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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Results for FY2022-23 provide a snapshot of winners and losers in Japan's retail sector.</li>
<li>The data shows a big improvement in performance for retailers with sales of ¥250 billion or more and the outlook is positive for most, particularly for profits.</li>
<li>This also means that market concentration is intensifying, particularly in sectors like drugstores but also now in supermarkets. We highlight the winners in each sector.</li>
</ul>


Results for FY2022-23 provide a snapshot of winners and losers in Japan's retail sector.
The data shows a big improvement in performance for retailers with sales of ¥250 billion or more and the outlook is positive for most, particularly for profits.
This also means that market concentration is intensifying, particularly in sectors like drugstores but also now in supermarkets. We highlight the winners in each sector.


Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Last year saw the consolidation of several supermarket chains in Shikoku and Chugoku by Aeon, creating Japan’s largest supermarket group. </li>
<li>Now, Aeon has now announced that it will expand its existing stake in Inageya, rolling the company into USMH and creating another, even larger food operation and Japan's biggest yet.</li>
<li>Aeon is looking for dominance in Tokyo and may seek more acquisitions but rivals are unlikely to give it a free hand nor say no to acquisitions of their own.</li>
</ul>


Last year saw the consolidation of several supermarket chains in Shikoku and Chugoku by Aeon, creating Japan’s largest supermarket group. 
Now, Aeon has now announced that it will expand its existing stake in Inageya, rolling the company into USMH and creating another, even larger food operation and Japan's biggest yet.
Aeon is looking for dominance in Tokyo and may seek more acquisitions but rivals are unlikely to give it a free hand nor say no to acquisitions of their own.


Aeon Will Own Japan’s Two Largest Supermarket Groups with Inageya Purchase

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>At the October rebalance, there are 970 stocks that will have a lower FFW while 114 stocks will have a higher FFW. 493 stocks will undergo a Phased Weight Reduction.</li>
<li>Estimated one-way turnover is 2.54% resulting in a one-way trade of ¥1.815tn. 500 stocks have over 4 days ADV to trade, 100 stocks have over 9 days ADV to trade.</li>
<li>Setting the threshold at +/-US$50m to trade, the stocks with inflows have outperformed the stocks with outflows by 6.5% over the last four months.</li>
</ul>


At the October rebalance, there are 970 stocks that will have a lower FFW while 114 stocks will have a higher FFW. 493 stocks will undergo a Phased Weight Reduction.
Estimated one-way turnover is 2.54% resulting in a one-way trade of ¥1.815tn. 500 stocks have over 4 days ADV to trade, 100 stocks have over 9 days ADV to trade.
Setting the threshold at +/-US$50m to trade, the stocks with inflows have outperformed the stocks with outflows by 6.5% over the last four months.


TOPIX October Rebalance: BIG One With ¥1.8tn a Side to Trade

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 href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/inageya-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13994:1" rel="noopener">Inageya Co Ltd (8182 JP)</a> announced a share exchange offer by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-super-markets-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26107:1" rel="noopener">United Super Markets (3222 JP)</a> at 1.46 USMH shares per Inageya share.</li>
<li>The share exchange aligns with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)</a>’s well-flagged intention of making Inageya a wholly-owned subsidiary of USMH.</li>
<li>Aeon’s 50%+ shareholding in Inageya and USMH facilitates the two EGM votes. The deal metrics are broadly fair for both sets of shareholders. </li>
</ul>



Inageya Co Ltd (8182 JP) announced a share exchange offer by United Super Markets (3222 JP) at 1.46 USMH shares per Inageya share.
The share exchange aligns with Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)’s well-flagged intention of making Inageya a wholly-owned subsidiary of USMH.
Aeon’s 50%+ shareholding in Inageya and USMH facilitates the two EGM votes. The deal metrics are broadly fair for both sets of shareholders. 


Inageya (8182 JP): Share Exchange Offer from USMH (3222 JP)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aoki-super-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13509:1" rel="noopener">Aoki Super (9977 JP)</a> has recommended an MBO tender offer of JPY3,800 per share, a 43.9% premium to the undisturbed (5 January). </li>
<li>The transaction is a two-step acquisition through a cash tender offer and subsequent squeeze-out. The lower limit of the tender offer is set at a 13.35% ownership ratio. </li>
<li>Based on the irrevocables, the minimum acceptance condition requires a 28.6% minority acceptance rate. This acceptance rate is achievable as the offer represents an all-time high. </li>
</ul>



Aoki Super (9977 JP) has recommended an MBO tender offer of JPY3,800 per share, a 43.9% premium to the undisturbed (5 January). 
The transaction is a two-step acquisition through a cash tender offer and subsequent squeeze-out. The lower limit of the tender offer is set at a 13.35% ownership ratio. 
Based on the irrevocables, the minimum acceptance condition requires a 28.6% minority acceptance rate. This acceptance rate is achievable as the offer represents an all-time high. 


Aoki Super (9977 JP): MBO Tender Offer at JPY3,800

Japan

FUJI CO., LTD. operates shopping center chain mainly in the Shikoku and the Chugoku regions.  The Company mainly sells foodstuffs, clothing, and sundry goods.  Fuji also operates home entertainment stores, BACH, which sells books, CDs, videos, and video games.  The Company also operates sports fitness centers. The Company provides credit card service.

Fuji Co Ltd (8278 JP)

Japan's Best Performing Retailers

There were strong improvements in both sales and profits for leading retailers last year and the following insight looks at the main winners and...

Michael Causton

Aeon Will Own Japan’s Two Largest Supermarket Groups with Inageya Purchase

Aeon will buy a majority stake in Inageya, consolidating its market share in the Tokyo region just as Seven & I has confirmed a focus on the Tokyo...

Michael Causton

TOPIX October Rebalance: BIG One With ¥1.8tn a Side to Trade

Lower FFWs on 970 stocks and higher FFWs on 114 stocks will result in one-way turnover of 2.52% leading to a one-way trade of ¥1.8tn at the close...

Brian Freitas

Aoki Super (9977 JP): MBO Tender Offer at JPY3,800

Based on the irrevocables, the minimum acceptance condition requires a 28.6% minority acceptance rate. This acceptance rate is achievable as the...

Arun George