Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener">M3 Inc (2413 JP)</a> reported 3QFY03/2025 earnings today. Both revenue and OP grew YoY as well as beat consensus estimates. Most of revenue growth came from the ELAN acquisition.</li>
<li>Medical Platform’s earnings have continued to decline as a result of spending cuts by pharmaceutical companies while there has been a slight improvement in Overseas earnings during the quarter.</li>
<li>Though the overall declining trend in m3’s earnings has eased, we expect the earnings growth to remain weak. ELAN’s margins have continued to deteriorate.</li>
</ul>



M3 Inc (2413 JP) reported 3QFY03/2025 earnings today. Both revenue and OP grew YoY as well as beat consensus estimates. Most of revenue growth came from the ELAN acquisition.
Medical Platform’s earnings have continued to decline as a result of spending cuts by pharmaceutical companies while there has been a slight improvement in Overseas earnings during the quarter.
Though the overall declining trend in m3’s earnings has eased, we expect the earnings growth to remain weak. ELAN’s margins have continued to deteriorate.


M3: ELAN Acquisition Drives Top Line Growth; Earnings Growth to Remain Weak

<ul>
<li>M3’s share price has dropped 18% since its 2Q earnings release. Both revenue and OP fell below consensus and we were surprised by the drop in OPM for 2Q.</li>
<li>Medical Platform’s earnings have continued to decline as a result of spending cuts by pharmaceutical companies while other segments have failed to make up for the decline in Medical Platform.</li>
<li>M3 recently bought a majority stake in ELAN, whose consolidation will dilute m3’s margins. The company’s M&amp;A deals have not brought in any significant contribution to consolidated earnings.</li>
</ul>


M3’s share price has dropped 18% since its 2Q earnings release. Both revenue and OP fell below consensus and we were surprised by the drop in OPM for 2Q.
Medical Platform’s earnings have continued to decline as a result of spending cuts by pharmaceutical companies while other segments have failed to make up for the decline in Medical Platform.
M3 recently bought a majority stake in ELAN, whose consolidation will dilute m3’s margins. The company’s M&amp;A deals have not brought in any significant contribution to consolidated earnings.


M3: Earnings Trend Downward, ELAN Acquisition to Further Dilute Margins

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Stay long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shin-kong-financial-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15351:1" rel="noopener">Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT)</a> and buy more, or get long. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ctbc-financial-holding-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:436:1" rel="noopener">CTBC Financial Holding (2891 TT)</a> may make a better run at it, and may even bump.</li>
<li>It's a hard to be bearish <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/swire-pacific-ltd-cl-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10433:1" rel="noopener">Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK)</a> at 0.34x P/B. Yet the Hong Kong property market remains a challenging space. To put it mildly.</li>
<li>
<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> saw breathless news articles suggesting a foreign takeover became more difficult. Not really.</li>
</ul>


Stay long Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT) and buy more, or get long. CTBC Financial Holding (2891 TT) may make a better run at it, and may even bump.
It's a hard to be bearish Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK) at 0.34x P/B. Yet the Hong Kong property market remains a challenging space. To put it mildly.

Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) saw breathless news articles suggesting a foreign takeover became more difficult. Not really.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Shin Kong Financial, Swire Pac, Seven & I, Korea Zinc

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>A weekly summary of key developments across ECM and Event-Driven names tracked by us across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, India and Chinese ADRs.</li>
<li>ECM developments: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/k-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36073:1" rel="noopener">K Bank (279570 KS)</a> has launched an IPO to raise up to US$734 million.</li>
<li>Event-Driven developments: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuji-soft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17504:1" rel="noopener">Fuji Soft Inc (9749 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elan-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18367:1" rel="noopener">Elan Corp (6099 JP)</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/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/china-traditional-chinese-medicine" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:351:1" rel="noopener">China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK)</a>. </li>
</ul>


A weekly summary of key developments across ECM and Event-Driven names tracked by us across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, India and Chinese ADRs.
ECM developments: K Bank (279570 KS) has launched an IPO to raise up to US$734 million.
Event-Driven developments: Fuji Soft Inc (9749 JP), Elan Corp (6099 JP), Trancom Co Ltd (9058 JP), Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP), China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK). 


