Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas, Azabu Research

Michael Allen

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas

Azabu Research

Azabu Research is a publishing and consulting firm focused on distressed equities in the Japanese market. We specialize in turnaround strategies, corporate combinations, divestitures, and restructuring.

Publisher of the Tokyo Turnaround Letter, which conducts the most thorough research possible of publicly available information, including forensic tests for fraudulent overstatement of assets and understatement of liabilities, as well as rigorous market and industry analysis to assess the underlying strengths of the company’s products or services, the appropriateness of the company’s turnaround strategy, and the skill of its current management team. The average length of a report exceeds 25 pages of text and tables, excluding any disclosures or executive summaries.

We have more than 30 years of experience in applying this process to distressed equities in Japan. Additionally, subscribers have free access to detailed, yet easily navigated earnings models for the target company as well as the top five comparable companies, and unlimited access to the analyst for follow-up questions.

Azabu Research also conducts be-spoke research on a project basis, and provides consulting services to companies looking to restructure, divest, make acquisitions, go public, or improve investor sentiment toward their stock.

Independent Research and Consulting Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Sumitomo Chemical issued new guidance in-line for 3/24 and xx% ahead of consensus for 3/25 EBIT, yet, the shares promptly declined by 10%.</li>
<li>Traders were probably spooked by the company’s booking of ¥340bn in impairments that was ¥200bn more than published consensus, but we argue that this was more than already priced in.</li>
<li>The only reasonable explanation for the reaction is that the market doesn't believe the new guidance for 3/25. This could prove to be a huge mistake.</li>
</ul>


Sumitomo Chemical issued new guidance in-line for 3/24 and xx% ahead of consensus for 3/25 EBIT, yet, the shares promptly declined by 10%.
Traders were probably spooked by the company’s booking of ¥340bn in impairments that was ¥200bn more than published consensus, but we argue that this was more than already priced in.
The only reasonable explanation for the reaction is that the market doesn't believe the new guidance for 3/25. This could prove to be a huge mistake.


Sumitomo Chemical (4005): To Believe Or Not To Believe, That Is the Question

<ul>
<li>Sumitomo issued new guidance for the year to 3/25 that was 40% higher than consensus estimates, but the stock cratered almost 5%.</li>
<li>We were able to think of at least 6 explanations for this odd reaction - all of them irrational.  </li>
<li>A reasonable person listening to the call should have been pleased by almost all that was new information. </li>
</ul>


Sumitomo issued new guidance for the year to 3/25 that was 40% higher than consensus estimates, but the stock cratered almost 5%.
We were able to think of at least 6 explanations for this odd reaction - all of them irrational.  
A reasonable person listening to the call should have been pleased by almost all that was new information. 


<ul>
<li>Sumitomo Chemicals aims to transform from a cyclical company with low market share in declining markets into a focused entity with high market share in secular growth markets.</li>
<li>We estimate that the stock’s fair value is about 140% above the current price.</li>
<li>Results meeting on April 30 should confirm that company is on track in returning to positive cash flow and selling off core assets. </li>
</ul>


Sumitomo Chemicals aims to transform from a cyclical company with low market share in declining markets into a focused entity with high market share in secular growth markets.
We estimate that the stock’s fair value is about 140% above the current price.
Results meeting on April 30 should confirm that company is on track in returning to positive cash flow and selling off core assets. 


Sumitomo Chemical (4005): Potential Posterchild of Japan's Resurgence

Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>After two rejections, Mesoblast has finally received FDA approval for its first drug. Celltrion has received FDA approval for its Stelara biosimilar, which will be launched in February 2025.</li>
<li>Peptidream has become eligible for a milestone payment. Sumitomo Pharma is strengthening R&amp;D for regenerative medicine and cell therapy business. Astellas Pharma in-licenses technology for developing neurology drugs.</li>
<li>Hansoh Pharmaceutical granted an exclusive global license to Merck for its pre-clinical drug candidate. Lupin received FDA approval to market generic version of blockbuster Descovy tablets.</li>
</ul>


After two rejections, Mesoblast has finally received FDA approval for its first drug. Celltrion has received FDA approval for its Stelara biosimilar, which will be launched in February 2025.
Peptidream has become eligible for a milestone payment. Sumitomo Pharma is strengthening R&amp;D for regenerative medicine and cell therapy business. Astellas Pharma in-licenses technology for developing neurology drugs.
Hansoh Pharmaceutical granted an exclusive global license to Merck for its pre-clinical drug candidate. Lupin received FDA approval to market generic version of blockbuster Descovy tablets.


APAC Healthcare Weekly (Dec 22)- Mesoblast, Celltrion, Peptidream, Astellas, Hansoh, Lupin

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Today, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jcr-pharmaceuticals-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20126:1" rel="noopener">Jcr Pharmaceuticals (4552 JP)</a> announced H1 results, with revenue -¥7.6bn ytd vs last year, of which a decrease in contract revenue was -¥7.1bn. Full year guidance remains unchanged.</li>
<li>The expectation was that Contract Revenue (which was basically zero in H1) was going to be backloaded anyway. Historically, seasonality is bumpy on this name. </li>
<li>The company also announced a buyback. We can tell who the seller is likely to be. The buyback event may be gamed. </li>
</ul>


Today, Jcr Pharmaceuticals (4552 JP) announced H1 results, with revenue -¥7.6bn ytd vs last year, of which a decrease in contract revenue was -¥7.1bn. Full year guidance remains unchanged.
The expectation was that Contract Revenue (which was basically zero in H1) was going to be backloaded anyway. Historically, seasonality is bumpy on this name. 
The company also announced a buyback. We can tell who the seller is likely to be. The buyback event may be gamed. 


JCR Pharma (4552) - Uglyish In-Line Results But a Buyback Opportunity for Someone

Japan

SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED manufactures chemical products.  The Company specializes in basic chemicals, petrochemicals, fine chemicals such as photo-resists, pharmaceutical intermediates, and agrochemicals.  Sumitomo Chemical operates manufacturing plants and sales offices worldwide.

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Sumitomo Chemical (4005 JP)

Sumitomo Chemical (4005): To Believe Or Not To Believe, That Is the Question

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Sumitomo Chemical (4005): Up Is Down

Sumitomo's share price dropped 5% on new guidance that was 40% higher than consensus. That's exactly as crazy as it sounds.

Michael Allen

Sumitomo Chemical (4005): Potential Posterchild of Japan's Resurgence

If you are buying Japanese stocks because of a belief in the turnaround in corporate governance, Sumitomo Chemical has the potential to become the...

Michael Allen

APAC Healthcare Weekly (Dec 22)- Mesoblast, Celltrion, Peptidream, Astellas, Hansoh, Lupin

Mesoblast got FDA approval for its first drug, while Betta Pharma, Celltrion, and Lupin also received some major FDA approvals. Pharma companies...

Tina Banerjee

JCR Pharma (4552) - Uglyish In-Line Results But a Buyback Opportunity for Someone

Contract pharmaceutical smallcap sponsored by Medipal and crossholders JCR Pharma produces ugly H1 results, but they appear "in-line." Guidance is...

Travis Lundy

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