Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Hitachi Construction Machinery / Event-Driven

Just as the lunch session started, the Nikkei came out with an <a href="https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO65359160T21C20A0MM0000/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> and the English language <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Engineering-Construction/Hitachi-to-divest-some-of-its-Hitachi-Construction-shares" target="_blank" rel="noopener">version</a> came a half hour later. The main points:<ul>
<li>Hitachi "will sell" a part (up to half) its 51% stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-construction-machinery" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19433:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP)</a>.</li>
<li>The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan and others are looking at buying a stake.</li>
<li>The sale may be done at a discount.</li>
<li>There is passing mention of the effort to sell <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-metals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8561:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Metals (5486 JP)</a> as well. </li>
</ul>The stock fell like a rock - down 15% or more in high volume. Hitachi Metals fell 6%. <section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/167/032/original/Screenshot%202020-10-23%20at%209.10.21%20PM.png?1603458637" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="167032"></figure></section>A denial from the JIC (the parent of the INCJ) *JIC: NOT CONSIDERING INVESTING IN HITACHI CONSTRUCTION did not lead to a bounce in HCM shares. That is the key. The buyer doesn't matter. How the seller sells matters. This is interesting "news" and the reaction is telling. However, this headline comes just days before H1 earnings are due to be reported by HCM (27th October) and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)</a> (28th). The last time we got a headline like that was *HITACHI MULLS CUTTING CROSS SHAREHOLDINGS, SELLING PROPERTIES on 29 May. That Bloomberg headline turned out to be an unsubtle read of something in the small print of a large presentation deck shown later that day as part of the earnings call (discussed in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hitachi-s-capital-case-liquidating-land-policy-holdings-what-about-the-subs" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:39920" rel="noopener">Hitachi's Capital Case - Liquidating Land &amp; Policy Holdings? What About the Subs?</a>). I expect the subject of this article to come up in the earnings discussion next week.  There are a couple ways to look at this and it is not clear that the takeaway is that one should be bullish HCM. But it is worthwhile thinking about the permutations.Discussion ensues.

Just as the lunch session started, the Nikkei came out with an article and the English language version came a half hour later. The main points:
Hitachi "will sell" a part (up to half) its 51% stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP).
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan and others are looking at buying a stake.
The sale may be done at a discount.
There is passing mention of the effort to sell Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) as well. 
The stock fell like a rock - down 15% or more in high volume. Hitachi Metals fell 6%. A denial from the JIC (the parent of the INCJ) *JIC: NOT CONSIDERING INVESTING IN HITACHI CONSTRUCTION did not lead to a bounce in HCM shares. That is the key. The buyer doesn't matter. How the seller sells matters. This is interesting "news" and the reaction is telling. However, this headline comes just days before H1 earnings are due to be reported by HCM (27th October) and Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP) (28th). The last time we got a headline like that was *HITACHI MULLS CUTTING CROSS SHAREHOLDINGS, SELLING PROPERTIES on 29 May. That Bloomberg headline turned out to be an unsubtle read of something in the small print of a large presentation deck shown later that day as part of the earnings call (discussed in Hitachi's Capital Case - Liquidating Land &amp; Policy Holdings? What About the Subs?). I expect the subject of this article to come up in the earnings discussion next week.  There are a couple ways to look at this and it is not clear that the takeaway is that one should be bullish HCM. But it is worthwhile thinking about the permutations.Discussion ensues.

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

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.

The Nikkei reported today that Hitachi would sell about half of its stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery, surprising the market and us. We had expected HCM to be bought out and clearly the market had too as the stock was down 16.8%. We examine the implications below.

The Nikkei reported today that Hitachi would sell about half of its stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery, surprising the market and us. We had expected HCM to be bought out and clearly the market had too as the stock was down 16.8%. We examine the implications below.

Equity Bottom-Up

Prior to Yaskawa’s 1Q results back in July we noted that consensus looked light for the quarter and we felt that it was also too light for both 2Q and the full year. In the end our sales estimate for 1Q of ¥98.4bn was too high as developed markets disappointed more than we expected but OP of ¥6.2bn was close to our estimate of ¥6.7bn with much of the gap explained by the sales miss and our estimate was certainly a lot closer than consensus’ ¥3.7bn estimate. At the time we projected ¥5.3bn in OP for 2Q while consensus was at ¥3.4bn. We also suggested that full year OP could be as high as double consensus’ ¥16.6bn estimate at the time. With 2Q coming in at ¥7.1bn in OP thanks to strong robotics sales we believe consensus, which has since moved its OP estimate up to ¥24.4bn for the full year is still behind the curve… as usual. The question is whether the market has left any room for upside as we believe that while the sell-side is overly conservative, the implied profits based on valuations being granted to the company by the market, are excessively optimistic.