Weekly Deals Digest (22 Sep) - Fuji Soft, Elan, Trancom, Seven & I, China TCM, Platinum, K Bank

Travis Lundy

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener">M3 Inc (2413 JP)</a> will buy 50.1-55.0% of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elan-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18367:1" rel="noopener">Elan Corp (6099 JP)</a>. Three principals+family have agreed to tender 50.1%. The premium is not huge. This is not an ATH. </li>
<li>There will be synergies. I am a little surprised by the deal+price (CEO is young, why sell so cheaply so early?) but it should be good for the TargetCo.</li>
<li>There are possible post-tender complications on a high participation rate. I expect those can be cured relatively easily. </li>
</ul>



M3 Inc (2413 JP) will buy 50.1-55.0% of Elan Corp (6099 JP). Three principals+family have agreed to tender 50.1%. The premium is not huge. This is not an ATH. 
There will be synergies. I am a little surprised by the deal+price (CEO is young, why sell so cheaply so early?) but it should be good for the TargetCo.
There are possible post-tender complications on a high participation rate. I expect those can be cured relatively easily. 


M3 (2413 JP) Launches Partial Offer To Take Control of Elan (6099 JP)

Japan

Elan corporation provides nursing care service and daily living products for elderly people who stay in nursing-care facilites.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Elan Corp (6099 JP)

M3: ELAN Acquisition Drives Top Line Growth; Earnings Growth to Remain Weak

m3's 3Q earnings beat estimates, much of the top line growth came in from the ELAN acquisition. Though the overall declining trend in earnings...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

M3: Earnings Trend Downward, ELAN Acquisition to Further Dilute Margins

• M3’s share price has dropped more than 18% since its 2Q earnings release. Both revenue and OP fell below consensus and we were surprised by the...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Last Week in Event SPACE: Shin Kong Financial, Swire Pac, Seven & I, Korea Zinc

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

Weekly Deals Digest (22 Sep) - Fuji Soft, Elan, Trancom, Seven & I, China TCM, Platinum, K Bank

Last week, notable developments occurred in Event-Driven (Fuji Soft, Elan Corp, Trancom, Seven & I, China TCM, Platinum Investment) and ECM (K Bank).

Arun George

M3 (2413 JP) Launches Partial Offer To Take Control of Elan (6099 JP)

M3 sets a partial TOB to buy control of Elan (6099). The structure/control/target ownership look a lot like the Benefit One deal. This one is cheap...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

M3: ELAN Acquisition Drives Top Line Growth; Earnings Growth to Remain Weak

​m3's 3Q earnings beat estimates, much of the top line growth came in from the ELAN acquisition. Though the overall declining trend in earnings...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

M3: Earnings Trend Downward, ELAN Acquisition to Further Dilute Margins

• M3’s share price has dropped more than 18% since its 2Q earnings release. Both revenue and OP fell below consensus and we were surprised by the...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Last Week in Event SPACE: Shin Kong Financial, Swire Pac, Seven & I, Korea Zinc

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

Weekly Deals Digest (22 Sep) - Fuji Soft, Elan, Trancom, Seven & I, China TCM, Platinum, K Bank

Last week, notable developments occurred in Event-Driven (Fuji Soft, Elan Corp, Trancom, Seven & I, China TCM, Platinum Investment) and ECM (K Bank).

Arun George

M3 (2413 JP) Launches Partial Offer To Take Control of Elan (6099 JP)

M3 sets a partial TOB to buy control of Elan (6099). The structure/control/target ownership look a lot like the Benefit One deal. This one is cheap...

Travis Lundy

m3's 3Q earnings beat estimates, much of the top line growth came in from the ELAN acquisition. Though the overall declining trend in earnings...