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.

Event-Driven

With Hitachi restructuring its listed holdings, the fate of Hitachi Metals has been speculated on for some time. Our own take on it has been that the unit would be sold and probably to a fund rather than a strategic buyer. This has implications for the potential valuation and we would reiterate our stance that current valuations may not offer much upside in the event of a purchase.

With Hitachi restructuring its listed holdings, the fate of Hitachi Metals has been speculated on for some time. Our own take on it has been that the unit would be sold and probably to a fund rather than a strategic buyer. This has implications for the potential valuation and we would reiterate our stance that current valuations may not offer much upside in the event of a purchase.

Hitachi Metals – If You Still Own This It May Be Worth Selling Prior to an Acquisition Announcement

Chart based progressive global trading strategies, Chart Partners

Thomas Schroeder

Chart based progressive global trading strategies

Chart Partners

Chart Partners objective is to discover medium-term cycle turns and profit opportunities before they unfold, within structural trends while preserving capital with clear degrees of risk. We have real return ideas. 

Markets are dynamic and trading systems must reflect this. It is crucial to determine underlying correlations and lead-lag relationships within global markets and the impact on linked instruments. Our weekly Chartonics product gives you short-term trading strategies that can be applied within the medium and longer term macro trends that are mapped out in our strategy updates. 

Our methodology fuses global market variables and isolates drivers in trends. We specialize in FX, index trade in NY and Asia with a focus on Asian stocks. 

Technical Analysis

<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> has cleared a major barrier from highs that have capped since 2017 and now set for upside acceleration toward projection targets with scope for future upgrades. Volumes are supportive but will need to improve.Breakout above 1,700/1,680 represents a macro degree breakout point for this value play and will now act as pivot support on any pullback attempt.Buy volume has picked up above 1,700 but needs to improve going forward.

Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) has cleared a major barrier from highs that have capped since 2017 and now set for upside acceleration toward projection targets with scope for future upgrades. Volumes are supportive but will need to improve.Breakout above 1,700/1,680 represents a macro degree breakout point for this value play and will now act as pivot support on any pullback attempt.Buy volume has picked up above 1,700 but needs to improve going forward.

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/owari-precise-products" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7242:1" rel="noopener">Owari Precise Products (7249 JP)</a> known as Owari Seiki in Japanese makes precision-forged metal parts for the automotive (synchronizer rings for transmissions), aircraft (fasteners), and bicycle (cranks, etc) manufacturing industries. The largest corporate shareholders are <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aisin-seiki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11809:1" rel="noopener">Aisin Seiki (7259 JP)</a>, and there are several financial crossholders. Today it was announced that a fund called Rising Japan Equity Fund 2 would launch a takeover of the company. RJE describes itself as having been founded in 2010 as "5 core members" who have markets experience along with SMBC and Mitsui Sumitomo Trust. So... the company which is owned by cross-holders to the level of 57-60% is selling itself to a fund sponsored by one of those cross-holders for.... checks notes... <h3>...0.34x Book Value Per Share and 1.9x 5yr EBITDA?</h3><h3> </h3>And if you take out the securities and the net receivables (67 days of A/R, 30 days of A/P), it is 0.3x 5yr average EBITDA. And the company appears to have net surplus assets connected to its pension benefit obligations which would take that to below zero. And that does not count the fact that it has another 75% of its market cap in &lt;3 months of inventory, where near 40% of sales goes to relatively large and stable customers like Aishin AW, Toyota, and Mazda) on long-term supply contracts. <h3>So the purchase price is below net cash, securities, and high-quality receivables. </h3>This is going too cheap. And there is probably not much you can do about it except complain.Or launch a competing bid.<hr>Some corporate and financial crossholders should really be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen at this price. If a company needs cash, they can sell securities holdings, factor receivables, get some of their customers to pay more quickly, push back payables, sell and lease back real estate, etc. This is being done for virtually free, and the forecast the "fair" value is based on expects to make JPY 500mm a year of OP two years out.

