exposure to be at least USD1.4bn including credit lines
Arm Holdings post-IPO performance has been lacklustre, but we continue to believe that it remains dangerously over-valued against peers – and Arm provides 30% of the group’s equity value
We believe that JPY depreciation has supported SoftBank Group’s share price (given the high share of USD-denominated portfolio assets); in addition, we still see risks to current private company valuations


SoftBank Group (9984 JP): Results Preview, Key Topics

Japan

SoftBank Group Corp provides telecommunication services.  The Company also operates ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and fiber optic high-speed Internet connection, e-Commerce businesses, and Internet based advertising and auction businesses.

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Softbank Group (ADR) (SFTBY US)

Softbank – Uuuge Buyback!... Aaand It’s Gone

We believe the rapid extinguishment of Softbank's post buyback announcement rally bodes ill for the stock which remains highly exposed to...

Mio Kato

JAPAN PASSIVE: Who Owns What 2021?

This is the 2021 Version of Who Owns What in Japan Passive. It tries to present a relatively comprehensive idea of how much money/float tracks the...

Travis Lundy

Softbank (9984 JP): Adding a Strengthening JPY to the Mix

SoftBank's valuation has been supported by a weak JPY, but the BoJ's plan to tighten monetary policy -as other central banks' cut rates - may mean...

Victor Galliano

Softbank (9984 JP): WeWork Hangover and Other Challenges

Softbank's exposure to WeWork is well chronicled, but other investments - namely Arm and SVF2's portfolio - pose risks to its asset value and...

Victor Galliano

SoftBank Group (9984 JP): Results Preview, Key Topics

WeWork bankruptcy looms, SBG's exposure at $1.4bn. Arm Holdings overvalued, providing 30% of group's equity. JPY depreciation boosts SoftBank's...

Victor Galliano

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Dividend (Yield)

Softbank – Uuuge Buyback!... Aaand It’s Gone

We believe the rapid extinguishment of Softbank's post buyback announcement rally bodes ill for the stock which remains highly exposed to...

Mio Kato

JAPAN PASSIVE: Who Owns What 2021?

This is the 2021 Version of Who Owns What in Japan Passive. It tries to present a relatively comprehensive idea of how much money/float tracks the...

Travis Lundy

Softbank (9984 JP): Adding a Strengthening JPY to the Mix

​SoftBank's valuation has been supported by a weak JPY, but the BoJ's plan to tighten monetary policy -as other central banks' cut rates - may mean...

Victor Galliano

Softbank (9984 JP): WeWork Hangover and Other Challenges

​Softbank's exposure to WeWork is well chronicled, but other investments - namely Arm and SVF2's portfolio - pose risks to its asset value and...

Victor Galliano

SoftBank Group (9984 JP): Results Preview, Key Topics

​WeWork bankruptcy looms, SBG's exposure at $1.4bn. Arm Holdings overvalued, providing 30% of group's equity. JPY depreciation boosts SoftBank's...

Victor Galliano

SoftBank's valuation has been supported by a weak JPY, but the BoJ's plan to tighten monetary policy -as other central banks' cut rates - may mean...

Softbank's exposure to WeWork is well chronicled, but other investments - namely Arm and SVF2's portfolio - pose risks to its asset value and...

WeWork bankruptcy looms, SBG's exposure at $1.4bn. Arm Holdings overvalued, providing 30% of group's equity. JPY depreciation boosts SoftBank's...