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>On 20 May, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-20/japan-s-nikkon-said-to-weigh-going-private-with-us-funds-to-bid?embedded-checkout=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkon-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17346:1" rel="noopener">Nikkon Holdings (9072 JP)</a> is considering going private and preparing to hold a first-round bidding round in early June. </li>
<li>The shareholder structure is conducive to a privatisation bid as two activists (Farallon and Oasis) hold 51.6 million shares (44.23% ownership ratio). </li>
<li>Bain Capital, Warburg Pincus and Blackstone are expected to take part in the auction. My analysis suggests an offer price of at least 6,200 (7.4% above the last close).</li>
</ul>


On 20 May, Bloomberg reported that Nikkon Holdings (9072 JP) is considering going private and preparing to hold a first-round bidding round in early June. 
The shareholder structure is conducive to a privatisation bid as two activists (Farallon and Oasis) hold 51.6 million shares (44.23% ownership ratio). 
Bain Capital, Warburg Pincus and Blackstone are expected to take part in the auction. My analysis suggests an offer price of at least 6,200 (7.4% above the last close).


NIKKON Holdings (9072 JP): Thoughts on a Potential Privatisation Offer

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>US equity indices plunged Friday amid rising Middle East tensions and WTI +3%, with S&amp;P 500, and Nasdaq each falling over 2% on the week.</li>
<li>Japanese stocks demonstrated resilience but remained highly sensitive to headlines on oil supply risks and Middle East developments, with limited domestic offsets.</li>
<li>Tokio Marine (+24%) confirmed a strategic partnership with Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity, which will acquire a 2.5% stake for ¥290bn alongside reinsurance collaboration and potential joint M&amp;A</li>
</ul>


US equity indices plunged Friday amid rising Middle East tensions and WTI +3%, with S&amp;P 500, and Nasdaq each falling over 2% on the week.
Japanese stocks demonstrated resilience but remained highly sensitive to headlines on oil supply risks and Middle East developments, with limited domestic offsets.
Tokio Marine (+24%) confirmed a strategic partnership with Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity, which will acquire a 2.5% stake for ¥290bn alongside reinsurance collaboration and potential joint M&amp;A


Japan Strategy Weekly | Surging Energy Costs

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

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.

<div>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/144/315/original/2020-07-05_13-49-05.png?1593924588" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="144315"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>PROFITS TIMELINE</strong> - As the pace of quarterly results begins to pick up, the downward drift of trailing and forecast profits continue. Forecast Net Income is now below the trough of the previous cycle, and the trailing number should follow soon. Supported by the Bank of Japan, aggregate market capitalisation is above that of the early 2019 profit peak. As a result, earnings multiples are at the upper end of the five-year range, although there is evidence of some resistance at these levels.</p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/144/329/original/2020-07-05_15-13-29.png?1593929621" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="144329"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/144/331/original/2020-07-05_15-17-50.png?1593929930" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="144331"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>RESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORES</strong> - Our Scoring methodology tells the same 'story'. We are one to two quarters away from the bottom of this earnings cycle - a bottom that is likely to match that of 2009. Whether a 10% decline in market value from pre-COVID-19 levels is sufficient 'recognition' of the temporary, and in some cases, permanent, impairment of the earnings generation capability and momentum remains to be seen. We suspect the coming 'next wave' of downward revisions, as shown by Friday's one positive to nine negative ratio, will limit any upside over the summer months. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p>
</div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>19 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score:</strong> 7 Positive / 2 Neutral / 10 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change</strong>:-2.0</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue: </strong>-7.8% Quarter YoY* / +3.1% Rolling TTM YoY</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -0.4ppt</li>
</ul>
<div class="content-remarks"><p>* Excluding Kasumigaseki Capital</p></div>
</div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>7 Annual • 3 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 6 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 0 Positive / 0 Neutral / 3 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -15.3</li>
</ul></div>


Source • Japan Analytics
PROFITS TIMELINE - As the pace of quarterly results begins to pick up, the downward drift of trailing and forecast profits continue. Forecast Net Income is now below the trough of the previous cycle, and the trailing number should follow soon. Supported by the Bank of Japan, aggregate market capitalisation is above that of the early 2019 profit peak. As a result, earnings multiples are at the upper end of the five-year range, although there is evidence of some resistance at these levels.
Source • Japan Analytics
RESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORES - Our Scoring methodology tells the same 'story'. We are one to two quarters away from the bottom of this earnings cycle - a bottom that is likely to match that of 2009. Whether a 10% decline in market value from pre-COVID-19 levels is sufficient 'recognition' of the temporary, and in some cases, permanent, impairment of the earnings generation capability and momentum remains to be seen. We suspect the coming 'next wave' of downward revisions, as shown by Friday's one positive to nine negative ratio, will limit any upside over the summer months. 
DAILY STATS
19 Quarterly Results


