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

<ul>
<li>Nihon M&amp;A reported 1QFY03/2024 results on Friday. Both revenue and OP decreased 9.1% and 52.5% YoY to ¥8.2bn (vs consensus ¥9.8bn) and ¥1.7bn (vs consensus ¥3.6bn) respectively.</li>
<li>M&amp;A sales decreased yet again in 1Q as the company is struggling to improve revenue per transaction despite there being an increase in the no. of transactions.</li>
<li>We think the company may not be able to achieve full-year target given declining per transaction revenues and falling other businesses.</li>
</ul>


Nihon M&amp;A reported 1QFY03/2024 results on Friday. Both revenue and OP decreased 9.1% and 52.5% YoY to ¥8.2bn (vs consensus ¥9.8bn) and ¥1.7bn (vs consensus ¥3.6bn) respectively.
M&amp;A sales decreased yet again in 1Q as the company is struggling to improve revenue per transaction despite there being an increase in the no. of transactions.
We think the company may not be able to achieve full-year target given declining per transaction revenues and falling other businesses.


Nihon M&A: Earnings Miss, No Indication of a Business Turnaround Yet

<ul>
<li>Nihon M&amp;A reported 4QFY03/2023 results last week. Revenue increased 86.7% YoY to ¥11.4bn (vs consensus ¥10.0bn) while OP for the quarter more than quadrupled to ¥4.2bn (vs consensus ¥4.9bn).</li>
<li>Full-Year FY03/2023 revenue of ¥41.3bn and OP of ¥15.3bn were slightly below guidance of ¥42bn and ¥18bn respectively and the company has put aside its medium-term growth plan by 2years.</li>
<li>We continue to prefer Baycurrent over <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nihon-m-a-center-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17616:1" rel="noopener">Nihon M&amp;A Center (2127 JP)</a> in the Japanese consulting/M&amp;A space as Baycurrent continues to make strong progress.</li>
</ul>


Nihon M&amp;A reported 4QFY03/2023 results last week. Revenue increased 86.7% YoY to ¥11.4bn (vs consensus ¥10.0bn) while OP for the quarter more than quadrupled to ¥4.2bn (vs consensus ¥4.9bn).
Full-Year FY03/2023 revenue of ¥41.3bn and OP of ¥15.3bn were slightly below guidance of ¥42bn and ¥18bn respectively and the company has put aside its medium-term growth plan by 2years.
We continue to prefer Baycurrent over Nihon M&amp;A Center (2127 JP) in the Japanese consulting/M&amp;A space as Baycurrent continues to make strong progress.


Nihon M&A: Puts Aside Mid-Term Growth Plan by Two Years

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nihon-m-a-center-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17616:1" rel="noopener">Nihon M&amp;A Center (2127 JP)</a> reported 3QFY03/2022 results. Revenue declined 9.9% YoY to JPY9.8bn (vs consensus JPY13.6bn) while OP dropped 21.9% YoY to JPY3.2bn (vs consensus JPY6.1bn).</li>
<li>Though there had been an increase in the no. of transactions completed during the quarter, revenue declined due to price pressures.</li>
<li>Share price has declined 22.8% during today’s trade due to weaker-than-expected earnings and we think full-year FY03/2022E guidance is too hard to achieve.</li>
</ul>



Nihon M&amp;A Center (2127 JP) reported 3QFY03/2022 results. Revenue declined 9.9% YoY to JPY9.8bn (vs consensus JPY13.6bn) while OP dropped 21.9% YoY to JPY3.2bn (vs consensus JPY6.1bn).
Though there had been an increase in the no. of transactions completed during the quarter, revenue declined due to price pressures.
Share price has declined 22.8% during today’s trade due to weaker-than-expected earnings and we think full-year FY03/2022E guidance is too hard to achieve.