Prior to Yaskawa’s 1Q results back in July we noted that consensus looked light for the quarter and we felt that it was also too light for both 2Q and the full year. In the end our sales estimate for 1Q of ¥98.4bn was too high as developed markets disappointed more than we expected but OP of ¥6.2bn was close to our estimate of ¥6.7bn with much of the gap explained by the sales miss and our estimate was certainly a lot closer than consensus’ ¥3.7bn estimate. At the time we projected ¥5.3bn in OP for 2Q while consensus was at ¥3.4bn. We also suggested that full year OP could be as high as double consensus’ ¥16.6bn estimate at the time. With 2Q coming in at ¥7.1bn in OP thanks to strong robotics sales we believe consensus, which has since moved its OP estimate up to ¥24.4bn for the full year is still behind the curve… as usual. The question is whether the market has left any room for upside as we believe that while the sell-side is overly conservative, the implied profits based on valuations being granted to the company by the market, are excessively optimistic.

In May 2016, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)</a>  <a href="https://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2016/05/f_160513a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a transaction whereby they sold a stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-capital-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14410:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Capital (8586 JP)</a> to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-lease-finance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1467:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP)</a> to de-consolidate their holding, but would retain a 'negative control' stake of 33.4%. The result was a business and capital alliance designed to achieve more scale for the leasing companies and to improve the capital efficiency of Hitachi itself. The moves by Hitachi to improve its capital efficiency have come fast and furious the last few years with sales of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-kokusai-electric-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2523:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Kokusai Electric (6756 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-koki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18359:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Koki (6581 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14457:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Chemical (4217 JP)</a>, a buy-in of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-high-tech-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7046:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi High-Tech (8036 JP)</a>, and a selldown to de-consolidate <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-transport-system-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2395:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Transport System (9086 JP)</a> in 2016, and now more recently there is media speculation about the eventual disposition of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-metals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8561:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Metals (5486 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-construction-machinery" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19433:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP)</a>.When earnings were presented in May this year, there was a small section in the presentation deck on the bottom half of p15 of the Update on the Mid-Term Management Plan <a href="http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2020/05/200529a/f_200529apre.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presentation </a>(the <a href="http://www.hitachi.co.jp/New/cnews/month/2020/05/0529a/f_0529apre.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japanese</a> version has an extra word which helps clarify) talking about sales of property and assets and this got people excited. I went through it in some detail in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hitachi-s-capital-case-liquidating-land-policy-holdings-what-about-the-subs" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:39920" rel="noopener">Hitachi's Capital Case - Liquidating Land &amp; Policy Holdings? What About the Subs?</a> and that indicated there was time for the remaining subs.<h2>The NEW News</h2>Today during business hours, there was a news story out on Diamond Online followed by a quick story on Bloomberg saying that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-capital-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14410:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Capital (8586 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-lease-finance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1467:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP)</a> had decided to merge, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> would each own 20% of the new merged company. The <a href="https://www.hitachi-capital.co.jp/hcc/english/newsrelease/2020/20200924e.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> came after the close. The two companies would merge at a share exchange ratio of 1.0:5.1, with the effective date of the Merger on 1 April 2021, and shareholder meetings for each company to approve the deal in late February 2021, but it does not discuss the idea of Mitsubishi Corp owning 20% of the combined company (it already owns 20% of MUFJ Lease but its stake would be diluted in the merger.As always, more below the fold.

In May 2016, Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)  announced a transaction whereby they sold a stake in Hitachi Capital (8586 JP) to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP) to de-consolidate their holding, but would retain a 'negative control' stake of 33.4%. The result was a business and capital alliance designed to achieve more scale for the leasing companies and to improve the capital efficiency of Hitachi itself. The moves by Hitachi to improve its capital efficiency have come fast and furious the last few years with sales of Hitachi Kokusai Electric (6756 JP), Hitachi Koki (6581 JP), Hitachi Chemical (4217 JP), a buy-in of Hitachi High-Tech (8036 JP), and a selldown to de-consolidate Hitachi Transport System (9086 JP) in 2016, and now more recently there is media speculation about the eventual disposition of Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) and Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP).When earnings were presented in May this year, there was a small section in the presentation deck on the bottom half of p15 of the Update on the Mid-Term Management Plan presentation (the Japanese version has an extra word which helps clarify) talking about sales of property and assets and this got people excited. I went through it in some detail in Hitachi's Capital Case - Liquidating Land &amp; Policy Holdings? What About the Subs? and that indicated there was time for the remaining subs.The NEW NewsToday during business hours, there was a news story out on Diamond Online followed by a quick story on Bloomberg saying that Hitachi Capital (8586 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP) had decided to merge, and Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) would each own 20% of the new merged company. The announcement came after the close. The two companies would merge at a share exchange ratio of 1.0:5.1, with the effective date of the Merger on 1 April 2021, and shareholder meetings for each company to approve the deal in late February 2021, but it does not discuss the idea of Mitsubishi Corp owning 20% of the combined company (it already owns 20% of MUFJ Lease but its stake would be diluted in the merger.As always, more below the fold.

