Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Buybacks are a central part of Corporate Japan's effort to improve corporate/capital governance. Lots of cross-holders want/need to sell. Lots of companies want to reduce excess equity.</li>
<li>This earnings season has seen a LOT of new buybacks announced. ¥7.3trln in the last month and that doesn't even include the biggest buybacks extant by March-end companies.</li>
<li>We are experimenting with new ways of displaying data/analytics for buybacks in Japan. To that end, we have a new tool. We hope users find it useful. We invite feedback.</li>
</ul>


Buybacks are a central part of Corporate Japan's effort to improve corporate/capital governance. Lots of cross-holders want/need to sell. Lots of companies want to reduce excess equity.
This earnings season has seen a LOT of new buybacks announced. ¥7.3trln in the last month and that doesn't even include the biggest buybacks extant by March-end companies.
We are experimenting with new ways of displaying data/analytics for buybacks in Japan. To that end, we have a new tool. We hope users find it useful. We invite feedback.


[Japan Buybacks] ¥7.3trln of Buybacks Announced In the Last Month - Data on Each, Plus History

<ul>
<li>On 12 March 2025, a minor Twitter account @nanahoshiuk started in January announced a website <a href="https://shiftnissantokyo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shiftnissantokyo.com</a> where they point out the value proposition in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nissan-tokyo-sales-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1800:1" rel="noopener">Nissan Tokyo Sales (8291 JP)</a>. </li>
<li>The writeup is by a UK company led by a young man with an equity-investing career, some experience at an activist shop, who now runs a "Shareholder Activism Outsourcing Service."</li>
<li>The content sounds familiar to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/nissan-tokyo-sales-holdings-8291-jp-large-offering-on-tiny-cap-with-deep-value" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my piece in December</a>, has a few unpolished edges, but clearly points out the value proposition. The stock deserves a re-visit. My comments are below.</li>
</ul>


On 12 March 2025, a minor Twitter account @nanahoshiuk started in January announced a website shiftnissantokyo.com where they point out the value proposition in Nissan Tokyo Sales (8291 JP). 
The writeup is by a UK company led by a young man with an equity-investing career, some experience at an activist shop, who now runs a "Shareholder Activism Outsourcing Service."
The content sounds familiar to my piece in December, has a few unpolished edges, but clearly points out the value proposition. The stock deserves a re-visit. My comments are below.


[Activism Japan] Nissan Tokyo Sales (8291) Gets An 'Outsourced Activist' but the Value Prop Remains

David Blennerhassett

<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

Nec Networks & System Integr / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<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>'s own FA didn't include any measure of transaction synergies to be created about which NEC and NESIC were so sure. This is not being done right.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-post-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:150:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Post (SPOST SP)</a>'s muted price action after announcing the ~S$900mn FMH sale is illustrative. But expect more value to be unlocked from divesting non-core ops going forward. </li>
<li>The FTC' blocking the giant grocery merger of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kroger-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20824:1" rel="noopener">Kroger Co (KR US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/albertsons-cos-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33026:1" rel="noopener">Albertsons Cos (ACI US)</a> spells trouble for ACT and <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>.</li>
</ul>



Nec Networks (1973 JP)'s own FA didn't include any measure of transaction synergies to be created about which NEC and NESIC were so sure. This is not being done right.

Singapore Post (SPOST SP)'s muted price action after announcing the ~S$900mn FMH sale is illustrative. But expect more value to be unlocked from divesting non-core ops going forward. 
The FTC' blocking the giant grocery merger of Kroger Co (KR US) and Albertsons Cos (ACI US) spells trouble for ACT and Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP).


Last Week in Event SPACE: NEC Network, SingPost, Seven & I, CPMC, Exedy

<ul>
<li>A Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-10/topcon-gets-buyout-offers-from-kkr-eqt-as-japan-m-a-heats-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> today said <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/topcon-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:738:1" rel="noopener">Topcon Corp (7732 JP)</a> is weighing takeover bids received from KKR and EQT. ValueAct has been pressuring the company for 18mos (5+% in May23)</li>
<li>ValueAct has apparently been pushing the company to divest assets and concentrate on core ops, or go private (and have someone else do it). </li>
<li>This is further evidence of the METI-enabled "Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine" which could expand M&amp;A and governance activity dramatically. </li>
</ul>


A Bloomberg article today said Topcon Corp (7732 JP) is weighing takeover bids received from KKR and EQT. ValueAct has been pressuring the company for 18mos (5+% in May23)
ValueAct has apparently been pushing the company to divest assets and concentrate on core ops, or go private (and have someone else do it). 
This is further evidence of the METI-enabled "Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine" which could expand M&amp;A and governance activity dramatically. 


Thinking About Topcon (7732) And the New METI-Enabled Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine

Japan

EXEDY Corporation manufactures drivetrain products for automobiles, industrial vehicles, and construction machinery.  The Company's products include manual clutches, torque converters, power shift transmissions, and hydraulic clutches. Exedy has its subsidiaries in South Korea, Australia, the US and the UK.

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Exedy Corp (7278 JP)

[Japan Buybacks] ¥7.3trln of Buybacks Announced In the Last Month - Data on Each, Plus History

Japan saw ¥7.3trln of buybacks announced in the March-end earnings season. Here we offer a tool to see them all, and past buyback patterns of each...

Travis Lundy

[Activism Japan] Nissan Tokyo Sales (8291) Gets An 'Outsourced Activist' but the Value Prop Remains

Nissan Tokyo Sales Hldgs saw insurers sell 21% of the company in December and the company bought back half. That upped BVPS and EPS and the shares...

Travis Lundy

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

Last Week in Event SPACE: NEC Network, SingPost, Seven & I, CPMC, Exedy

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

Thinking About Topcon (7732) And the New METI-Enabled Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine

The METI Guideline on Corporate Takeovers has enabled a BadCop-GoodCop routine to be played out by activists and PE funds. Topcon may be a victim....

Travis Lundy

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