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/roland-dg-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10653:1" rel="noopener">Roland DG Corp (6789 JP)</a> has re-recommended Taiyo’s revised offer of JPY5,370, which is 6.7% higher than its previous JPY5,035 offer and 3.3% higher than <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/brother-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6114:1" rel="noopener">Brother Industries (6448 JP)</a>’s JPY5,200 offer.</li>
<li>The Board articulates a compelling case on Brother's offer dis-synergies, which will help swing some shareholder opinion towards Taiyo (irrespective of the price). </li>
<li>Brother could bump, but it would not address the issue of satisfying the condition precedent (non-completion of Taiyo offer) and securing the Board's recommendation.  </li>
</ul>



Roland DG Corp (6789 JP) has re-recommended Taiyo’s revised offer of JPY5,370, which is 6.7% higher than its previous JPY5,035 offer and 3.3% higher than Brother Industries (6448 JP)’s JPY5,200 offer.
The Board articulates a compelling case on Brother's offer dis-synergies, which will help swing some shareholder opinion towards Taiyo (irrespective of the price). 
Brother could bump, but it would not address the issue of satisfying the condition precedent (non-completion of Taiyo offer) and securing the Board's recommendation.  


Roland DG (6789 JP): Taiyo Bumps as Brother (6448 JP) Now Faces a Dilemma

<ul>
<li>On 19 April, Taiyo Co-CEO Brian Heywood told <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bidding-war-prompts-taiyo-consider-030026276.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a> and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-fund-taiyo-says-it-may-buy-into-brother-bid-niche-japanese-printer-2024-04-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a> they were considering three options to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/brother-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6114:1" rel="noopener">Brother Industries (6448 JP)</a>’s tender for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/roland-dg-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10653:1" rel="noopener">Roland DG Corp (6789 JP)</a>. </li>
<li>Taiyo’s options are bumping its offer, walking away or tendering into the Brother’s offer if it bumps and alleviates dis-synergies concerns.</li>
<li>All three options are likely a ruse. Taiyo’s primary play is to frustrate and pressure Brother to withdraw its bid if it cannot get the Board’s recommendation.</li>
</ul>


On 19 April, Taiyo Co-CEO Brian Heywood told Bloomberg and Reuters they were considering three options to Brother Industries (6448 JP)’s tender for Roland DG Corp (6789 JP). 
Taiyo’s options are bumping its offer, walking away or tendering into the Brother’s offer if it bumps and alleviates dis-synergies concerns.
All three options are likely a ruse. Taiyo’s primary play is to frustrate and pressure Brother to withdraw its bid if it cannot get the Board’s recommendation.


Roland DG (6789 JP): Taiyo Mulling Three Options or Is It?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a> announced 2023 full-year results on 30 January. Results were mixed. Revenues did OK. Net Profit underperformed expectations. 2024 Net Profit Guidance is 1% higher than consensus.</li>
<li>Canon has a 15yr history of one kind of buyback. ¥50bn every time. 19 times in a row. Short (10 weeks max), sharp, executions (executed in 3-5 weeks). Every time. </li>
<li>This time offers a new buyback. ¥100bn. Over the space of a year. That's only 3% of ADV but the shareholder structure is different than you think it is.</li>
</ul>



Canon Inc (7751 JP) announced 2023 full-year results on 30 January. Results were mixed. Revenues did OK. Net Profit underperformed expectations. 2024 Net Profit Guidance is 1% higher than consensus.
Canon has a 15yr history of one kind of buyback. ¥50bn every time. 19 times in a row. Short (10 weeks max), sharp, executions (executed in 3-5 weeks). Every time. 
This time offers a new buyback. ¥100bn. Over the space of a year. That's only 3% of ADV but the shareholder structure is different than you think it is.


