Equity Analyst, Event-driven, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Equity Analyst, Event-driven

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jpx-nikkei-400-2022-rebal-final-predictions" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:72159" rel="noopener">JPX-Nikkei 400 2022 Rebal: Final Predictions</a>, I discussed Quiddity's final predictions for Potential ADDs/DELs for the JPX-Nikkei Index August 2022 Annual Review.</li>
<li>In that insight, I classified the potential ADDs/DELs by conviction levels and discussed why the high conviction ADDs and DELs deserved a higher weight than the other baskets.</li>
<li>Since then, the LONG High Conviction ADDs - SHORT High conviction DELs Trade has outperformed the other LONG-SHORT combinations.</li>
</ul>


In JPX-Nikkei 400 2022 Rebal: Final Predictions, I discussed Quiddity's final predictions for Potential ADDs/DELs for the JPX-Nikkei Index August 2022 Annual Review.
In that insight, I classified the potential ADDs/DELs by conviction levels and discussed why the high conviction ADDs and DELs deserved a higher weight than the other baskets.
Since then, the LONG High Conviction ADDs - SHORT High conviction DELs Trade has outperformed the other LONG-SHORT combinations.


JPX-Nikkei 400 2022 Rebal: Final Pre-Event Phase Strategy Worked. What Next?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

When <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/showa-denko-k-k" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1496:1" rel="noopener">Showa Denko K.K. (4004 JP)</a> presented their H1 <a href="https://www.sdk.co.jp/assets/files/english/ir/library/pdf_presentation/results2021-2q.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">results</a> on 10 August 2021, and later held their analyst call, it seemed quite bullish. The company was a year ahead of its internal integration efforts after having purchased Hitachi Chemical (renaming it Showa Denko Materials) in a HUGE debt-financed deal in 2020. The company noted that all businesses were operating well and that residual negative numbers coming from restructuring costs and other weaknesses were simply a matter of time to overcome.The company showed an OP forecast which even it admitted was light, and for the year the forecast at ¥85bn remains significantly impacted by the amortisation of goodwill due to the purchase of the Hitachi Chemicals business (¥17.6bn this year). This is to say that OP would be 20% higher if Showa Denko had used US-GAAP or IFRS to account for the purchase of Hitachi Chem.Net Income forecasts out years from now are impacted by this cost to amortise the purchase goodwill. The call was interesting in that it talked about efforts to reduce interest-bearing debt, and also talked about aggressive investment measures. That probably should have been a hint. The shares fell hard from the 17th to the 20th as crude oil did too. <section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/227/837/original/Screenshot+2021-09-04+at+5.14.22+PM.png?1630746942" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="227837"></figure></section>And 13 days after the earnings release the company <a href="https://www.sdk.co.jp/assets/files/english/news/2021/20210823_sdknewsrelease_e.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> an equity sale where they would sell 35.1mm shares (including greenshoe) to investors. That is a big number, at roughly a quarter of the pre-existing share count. It is even bigger when you consider shareholder structure. Pricing is likely on 6 September. Below the fold we look at shareholder structure, offer structure, and index demand.

When Showa Denko K.K. (4004 JP) presented their H1 results on 10 August 2021, and later held their analyst call, it seemed quite bullish. The company was a year ahead of its internal integration efforts after having purchased Hitachi Chemical (renaming it Showa Denko Materials) in a HUGE debt-financed deal in 2020. The company noted that all businesses were operating well and that residual negative numbers coming from restructuring costs and other weaknesses were simply a matter of time to overcome.The company showed an OP forecast which even it admitted was light, and for the year the forecast at ¥85bn remains significantly impacted by the amortisation of goodwill due to the purchase of the Hitachi Chemicals business (¥17.6bn this year). This is to say that OP would be 20% higher if Showa Denko had used US-GAAP or IFRS to account for the purchase of Hitachi Chem.Net Income forecasts out years from now are impacted by this cost to amortise the purchase goodwill. The call was interesting in that it talked about efforts to reduce interest-bearing debt, and also talked about aggressive investment measures. That probably should have been a hint. The shares fell hard from the 17th to the 20th as crude oil did too. And 13 days after the earnings release the company announced an equity sale where they would sell 35.1mm shares (including greenshoe) to investors. That is a big number, at roughly a quarter of the pre-existing share count. It is even bigger when you consider shareholder structure. Pricing is likely on 6 September. Below the fold we look at shareholder structure, offer structure, and index demand.