Nihon M&A: Weak Earnings and Guidance for Full-Year Seems Too Optimistic

Executive Director, Metrical Inc

Aki Matsumoto

Executive Director

Metrical Inc

METRICAL INC. is an independent leading Corporate Governance research firm in Japan where Corporate Governance is increasingly recognized as an important element on corporate management in these days. Thus, CG research and solutions would become an essential component of global capital markets and play important to contribute to transparency of the markets and maximize shareholders’ value in Japan. 

METRICAL INC. provides Corporate Governance research and analysis including rating services, and  also offers investment research and IR services with solutions and customized profound research on CG and IR issues.

<ul>
<li>The number of independent directors has increased but hasn't reached a majority, the President chairs the Board of Directors, and the company hasn't moved to Company with US type-3-committees structure.</li>
<li>Stock options were granted to directors and employees in 2017, which may have motivated them to fraudulently book sales. The company may have had corporate culture of low compliance awareness.</li>
<li>Foreign shareholders own 50.1%, compared to the founding members' combined shareholding of 8.6%. It’s unlikely the current lukewarm governance reforms will be forgiven if earnings slow or further scandals occur.</li>
</ul>


The number of independent directors has increased but hasn't reached a majority, the President chairs the Board of Directors, and the company hasn't moved to Company with US type-3-committees structure.
Stock options were granted to directors and employees in 2017, which may have motivated them to fraudulently book sales. The company may have had corporate culture of low compliance awareness.
Foreign shareholders own 50.1%, compared to the founding members' combined shareholding of 8.6%. It’s unlikely the current lukewarm governance reforms will be forgiven if earnings slow or further scandals occur.


Can Drastic Governance Reform Be Postponed While Performance Expands?

Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy, Urbem (HK) Limited

Steven Chen

Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy

Kato Hong Kong Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The aging population is among the most unarguable mega-trends in today's world and can act as both a powerful headwind and a tailwind (for some industries);</li>
<li>In the past, I have touched upon some businesses benefiting drastically from the demographic tailwind, but admittedly, most of them are well recognized, and hence, expensive;</li>
<li>In this episode, I would like to discuss one more name monetizing the aging population in the Far East;</li>
<li>While being lesser-known, Kato Holdings appears to be a decent candidate to beat my 20% hurdle rate and become a multi-bagger in the foreseeable future.</li>
</ul>


The aging population is among the most unarguable mega-trends in today's world and can act as both a powerful headwind and a tailwind (for some industries);
In the past, I have touched upon some businesses benefiting drastically from the demographic tailwind, but admittedly, most of them are well recognized, and hence, expensive;
In this episode, I would like to discuss one more name monetizing the aging population in the Far East;
While being lesser-known, Kato Holdings appears to be a decent candidate to beat my 20% hurdle rate and become a multi-bagger in the foreseeable future.


One Hidden Gem Monetizing The Aging Population

Japan

Nihon M&A Center Inc. provides M&A advisory services to small and medium-sized enterprises. The Company, established by certified public accountants and tax accountants, offers M&A related services such as reorganization and MBO (Management Buy-Out) as well.

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Nihon M&A Center (2127 JP)

Nihon M&A: Earnings Miss, No Indication of a Business Turnaround Yet

Nihon M&A's earnings missed consensus. The company is struggling to improve its falling per transaction revenue and contain costs, and it seems...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Nihon M&A: Puts Aside Mid-Term Growth Plan by Two Years

Nihon M&A's FY03/2023 earnings were below its own guidance and the company has put aside its mid-term growth plan by 2 years. We prefer Baycurrent...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Nihon M&A: Weak Earnings and Guidance for Full-Year Seems Too Optimistic

3Q earnings below consensus which has led to more than 20% fall in share price. Though the company hasn't changed previous guidance, 4Q is the...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Can Drastic Governance Reform Be Postponed While Performance Expands?

I would like to discuss the issues on the Nikkei Shimbun's October 11 report, " Nihon M&A Center HD to Hurry up Restructuring of Governance".

Metrical Inc

One Hidden Gem Monetizing The Aging Population

While being lesser-known, this Hong Kong-based micro-cap appears fundamentally strong and reasonably priced to beat my 20% hurdle rate and become a...

Steven Chen

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