Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a> announced 2023 full-year results on 30 January. Results were mixed. Revenues did OK. Net Profit underperformed expectations. 2024 Net Profit Guidance is 1% higher than consensus.</li>
<li>Canon has a 15yr history of one kind of buyback. ¥50bn every time. 19 times in a row. Short (10 weeks max), sharp, executions (executed in 3-5 weeks). Every time. </li>
<li>This time offers a new buyback. ¥100bn. Over the space of a year. That's only 3% of ADV but the shareholder structure is different than you think it is.</li>
</ul>



Canon Inc (7751 JP) announced 2023 full-year results on 30 January. Results were mixed. Revenues did OK. Net Profit underperformed expectations. 2024 Net Profit Guidance is 1% higher than consensus.
Canon has a 15yr history of one kind of buyback. ¥50bn every time. 19 times in a row. Short (10 weeks max), sharp, executions (executed in 3-5 weeks). Every time. 
This time offers a new buyback. ¥100bn. Over the space of a year. That's only 3% of ADV but the shareholder structure is different than you think it is.


Canon (7751) - OK 2023 Results, Better Guidance, Bigger, Longer, Slower Buyback

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a> announced a second buyback this fiscal year on 15 June. As discussed here previously, Canon buybacks are short, sharp, and sweet. </li>
<li>The recent one should be done imminently (15 May start ended 13 July). 16 June start? (Note: Canon reports buyback results at 3pm local time, and did not report today).</li>
<li>This time we have a double-setup with buyback ending and a large TOPIX sell on Canon on 28 July. </li>
</ul>



Canon Inc (7751 JP) announced a second buyback this fiscal year on 15 June. As discussed here previously, Canon buybacks are short, sharp, and sweet. 
The recent one should be done imminently (15 May start ended 13 July). 16 June start? (Note: Canon reports buyback results at 3pm local time, and did not report today).
This time we have a double-setup with buyback ending and a large TOPIX sell on Canon on 28 July. 


Canon (7751) Buyback Almost Done, TPX Selldown to Come = Trade Vs Ricoh or Basket

Executive Director, Metrical Inc

Aki Matsumoto

Executive Director

Independent Leading Corporate Governance Research

Metrical Inc

METRICAL INC. is an independent leading Corporate Governance research firm in Japan where Corporate Governance is increasingly recognized as an important element on corporate management in these days. Thus, CG research and solutions would become an essential component of global capital markets and play important to contribute to transparency of the markets and maximize shareholders’ value in Japan. 

METRICAL INC. provides Corporate Governance research and analysis including rating services, and  also offers investment research and IR services with solutions and customized profound research on CG and IR issues.

<ul>
<li>It'll be practical to appoint a female director from outside company at coming AGM and replace them with women when the terms of 2 current male statutory auditors each expire.</li>
<li>With Canon's current ratio of female managers at 3.6%, it will take time for the current female non-statutory executive officers to leapfrog a number of seniors to board positions.</li>
<li>Since Mr. Mitarai will be 95 years old in 2030, a full-fledged change in board composition is required, including the appointment of non-Japanese directors, rather than just "matching numbers.”</li>
</ul>


It'll be practical to appoint a female director from outside company at coming AGM and replace them with women when the terms of 2 current male statutory auditors each expire.
With Canon's current ratio of female managers at 3.6%, it will take time for the current female non-statutory executive officers to leapfrog a number of seniors to board positions.
Since Mr. Mitarai will be 95 years old in 2030, a full-fledged change in board composition is required, including the appointment of non-Japanese directors, rather than just "matching numbers.”


A Full-Fledged Change in Board Composition, Not Just "Matching Numbers," Is Required

Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Zero One

Founded in 2015, Zero One produces independent investment research and provides corporate finance advisory services with a focus on both listed and private technology companies. Founder Vincent Fernando has over 20 years of experience in US and Asia capital markets.

Independent Investment Research

Equity Bottom-Up

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>TSMC and ASML reported 1Q24 results last week; both stocks have fallen post results, impacted by global concerns despite a strong outlook for these two leaders into 2025E.</li>
<li>TSMC guided for strong growth not just in 2024E, but if one digs into management's comments, they actually provided strong visibility into their 2028E internal revenue expectations.</li>
<li>For ASML, its EUV product business is the key indicator to watch. We believe TSMC shares will continue to re-rate even through a period of global economic softness.</li>
</ul>


TSMC and ASML reported 1Q24 results last week; both stocks have fallen post results, impacted by global concerns despite a strong outlook for these two leaders into 2025E.
TSMC guided for strong growth not just in 2024E, but if one digs into management's comments, they actually provided strong visibility into their 2028E internal revenue expectations.
For ASML, its EUV product business is the key indicator to watch. We believe TSMC shares will continue to re-rate even through a period of global economic softness.


TSMC Just Provided Substantial Visibility into Their Long-Term Growth Estimate; ASML Adds Color

<ul>
<li>Yesterday, post-close, Bloomberg reported a headline "<strong>*SILCHESTER REPORTS NIKON STAKE; MAY SEEK CAPITAL POLICY CHANGES</strong>"</li>
<li>That was exciting. It was in all caps. It was activist-ish-y. Today the stock rose 10.3% and we got another article saying it was up because of Silchester's filing.</li>
<li>Beware the Bloomberg headline. Nuance is sometimes lost. They aren't always designed to help investors invest. Often, the main purpose is clickbait.</li>
</ul>


Yesterday, post-close, Bloomberg reported a headline "*SILCHESTER REPORTS NIKON STAKE; MAY SEEK CAPITAL POLICY CHANGES"
That was exciting. It was in all caps. It was activist-ish-y. Today the stock rose 10.3% and we got another article saying it was up because of Silchester's filing.
Beware the Bloomberg headline. Nuance is sometimes lost. They aren't always designed to help investors invest. Often, the main purpose is clickbait.


Nikon (7731) - Beware The Bloomberg Headline But There's Value Here

Japan

Canon Inc. is a professional and consumer imaging solutions company and patent-holder of digital imaging technologies. The Company's products include networked multifunction devices, digital and analog copiers, computer peripherals, facsimile machines, image filing systems, camcorders, cameras and lenses, semiconductor, and broadcast and medical equipment.

Canon Inc (7751 JP)

Canon (7751) - OK 2023 Results, Better Guidance, Bigger, Longer, Slower Buyback

Canon results were OK but underperformed expectations at the net level. Guidance for 2024 are slightly above consensus. Interesting news is that...

Travis Lundy

Canon (7751) Buyback Almost Done, TPX Selldown to Come = Trade Vs Ricoh or Basket

Canon's recent buyback should almost be done. Historically, Canon underperforms Peers post buyback end. This time, we also have a TOPIX downweight...

Travis Lundy

A Full-Fledged Change in Board Composition, Not Just "Matching Numbers," Is Required

I would like to discuss the issues on the August 18 Nikkei Shimbun article, "Canon to Appoint Female Board Members "in Line with Government Policy"...

Metrical Inc

TSMC Just Provided Substantial Visibility into Their Long-Term Growth Estimate; ASML Adds Color

If you dig into the details, TSMC provided substantial insight into the company's internal estimates for long-term revenue. For ASML, we discuss...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Nikon (7731) - Beware The Bloomberg Headline But There's Value Here

Nikon is a cheap company with dual personalities, which keeps its multiple low. It has cash and securities too. Silchester bought 5% and Bloomberg...

Travis Lundy