Daily Brief Equity Bottom-Up: Japan Value | Effissimo Takes Significant Stake in Konica and more

• Konica Minolta, a key player in the Japanese office equipment market, presents an attractive investment opportunity, particularly in light of the recent actions by activist investor Effissimo.
• The investment case for Konica Minolta hinges on several factors, including potential structural reforms, M&A activity, and undervaluation.
• Given Effissimo’s track record with Ricoh and the broader industry dynamics, the thesis for a bullish outlook on Konica Minolta is compelling.

• On the 27th September, China Merchants China Direct Investments (133 HK) (CMCDI) teased a share buyback and a special dividend. But as of today. no firm details have been forthcoming. 
• CMCDI has also now offered to reduce management fees by 25 basis points in the new management agreement, which will be voted on  by independent shareholders in November/December.
• This concession does not go far enough. Especially when 45% of the management fees are received by founder Victor Chu. 

• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reported a robust performance in the third quarter of 2024, underscored by significant revenue growth driven by both smartphone and AI-related demand.
• The company’s industry-leading 3-nanometer and 5-nanometer technologies have been at the forefront of this demand surge.
• Revenue for the third quarter increased sequentially by 12.8% in New Taiwan dollars, reflecting not only strong demand but also higher capacity utilization and cost improvement efforts.

• Neil Chenoweth wrote a detailed investigative piece on Min Res founder Chris Allison and former top executives, alleging a tax evasion scheme using shareholder funds.
• The scheme involved buying machinery with inflated prices from a company named Far East Equipment Holdings in the British Virgin Islands.
• Min Res stock dropped 13% in response to the article, with implications on leadership and governance of the company.

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• A lot has happened since we published our Disney thesis back in February.
• On the corporate front, Disney emerged victorious from its proxy battle with Nelson Peltz and managed to patch things up with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
• In media, Disney posted its first streaming profit—ahead of schedule—and secured the NBA’s coveted “A Package,” though it came with a hefty price tag.

• Hong Kong markets continue to outperform globally this year with short selling declining and mainland buying increasing.  These trends should accelerate going into next year.
• Sun Art Retail (6808 HK)resumed trading after announcing that the company is entertaining one or more potential acquisition plans for the company.  The company also announced strong 1H25 earnings.
• Shanghai Electric Group Company (2727 HK) announce a buyback plan for 10% of A and H shares outstanding.  The company also announced the acquisition of the China Fanuc robotics business.

• Nextracker’s first-quarter earnings for the fiscal year 2025 have offered a mixed yet promising insight into the company’s financial and operational trajectory.
• The company reported a significant 50% year-on-year growth in revenue and recorded its highest-ever adjusted EBITDA.
• These figures underscore Nextracker’s strong performance, particularly in a financial landscape characterized by a keen focus on renewable energy solutions.

• China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK) is sitting on a steep discount of 59% to its NAV. Its holding in Anhui Conch Cement (600585 CH) is already valued at HK$13.3/share.
• Its waste-to-energy business has a value of Rmb4.4bn by assuming 5x PER, but this business has a net book value of Rmb10bn. Pipeline capacity equals 21.7% of operational capacity.
• The new energy segment, including lithium battery recycling and the manufacture of positive and negative electrode materials, has solid prospects but is overlooked by the market.

• Foxconn is expanding its SDV development efforts to further the advancement of smart car technology.
• Intel is seeking collaboration with Samsung to better compete with TSMC in the competitive foundry market.
• Nvidia is collaborating with Indian partners to develop a custom chip for the Indian market, while Xiaomi launches China’s first 3nm SoC.

• Netflix’s third-quarter performance for 2024 highlights several key developments that provide a nuanced view of its position in the competitive streaming market.
• On the financial front, Netflix delivered strong results, surpassing expectations on both earnings per share ($5.40 vs. $5.12 expected) and revenue ($9.83 billion vs. $9.77 billion expected), reflecting a 15% year-on-year growth.
• The company added 5.1 million new subscribers, slightly above Wall Street expectations, bringing its total membership to 282.7 million.