Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>“In the next 50 years... we won’t give a thought to selling those [Japanese trading companies].... Japan’s record has been extraordinary.” (Warren Buffett)</li>
<li>In this insight, we provide detailed comparisons of the five major Japanese trading companies and five major Korean holdcos/trading companies. </li>
<li>Japanese trading companies have higher points for market cap, ROE, DPS increase, and shares cancellation. Korean holdcos have higher points for dividend yield, debt/equity ratio, ROIC, and valuations. </li>
</ul>


“In the next 50 years... we won’t give a thought to selling those [Japanese trading companies].... Japan’s record has been extraordinary.” (Warren Buffett)
In this insight, we provide detailed comparisons of the five major Japanese trading companies and five major Korean holdcos/trading companies. 
Japanese trading companies have higher points for market cap, ROE, DPS increase, and shares cancellation. Korean holdcos have higher points for dividend yield, debt/equity ratio, ROIC, and valuations. 


Shareholder Returns of Japanese Trading Companies Invested By Buffett Vs Top Korean Trading/Holdcos

Market & Forensics Analyst, Beat the Street

Nimish Maheshwari

Market & Forensics Analyst

Beat the Street

Beat The Street was founded by Nimish Maheshwari and Sudarshan Bhandari, both of whom are Chartered Accountants by Profession, known for their expert analysis in the fields of Business, Sectoral analysis, and Corporate governance.

With a strong social media presence of 45,000+ Subscribers across various platforms, they are considered trusted voices in the industry. Their insights and analysis have been featured in some of India’s most prominent publications, including the Economic Times, Dalal Street Investment Journal, The Morning Context, and The Ken.

Their analysis on Bankrupt & Insolvent companies has been instrumental in saving investors from significant losses. They have a keen eye for identifying red flags and has identified exclusive redflags earlier in Vedanta, Nykaa, Dhani Services, Adani and many more.

Read Business Not Stock Prices

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mahindra-mahindra-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16441:1" rel="noopener">Mahindra &amp; Mahindra (MM IN)</a> is acquiring a 58.96% stake in SML Isuzu through SPAs with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sumitomo-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5380:1" rel="noopener">Sumitomo Corp (8053 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/isuzu-motors-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14726:1" rel="noopener">Isuzu Motors (7202 JP)</a>, along with open offer.</li>
<li>The acquisition aims to significantly strengthen M&amp;M's position in the &gt;3.5T commercial vehicle segment, doubling its market share initially and targeting further growth.  </li>
<li>This strategic move signals M&amp;M's clear intent to become a full-range player in commercial vehicles, leveraging synergies in product, network, and manufacturing. </li>
</ul>



Mahindra &amp; Mahindra (MM IN) is acquiring a 58.96% stake in SML Isuzu through SPAs with Sumitomo Corp (8053 JP) and Isuzu Motors (7202 JP), along with open offer.
The acquisition aims to significantly strengthen M&amp;M's position in the &gt;3.5T commercial vehicle segment, doubling its market share initially and targeting further growth.  
This strategic move signals M&amp;M's clear intent to become a full-range player in commercial vehicles, leveraging synergies in product, network, and manufacturing. 


Event Driven: Mahindra & Mahindra Acquired SML Isuzu, Strengthening Presence in CV

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>The Berkshire Hathaway <a href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/2024ar/2024ar.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annual Shareholder Letter for 2024</a> was released this weekend. Much was made in Japanese twitter-space of the comments he made on the Japanese trading houses. </li>
<li>He said Berkshire Hathaway's admiration of these companies "has consistently grown" and Berkshire likes their capital deployment, managements, and their attitude in respect to investors. They also pay themselves reasonably.</li>
<li>He mentioned Berkshire will increase their stakes somewhat in the trading houses "over time." That comment deserves some exploration, as does the comment about yen funding.</li>
</ul>


The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Letter for 2024 was released this weekend. Much was made in Japanese twitter-space of the comments he made on the Japanese trading houses. 
He said Berkshire Hathaway's admiration of these companies "has consistently grown" and Berkshire likes their capital deployment, managements, and their attitude in respect to investors. They also pay themselves reasonably.
He mentioned Berkshire will increase their stakes somewhat in the trading houses "over time." That comment deserves some exploration, as does the comment about yen funding.


Warren Buffett and the Japanese Trading Houses I

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>World may finally have found the key to real growth after years of trying to build a fashion retail business in shopping centres, but with limited success.</li>
<li>The big problem was that it didn’t have the supply chain skills to compete with the big retailers like Uniqlo and Adastria.</li>
<li>Buying the supplier that helped grow those same chains means World now has a real chance to enter the big leagues.</li>
</ul>


World may finally have found the key to real growth after years of trying to build a fashion retail business in shopping centres, but with limited success.
The big problem was that it didn’t have the supply chain skills to compete with the big retailers like Uniqlo and Adastria.
Buying the supplier that helped grow those same chains means World now has a real chance to enter the big leagues.


<ul>
<li>The sale process of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-i-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1041:1" rel="noopener">Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP)</a> "unit" York Holdings, with 31 sub-units, has started. 7+ bidders bid in Round 1. Due dili follows then Round 2.</li>
<li>I expect SST+support ops get sold, and the specialty stores get carved out. I expect the deal to get decided by end-Feb 2025. Noises about real estate enhancement are encouraging.</li>
<li>This is still all to the good, so I include a Gratuitous Chart Showing 7&amp;i's Up-And-To-The-Rightness</li>
</ul>


The sale process of Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) "unit" York Holdings, with 31 sub-units, has started. 7+ bidders bid in Round 1. Due dili follows then Round 2.
I expect SST+support ops get sold, and the specialty stores get carved out. I expect the deal to get decided by end-Feb 2025. Noises about real estate enhancement are encouraging.
This is still all to the good, so I include a Gratuitous Chart Showing 7&amp;i's Up-And-To-The-Rightness


7 & I (3382) - York Holdings Sale Process, Timeline, Nuances

Japan

Sumitomo Corp is a general trading company.  The Company imports and exports a wide variety of goods such as metals, machinery, chemicals, fuel,food products, and textiles.  Sumitomo also operates real estate, construction, shipping, insurance, finance, and leasing businesses.

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Sumitomo Corp (8053 JP)

Shareholder Returns of Japanese Trading Companies Invested By Buffett Vs Top Korean Trading/Holdcos

In this insight, we provide detailed comparisons of the five major Japanese trading companies and five major Korean holdcos/trading companies.

Douglas Kim

Event Driven: Mahindra & Mahindra Acquired SML Isuzu, Strengthening Presence in CV

Mahindra & Mahindra acquires majority stake in SML Isuzu to strengthen position in commercial vehicle segment, aiming for further growth and...

Nimish Maheshwari

Warren Buffett and the Japanese Trading Houses I

Today, National Indemnity - BRK's holdco for owning Japanese trading co shares - announced it had upped its stake in each of the five trading...

Travis Lundy

World Buys Mitsubishi Clothing Business

World has found the key to growth by acquiring a supplier business owned by Mitsubishi Corp to compete with big retailers like Uniqlo and Adastria.

Michael Causton

7 & I (3382) - York Holdings Sale Process, Timeline, Nuances

An update with all the news fit to print on the York Holdings selldown, a proposed schedule and process/carveout. An idea of when we get price...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Shareholder Returns of Japanese Trading Companies Invested By Buffett Vs Top Korean Trading/Holdcos

In this insight, we provide detailed comparisons of the five major Japanese trading companies and five major Korean holdcos/trading companies.

Douglas Kim

Event Driven: Mahindra & Mahindra Acquired SML Isuzu, Strengthening Presence in CV

​Mahindra & Mahindra acquires majority stake in SML Isuzu to strengthen position in commercial vehicle segment, aiming for further growth and...

Nimish Maheshwari

Warren Buffett and the Japanese Trading Houses I

Today, National Indemnity - BRK's holdco for owning Japanese trading co shares - announced it had upped its stake in each of the five trading...

Travis Lundy

World Buys Mitsubishi Clothing Business

​World has found the key to growth by acquiring a supplier business owned by Mitsubishi Corp to compete with big retailers like Uniqlo and Adastria.

Michael Causton

7 & I (3382) - York Holdings Sale Process, Timeline, Nuances

An update with all the news fit to print on the York Holdings selldown, a proposed schedule and process/carveout. An idea of when we get price...

Travis Lundy

Mahindra & Mahindra acquires majority stake in SML Isuzu to strengthen position in commercial vehicle segment, aiming for further growth and...

World has found the key to growth by acquiring a supplier business owned by Mitsubishi Corp to compete with big retailers like Uniqlo and Adastria.