Results Score: 7 Positive / 2 Neutral / 10 Negative

Average Results Score Change:-2.0

Average % Change in Revenue: -7.8% Quarter YoY* / +3.1% Rolling TTM YoY

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -0.4ppt

* Excluding Kasumigaseki Capital
 7 Annual • 3 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 6 Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 0 Positive / 0 Neutral / 3 Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -15.3


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 3rd July • The Next Wave

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Nikkon Holdings: Oasis’s 7.6% stake adds momentum to Farallon-backed real estate monetization and capital returns, with low ROE, undervalued assets, and improving allocation sustaining upside. </li>
<li>Niterra Co., Ltd.: ValueAct’s 5.3% stake may push sharper focus, ICE cash harvesting, cross-shareholding reduction, and higher buybacks, accelerating simplification toward higher-margin ceramics and semiconductor exposure.</li>
<li>A&amp;D HOLON Holdings: Strategic Capital’s 5.3% stake targets conglomerate discount, seeking capital allocation reform as profitable semiconductor operations remain undervalued within mixed-performing measurement and healthcare segments.</li>
</ul>


Nikkon Holdings: Oasis’s 7.6% stake adds momentum to Farallon-backed real estate monetization and capital returns, with low ROE, undervalued assets, and improving allocation sustaining upside. 
Niterra Co., Ltd.: ValueAct’s 5.3% stake may push sharper focus, ICE cash harvesting, cross-shareholding reduction, and higher buybacks, accelerating simplification toward higher-margin ceramics and semiconductor exposure.
A&amp;D HOLON Holdings: Strategic Capital’s 5.3% stake targets conglomerate discount, seeking capital allocation reform as profitable semiconductor operations remain undervalued within mixed-performing measurement and healthcare segments.


Japan Activist Briefs | Nikkon, Niterra, A&D Holon

<ul>
<li>We summarise the latest spreads and newsflow of merger arb situations we cover across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese ADRs.</li>
<li>Highest spreads: <strong><em><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tenma-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11900:1" rel="noopener">Tenma Corp (7958 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-i-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1041:1" rel="noopener">Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oneconnect-financial-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28432:1" rel="noopener">OneConnect Financial Technology (OCFT US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/soundwill-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19318:1" rel="noopener">Soundwill Holdings (878 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/insignia-financial-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12349:1" rel="noopener">Insignia Financial (IFL AU)</a>. </em></strong>
</li>
<li>Lowest spreads: <strong><em><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/makino-milling-machine-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5200:1" rel="noopener">Makino Milling Machine Co (6135 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shibaura-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12704:1" rel="noopener">Shibaura Electronics (6957 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/domain-holdings-australia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26033:1" rel="noopener">Domain Holdings Australia (DHG AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/proto-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2511:1" rel="noopener">Proto Corp (4298 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pointsbet-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29102:1" rel="noopener">PointsBet Holdings (PBH AU)</a>.</em></strong> </li>
</ul>


We summarise the latest spreads and newsflow of merger arb situations we cover across Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese ADRs.
Highest spreads: Tenma Corp (7958 JP), Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP), OneConnect Financial Technology (OCFT US), Soundwill Holdings (878 HK), Insignia Financial (IFL AU). 

Lowest spreads: Makino Milling Machine Co (6135 JP), Shibaura Electronics (6957 JP), Domain Holdings Australia (DHG AU), Proto Corp (4298 JP), PointsBet Holdings (PBH AU). 


Merger Arb Mondays (17 Mar) - Seven & I, Tenma, Proto, OneConnect, Vesync, Tam Jai, Insignia

Japan

NIKKON HOLDINGS CO., LTD. transports freight by rail, trucks, ships, and airplanes.  The Company's freight includes automobile, automobile parts, and agricultural machinery.  In addition to freight services, the Company provides warehousing and packaging services.  The Company also offers customs clearing and casualty insurance services.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Nikkon Holdings (9072 JP)