Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sony-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:563:1" rel="noopener">Sony Corp (6758 JP)</a> reported earnings on 28 April, which saw profit-taking the next day after a brief two-day run-up, as revenues, OP, and NP were guided down.</li>
<li>There previous ¥200bn buyback ended about two weeks later. Yesterday they launched a new ¥200bn buyback, and the stock reacted well this AM. And then BIG new news this morning.</li>
<li>Sony <a href="https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/library/presen/strategy/pdf/2023/press_E.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> an assessment of a partial spin-off of Sony Financial. Assessment this FY, spinoff "within next 2-3yrs" (if possible). This garnered more excitement. Brief analysis of both follows.</li>
</ul>



Sony Corp (6758 JP) reported earnings on 28 April, which saw profit-taking the next day after a brief two-day run-up, as revenues, OP, and NP were guided down.
There previous ¥200bn buyback ended about two weeks later. Yesterday they launched a new ¥200bn buyback, and the stock reacted well this AM. And then BIG new news this morning.
Sony announced an assessment of a partial spin-off of Sony Financial. Assessment this FY, spinoff "within next 2-3yrs" (if possible). This garnered more excitement. Brief analysis of both follows.


Sony (6758 JP) - Big-But-Meh Buyback, and Bigger Potential Sony Financial Spinoff

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a> aims to raise up to US$2.4bn (JPY323bn) via a global offering.</li>
<li>The deal was undoubtedly accelerated by Reuters breaking the news of a possible equity raising on 15th May 2023.</li>
<li>We have covered most aspects of the deal in our previous note, in this note we talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten (4755 JP) aims to raise up to US$2.4bn (JPY323bn) via a global offering.
The deal was undoubtedly accelerated by Reuters breaking the news of a possible equity raising on 15th May 2023.
We have covered most aspects of the deal in our previous note, in this note we talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.


Rakuten US$2.4bn Placement - Larger than Rumored, Some Indications of Finality

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a> is considering raising around US$2.2bn (JPY300bn), as per Reuters reports. The company hasn't confirmed or denied the same in its press release.</li>
<li>The company has been listing some of its subsidiaries and monetising investments to raise cash and has recently hinted at a possible equity issuance.</li>
<li>While there is no guarantee that the deal will ever materialize, in this note, we take an early look at the possible deal dynamics.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten (4755 JP) is considering raising around US$2.2bn (JPY300bn), as per Reuters reports. The company hasn't confirmed or denied the same in its press release.
The company has been listing some of its subsidiaries and monetising investments to raise cash and has recently hinted at a possible equity issuance.
While there is no guarantee that the deal will ever materialize, in this note, we take an early look at the possible deal dynamics.


Rakuten Possible US$2.2bn Placement - Will Be a Huge Deal to Digest, but It's Not All Bad

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

S&P BSE SENSEX Index / Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>Our 2023 outlook remains unchanged as we continue to expect broad-based consolidation with $93 capping upside on MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US), while important downside targets are $86, $84, and $75-77.</li>
<li>We still recommend tactical overweight to defensives including gold miners and MSCI ACWI Staples, Health Care, and Utilities, given ACWI-US remains near the top of our expected 2023 trading range.</li>
<li>We are now starting to see broad-based improvement, particularly in Japan and India, but also in Taiwan and South Korea. Most of today's buy recommendations are cyclicals in these countries.</li>
</ul>


Our 2023 outlook remains unchanged as we continue to expect broad-based consolidation with $93 capping upside on MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US), while important downside targets are $86, $84, and $75-77.
We still recommend tactical overweight to defensives including gold miners and MSCI ACWI Staples, Health Care, and Utilities, given ACWI-US remains near the top of our expected 2023 trading range.
We are now starting to see broad-based improvement, particularly in Japan and India, but also in Taiwan and South Korea. Most of today's buy recommendations are cyclicals in these countries.


Broad-Based Improvement in India, Add Exposure/Overweight. Buys: Cyclicals in Japan, India, & Taiwan

Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Equity Bottom-Up

Novatek Microelectronics Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Novatek reported earnings ahead of expectations where margins rose thanks to recovery in pricing for its products in inventory. Inventory metrics improved as well.</li>
<li>Key industry readthrough -- Novatek seeing strongest demand for DDICs (display driver chips) coming from the small/medium form factor and highlighted mass production of VR as a cause.</li>
<li>Apple could be quietly preparing for mass production of AR/VR headset ahead of announcement at June's WWDC. Combined with Novatek's comments, could AR/VR will be going mass market this year?</li>
</ul>


Novatek reported earnings ahead of expectations where margins rose thanks to recovery in pricing for its products in inventory. Inventory metrics improved as well.
Key industry readthrough -- Novatek seeing strongest demand for DDICs (display driver chips) coming from the small/medium form factor and highlighted mass production of VR as a cause.
Apple could be quietly preparing for mass production of AR/VR headset ahead of announcement at June's WWDC. Combined with Novatek's comments, could AR/VR will be going mass market this year?


Novatek: Volume Production of VR Driving Strongest Segment; AR/VR Finally Going Mass Market in 2023?

Japan

Panasonic Corporation manufactures electric and electronic products. The Company produces home appliances, car navigation systems, digital devices, computer peripherals, telecommunications, industrial equipment, and electronic parts. Panasonic has associated companies around the world.

Sony Corporation manufactures audio, home video game consoles, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.  The Company's other businesses include music, pictures, computer entertainment, and online businesses.