Hitachi's Hitachi Capital Capital Case - A Merger With MUFG Lease

Managing Director

Elan Gore

TMI Data Science

TMI Data Science utilizes Natural Language Processing to build custom leading indicators using unstructured data sourced from the global financial, trade & traditional media.  Our proprietary software, TMI Machine, is a text-mining platform designed with the buy-side & capital markets professional in mind, text-mining the global media to discern and quantify nuanced qualitative shifts in press coverage as they apply to macroeconomics, equity indexes/ETFs, commodities, currencies, fixed income & individual equities.  TMI provides custom leading indicators and systematic trading strategies, operating at the nexus of linguistics & statistics drawing on vast experience in investment banking and hedge fund settings in senior quantitative and fundamental roles.  

TMI Data Science was founded by Elan Gore, an award-winning Senior Global Basic Materials Equity Analyst & China Economist with 15 years of experience in North American hedge funds & institutional managers; and Alessandro Porrino, Ph.D., an Algorithmic Trading Analyst and Programmer with 10 years of front-office experience ranging from complex FX option pricing to auto-hedging strategies at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Standard Chartered.  Mr. Gore holds an MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business, and Mr. Porrino holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Brunel University London.

Quantitative Analysis

After weather-driven weakness earlier in the summer, TMI's text-mined Machinery Sentiment Indicator recovered to +1.8x STDEV this week, its best reading since January, with our news attribution pointing to China infrastructure as the key catalyst.  Unlike the US, where residential is currently the sole source of construction growth while infrastructure lags (see our <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/tmi-snapshot-sentiment-analysis-suggests-infrastructure-likely-a-drag-on-us-non-res-construction" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43050" rel="noopener">TMI Snapshot: Sentiment Analysis Suggests Infrastructure Likely A Drag On US Non-Res Construction</a>), our China indicators are showing the exact opposite dynamic as the momentum of the earlier post-COVID residential property boom slows down while infrastructure starts picking up the slack.

After weather-driven weakness earlier in the summer, TMI's text-mined Machinery Sentiment Indicator recovered to +1.8x STDEV this week, its best reading since January, with our news attribution pointing to China infrastructure as the key catalyst.  Unlike the US, where residential is currently the sole source of construction growth while infrastructure lags (see our TMI Snapshot: Sentiment Analysis Suggests Infrastructure Likely A Drag On US Non-Res Construction), our China indicators are showing the exact opposite dynamic as the momentum of the earlier post-COVID residential property boom slows down while infrastructure starts picking up the slack.

TMI Snapshot:  Machinery Sentiment Indicator At 8-Month High on China Infrastructure Push

Japan

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. develops, manufactures, sells, and repairs construction machinery. The Company's products include hydraulic excavators, crawler cranes, wheel loaders, shield machines, and bulldozers. Hitachi Construction Machinery, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets its products worldwide through sales offices overseas.

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Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP)

[Nikkei] Hitachi May Sell Down HCM Stake

Hitachi may rain on the Hitachi Construction Machinery Parade. This is good for Hitachi at the margins and not great for HCM minorities. But it...

Travis Lundy

HCM – Hitachi’s Stake Sale Surprises

The Nikkei's report that Hitachi would sell half of its stake in HCM rather than buying the company out drove HCM shares down 16.8%. We examine the...

Mio Kato

Yaskawa – Bad Reaction to Good Results

Prior to Yaskawa’s 1Q results back in July we noted that consensus looked light for the quarter and we felt that it was also too light for both 2Q...

Mio Kato

Hitachi's Hitachi Capital Capital Case - A Merger With MUFG Lease

In May 2016, Hitachi

Travis Lundy

TMI Snapshot: Machinery Sentiment Indicator At 8-Month High on China Infrastructure Push

TMI's Machinery Indicator has surged t

Elan Gore

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