Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas, Azabu Research

Michael Allen

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas

Azabu Research

Azabu Research is a publishing and consulting firm focused on distressed equities in the Japanese market. We specialize in turnaround strategies, corporate combinations, divestitures, and restructuring.

Publisher of the Tokyo Turnaround Letter, which conducts the most thorough research possible of publicly available information, including forensic tests for fraudulent overstatement of assets and understatement of liabilities, as well as rigorous market and industry analysis to assess the underlying strengths of the company’s products or services, the appropriateness of the company’s turnaround strategy, and the skill of its current management team. The average length of a report exceeds 25 pages of text and tables, excluding any disclosures or executive summaries.

We have more than 30 years of experience in applying this process to distressed equities in Japan. Additionally, subscribers have free access to detailed, yet easily navigated earnings models for the target company as well as the top five comparable companies, and unlimited access to the analyst for follow-up questions.

Azabu Research also conducts be-spoke research on a project basis, and provides consulting services to companies looking to restructure, divest, make acquisitions, go public, or improve investor sentiment toward their stock.

Independent Research and Consulting Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>2025 will start with more attractive turnaround opportunities than we have seen in a long time. </li>
<li>An uptick in TOBs, MBOs and merger discussions makes it suddenly no longer safe to short low-PBR companies indiscriminately.</li>
<li>Investors are noticing. More than two-dozen large- and medium-cap stocks with deep discounts to the benchmark began to bounce off well-defined support levels in late December.</li>
</ul>


2025 will start with more attractive turnaround opportunities than we have seen in a long time. 
An uptick in TOBs, MBOs and merger discussions makes it suddenly no longer safe to short low-PBR companies indiscriminately.
Investors are noticing. More than two-dozen large- and medium-cap stocks with deep discounts to the benchmark began to bounce off well-defined support levels in late December.


Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Keisei Electric Railway Co / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keisei-electric-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10876:1" rel="noopener">Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP)</a> is the main beneficiary of the Narita Airport capacity expansion. More travelers means a higher ridership rate. </li>
<li>It now trades at 12x PER, share price normalized post COVID. Trades at a discount compared to Shinkansen operator like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/east-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14271:1" rel="noopener">East Japan Railway Co (9020 JP)</a> </li>
<li>The short-term impact may be a little negative, but the mid- to long-term should be very positive. </li>
</ul>



Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP) is the main beneficiary of the Narita Airport capacity expansion. More travelers means a higher ridership rate. 
It now trades at 12x PER, share price normalized post COVID. Trades at a discount compared to Shinkansen operator like East Japan Railway Co (9020 JP) 
The short-term impact may be a little negative, but the mid- to long-term should be very positive. 


Keisei (9009): Airport Expansion Beneficiary

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Keisei Electric Railway Co / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In October 2023 and then in early 2024, activist Palliser Capital demanded that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keisei-electric-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10876:1" rel="noopener">Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP)</a> sell down its stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oriental-land-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13517:1" rel="noopener">Oriental Land (4661 JP)</a> to sub-15%.</li>
<li>Keisei in March sold 1% of OLC but in doing so, rejected the concept of removing equity affiliate status. They could go to a level just &gt;15%, or just &gt;20%. </li>
<li>Today, OLC announced a ToSTNeT-3 buyback of 18mm shares - the total for the 2yrs to Mar-26 <a href="https://www.olc.co.jp/en/news/news_olc/auto_20240426578292/pdfFile.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> (p19) in April. Keisei will sell and will stay above 20%. </li>
</ul>


In October 2023 and then in early 2024, activist Palliser Capital demanded that Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP) sell down its stake in Oriental Land (4661 JP) to sub-15%.
Keisei in March sold 1% of OLC but in doing so, rejected the concept of removing equity affiliate status. They could go to a level just &gt;15%, or just &gt;20%. 
Today, OLC announced a ToSTNeT-3 buyback of 18mm shares - the total for the 2yrs to Mar-26 announced (p19) in April. Keisei will sell and will stay above 20%. 