Canon (7751) - OK 2023 Results, Better Guidance, Bigger, Longer, Slower Buyback

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujifilm-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16353:1" rel="noopener">FUJIFILM Holdings (4901 JP)</a> reported 1QFY03/24 results today. Both revenue and OP increased 5.6% and 5.2% YoY to ¥660.8bn (vs consensus ¥649bn) and ¥52.2bn (vs consensus ¥52.1bn) respectively.</li>
<li>Materials segment’s earnings were negatively impacted during the quarter due to a stagnant semiconductor market, however, we expect segment’s earnings to improve with the completion of Entegris acquisition.</li>
<li>Despite the company successfully transitioning into a healthcare player, Fujifilm is still trading in line with imaging/photocopy players and there is significant upside to the company’s current share price.</li>
</ul>



FUJIFILM Holdings (4901 JP) reported 1QFY03/24 results today. Both revenue and OP increased 5.6% and 5.2% YoY to ¥660.8bn (vs consensus ¥649bn) and ¥52.2bn (vs consensus ¥52.1bn) respectively.
Materials segment’s earnings were negatively impacted during the quarter due to a stagnant semiconductor market, however, we expect segment’s earnings to improve with the completion of Entegris acquisition.
Despite the company successfully transitioning into a healthcare player, Fujifilm is still trading in line with imaging/photocopy players and there is significant upside to the company’s current share price.


Fujifilm: Earnings Beat; Yet to Trade in Line with Healthcare Players

<ul>
<li>During 4QFY03/2023 results release, Nikon announced a medium-term target of revenues of ¥700bn, OPM of 10%+ and ROE of 8%+ by the end of FY2025E (FY ended 31st March 2026).</li>
<li>Our analysis (with conservative assumptions) suggests that the company could easily achieve its medium-term target despite the company expecting to see its earnings declining in FY03/2024E.</li>
<li>Nikon is trading at a discount to its Japanese peers Canon and Konica Minolta and we think the market is clearly undervaluing the company as a pure-play Imaging products player.</li>
</ul>


During 4QFY03/2023 results release, Nikon announced a medium-term target of revenues of ¥700bn, OPM of 10%+ and ROE of 8%+ by the end of FY2025E (FY ended 31st March 2026).
Our analysis (with conservative assumptions) suggests that the company could easily achieve its medium-term target despite the company expecting to see its earnings declining in FY03/2024E.
Nikon is trading at a discount to its Japanese peers Canon and Konica Minolta and we think the market is clearly undervaluing the company as a pure-play Imaging products player.


Nikon: A Reality Check on Nikon’s Medium-Term Management Plan

Japan

Konica Minolta Inc is mainly engaged in manufacturing office equipment and performance materials. It also operates health care businesses. The Company also makes copiers, personal computer peripherals, optical lenses, and measuring instruments.

Konica Minolta (4902 JP)

Roland DG (6789 JP): Taiyo Bumps as Brother (6448 JP) Now Faces a Dilemma

The shares are trading above Taiyo’s revised offer. Brother could bump but faces a dilemma as its tender offer (irrespective of price) now has a...

Arun George

Roland DG (6789 JP): Taiyo Mulling Three Options or Is It?

Taiyo’s press interviews are a smokescreen for its primary tactic of frustrating and pressing Brother to withdraw its bid if it cannot get the...

Arun George

Canon (7751) - OK 2023 Results, Better Guidance, Bigger, Longer, Slower Buyback

Canon results were OK but underperformed expectations at the net level. Guidance for 2024 are slightly above consensus. Interesting news is that...

Travis Lundy

Fujifilm: Earnings Beat; Yet to Trade in Line with Healthcare Players

Fujifilm's 1QFY24 earnings beat consensus. The company's transition into a healthcare player is yet to fully pay-off, and we expect recent M&As to...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Nikon: A Reality Check on Nikon’s Medium-Term Management Plan

As Nikon is reporting earnings soon, this insight would help readers have a quick glance at the company's last quarter earnings and whether Nikon...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA