Nippon Investment Bespoke Research UK Ltd

Nippon Investment Bespoke Research UK

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>While MEC’s (4971 JP) FY25 (Dec year-end) 1H sales fell short of guidance by 2.2% to ¥9,387mil (+5.7% YoY), OP improved +3.3% YoY to ¥2,440mil, coming in 8.5% above the firm’s guidance of ¥2,250mil.</li><li>This was primarily due to less than expected SG&A spending – something the firm had flagged in an earlier release.</li><li>Net profit [NP] was revised from ¥1,450mil (-23.2% YoY) to ¥1,893mil (+0.2% YoY), thanks to the receipt of a subsidy from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [METI] specifically for smaller sized companies to support growth investment.</li></ul>

While MEC’s (4971 JP) FY25 (Dec year-end) 1H sales fell short of guidance by 2.2% to ¥9,387mil (+5.7% YoY), OP improved +3.3% YoY to ¥2,440mil, coming in 8.5% above the firm’s guidance of ¥2,250mil.This was primarily due to less than expected SG&A spending – something the firm had flagged in an earlier release.Net profit [NP] was revised from ¥1,450mil (-23.2% YoY) to ¥1,893mil (+0.2% YoY), thanks to the receipt of a subsidy from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [METI] specifically for smaller sized companies to support growth investment.

<ul><li>MEC’s (4971 JP) FY25 (Dec year-end) Q1 results were largely in line with guidance for OP to rise +3.8% YoY / +19.8% QoQ to ¥1,093mil on sales of ¥4,423mil (+1.6% YoY / -2.8% QoQ).</li><li>Chemical segment sales rose +8.0% YoY / -4.5% QoQ to ¥4,237mil, thanks to 1) a steady increase in demand for chemicals used in high-end packages related to generative AI, and 2) a gradual recovery in demand associated with PCs, smartphones and general servers.</li><li>MEC is guiding for FY25 1H OP of ¥2,250mil (-4.8% YoY) on sales of ¥9,600mil (+8.1% YoY), and full-year OP of ¥5,000mil (+9.6% YoY) on sales of ¥20,000mil (+9.7% YoY).</li></ul>

MEC’s (4971 JP) FY25 (Dec year-end) Q1 results were largely in line with guidance for OP to rise +3.8% YoY / +19.8% QoQ to ¥1,093mil on sales of ¥4,423mil (+1.6% YoY / -2.8% QoQ).Chemical segment sales rose +8.0% YoY / -4.5% QoQ to ¥4,237mil, thanks to 1) a steady increase in demand for chemicals used in high-end packages related to generative AI, and 2) a gradual recovery in demand associated with PCs, smartphones and general servers.MEC is guiding for FY25 1H OP of ¥2,250mil (-4.8% YoY) on sales of ¥9,600mil (+8.1% YoY), and full-year OP of ¥5,000mil (+9.6% YoY) on sales of ¥20,000mil (+9.7% YoY).

<ul><li>MEC’s (4971 JP) reported FY24 (Dec year-end) results, producing OP of ¥4,562mil (+83.0% YoY) on sales of ¥18,234mil (+30.1% YoY).</li><li>FY24 Chemical segment sales rose +27.0% YoY to ¥17,478mil, thanks to 1) a steady increase in demand for chemicals used in high-end packages, and 2) a gradual recovery in demand associated with PCs, smartphones, and general servers.</li><li>MEC is guiding for FY25 1H OP of ¥2,250mil (-4.8% YoY) on sales of ¥9,600mil (+8.1% YoY), and full-year OP of ¥5,000mil (+9.6% YoY) on sales of ¥20,000mil (+9.7% YoY).</li></ul>

MEC’s (4971 JP) reported FY24 (Dec year-end) results, producing OP of ¥4,562mil (+83.0% YoY) on sales of ¥18,234mil (+30.1% YoY).FY24 Chemical segment sales rose +27.0% YoY to ¥17,478mil, thanks to 1) a steady increase in demand for chemicals used in high-end packages, and 2) a gradual recovery in demand associated with PCs, smartphones, and general servers.MEC is guiding for FY25 1H OP of ¥2,250mil (-4.8% YoY) on sales of ¥9,600mil (+8.1% YoY), and full-year OP of ¥5,000mil (+9.6% YoY) on sales of ¥20,000mil (+9.7% YoY).

<ul><li>The +118.3% YoY growth in FY24 Q1~Q3 operating profit [OP] of ¥3,649mil on sales of ¥13,682mil (+37.1% YoY)] was due to easy comps, rather than a full recovery, especially in demand associated with PCs and servers used in general data centre.</li><li>One of the growth drivers in FY24 is package demand associated with generative AI, to which MEC’s core products, CZ-8101 and CZ-8401 chemicals are used.</li><li>MEC has maintained its FY24 guidance for a consolidated annual dividend payment of ¥45/share.</li></ul>

The +118.3% YoY growth in FY24 Q1~Q3 operating profit [OP] of ¥3,649mil on sales of ¥13,682mil (+37.1% YoY)] was due to easy comps, rather than a full recovery, especially in demand associated with PCs and servers used in general data centre.One of the growth drivers in FY24 is package demand associated with generative AI, to which MEC’s core products, CZ-8101 and CZ-8401 chemicals are used.MEC has maintained its FY24 guidance for a consolidated annual dividend payment of ¥45/share.

MEC Co., Ltd (4971 JP): Research Update Post FY24 Q3 Earnings

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/taiyo-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15154:1" rel="noopener">Taiyo Holdings (4626 JP)</a> shares were up 19.1% based on a <a href="https://news.bloombergtax.com/private-equity/taiyo-holdings-gets-buyout-proposals-from-firms-including-kkr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg report</a> that it received privatisation proposals from KKR and Nippon Sangyo Suishin Kiko. </li>
<li>Taiyo confirmed that it has received privatisation offers. The Board would view privatisation as a solution to rid itself of Oasis, which has recently waged an <a href="https://www.corpgovfortaiyo.com/taiyo-corp-gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">activist campaign</a>. </li>
<li>At the last close price of JPY6,230, Oasis would be up 45.9% on its highest price of JPY4,720. My analysis suggests that an offer around JPY7,000 can be justified.</li>
</ul>



Taiyo Holdings (4626 JP) shares were up 19.1% based on a Bloomberg report that it received privatisation proposals from KKR and Nippon Sangyo Suishin Kiko. 
Taiyo confirmed that it has received privatisation offers. The Board would view privatisation as a solution to rid itself of Oasis, which has recently waged an activist campaign. 
At the last close price of JPY6,230, Oasis would be up 45.9% on its highest price of JPY4,720. My analysis suggests that an offer around JPY7,000 can be justified.


Taiyo Holdings (4626 JP): Privatisation Interest as Oasis Agitates

Japan

MEC COMPANY LTD. manufactures and markets chemicals and equipment for printed circuit boards.  The Company has sales/manufacturing subsidiaries in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Belgium, and US.

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Mec Co Ltd (4971 JP)

MEC Co., Ltd (4971 JP): Research Update

While MEC’s (4971 JP) FY25 (Dec year-end) 1H sales fell short of guidance by 2.2% to ¥9,387mil (+5.7% YoY), OP improved +3.3% YoY to ¥2,440mil,...

Nippon Investment Bespoke Research UK

MEC Co., Ltd (4971 JP): Research Update

MEC’s (4971 JP) FY25 (Dec year-end) Q1 results were largely in line with guidance for OP to rise +3.8% YoY / +19.8% QoQ to ¥1,093mil on sales of...

Nippon Investment Bespoke Research UK

MEC Co., Ltd (4971 JP): Research Update

MEC’s (4971 JP) reported FY24 (Dec year-end) results, producing OP of ¥4,562mil (+83.0% YoY) on sales of ¥18,234mil (+30.1% YoY). FY24 Chemical...

Nippon Investment Bespoke Research UK

MEC Co., Ltd (4971 JP): Research Update Post FY24 Q3 Earnings

The +118.3% YoY growth in FY24 Q1~Q3 operating profit [OP] of ¥3,649mil on sales of ¥13,682mil (+37.1% YoY)] was due to easy comps, rather than a...

Nippon Investment Bespoke Research UK

Taiyo Holdings (4626 JP): Privatisation Interest as Oasis Agitates

The Board would view privatisation as a solution to rid itself of Oasis, which has recently waged an activist campaign. My analysis suggests that...

Arun George

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