Executive Director, Metrical Inc

Aki Matsumoto

Executive Director

Independent Leading Corporate Governance Research

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>It’s difficult to justify the low ROE based on criteria for judging reasonableness of NSK's policy-shareholdings: "NSK will reduce policy-shareholdings that aren't rationale for increasing corporate value over mid-to-long term.</li>
<li>For NSK with a market capitalization of just under 500 billion yen, 50.1 billion yen in policy stockholdings plus 128.3 billion yen in retirement benefit trust shares is too much.</li>
<li>Based on past performance trends, the ROE is not expected to rise all at once as profits recover, but the company may continue to raise shareholder returns through share repurchases.</li>
</ul>


It’s difficult to justify the low ROE based on criteria for judging reasonableness of NSK's policy-shareholdings: "NSK will reduce policy-shareholdings that aren't rationale for increasing corporate value over mid-to-long term.
For NSK with a market capitalization of just under 500 billion yen, 50.1 billion yen in policy stockholdings plus 128.3 billion yen in retirement benefit trust shares is too much.
Based on past performance trends, the ROE is not expected to rise all at once as profits recover, but the company may continue to raise shareholder returns through share repurchases.


Share Buyback Are Likely Due to Reduction of Shares in Retirement Benefit Trusts and Policy Holdings

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>With <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota (7203 JP)</a> having sold some of its stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/denso-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18703:1" rel="noopener">Denso</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kddi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:639:1" rel="noopener">KDDI</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/harmonic-drive-systems-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10238:1" rel="noopener">Harmonic Drive</a> this year, it has firmly set the ball rolling for unwinding some of its cross-shareholding.</li>
<li>Toyota has a shareholding in around 60 listed companies, with its combined disposable stake worth over US$26bn.</li>
<li>In this note, we take a look at its stakes in various companies to see which ones could possibly be candidates for further selldowns.</li>
</ul>


With Toyota (7203 JP) having sold some of its stake in Denso, KDDI and Harmonic Drive this year, it has firmly set the ball rolling for unwinding some of its cross-shareholding.
Toyota has a shareholding in around 60 listed companies, with its combined disposable stake worth over US$26bn.
In this note, we take a look at its stakes in various companies to see which ones could possibly be candidates for further selldowns.


Toyota Cross-Shareholding - To Say a Whole Lot Is Left Would Be a US$26bn Understatement

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS.  SPX Caps another winning week - now 4/5 for the year;  Blow out Jobs report but Wages slowing - Goldilocks ? Powell speaks this week as DIS, UBER report.</li>
<li>JAPAN.  NKY Futs +0.4% vs Cash; Yen weakens to 132 handle as Amimiya forerunner for BOJ Governor;  Inbound resurgence reflecting in skyrocketing hotel rates;  Earnings this week - Watch Softbank</li>
<li>DAILY NUGGETS. NO ROCKING OF THE BOAT - BOJ Deputy Amamiya is set to take the mantle of leadership at the BOJ.</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS.  SPX Caps another winning week - now 4/5 for the year;  Blow out Jobs report but Wages slowing - Goldilocks ? Powell speaks this week as DIS, UBER report.
JAPAN.  NKY Futs +0.4% vs Cash; Yen weakens to 132 handle as Amimiya forerunner for BOJ Governor;  Inbound resurgence reflecting in skyrocketing hotel rates;  Earnings this week - Watch Softbank
DAILY NUGGETS. NO ROCKING OF THE BOAT - BOJ Deputy Amamiya is set to take the mantle of leadership at the BOJ.


