Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Over 20 years experience in equities and asset management in Asia and Japan. Qualified CFA with experience analyzing companies as a buy-side analyst. In-depth knowledge of company fundamental analysis, corporate governance and valuations.

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shin-etsu-polymer-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11035:1" rel="noopener">Shin Etsu Polymer (7970 JP)</a>  is a diversified plastics company specialising in PVC and silicone rubber products. The poor quality of corporate governance, an inadequate capital allocation policy, and an overly diverse business portfolio obscures the company’s underlying value. 
The Precision Moulding division (70% of profits) benefits from exposure to semiconductor industry growth. It is a high margin business that piggy-backs on structural growth in end markets such as 5G, IoT, and AI. 
At 1x EV/Revenue, the Precision Moulding division alone could be worth ¥30b, which is more than the company’s entire enterprise value of ¥28b. Perhaps it is worth considerably more – other semiconductor equipment and materials peers trade at around 9-12x EV/EBIT – implying a divisional valuation of ¥45b to ¥60b. 
Shin-Etsu Polymer has a huge capital deployment opportunity, with a net cash balance sheet (60% of market cap), strong free cash generation (12% FCF yield) and so-far limited shareholder returns. 
Weak corporate governance, protected by a 52%-owned <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shin-etsu-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4481:1" rel="noopener">Shin Etsu Chemical (4063 JP)</a>, is a key barrier to realising a higher valuation and greater shareholder returns for minorities. 
With shareholders and regulators promoting corporate reorganisation, companies must reconsider these parent-child relationships. Now would be a good time for Shin-Etsu Chem to buy out the listed subsidiary and take full control. ROE has failed to reach 8% for many years, the stock trades below book value, and around a 5-year share price low versus the parent.  They may need some encouragement from an activist shareholder.

Shin Etsu Polymer (7970 JP)  is a diversified plastics company specialising in PVC and silicone rubber products. The poor quality of corporate governance, an inadequate capital allocation policy, and an overly diverse business portfolio obscures the company’s underlying value. 
The Precision Moulding division (70% of profits) benefits from exposure to semiconductor industry growth. It is a high margin business that piggy-backs on structural growth in end markets such as 5G, IoT, and AI. 
At 1x EV/Revenue, the Precision Moulding division alone could be worth ¥30b, which is more than the company’s entire enterprise value of ¥28b. Perhaps it is worth considerably more – other semiconductor equipment and materials peers trade at around 9-12x EV/EBIT – implying a divisional valuation of ¥45b to ¥60b. 
Shin-Etsu Polymer has a huge capital deployment opportunity, with a net cash balance sheet (60% of market cap), strong free cash generation (12% FCF yield) and so-far limited shareholder returns. 
Weak corporate governance, protected by a 52%-owned Shin Etsu Chemical (4063 JP), is a key barrier to realising a higher valuation and greater shareholder returns for minorities. 
With shareholders and regulators promoting corporate reorganisation, companies must reconsider these parent-child relationships. Now would be a good time for Shin-Etsu Chem to buy out the listed subsidiary and take full control. ROE has failed to reach 8% for many years, the stock trades below book value, and around a 5-year share price low versus the parent.  They may need some encouragement from an activist shareholder. 

Shin-Etsu Polymer (7970 JP) - Fake Plastic Governance