Oriental Land ToSTNeT-3 Buyback From Keisei (9009) - It's In the Plan And Looks Better Than It Is

<ul>
<li>Over two decades, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keisei-electric-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10876:1" rel="noopener">Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP)</a> has been the subject of softer and harder activist efforts to have Keisei monetise its stake in affiliate Oriental Land (4661).</li>
<li>The most recent efforts were by Palliser last fall, briefly discussed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/keisei-electric-rail-9009-a-buyback-but-it-s-likely-to-be-crossholders-selling-in-tostnet-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> two weeks ago when Keisei announced a buyback. </li>
<li>Today, Keisei <a href="https://contents.xj-storage.jp/xcontents/AS01810/961e9d0f/2b7a/4eef/89ba/091c3bf36d72/140120240305549065.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> (Japanese only) an Accelerated Block Offering of 1% of Oriental Land shares. The accompanying announcement is worth reading. It's pretty clear.</li>
</ul>


Over two decades, Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP) has been the subject of softer and harder activist efforts to have Keisei monetise its stake in affiliate Oriental Land (4661).
The most recent efforts were by Palliser last fall, briefly discussed here two weeks ago when Keisei announced a buyback. 
Today, Keisei announced (Japanese only) an Accelerated Block Offering of 1% of Oriental Land shares. The accompanying announcement is worth reading. It's pretty clear.


Oriental Land (4661) Placement by Keisei Rail (9009) Says "That's the Door"

Japanese Equity Specialist, Ortus Advisors

Andrew Jackson

Japanese Equity Specialist

Ortus Advisors

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Lacklustre numbers for both Dell and HP show tapering demand for PC's.</li>
<li>Keisei Electric Rail snubbing Murakami with another 1% Oriental Land sale?</li>
<li>Nikon analysts meeting does little to clarify the intentions of EssilorLuxottic's 8.45% stake.</li>
</ul>


Lacklustre numbers for both Dell and HP show tapering demand for PC's.
Keisei Electric Rail snubbing Murakami with another 1% Oriental Land sale?
Nikon analysts meeting does little to clarify the intentions of EssilorLuxottic's 8.45% stake.


Japan Morning Connection: AI Edge Computing Is Failing to Drive PC Demand

Japan

Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd. provides passenger rail and bus transportation services in the Metropolitan Tokyo and Chiba prefecture areas.  The Company operates department and supermarket stores, hotels, travel agents, movie theater and restaurants, and sells, leases, and maintains real estate.  Keisei Electric is a shareholder of Oriental Land Co., Ltd. which operates Tokyo Disneyland.

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Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP)

Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...

Michael Allen

Keisei (9009): Airport Expansion Beneficiary

Trading at 13x PER, Keisei trades at a discount to other rail operators including JR East. It is also a long term beneficiary of Narita Airport...

Henry Soediarko

Oriental Land ToSTNeT-3 Buyback From Keisei (9009) - It's In the Plan And Looks Better Than It Is

Oriental Land today announced that its planned FY24-25 2yr buyback of 18mm shares will happen tomorrow in a ToSTNeT-3 buyback. 1%. It keeps Keisei...

Travis Lundy

Oriental Land (4661) Placement by Keisei Rail (9009) Says "That's the Door"

Keisei Rail today announced the offering/sale of 16+mm shares (1.0%) of Oriental Land. There will be a special div as a result. The announcement...

Travis Lundy

Japan Morning Connection: AI Edge Computing Is Failing to Drive PC Demand

PC demand is slowing as Dell and HP report lacklustre numbers, Keisei Electric Rail sells more Oriental Land shares, and Nikon's meeting leaves...

Andrew Jackson

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers​ creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...

Michael Allen

Keisei (9009): Airport Expansion Beneficiary

Trading at 13x PER, Keisei trades at a discount to other rail operators including JR East. It is also a long term beneficiary of Narita Airport...

Henry Soediarko

Oriental Land ToSTNeT-3 Buyback From Keisei (9009) - It's In the Plan And Looks Better Than It Is

Oriental Land today announced that its planned FY24-25 2yr buyback of 18mm shares will happen tomorrow in a ToSTNeT-3 buyback. 1%. It keeps Keisei...

Travis Lundy

Oriental Land (4661) Placement by Keisei Rail (9009) Says "That's the Door"

Keisei Rail today announced the offering/sale of 16+mm shares (1.0%) of Oriental Land. There will be a special div as a result. The announcement...

Travis Lundy

Japan Morning Connection: AI Edge Computing Is Failing to Drive PC Demand

​PC demand is slowing as Dell and HP report lacklustre numbers, Keisei Electric Rail sells more Oriental Land shares, and Nikon's meeting leaves...

Andrew Jackson

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...

PC demand is slowing as Dell and HP report lacklustre numbers, Keisei Electric Rail sells more Oriental Land shares, and Nikon's meeting leaves...