Good Morning Japan |4 /5 as SPX Weekly Wins Continue;Blow Out NFP Report ! BoJ's Amamiya "THE ONE" ?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>As designed, the JPX-Nikkei400 Index is something of a disaster. It aims to be slightly 'smart' vs other cap-weighted indices like TOPIX, but tracking error vs TOPIX is de minimus.</li>
<li>This year, in week 1, the ADD vs DELETE performance is positive. If we sector-hedge the ADDs vs DELETEs, it's doing even better.</li>
<li>This is probably due to relatively low pre-positioning, and cares. Momentum suggests one could be long ADDs vs DELETEs. And there is the perennial trade to watch out for.</li>
</ul>


As designed, the JPX-Nikkei400 Index is something of a disaster. It aims to be slightly 'smart' vs other cap-weighted indices like TOPIX, but tracking error vs TOPIX is de minimus.
This year, in week 1, the ADD vs DELETE performance is positive. If we sector-hedge the ADDs vs DELETEs, it's doing even better.
This is probably due to relatively low pre-positioning, and cares. Momentum suggests one could be long ADDs vs DELETEs. And there is the perennial trade to watch out for.


2022 JPX Nikkei 400 Rebal Update - Going the Right Way

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/giant-manufacturing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9014:1" rel="noopener">Giant Manufacturing (9921 TT)</a> , one of Shimano's top customers, is reportedly having a production issue and can only sort it out by the end of this year. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shimano-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3777:1" rel="noopener">Shimano Inc (7309 JP)</a> is no longer Japan-centric but a global company with customers all over the world. </li>
<li>Low valuation gives an illusion that it is cheap historically but expects a bumpy road ahead.</li>
</ul>



Giant Manufacturing (9921 TT) , one of Shimano's top customers, is reportedly having a production issue and can only sort it out by the end of this year. 

Shimano Inc (7309 JP) is no longer Japan-centric but a global company with customers all over the world. 
Low valuation gives an illusion that it is cheap historically but expects a bumpy road ahead.


Japan

NSK Ltd. manufactures ball and roller bearings.  The Company's parts are applied in equipment such as precision machinery, electronic devices, and industrial machinery.  NSK also produces automotive products including transmission bearings, power steering systems, and wheel hub units.

NSK Ltd (6471 JP)

Toyota Cross-Shareholding - To Say a Whole Lot Is Left Would Be a US$26bn Understatement

With Toyota having sold some of its stake in Denso, KDDI and Harmonic Drive this year, it has set the ball rolling for unwinding its cross...

Sumeet Singh

Good Morning Japan |4 /5 as SPX Weekly Wins Continue;Blow Out NFP Report ! BoJ's Amamiya "THE ONE" ?

NKY Futs +0.4% vs Cash; Yen weakens to 132 handle as Amimiya forerunner for BOJ Governor; Inbound resurgence reflecting in skyrocketing hotel...

Mark Chadwick

2022 JPX Nikkei 400 Rebal Update - Going the Right Way

JPX Nikkei 400 rebalance is going the right way in the 6 trading days so far, and it wasn't done on Day1 (which was lacklustre). It may be under...

Travis Lundy

Shimano (7309): Bumpy

China lockdown also impacts Shimano negatively. When PE has dropped more than the share price it is followed by a sideways movement of the share...

Henry Soediarko

Share Buyback Are Likely Due to Reduction of Shares in Retirement Benefit Trusts and Policy Holdings

I would like to discuss the deemed shares held and policy shares held with respect to the disclosure made by NSK on April 20 regarding its...

Metrical Inc

Toyota Cross-Shareholding - To Say a Whole Lot Is Left Would Be a US$26bn Understatement

With Toyota having sold some of its stake in Denso, KDDI and Harmonic Drive this year, it has set the ball rolling for unwinding its cross...

Sumeet Singh

Good Morning Japan |4 /5 as SPX Weekly Wins Continue;Blow Out NFP Report ! BoJ's Amamiya "THE ONE" ?

NKY Futs +0.4% vs Cash; Yen weakens to 132 handle as Amimiya forerunner for BOJ Governor; Inbound resurgence reflecting in skyrocketing hotel...

Mark Chadwick

2022 JPX Nikkei 400 Rebal Update - Going the Right Way

JPX Nikkei 400 rebalance is going the right way in the 6 trading days so far, and it wasn't done on Day1 (which was lacklustre). It may be under...

Travis Lundy

Shimano (7309): Bumpy

China lockdown also impacts Shimano negatively. When PE has dropped more than the share price it is followed by a sideways movement of the share...

Henry Soediarko