Showa Denko (4004 JP) Offering - Supply, Passive Demand, and Opportunity

Director, Pearl Hill Advisors

Nicholas Tanner

Director

Pearl Hill Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

Please see some recent buy ideas, all very cheap, that we believe offer decent longer term growth and have had a dreadful December. We have written on all recently and below is a summary of the main points as well as an some valuation metrics. All are sensibly priced in our view now.

Please see some recent buy ideas, all very cheap, that we believe offer decent longer term growth and have had a dreadful December. We have written on all recently and below is a summary of the main points as well as an some valuation metrics. All are sensibly priced in our view now. 

A Round up of Some Japanese Equities Buys as We Begin the New Year.

M&A Reporting, CTFN

Jonathan Spitzer

M&A Reporting

CTFN

Bringing the marketplace leading coverage of mergers, events, and major corporate actions, CTFN has a team of seasoned reporters from Los Angeles to London, publishing news that advances stories that matter to event-driven investors and deal professionals.

A former U.S. Treasury official and a former head of the Obama administration's cybersecurity team, both close to Calgon Carbon’s acquisition by Japan’s Kuraray, expressed optimism to CTFN that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’ extended review of the transaction is not due to substantive issues.

A former U.S. Treasury official and a former head of the Obama administration's cybersecurity team, both close to Calgon Carbon’s acquisition by Japan’s Kuraray, expressed optimism to CTFN that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’ extended review of the transaction is not due to substantive issues.

Calgon Carbon-Kuraray Extended CFIUS Review Routine

Japan TMT Analyst

Pelham Smithers

Market Intel on Asian Tech with a Japan focus

Pelham Smithers Associates

Founded in 2009, Pelham Smithers Associates (PSA) provides market intelligence on Asian technology, focusing in particular on Japan. The industries covered by our team of specialists are: consumer electronics, telecomms, pharmaceuticals, internet, electronic parts and materials, automotive technology, retail and capital goods. 

Research is provided by the following:
Pelham Smithers: Macro, consumer electronics, telecoms & pharma
Joel Scheiman: Electronics materials / components
Julie Boote: Autos
Will Nestuk: Capital goods, machinery & transportation equipment parts
Thao Nguyen: eCommerce, internet content, marketing & advertising

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/8937" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8937:1">Kuraray's (3405 JP)</a> shares fell from the opening bell on Sept 22nd, in reaction to its plans to acquire <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/8651" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8651:1">Calgon Carbon (CCC US)</a> for US$1.1bil (¥122bil) and it is easy to understand why. The deal appears expensive, and activated carbon for applications such as water purification may strike investors as rather dull. Debt financing is most likely and management does not intend to consider equity. Kuraray expects the deal to close by the end of 2017.The price being offered appears more problematic…

Kuraray's (3405 JP) shares fell from the opening bell on Sept 22nd, in reaction to its plans to acquire Calgon Carbon (CCC US) for US$1.1bil (¥122bil) and it is easy to understand why. The deal appears expensive, and activated carbon for applications such as water purification may strike investors as rather dull. Debt financing is most likely and management does not intend to consider equity. Kuraray expects the deal to close by the end of 2017.The price being offered appears more problematic…

Kuraray (3405): Calgon Carbon Acquisition Looks Expensive

Japan

KURARAY CO., LTD. manufactures synthetic and chemical fibers.  The Company provides special resin, man-made leather, fine chemicals, and non-woven fabrics used as apparel and industrial materials.  Kuraray also produces pharmaceutical and medical products such as dialyzers and dental-care products.  The Company focuses on environmentally beneficial products.

Kuraray Co Ltd (3405 JP)

JPX-Nikkei 400 2022 Rebal: Final Pre-Event Phase Strategy Worked. What Next?

The official index changes could be announced on 5th August 2022. Expect some positive and negative surprises. Inclusion/Exclusion events could...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Showa Denko (4004 JP) Offering - Supply, Passive Demand, and Opportunity

Showa Denko's offering is not ginormous, but it is BIG. And it will engender a fair bit of passive flow. The question is whether investors will buy...

Travis Lundy

A Round up of Some Japanese Equities Buys as We Begin the New Year.

Please see some recent buy ideas, all very cheap, that we believe offer decent longer term growth and have had a dreadful December. We have written...

Pearl Hill Advisors

Calgon Carbon-Kuraray Extended CFIUS Review Routine

A former U.S. Treasury official and a former head of the Obama administration's cybersecurity team, both close to Calgon Carbon’s acquisition by...

CTFN

Kuraray (3405): Calgon Carbon Acquisition Looks Expensive

Kuraray's (3405 JP) shares fell from the opening bell on Sept 22nd, in reaction to its plans to acquire Calgon Carbon (CCC US) for US$1.1bil...

Pelham Smithers Associates