Owari Precise Products (7249 JP) known as Owari Seiki in Japanese makes precision-forged metal parts for the automotive (synchronizer rings for transmissions), aircraft (fasteners), and bicycle (cranks, etc) manufacturing industries. The largest corporate shareholders are Hitachi Metals (5486 JP), Toyota Motor (7203 JP), Aisin Seiki (7259 JP), and there are several financial crossholders. Today it was announced that a fund called Rising Japan Equity Fund 2 would launch a takeover of the company. RJE describes itself as having been founded in 2010 as "5 core members" who have markets experience along with SMBC and Mitsui Sumitomo Trust. So... the company which is owned by cross-holders to the level of 57-60% is selling itself to a fund sponsored by one of those cross-holders for.... checks notes... ...0.34x Book Value Per Share and 1.9x 5yr EBITDA? And if you take out the securities and the net receivables (67 days of A/R, 30 days of A/P), it is 0.3x 5yr average EBITDA. And the company appears to have net surplus assets connected to its pension benefit obligations which would take that to below zero. And that does not count the fact that it has another 75% of its market cap in &lt;3 months of inventory, where near 40% of sales goes to relatively large and stable customers like Aishin AW, Toyota, and Mazda) on long-term supply contracts. So the purchase price is below net cash, securities, and high-quality receivables. This is going too cheap. And there is probably not much you can do about it except complain.Or launch a competing bid.Some corporate and financial crossholders should really be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen at this price. If a company needs cash, they can sell securities holdings, factor receivables, get some of their customers to pay more quickly, push back payables, sell and lease back real estate, etc. This is being done for virtually free, and the forecast the "fair" value is based on expects to make JPY 500mm a year of OP two years out. 

Owari Precise Products - Another Tiny Cap Takeover at <0.5 Book

When the surprise news that Hitachi was looking to sell down its stake in HCM broke, Hitachi Metals also fell 6.2% on the news. We said at the time that we believed Hitachi Metals was likely to be sold to an acquirer rather than just deconsolidated and the Nikkei has reported that both Bain and KKR are interested in the company. This is positive for the stock in our view, even more so than interest from a strategic acquirer as we believe it opens up various options.

When the surprise news that Hitachi was looking to sell down its stake in HCM broke, Hitachi Metals also fell 6.2% on the news. We said at the time that we believed Hitachi Metals was likely to be sold to an acquirer rather than just deconsolidated and the Nikkei has reported that both Bain and KKR are interested in the company. This is positive for the stock in our view, even more so than interest from a strategic acquirer as we believe it opens up various options.

Hitachi Metals – Acquisition by a PE Fund Could Unlock Value

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)</a> has, for over a decade, been restructuring itself - selling subsidiaries here and buying them in there. There are two remaining after the recent sale of <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>, de-consolidation of <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 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>. The earnings call in May occasioned another presentation - that of the update on <a href="http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2020/05/200529a.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Progress of the Mid-Term Management Plan</a> (with a webcast and a <a href="http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2020/05/200529a/f_200529apre.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presentation deck</a>), where the CEO responded to a question thusly:<div><blockquote>
QUESTION:  Next question is regarding the, against the backdrop of COVID-19, is this going to have an impact on the reorganisation of the listed subsidiaries?
ANSWER BY CEO HIGASHIHARA:  Regarding the listed subsidiary answer. Hitachi Construction Machinery and Hitachi Metals remain. And what we are telling the top management is that, in the time frame of fiscal year 2021 to 2024, we have to make sure these companies are able to compete globally. They are now evaluating this. It is not just a matter of COVID-19. Mid- to long-term growth strategy will be emphasised so the reorganisation strategy for the listed subsidiaries will not be impacted by COVID-19.
</blockquote></div><div>
FY 2021 to FY 2024 is a three year window starting next April, with FY2021 ending in March 2022 and FY2024 ending in March 2025.
<div>
That was May 29, less than five months ago and the situation was 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>.
Friday saw an article out of the Nikkei suggesting Hitachi might sell half its 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> ("HCM") to a third party, at a discount, and that it might start a sale process on <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> "this month."
</div>
<div>
It strikes me as unlikely Hitachi would themselves be throwing in the towel 5 months later before the start of the time frame in which top management of the two subsidiaries are supposed to be able to compete globally. All of this is likely getting done with the will and direction of the subsidiaries themselves. This strikes me as some kind of agreement with management of HCM that they would not be averse to receiving expert help from outside while remaining listed. 
This changes things.
Hitachi becomes a different animal. It becomes a non-stub trade (parent vs significant value of listed short-able subs) for the first time in a very long time. And the optics change quite a bit.
</div>
</div>

Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP) has, for over a decade, been restructuring itself - selling subsidiaries here and buying them in there. There are two remaining after the recent sale of Hitachi Chemical (4217 JP), de-consolidation of Hitachi Capital (8586 JP), and buy-in of Hitachi High-Tech (8036 JP). The earnings call in May occasioned another presentation - that of the update on Progress of the Mid-Term Management Plan (with a webcast and a presentation deck), where the CEO responded to a question thusly:
QUESTION:  Next question is regarding the, against the backdrop of COVID-19, is this going to have an impact on the reorganisation of the listed subsidiaries?
ANSWER BY CEO HIGASHIHARA:  Regarding the listed subsidiary answer. Hitachi Construction Machinery and Hitachi Metals remain. And what we are telling the top management is that, in the time frame of fiscal year 2021 to 2024, we have to make sure these companies are able to compete globally. They are now evaluating this. It is not just a matter of COVID-19. Mid- to long-term growth strategy will be emphasised so the reorganisation strategy for the listed subsidiaries will not be impacted by COVID-19.

FY 2021 to FY 2024 is a three year window starting next April, with FY2021 ending in March 2022 and FY2024 ending in March 2025.

That was May 29, less than five months ago and the situation was discussed in Hitachi's Capital Case - Liquidating Land &amp; Policy Holdings? What About the Subs?.
Friday saw an article out of the Nikkei suggesting Hitachi might sell half its stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP) ("HCM") to a third party, at a discount, and that it might start a sale process on Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) "this month."


It strikes me as unlikely Hitachi would themselves be throwing in the towel 5 months later before the start of the time frame in which top management of the two subsidiaries are supposed to be able to compete globally. All of this is likely getting done with the will and direction of the subsidiaries themselves. This strikes me as some kind of agreement with management of HCM that they would not be averse to receiving expert help from outside while remaining listed. 
This changes things.
Hitachi becomes a different animal. It becomes a non-stub trade (parent vs significant value of listed short-able subs) for the first time in a very long time. And the optics change quite a bit.



Japan

Hitachi Metals Ltd. manufactures a wide range of specialty steel and metal products, including industrial machinery, magnetic and electronic materials and parts, and aluminium castings and wheels.  The Company's products are marketed to a variety of users including the automobile, aerospace, nuclear, and computer industries worldwide.  The Company is a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd.

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Hitachi Metals (5486 JP)

Hitachi Metals – If You Still Own This It May Be Worth Selling Prior to an Acquisition Announcement

Jiji press has reported that Hitachi was in final talks to sell Hitachi Metals to a consortium headed by either Bain or KKR. We believe this could...

Mio Kato

Hitachi Metals Macro Breakout

Hitachi Metals (5486 JP) has cleared a major barrier from highs that have capped since 2017 and now set for upside acceleration toward projection...

Thomas Schroeder

Owari Precise Products - Another Tiny Cap Takeover at <0.5 Book

A largely cross-held microcap gets a Tender Offer proposal at a 34% premium which takes the company out at 0.34x book, and 0.0-2.0x EV/EBITDA...

Travis Lundy

Hitachi Metals – Acquisition by a PE Fund Could Unlock Value

We believe the rumoured sales of Hitachi Metals to a PE fund such as Bain or KKR could unlock value within the company. The question is how large...

Mio Kato

The Right Trade May Be Hitachi

Hitachi is getting to the end of its Core vs Non-Core restructuring campaign. Two remaining subs have newsflow, and earnings announcements shortly....

Travis Lundy

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