Research from Asian Century Stocks, Asian Century Stocks

Michael Fritzell

Research from Asian Century Stocks

Providing financial journalism in the Asia-Pacific

Asian Century Stocks

Asian Century Stocks is a newsletter providing financial journalism for companies and stocks in the Asia-Pacific. 
The Asian Century Stocks logotype “百” stands for “one hundred” or a “century”. The economic centre of gravity is moving towards Asia. Yet most global investors are missing out.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>This write-up is about Hikari Tsushin — a Japanese sales organization run by a visionary founder called Yasumitsu Shigeta</li><li>It’s been much talked about on Twitter and Substack, but few of the write-ups discuss Hikari Tsushin’s portfolio of publicly listed equities</li><li>I am personally not particularly interested in Hikari Tsushin itself, as it is primarily a sales organization helping other businesses find customers</li></ul>

This write-up is about Hikari Tsushin — a Japanese sales organization run by a visionary founder called Yasumitsu ShigetaIt’s been much talked about on Twitter and Substack, but few of the write-ups discuss Hikari Tsushin’s portfolio of publicly listed equitiesI am personally not particularly interested in Hikari Tsushin itself, as it is primarily a sales organization helping other businesses find customers

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

<ul>
<li>Activist investors 3D Investment Partners and Dalton Investments have both taken meaningful stakes in Square Enix - highlights capital inefficiency and poor margin profile</li>
<li>Daito Trust sits on over ¥100bn in net cash, an arguably excessive cushion for a mature operator with steady cash flows. Silchester have taken note</li>
<li>Iriso Electronic and INES both trade below book value. Attractive value plays for small cap funds.</li>
</ul>


Activist investors 3D Investment Partners and Dalton Investments have both taken meaningful stakes in Square Enix - highlights capital inefficiency and poor margin profile
Daito Trust sits on over ¥100bn in net cash, an arguably excessive cushion for a mature operator with steady cash flows. Silchester have taken note
Iriso Electronic and INES both trade below book value. Attractive value plays for small cap funds.


Japan Activist Watch | Square Enix, DaitoTrust, Iriso & INES

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>For the month of March 2025, 13 new transactions (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$14bn.</li>
<li>The average premium for the new transactions announced (or first discussed) in March was ~53%, with a year-to-date average also of 55%.</li>
<li>The average premiums for transactions in 2024 (129 transactions), (2023 (117), 2022 (106), 2021 (165), 2020 (158), and 2019 (145 ) were 43%, 39%, 41%, 33%, 31%, and 31% .</li>
</ul>


For the month of March 2025, 13 new transactions (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$14bn.
The average premium for the new transactions announced (or first discussed) in March was ~53%, with a year-to-date average also of 55%.
The average premiums for transactions in 2024 (129 transactions), (2023 (117), 2022 (106), 2021 (165), 2020 (158), and 2019 (145 ) were 43%, 39%, 41%, 33%, 31%, and 31% .


(Mostly) Asia M&A, Mar 2025 Wrap: ENN Energy, Gold Road, Spartan, Aeon Delight, Sinarmas, Topcon

<ul>
<li>Buy <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hankyu-hanshin-reit-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12654:1" rel="noopener">Hankyu Hanshin REIT, Inc. (8977 JP)</a> on any weakness. There will be strength ahead.</li>
<li>With <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener">ENN Energy (2688 HK)</a> suspended pursuant to the Takeovers Code, a third party Offer, as opposed to ENN Group, seems more likely. </li>
<li>Be long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/idemitsu-kosan-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:109:1" rel="noopener">Idemitsu (5019 JP)</a> vs <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/eneos-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:638:1" rel="noopener">ENEOS</a> for the next several weeks. Light and easy drift trade based on pressure increasing and pressure ending before new news in May.</li>
</ul>


