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/mandom-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8353:1" rel="noopener">Mandom Corp (4917 JP)</a> has recommended a CVC-sponsored preconditional MBO at JPY1,960, a 32.1% premium to the last close price.</li>
<li>The offer is below the midpoint of the IFA DCF valuation range and the special committee’s requested price. It is unattractive compared to precedent transactions and peer multiples. </li>
<li>The offer is unequivocally light. The setup has the potential for a bump, particularly if an activist emerges as a substantial shareholder.  </li>
</ul>



Mandom Corp (4917 JP) has recommended a CVC-sponsored preconditional MBO at JPY1,960, a 32.1% premium to the last close price.
The offer is below the midpoint of the IFA DCF valuation range and the special committee’s requested price. It is unattractive compared to precedent transactions and peer multiples. 
The offer is unequivocally light. The setup has the potential for a bump, particularly if an activist emerges as a substantial shareholder.  


Mandom (4917 JP): A Light CVC-Sponsored Preconditional MBO

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>Solar power will be cheaper than fossil fuels and EVs will be cheaper than ICE vehicles, but you can't make either without the parts that Rohme excels in. </li>
<li>Tesla is up 201% on speculation about its FSD, but Taiyo Yuden, which makes critical parts in FSD systems is down systems, is down 43%.</li>
<li>Kose is down 49%, largely on China woes, but China is no longer big enough to be a problem, and Japan and other regions growth should start to take over. </li>
</ul>


Solar power will be cheaper than fossil fuels and EVs will be cheaper than ICE vehicles, but you can't make either without the parts that Rohme excels in. 
Tesla is up 201% on speculation about its FSD, but Taiyo Yuden, which makes critical parts in FSD systems is down systems, is down 43%.
Kose is down 49%, largely on China woes, but China is no longer big enough to be a problem, and Japan and other regions growth should start to take over. 


Unloved Japan Roundup-Rohm, Taiyo Yuden, Kose

Equity Capital Markets

FineToday Holdings / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/finetoday-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44092:1" rel="noopener">FineToday Holdings Co Ltd (289A JP)</a> is a Japanese personal care business seeking to raise up to US$500 million. It will be listed on 17 December.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/finetoday-holdings-289a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:167184" rel="noopener">FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/finetoday-holdings-289a-jp-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:167508" rel="noopener">FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bear Case</a>.</li>
<li>Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO reference price of JPY2,150 per share is unattractive. Therefore, we would pass on the IPO.</li>
</ul>



FineToday Holdings Co Ltd (289A JP) is a Japanese personal care business seeking to raise up to US$500 million. It will be listed on 17 December.
We previously discussed the IPO in FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bull Case and FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bear Case.
Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO reference price of JPY2,150 per share is unattractive. Therefore, we would pass on the IPO.


FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/finetoday-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44092:1" rel="noopener">FineToday Holdings Co Ltd (289A JP)</a> is a Japanese personal care business seeking to raise up to US$500 million. It will be listed on 17 December.</li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/finetoday-holdings-289a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:167184" rel="noopener">FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a>, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.</li>
<li>The bear case rests on the weak 3Q24 revenue performance, mid-tier revenue growth, leveraged balance sheet, share overhang and pre-IPO dividend.</li>
</ul>



FineToday Holdings Co Ltd (289A JP) is a Japanese personal care business seeking to raise up to US$500 million. It will be listed on 17 December.
In FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bull Case, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.
The bear case rests on the weak 3Q24 revenue performance, mid-tier revenue growth, leveraged balance sheet, share overhang and pre-IPO dividend.


FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bear Case

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/finetoday-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44092:1" rel="noopener">FineToday Holdings Co Ltd (289A JP)</a> is a Japanese personal care business seeking to raise up to US$500 million. It will be listed on 17 December.   </li>
<li>FineToday has four product categories: Hair care, Skin care, Body care, and others. Hair care is the largest category, accounting for 49.0% of 9M24 revenue. </li>
<li>The bull case rests on return to revenue growth, three-pronged growth strategy, top-quartile profitability and top-tier FCF generation. </li>
</ul>



FineToday Holdings Co Ltd (289A JP) is a Japanese personal care business seeking to raise up to US$500 million. It will be listed on 17 December.   
FineToday has four product categories: Hair care, Skin care, Body care, and others. Hair care is the largest category, accounting for 49.0% of 9M24 revenue. 
The bull case rests on return to revenue growth, three-pronged growth strategy, top-quartile profitability and top-tier FCF generation. 


FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bull Case

Japan

KOSE Corporation manufactures, retails, and exports cosmetics including make up, skin care, and hair care products.  The Company sells its products in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and Malaysia.

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Kose Corp (4922 JP)

Mandom (4917 JP): A Light CVC-Sponsored Preconditional MBO

The offer is unequivocally light. The setup has the potential for a bump, particularly if an activist emerges as a substantial shareholder.

Arun George

Unloved Japan Roundup-Rohm, Taiyo Yuden, Kose

The top 5 performing large-cap stocks in Japan returned 241% on average so far in 2024, but these stocks were all on their knees a short while ago....

Michael Allen

FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO reference price of JPY2,150 per share is unattractive. Therefore, we would pass on the IPO.

Arun George

FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on the weak 3Q24 revenue performance, mid-tier revenue growth, leveraged balance sheet, share overhang and pre-IPO dividend.

Arun George

FineToday Holdings (289A JP) IPO: The Bull Case

The bull case rests on return to revenue growth, three-pronged growth strategy, top-quartile profitability and top-tier FCF generation.

Arun George

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