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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Buying the worst-performing stocks of the previous 12 months has outperformed Japan’s Topix index by an average of 7% annually for 9 straight years</li>
<li>For most of 2024, the strategy didn’t work, but an uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and merger talks is suddenly making it unsafe to short low-PBR companies indiscriminately.</li>
<li>Suddenly, dozens of previously complacent companies have the fear of God and are taking action to up their profitability and the market is taking notice. </li>
</ul>


Buying the worst-performing stocks of the previous 12 months has outperformed Japan’s Topix index by an average of 7% annually for 9 straight years
For most of 2024, the strategy didn’t work, but an uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and merger talks is suddenly making it unsafe to short low-PBR companies indiscriminately.
Suddenly, dozens of previously complacent companies have the fear of God and are taking action to up their profitability and the market is taking notice. 


2024 Was Ugly for Turnarounds, 2025 Should Be Awesome!

Tracking developments across tech supply chains, Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tracking developments across tech supply chains

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>AI server BBU status being monitored to ensure no issues on the artificial intelligence server, ensuring smooth operations.</li><li>TSMC's global update highlights Japan, US, and Europe's progress, showcasing Taiwan's chip giant's influence worldwide.</li><li>Xiaomi investing in GPU cluster for faster processing, China's Hua Hong appoints Intel veteran as President, South Korea investing $24.79 million in chip R&amp;D projects.</li></ul>

AI server BBU status being monitored to ensure no issues on the artificial intelligence server, ensuring smooth operations.TSMC's global update highlights Japan, US, and Europe's progress, showcasing Taiwan's chip giant's influence worldwide.Xiaomi investing in GPU cluster for faster processing, China's Hua Hong appoints Intel veteran as President, South Korea investing $24.79 million in chip R&amp;D projects.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (03-Jan-2025): Check AI server BBU status.

Luxshare Precision Industry / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Potential Huawei sanctions under a reelected Trump administration could spell trouble for Chinese tech companies.</li><li>Luxshare's acquisition of nine Wingtech ODM subsidiaries indicates a consolidation trend in the tech manufacturing industry.</li><li>The 2025 semiconductor boom is expected to be fueled by AI technology, but could face volatility due to Trump-era policies.</li></ul>

Potential Huawei sanctions under a reelected Trump administration could spell trouble for Chinese tech companies.Luxshare's acquisition of nine Wingtech ODM subsidiaries indicates a consolidation trend in the tech manufacturing industry.The 2025 semiconductor boom is expected to be fueled by AI technology, but could face volatility due to Trump-era policies.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (01-Jan-2025): Trump could bring back Huawei sanctions 2.0

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/honda-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:154:1" rel="noopener">Honda (7267 JP) </a> announced a HUGE ¥1.1trln buyback. At ~¥1500/share, this would increase EPS by 17+%.  Buy the shares in the low ¥1,400s. Expect this to be a range trade.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-henlius-biotech-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27888:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK)</a>'s Circular is now out. Hoome straight and done deal. </li>
<li>Murakami-San has started selling <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/exedy-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6516:1" rel="noopener">Exedy Corp (7278 JP)</a>, earlier than expected. Best to get out first, ask questions later.</li>
</ul>



Honda (7267 JP)  announced a HUGE ¥1.1trln buyback. At ~¥1500/share, this would increase EPS by 17+%.  Buy the shares in the low ¥1,400s. Expect this to be a range trade.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK)'s Circular is now out. Hoome straight and done deal. 
Murakami-San has started selling Exedy Corp (7278 JP), earlier than expected. Best to get out first, ask questions later.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Honda, Shanghai Henlius, Exedy, Arcadium Lithium

Travis Lundy

<ul>
<li>Today, along with the announcement of Memorandum of Understanding between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/honda-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:154:1" rel="noopener">Honda Motor (7267 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nissan-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:72:1" rel="noopener">Nissan Motor (7201 JP)</a> to work towards negotiating a Joint Holding Company by June 2025... </li>
<li>Honda cancelled their existing ¥100bn buyback, and initiated a truly mammoth NEW Buyback - up to 1.1 billion shares (23.7% of TSO), spending up to ¥1.1trln on market through Dec-2025.</li>
<li>Assuming the stock pops, it is probably "only" worth 15-18%, but that's still a LOT. At that rate it boosts BVPS by 8+% on its own, and EPS by 17%.</li>
</ul>


Today, along with the announcement of Memorandum of Understanding between Honda Motor (7267 JP), and Nissan Motor (7201 JP) to work towards negotiating a Joint Holding Company by June 2025... 
Honda cancelled their existing ¥100bn buyback, and initiated a truly mammoth NEW Buyback - up to 1.1 billion shares (23.7% of TSO), spending up to ¥1.1trln on market through Dec-2025.
Assuming the stock pops, it is probably "only" worth 15-18%, but that's still a LOT. At that rate it boosts BVPS by 8+% on its own, and EPS by 17%.


Honda (7267 JP) - MAMMOTH New ¥1.1Trln Stock Buyback

Japan

NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD. manufactures and distributes automobiles and related parts. It also provides financing services. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of products under various brands. The Company manufactures in Japan, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom and many other countries.

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Nissan Motor (7201 JP)

2024 Was Ugly for Turnarounds, 2025 Should Be Awesome!

2025 could be a banner year for turnarounds and value stocks as a spate of recent TOBs, MBOs and merger discussions have suddenly made it unsafe to...

Michael Allen

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (03-Jan-2025): Check AI server BBU status.

Global AI and chip industry updates: TSMC flourishing, Xiaomi investing in LLM, Hua Hong's new President, South Korea's R&D projects, Micron's...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (01-Jan-2025): Trump could bring back Huawei sanctions 2.0

Potential Huawei sanctions if Trump remains in office, Luxshare acquisition of Wingtech ODM subsidiaries, 2025 semiconductor growth driven by AI,...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Last Week in Event SPACE: Honda, Shanghai Henlius, Exedy, Arcadium Lithium

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

Honda (7267 JP) - MAMMOTH New ¥1.1Trln Stock Buyback

On the same day that Honda, Nissan, and Mit Motors announce plans to look at joining under a holdco, in Q3 2026, Honda announces a massive new...

Travis Lundy

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