Buy Hankyu Hanshin REIT, Inc. (8977 JP) on any weakness. There will be strength ahead.
With ENN Energy (2688 HK) suspended pursuant to the Takeovers Code, a third party Offer, as opposed to ENN Group, seems more likely. 
Be long Idemitsu (5019 JP) vs ENEOS for the next several weeks. Light and easy drift trade based on pressure increasing and pressure ending before new news in May.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Hankyu Hanshin REIT, ENN Energy, Idemitsu, HKBN, Jardine Matheson

Shinko Electric Industries / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>I tally 52 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma.</li>
<li>Three news new deals discussed this week: the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/westgold-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24269:1" rel="noopener">Westgold Resources (WGX AU)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/spartan-resources-ltd-australi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1818:1" rel="noopener">Spartan Resources (SPR AU)</a> merger, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/econavista-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:39958:1" rel="noopener">EcoNaviSta (5585 JP)</a>'s Tender Offer.</li>
<li>Key updates/news took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/excalibur-mining-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3088:1" rel="noopener">Dropsuite Ltd (DSE AU)</a>,<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shandong-fengxiang-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29164:1" rel="noopener">Shandong Fengxiang (9977 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/proto-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2511:1" rel="noopener">Proto Corp (4298 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinko-electric-industries" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15066:1" rel="noopener">Shinko Electric Industries (6967 JP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 52 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma.
Three news new deals discussed this week: the Westgold Resources (WGX AU)/Spartan Resources (SPR AU) merger, and EcoNaviSta (5585 JP)'s Tender Offer.
Key updates/news took place on: Dropsuite Ltd (DSE AU),Shandong Fengxiang (9977 HK), Proto Corp (4298 JP), and Shinko Electric Industries (6967 JP).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Westgold/Spartan, Dropsuite, Shandong Fengxiang, Proto Corp, Shinko Electric

Japan

DAITO TRUST CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD. operates building construction and real estate businesses.  The Company plans and constructs apartment and commercial buildings mainly for land owners.  Daito Trust Construction provides brokerage and maintenance services as well.

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Daito Trust Construct (1878 JP)

Hikari Tsushin's Portfolio

This write-up is about Hikari Tsushin — a Japanese sales organization run by a visionary founder called Yasumitsu Shigeta. It’s been much talked...

Asian Century Stocks

Japan Activist Watch | Square Enix, DaitoTrust, Iriso & INES

Activist investors target Square Enix for capital inefficiency, Daito Trust criticized for excessive cash reserves, Iriso Electronic and INES...

Mark Chadwick

(Mostly) Asia M&A, Mar 2025 Wrap: ENN Energy, Gold Road, Spartan, Aeon Delight, Sinarmas, Topcon

For the month of March, 13 new deals were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall deal size of ~US$14bn. The average premium for the new deals...

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: Hankyu Hanshin REIT, ENN Energy, Idemitsu, HKBN, Jardine Matheson

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

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Westgold/Spartan, Dropsuite, Shandong Fengxiang, Proto Corp, Shinko Electric

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Hikari Tsushin's Portfolio

This write-up is about Hikari Tsushin — a Japanese sales organization run by a visionary founder called Yasumitsu Shigeta. It’s been much talked...

Asian Century Stocks

Japan Activist Watch | Square Enix, DaitoTrust, Iriso & INES

​Activist investors target Square Enix for capital inefficiency, Daito Trust criticized for excessive cash reserves, Iriso Electronic and INES...

Mark Chadwick

(Mostly) Asia M&A, Mar 2025 Wrap: ENN Energy, Gold Road, Spartan, Aeon Delight, Sinarmas, Topcon

For the month of March, 13 new deals were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall deal size of ~US$14bn. The average premium for the new deals...

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: Hankyu Hanshin REIT, ENN Energy, Idemitsu, HKBN, Jardine Matheson

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

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Westgold/Spartan, Dropsuite, Shandong Fengxiang, Proto Corp, Shinko Electric

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

Activist investors target Square Enix for capital inefficiency, Daito Trust criticized for excessive cash reserves, Iriso Electronic and INES...