Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The Nikkei hasn’t been this high since the Berlin Wall came toppling down. The Nikkei was up over 4% on the week and stands 15% higher YTD.</li>
<li>There were plenty of reasons not to be higher. US stocks closed marginally lower; AI stocks like  SMCI crashed on Friday; </li>
<li>Japanese stocks were higher but that hides significant divergence between the winners and losers after a heavy week of earnings releases. Perhaps a pause for breath next week.</li>
</ul>


The Nikkei hasn’t been this high since the Berlin Wall came toppling down. The Nikkei was up over 4% on the week and stands 15% higher YTD.
There were plenty of reasons not to be higher. US stocks closed marginally lower; AI stocks like  SMCI crashed on Friday; 
Japanese stocks were higher but that hides significant divergence between the winners and losers after a heavy week of earnings releases. Perhaps a pause for breath next week.


Japan Weekly | Rakuten, Asics, Ebara, Tokyo Electron Chalk up Big Gains

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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/k-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36073:1" rel="noopener">K Bank (279570 KS)</a> raised around US$340m in its South Korean IPO in March 2026. The lockup on its pre-IPO investors is set to expire soon.</li>
<li>K Bank is one of three Internet-only banks in Korea. It provides a full range of commercial banking products and services.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the lockup dynamics and possible placement.</li>
</ul>



K Bank (279570 KS) raised around US$340m in its South Korean IPO in March 2026. The lockup on its pre-IPO investors is set to expire soon.
K Bank is one of three Internet-only banks in Korea. It provides a full range of commercial banking products and services.
In this note, we will talk about the lockup dynamics and possible placement.


Aequitas Kbank Lockup Expiry - Most Investors Will Be Out of Lockup, as 23% of Stock Is Released

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>Three weeks ago, I published my "final expected list" for the Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal. This used the new Industry/Sector created, following the Guidebook. </li>
<li>I had looked at the language of the consultation and the language and made an assumption. </li>
<li>Developments since then warrant a second look, and an exploration into what MIGHT BE possible. </li>
</ul>


Three weeks ago, I published my "final expected list" for the Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal. This used the new Industry/Sector created, following the Guidebook. 
I had looked at the language of the consultation and the language and made an assumption. 
Developments since then warrant a second look, and an exploration into what MIGHT BE possible. 


[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal - New Rules NOW (Not Later) But 3 ADDs Remain Unchanged

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>Parts of the apparel/fashion sector made a complete recovery last year but performance was patchy, with high rates of growth from a few but more had sales below 2019.</li>
<li>2023-24 should be a stellar year thanks to inbound tourism growth and healthier, if still hesitant, domestic demand.</li>
<li>While profitability has risen significantly, the pressure to keep prices down is widening the gap between efficient operators and the rest.</li>
</ul>


Parts of the apparel/fashion sector made a complete recovery last year but performance was patchy, with high rates of growth from a few but more had sales below 2019.
2023-24 should be a stellar year thanks to inbound tourism growth and healthier, if still hesitant, domestic demand.
While profitability has risen significantly, the pressure to keep prices down is widening the gap between efficient operators and the rest.


Japan's Fashion Sector 2023: Recovery Complete for Some as the Sector Looks Forward

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lintec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5564:1" rel="noopener">Lintec Corp (7966 JP)</a> has announced a secondary offering of 17.1 million shares (19.7 million including overallotment), valued at around US$0.6 billion (US$0.7 billion including overallotment).</li>
<li>The offering will enable <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-paper-industries-co-l" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:557:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Paper Industries Co L (3863 JP)</a>, the largest shareholder, to sell all its directly owned shares.</li>
<li>The offering, as a percentage of outstanding shares, is the sixth-highest, and, in terms of ADV, the fifth-highest among large Japanese placements since 2021.</li>
</ul>



Lintec Corp (7966 JP) has announced a secondary offering of 17.1 million shares (19.7 million including overallotment), valued at around US$0.6 billion (US$0.7 billion including overallotment).
The offering will enable Nippon Paper Industries Co L (3863 JP), the largest shareholder, to sell all its directly owned shares.
The offering, as a percentage of outstanding shares, is the sixth-highest, and, in terms of ADV, the fifth-highest among large Japanese placements since 2021.


Lintec (7966 JP): A US$0.7 Billion Secondary Offering

Japan

Rakuten Group, Inc. provides Internet services. The Company offers Internet finance services which including "Rakuten Card" and "Rakuten Bank". Rakuten Group also provides digital content services including electronic book services.

Price Gauge
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Rakuten (4755 JP)

Japan Weekly | Rakuten, Asics, Ebara, Tokyo Electron Chalk up Big Gains

Despite potential reasons for caution, the Nikkei reached a new high not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall, with a 4% increase for the week...

Mark Chadwick

Aequitas Kbank Lockup Expiry - Most Investors Will Be Out of Lockup, as 23% of Stock Is Released

K Bank (279570 KS) raised around US$340m in its South Korean IPO in March 2026. The lockup on its pre-IPO investors is set to expire soon.

Sumeet Singh

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal - New Rules NOW (Not Later) But 3 ADDs Remain Unchanged

Nikkei 225 Index methodology changes go further than the new Guidebook reports. That makes March 2027 different. HOW different we will only learn...

Travis Lundy

Japan's Fashion Sector 2023: Recovery Complete for Some as the Sector Looks Forward

Apparel sector's recovery in 2022 was uneven. Tourism and domestic demand are expected to boost 2023-24 sales, but pricing pressure is widening...

Michael Causton

Lintec (7966 JP): A US$0.7 Billion Secondary Offering

The offering, as a percentage of outstanding shares, is the sixth-highest, and, in terms of ADV, the fifth-highest among large Japanese placements...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan Weekly | Rakuten, Asics, Ebara, Tokyo Electron Chalk up Big Gains

​Despite potential reasons for caution, the Nikkei reached a new high not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall, with a 4% increase for the week...

Mark Chadwick

Aequitas Kbank Lockup Expiry - Most Investors Will Be Out of Lockup, as 23% of Stock Is Released

K Bank (279570 KS) raised around US$340m in its South Korean IPO in March 2026. The lockup on its pre-IPO investors is set to expire soon.

Sumeet Singh

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal - New Rules NOW (Not Later) But 3 ADDs Remain Unchanged

Nikkei 225 Index methodology changes go further than the new Guidebook reports. That makes March 2027 different. HOW different we will only learn...

Travis Lundy

Japan's Fashion Sector 2023: Recovery Complete for Some as the Sector Looks Forward

​Apparel sector's recovery in 2022 was uneven. Tourism and domestic demand are expected to boost 2023-24 sales, but pricing pressure is widening...

Michael Causton

Lintec (7966 JP): A US$0.7 Billion Secondary Offering

The offering, as a percentage of outstanding shares, is the sixth-highest, and, in terms of ADV, the fifth-highest among large Japanese placements...

Arun George

Despite potential reasons for caution, the Nikkei reached a new high not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall, with a 4% increase for the week...

Apparel sector's recovery in 2022 was uneven. Tourism and domestic demand are expected to boost 2023-24 sales, but pricing pressure is widening...