Sekisui House, Ltd. builds and sells steel-frame and wooden housings. The Company constructs single-family houses, condominiums, and apartment buildings.  Sekisui House also operates real estate brokerage and leasing businesses.  Additionally, the Company sells construction materials.

Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. sells lumber and wood-related construction materials.  The Company constructs and markets a variety of homes, including custom-built wooden houses, and also manufactures and distributes high-value added wood-based products.  Sumitomo Forestry also maintains a significant amount of Japan's forests.

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. builds and sells unit residential houses in addition to parcels of land. The Company also manufactures and sells polyvinyl chloride and other plastic products used in, for instance, drainage pipes and bathtubs. Moreover the company is engaged in the production and sale of high performance plastic films, tapes and sheets.

HASEKO Corporation builds residential, commercial, and institutional buildings such as condominiums and office buildings.  The Company also operates real estate brokerage, leasing, and management businesses.  Additionally, Haseko provides construction consulting services.  The Company, through its subsidiaries, operates hotel and financial businesses.

RINNAI CORPORATION manufactures and sells a variety of gas appliances.  The products include cooking equipment for household and commercial use, room and water heating equipment, and laundry dryers.  The Company has subsidiaries in South-eastern Asia, Australia, and the United States.

Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company established by the merger between Hajime Construction, Iida Home Max, Touei Housing, Tact Home, Arnest One and ID Home. Its subsidiaries engage in design, construction and sales of residential properties such as single-family houses and condominiums and construction related works.

NIKON CORPORATION manufactures and sells cameras, lenses, semiconductor-related equipment, eyeglasses, microscopes, and measuring instruments.

Fujitsu General Ltd. manufactures air-conditioning units, refrigerators, and information-communication equipment. The products include air conditioners, and purifiers. The Company also manufactures computer software and electronic devices.

Techtronic Industries Company Limited designs, manufactures, and markets power tools, outdoor power equipment, accessories, hand tools, layout and measuring tools, and floorcare and appliances. The Company's products are used by consumers, professional, and industrial users in the home improvement, repair, and construction industries.

Toll Brothers, Inc. builds luxury homes, serving both move-up and empty nester buyers in several regions of the United States.  The Company builds customized single and attached homes, primarily on land that it develops and improves. Toll Brothers also operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, security, landscape, insurance brokerage, and manufacturing operations.

Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd. manufactures and distributes appliances. The Company produces air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, small household electrical appliances, and other related products. Haier Smart Home markets its products domestically and internationally.

Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai manufactures and sells a series of air conditioners.  The different series of air conditioners include window type, split type, floor type, mobile type, mobile split type and ceiling type.  The Company also produces air purifier.

LG Electronics Inc. manufactures and markets digital display equipment and home appliances. The Company produces and markets flat panel televisions, A/V products, washing machines, air conditioners and refrigerators as well as telecommunications equipment such as smart phones and tablets.

TopBuild Corp. provides insulation installation services. The Company offers residential insulation products and related accessories. TopBuild serves customers in the United States.

D.R. Horton, Inc. constructs and sells single-family homes designed primarily for the entry-level and move-up markets.  The Company operates in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest, and Western regions of the United States. D.R. Horton also, through its financial services operations, provide mortgage financing and title agency services to homebuyers.

NVR, Inc. builds and markets homes and conducts mortgage banking activities. The Company builds single-family detached homes, townhomes, and condominium buildings under the Ryan Homes, NVHomes, and other tradenames.  NVR provides a number of mortgage related services to its homebuilding customers and to other customers through its mortgage banking operations.

PulteGroup Inc. sells and constructs homes, and purchases, develops, and sells residential land and develops active adult communities.  The Company also provides mortgage financing, title insurance, and other services to home buyers. Pulte has operations in various markets across the United States and Puerto Rico.

Lennar Corporation constructs and sells single-family attached and detached homes, and to a lesser extent multi-level buildings as well as buys and sells residential land. The Company also provides mortgage financing, title insurance, closing services and other financial services.

Sony Group Corporation manufactures and distributes electronics products and provides related solutions. The Company produces televisions, cameras, mobiles, audio and video products. game equipment, and more. Sony Group also engages in game production,  movie production, music production, and other businesses.

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Sony Corp (SONY US)

Sony (6758 JP) - Big-But-Meh Buyback, and Bigger Potential Sony Financial Spinoff

Sony announced a buyback. Meh. Sony announced a potential spinoff of their Sony Financial business. More interesting, but not necessarily something...

Travis Lundy

Rakuten US$2.4bn Placement - Larger than Rumored, Some Indications of Finality

Rakuten (4755 JP) aims to raise up to US$2.4bn (JPY323bn) via a global offering. In this note, we talk about the deal structure and the deal dynamics.

Sumeet Singh

Rakuten Possible US$2.2bn Placement - Will Be a Huge Deal to Digest, but It's Not All Bad

Rakuten (4755 JP) is considering raising around US$2.2bn, as per Reuters reports. The company hasn't confirmed or denied the same in its press...

Sumeet Singh

Broad-Based Improvement in India, Add Exposure/Overweight. Buys: Cyclicals in Japan, India, & Taiwan

Seeing broad-based improvement in India #SENSEX -- overweight/add exposure. We still recommend a tactical overweight to ACWI defensives with $ACWI...

Vermilion Research

Novatek: Volume Production of VR Driving Strongest Segment; AR/VR Finally Going Mass Market in 2023?

Apple could be quietly preparing for mass production of AR/VR headset ahead of announcement at June's WWDC. Combined with Novatek's comments, could...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

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