Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Activist investors 3D Investment Partners and Dalton Investments have both taken meaningful stakes in Square Enix - highlights capital inefficiency and poor margin profile</li>
<li>Daito Trust sits on over ¥100bn in net cash, an arguably excessive cushion for a mature operator with steady cash flows. Silchester have taken note</li>
<li>Iriso Electronic and INES both trade below book value. Attractive value plays for small cap funds.</li>
</ul>


Activist investors 3D Investment Partners and Dalton Investments have both taken meaningful stakes in Square Enix - highlights capital inefficiency and poor margin profile
Daito Trust sits on over ¥100bn in net cash, an arguably excessive cushion for a mature operator with steady cash flows. Silchester have taken note
Iriso Electronic and INES both trade below book value. Attractive value plays for small cap funds.


Japan Activist Watch | Square Enix, DaitoTrust, Iriso & INES

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/i-pex-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12587:1" rel="noopener">I-PEX (6640 JP)</a> has recommended an MBO at JPY2,950, 85.2% premium to the last close of JPY1,593.</li>
<li>While attractive compared to peer multiples and historical trading ranges, it is light due to an implied P/B below 1x and 11% below the mid-point IFA DCF valuation range.</li>
<li>The lack of activists on the register suggests a done deal.  The tender offer runs from 8 November to 19 December (30 business days), with payment commencing from 26 December. </li>
</ul>



I-PEX (6640 JP) has recommended an MBO at JPY2,950, 85.2% premium to the last close of JPY1,593.
While attractive compared to peer multiples and historical trading ranges, it is light due to an implied P/B below 1x and 11% below the mid-point IFA DCF valuation range.
The lack of activists on the register suggests a done deal.  The tender offer runs from 8 November to 19 December (30 business days), with payment commencing from 26 December. 


I-PEX (6640 JP): MBO at an 85% Takeover Premium but Implies P/B <1x

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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujikura-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10768:1" rel="noopener">Fujikura Ltd (5803 JP)</a> could be added to a global index at the end of November and there will be a lot of buying in the stock.</li>
<li>Following the rally in the stock, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujikura-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10768:1" rel="noopener">Fujikura Ltd (5803 JP)</a> trades expensive to the average and median of its peers on most valuation metrics.</li>
<li>The increase in cumulative excess volume in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujikura-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10768:1" rel="noopener">Fujikura Ltd (5803 JP)</a> over the last 3 months far outpaces the increase in its peers.</li>
</ul>



Fujikura Ltd (5803 JP) could be added to a global index at the end of November and there will be a lot of buying in the stock.
Following the rally in the stock, Fujikura Ltd (5803 JP) trades expensive to the average and median of its peers on most valuation metrics.
The increase in cumulative excess volume in Fujikura Ltd (5803 JP) over the last 3 months far outpaces the increase in its peers.


Fujikura (5803 JP): Positioning & Potential Passive Buying

<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/weride-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:39905:1" rel="noopener">WeRide (WRD US)</a> delayed its Nasdaw IPO, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/99-speed-mart-retail-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40977:1" rel="noopener">99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings (99SPD MK)</a> launched a US$530 million IPO.</li>
<li>Event-Driven developments: <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/iriso-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2801:1" rel="noopener">Iriso Electronics (6908 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl Corp (4921 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>, <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>, GA Pack.
</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: WeRide (WRD US) delayed its Nasdaw IPO, 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings (99SPD MK) launched a US$530 million IPO.
Event-Driven developments: Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP), Iriso Electronics (6908 JP), Fancl Corp (4921 JP), China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK), Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK), GA Pack.



Weekly Deals Digest (25 Aug) - Seven & I, Iriso, Fancl, Alps Logistics, China TCM, Henlius, GA Pack

<ul>
<li>Murakami's entities, City Index Eleventh and Aya Nomura, reported a 5.06% position in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iriso-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2801:1" rel="noopener">Iriso Electronics (6908 JP)</a>. The purchases were from 25 July to 13 August.</li>
<li>Murakami's average buy-in price over the last 60 days was JPY2,378.90 per share, a 7.8% discount to the last close price.</li>
<li>Murakami's disclosure suggests two possibilities: the start of an activist campaign or a short-term pump-and-dump play. The former is likely as Iriso is cash-rich with a P/B less than 1x.</li>
</ul>


Murakami's entities, City Index Eleventh and Aya Nomura, reported a 5.06% position in Iriso Electronics (6908 JP). The purchases were from 25 July to 13 August.
Murakami's average buy-in price over the last 60 days was JPY2,378.90 per share, a 7.8% discount to the last close price.
Murakami's disclosure suggests two possibilities: the start of an activist campaign or a short-term pump-and-dump play. The former is likely as Iriso is cash-rich with a P/B less than 1x.


Iriso Electronics (6908 JP): Murakami Becomes a Substantial Shareholder

Japan

IRISO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. produces precision metal pins and high-technology connectors for printed circuit boards used in a range of electrical equipment. The Company also sells electrical lead wires.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Iriso Electronics (6908 JP)

Japan Activist Watch | Square Enix, DaitoTrust, Iriso & INES

Activist investors target Square Enix for capital inefficiency, Daito Trust criticized for excessive cash reserves, Iriso Electronic and INES...

Mark Chadwick

I-PEX (6640 JP): MBO at an 85% Takeover Premium but Implies P/B <1x

While attractive compared to peer multiples and historical trading ranges, it is light due to an implied P/B below 1x and 11% below the mid-point...

Arun George

Fujikura (5803 JP): Positioning & Potential Passive Buying

The increased market cap could lead to Fujikura being added to passive portfolios at the end of Nov. Positioning in the stock is larger than in...

Brian Freitas

Weekly Deals Digest (25 Aug) - Seven & I, Iriso, Fancl, Alps Logistics, China TCM, Henlius, GA Pack

Last week, notable developments occurred in Event-Driven (Seven & I, Iriso, Fancl, Alps Logistics, China TCM, Henlius, GA Pack, APM) and ECM (99...

Arun George