Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<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> is currently "in limbo" as the initial <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alimentation-couche-tard-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25103:1" rel="noopener">Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD CN)</a> ("ACT") has been rejected, some news is out, and we await earnings/presentations.</li>
<li>The news last week was that 7&amp;i might sell down a stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16063:1" rel="noopener">Seven Bank Ltd (8410 JP)</a> and could sell its retail/superstore business to PE rather than an IPO.</li>
<li>Both selldowns mean the focus on CVS everyone seems to want. That's good news. And the shares are trading at/below ACT terms which "grossly undervalued" the company. Bullish. </li>
</ul>



Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) is currently "in limbo" as the initial Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD CN) ("ACT") has been rejected, some news is out, and we await earnings/presentations.
The news last week was that 7&amp;i might sell down a stake in Seven Bank Ltd (8410 JP) and could sell its retail/superstore business to PE rather than an IPO.
Both selldowns mean the focus on CVS everyone seems to want. That's good news. And the shares are trading at/below ACT terms which "grossly undervalued" the company. Bullish. 


7&I (3382) - Asset Sale News Designed to Get Shareholder Attention to Future Value

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.

Equity Capital Markets

<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> is a Korean internet bank. It has launched an IPO to raise up to US$734 million.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/k-bank-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:160037" rel="noopener">K Bank IPO: The Bear Case</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/k-bank-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:159133" rel="noopener">K Bank IPO: The Bull Case</a>. 
</li>
<li>We examine the syndicate's valuation methodology. Our analysis suggests that K Bank is unattractively valued in the IPO price range. We would pass on the IPO.</li>
</ul>



K Bank (279570 KS) is a Korean internet bank. It has launched an IPO to raise up to US$734 million.
We previously discussed the IPO in K Bank IPO: The Bear Case and K Bank IPO: The Bull Case. 

We examine the syndicate's valuation methodology. Our analysis suggests that K Bank is unattractively valued in the IPO price range. We would pass on the IPO.


<ul>
<li>On Friday 13 September, the Ministry of Finance of Japan released revisions to the list (<a href="https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/international_policy/gaitame_kawase/press_release/20240913.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japanese</a>, <a href="https://www.mof.go.jp/english/policy/international_policy/fdi/Related_Guidance_and_Documents/20240913.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">English</a>) of company classifications under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA)</li>
<li>It appears 72 names were newly upgraded to "Core" ("3"), 21 newly listed companies (since the last list in Nov 2021) were labeled "3", and six lost their Type3 designation. </li>
<li>
<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> saw breathless news articles Friday suggesting a foreign takeover became more difficult. Not really. </li>
</ul>


On Friday 13 September, the Ministry of Finance of Japan released revisions to the list (Japanese, English) of company classifications under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA)
It appears 72 names were newly upgraded to "Core" ("3"), 21 newly listed companies (since the last list in Nov 2021) were labeled "3", and six lost their Type3 designation. 

Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) saw breathless news articles Friday suggesting a foreign takeover became more difficult. Not really. 


The New FEFTA List (With 7&I (3382) As "Core") Is Not a Big Hurdle for Couche-Tard

<ul>
<li>On 30 August, 7&amp;i shareholder Artisan Partners (holder since 2019, now at 1%) wrote an <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9223425/artisan-partners-international-value-team-sends-letter-to-the-board-of-seven-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener">open letter to the Board of Directors</a> of <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> </li>
<li>There are several comments in bold. "It is imperative that the board of directors negotiate with ACT immediately to achieve the best possible outcome for shareholders" is one.</li>
<li>The letter is a bit preachy, a bit fluffy, and a bit misleading in parts. But it requests the Company brief shareholders on the negotiations by 19 September 2024. </li>
</ul>


On 30 August, 7&amp;i shareholder Artisan Partners (holder since 2019, now at 1%) wrote an open letter to the Board of Directors of Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) 
There are several comments in bold. "It is imperative that the board of directors negotiate with ACT immediately to achieve the best possible outcome for shareholders" is one.
The letter is a bit preachy, a bit fluffy, and a bit misleading in parts. But it requests the Company brief shareholders on the negotiations by 19 September 2024. 


Artisan Partners Writes a Letter To the 7&I Board (3382) - Meh...

<ul>
<li>The largest potential inbound cross-border M&amp;A in years - for a national champion no less - gets a lot of press coverage. </li>
<li>This morning, a Nikkei <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-deals/Seven-i-s-proposed-buyout-to-require-preapproval-by-Japan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> noted <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alimentation-couche-tard-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25103:1" rel="noopener">Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD CN)</a> was likely to need "prior approval" from Japanese regulatory authorities for its takeover "the Nikkei has learned."</li>
<li>It wasn't difficult for the Nikkei to learn that. METI publishes a FEFTA List. 7&amp;i has been on it for years as Type II Designated Business, requiring prior approval.</li>
</ul>


The largest potential inbound cross-border M&amp;A in years - for a national champion no less - gets a lot of press coverage. 
This morning, a Nikkei article noted Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD CN) was likely to need "prior approval" from Japanese regulatory authorities for its takeover "the Nikkei has learned."
It wasn't difficult for the Nikkei to learn that. METI publishes a FEFTA List. 7&amp;i has been on it for years as Type II Designated Business, requiring prior approval.


Couche-Tard Bid for 7&I (3382) - FEFTA and Economic Security

Japan

Seven Bank, Ltd. provides banking services mainly through Automated Teller Machine (ATM) across Japan. The bank cooperates with affiliated financial institutions to establish the nationwide ATM network and provide remote banking services, including deposits and loans.

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Seven Bank Ltd (8410 JP)

7&I (3382) - Asset Sale News Designed to Get Shareholder Attention to Future Value

7&i reports earnings this week. Shareholders will want info on ACT, or why "intrinsic value" is higher. It's an easy explanation, but new news on...

Travis Lundy

K Bank IPO: Valuation Insights

We examine the syndicate's valuation methodology. Our analysis suggests that K Bank is unattractively valued in the IPO price range. We would pass...

Arun George

The New FEFTA List (With 7&I (3382) As "Core") Is Not a Big Hurdle for Couche-Tard

The Japan Ministry of Finance made an updated FEFTA classification list on Friday. 7 and i got "upgraded" to Type 3 as Core. That doesn't change...

Travis Lundy

Artisan Partners Writes a Letter To the 7&I Board (3382) - Meh...

The Artisan Partners Int'l Value Strategy team owns 1% of 7ni. They wrote a public letter saying the Board should engage with ACT. It is bland,...

Travis Lundy

Couche-Tard Bid for 7&I (3382) - FEFTA and Economic Security

The ATD bid for 7&i is subject to Prior Notification under FEFTA. This is not news, or special. It is and was known. But I expect that price is far...

Travis Lundy

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