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. 

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Itochu’s Textile division continues to execute the directive from its CEO to expand reach and coverage in the fashion and lifestyle sectors, with sports one of the major target categories.</li>
<li>It will completely absorb Descente as part of this plan, meaning the brand is likely to become one of the largest in the portfolio.</li>
<li>The ongoing tender offer will likely succeed giving Itochu a bargain and investors no stake in the future.</li>
</ul>


Itochu’s Textile division continues to execute the directive from its CEO to expand reach and coverage in the fashion and lifestyle sectors, with sports one of the major target categories.
It will completely absorb Descente as part of this plan, meaning the brand is likely to become one of the largest in the portfolio.
The ongoing tender offer will likely succeed giving Itochu a bargain and investors no stake in the future.


Itochu's Big Plans for Descente – Shame Investors Won't Get a Look In

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>There have been a lot of deals in the last 5 years, including M&amp;A between Japanese companies, distribution deals/licenses, foreign companies buying into Japan and Japanese buying foreign brands. </li>
<li>Consolidation is a key motivation but so are category expansion, rationalisation and buying in expertise. All these reasons and more suggest more deals to come in the next few years.</li>
<li>Here we provide a comprehensive list of deals between 2019-2025 as well as a map showing who owns who and, as important, who influences who without any paperwork at all.</li>
</ul>


There have been a lot of deals in the last 5 years, including M&amp;A between Japanese companies, distribution deals/licenses, foreign companies buying into Japan and Japanese buying foreign brands. 
Consolidation is a key motivation but so are category expansion, rationalisation and buying in expertise. All these reasons and more suggest more deals to come in the next few years.
Here we provide a comprehensive list of deals between 2019-2025 as well as a map showing who owns who and, as important, who influences who without any paperwork at all.


[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who in Fashion & Lifestyle Markets

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Warren Buffett is investing more in Japan's trading companies for a variety of reasons but Itochu stands alone in its dominance of Japan's fashion sector.</li>
<li>Itochu continues to emphasise investment in consumer brands, particularly fashion and sports, but will now adjust its decades-old playbook, introducing more direct oversight of subsidiaries and affiliates.</li>
<li>This will include a big new push to turn Vivienne Westwood into a luxury brand, upgrading Paul Smith and bringing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/descente-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8225:1" rel="noopener">Descente Ltd (8114 JP)</a> in-house</li>
</ul>


Warren Buffett is investing more in Japan's trading companies for a variety of reasons but Itochu stands alone in its dominance of Japan's fashion sector.
Itochu continues to emphasise investment in consumer brands, particularly fashion and sports, but will now adjust its decades-old playbook, introducing more direct oversight of subsidiaries and affiliates.
This will include a big new push to turn Vivienne Westwood into a luxury brand, upgrading Paul Smith and bringing Descente Ltd (8114 JP) in-house


Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Canvest Environmental Protection Group / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>I tally 40 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.</li>
<li>Four new deals discussed this week: Schemes for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-capital-grand-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18241:1" rel="noopener">Beijing Capital Grand (1329 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cm-hi-tech-cleanroom-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44057:1" rel="noopener">CM Hi-Tech (2115 HK)</a>, and Tender Offers for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elematec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2866:1" rel="noopener">Elematec (2715 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nec-networks-system-integr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16396:1" rel="noopener">Nec Networks (1973 JP)</a>.</li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hotel-property-investments" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9850:1" rel="noopener">Hotel Property Investments (HPI AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canvest-environmental-protection-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:100:1" rel="noopener">Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/capitol-health-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14504:1" rel="noopener">Capitol Health (CAJ AU)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 40 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
Four new deals discussed this week: Schemes for Beijing Capital Grand (1329 HK) and CM Hi-Tech (2115 HK), and Tender Offers for Elematec (2715 JP) and Nec Networks (1973 JP).
Key updates took place on: Hotel Property Investments (HPI AU), Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK) and Capitol Health (CAJ AU).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Beijing Capital Grand, Elematec, Nec Networks, Hotel Property Invest, Canvest

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

<ul>
<li>We summarise the latest spreads and newsflow of merger arb situations we cover across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese ADRs.</li>
<li>Highest spreads: <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>, <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canvest-environmental-protection-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:100:1" rel="noopener">Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/greatview-aseptic-packaging" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10802:1" rel="noopener">Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK)</a>, <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>
<li>Lowest spreads: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/silverlake-axis-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14150:1" rel="noopener">Silverlake Axis (SILV SP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trancom-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13043:1" rel="noopener">Trancom Co Ltd (9058 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/t-gaia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8339:1" rel="noopener">T Gaia Corp (3738 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wide-bay-australia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18747:1" rel="noopener">Auswide Bank (ABA AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/raysum-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6084:1" rel="noopener">Raysum Co Ltd (8890 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/descente-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8225:1" rel="noopener">Descente Ltd (8114 JP)</a>. </li>
</ul>


We summarise the latest spreads and newsflow of merger arb situations we cover across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese ADRs.
Highest spreads: Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP), Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK), Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK), Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK), Shinko Electric Industries (6967 JP). 

Lowest spreads: Silverlake Axis (SILV SP), Trancom Co Ltd (9058 JP), T Gaia Corp (3738 JP), Auswide Bank (ABA AU), Raysum Co Ltd (8890 JP), Descente Ltd (8114 JP). 


Merger Arb Mondays (28 Oct) - Henlius, Canvest, CPMC, Seven & I, Shinko, Capitol, Auswide

Japan

DESCENTE, LTD. manufactures athletic clothing including golf wear and ski wear. The Company also manufactures tennis shoes, skies, and sports bags.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Descente Ltd (8114 JP)

Itochu's Big Plans for Descente – Shame Investors Won't Get a Look In

Itochu is moving further into fashion and lifestyle sectors with sports as a major focus. Absorbing Descente is key to this and a successful...

Michael Causton

[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who in Fashion & Lifestyle Markets

Recent years have seen a surge in deals between Japanese and foreign companies in lifestyle/fashion, driven by consolidation and category...

Michael Causton

Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Beijing Capital Grand, Elematec, Nec Networks, Hotel Property Invest, Canvest

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

Merger Arb Mondays (28 Oct) - Henlius, Canvest, CPMC, Seven & I, Shinko, Capitol, Auswide

This week, the highest gross spreads are Seven & I (22.3%), Henlius (13.9%), Canvest (11.1%), GA Pack (10.9%), Shinko Electric (9.9%), Haitong...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Itochu's Big Plans for Descente – Shame Investors Won't Get a Look In

​Itochu is moving further into fashion and lifestyle sectors with sports as a major focus. Absorbing Descente is key to this and a successful...

Michael Causton

[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who in Fashion & Lifestyle Markets

​Recent years have seen a surge in deals between Japanese and foreign companies in lifestyle/fashion, driven by consolidation and category...

Michael Causton

Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

​Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Beijing Capital Grand, Elematec, Nec Networks, Hotel Property Invest, Canvest

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

Merger Arb Mondays (28 Oct) - Henlius, Canvest, CPMC, Seven & I, Shinko, Capitol, Auswide

This week, the highest gross spreads are Seven & I (22.3%), Henlius (13.9%), Canvest (11.1%), GA Pack (10.9%), Shinko Electric (9.9%), Haitong...

Arun George

Itochu is moving further into fashion and lifestyle sectors with sports as a major focus. Absorbing Descente is key to this and a successful...

Recent years have seen a surge in deals between Japanese and foreign companies in lifestyle/fashion, driven by consolidation and category...

Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...