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. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Aeon, Japan’s largest retail group, is accelerating business reforms across supermarkets, drugstores, private brands, apparel, e-commerce, and mall facilities.</li>
<li>It is also investing heavily in customer experience and operational efficiency.</li>
<li>All of which is in contrast to the beleaguered rival, Seven &amp; I, which has fought off a bid but at the expense of significant market share.</li>
</ul>


Aeon, Japan’s largest retail group, is accelerating business reforms across supermarkets, drugstores, private brands, apparel, e-commerce, and mall facilities.
It is also investing heavily in customer experience and operational efficiency.
All of which is in contrast to the beleaguered rival, Seven &amp; I, which has fought off a bid but at the expense of significant market share.


Aeon Restructuring as Seven & I Flounders

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>I tally 44 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - arb transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma.</li>
<li>Three new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dongfeng-motor-group-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:910:1" rel="noopener">Dongfeng (489 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/austindo-nusantara-jaya-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2208:1" rel="noopener">Austindo Nusantara Jaya (ANJT IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shengjing-bank-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:96:1" rel="noopener">Shengjing Bank (2066 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-heavy-industries-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33808:1" rel="noopener">HD Heavy (329180 KS)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-mipo" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2755:1" rel="noopener">HD Mipo (010620 KS)</a>. .</li>
<li>Key updates/news took place on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/santos-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:711:1" rel="noopener">Santos Ltd (STO AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mayne-pharma-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:757:1" rel="noopener">Mayne Pharma (MYX AU)</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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/carenet-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4001:1" rel="noopener">Carenet Inc (2150 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ashimori-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13918:1" rel="noopener">Ashimori Industry (3526 JP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 44 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - arb transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma.
Three new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: Dongfeng (489 HK), Austindo Nusantara Jaya (ANJT IJ), Shengjing Bank (2066 HK), and HD Heavy (329180 KS)/HD Mipo (010620 KS). .
Key updates/news took place on Santos Ltd (STO AU), Mayne Pharma (MYX AU), PointsBet Holdings (PBH AU), Carenet Inc (2150 JP), and Ashimori Industry (3526 JP).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Santos, Mayne Pharma, Shengjing Bank, Carenet, Austindo Nusantara, Ashimori

<ul>
<li>I tally 43 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - arb transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma.</li>
<li>Two new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apiam-animal-health-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26109:1" rel="noopener">Apiam Animal Health (AHX AU)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lynch-group-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36359:1" rel="noopener">Lynch Group Holdings (LGL AU)</a>.</li>
<li>Key updates/news took place on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/santos-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:711:1" rel="noopener">Santos Ltd (STO AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/abacus-storage-king" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:39857:1" rel="noopener">Abacus Storage King (ASK AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gold-road-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6698:1" rel="noopener">Gold Road Resources (GOR AU)</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>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/smart-share-global-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32217:1" rel="noopener">Smart Share Global (EM US)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 43 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - arb transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma.
Two new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: Apiam Animal Health (AHX AU) and Lynch Group Holdings (LGL AU).
Key updates/news took place on Santos Ltd (STO AU), Abacus Storage King (ASK AU), Gold Road Resources (GOR AU), PointsBet Holdings (PBH AU), and Smart Share Global (EM US).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Santos, Abacus Storage, Gold Road, PointsBet, Smart Share, Apiam, Lynch

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>There have been a lot of deals in the last 5 years, including M&amp;A between Japanese companies, distribution deals/licenses, foreign companies buying into Japan and Japanese buying foreign brands. </li>
<li>Consolidation is a key motivation but so are category expansion, rationalisation and buying in expertise. All these reasons and more suggest more deals to come in the next few years.</li>
<li>Here we provide a comprehensive list of deals between 2019-2025 as well as a map showing who owns who and, as important, who influences who without any paperwork at all.</li>
</ul>


There have been a lot of deals in the last 5 years, including M&amp;A between Japanese companies, distribution deals/licenses, foreign companies buying into Japan and Japanese buying foreign brands. 
Consolidation is a key motivation but so are category expansion, rationalisation and buying in expertise. All these reasons and more suggest more deals to come in the next few years.
Here we provide a comprehensive list of deals between 2019-2025 as well as a map showing who owns who and, as important, who influences who without any paperwork at all.


[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who in Fashion & Lifestyle Markets

Travis Lundy

<ul>
<li>The Ministry of Finance has published an updated "FEFTA List" of classifications of listed companies as of July 15, 2025. </li>
<li>50 names lowered their ranks from the most "core" Type 3 to Type 2(20), or Type 1(30). 104 names raised from Type 1(51) or Type 2(53) to Type 3.</li>
<li>Smartkarma readers may want to peruse the lists and details to see if they think companies are trying to protect themselves (from threats as yet not known by the public).</li>
</ul>


The Ministry of Finance has published an updated "FEFTA List" of classifications of listed companies as of July 15, 2025. 
50 names lowered their ranks from the most "core" Type 3 to Type 2(20), or Type 1(30). 104 names raised from Type 1(51) or Type 2(53) to Type 3.
Smartkarma readers may want to peruse the lists and details to see if they think companies are trying to protect themselves (from threats as yet not known by the public).


Japan

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company which was established through the merger of Ito-Yokado Co., Seven Eleven Japan Co., and Denny's Japan. The Company plans, manages, and operates mainly convenience stores, supermarkets, and department stores.

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Seven & I Holdings (3382 JP)

Aeon Restructuring as Seven & I Flounders

Aeon is revamping its retail operations and focusing on customer experience and efficiency, while rival Seven & I struggles to maintain market...

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Santos, Mayne Pharma, Shengjing Bank, Carenet, Austindo Nusantara, Ashimori

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who in Fashion & Lifestyle Markets

Recent years have seen a surge in deals between Japanese and foreign companies in lifestyle/fashion, driven by consolidation and category...

Michael Causton

FEFTA Classification Changes Summer 2025

The Japanese Ministry of Finance updated its Classification List for FEFTA designation of listed companies in late July. This happens periodically....

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Aeon Restructuring as Seven & I Flounders

​Aeon is revamping its retail operations and focusing on customer experience and efficiency, while rival Seven & I struggles to maintain market...

Michael Causton

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Santos, Mayne Pharma, Shengjing Bank, Carenet, Austindo Nusantara, Ashimori

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Santos, Abacus Storage, Gold Road, PointsBet, Smart Share, Apiam, Lynch

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who in Fashion & Lifestyle Markets

​Recent years have seen a surge in deals between Japanese and foreign companies in lifestyle/fashion, driven by consolidation and category...

Michael Causton

FEFTA Classification Changes Summer 2025

The Japanese Ministry of Finance updated its Classification List for FEFTA designation of listed companies in late July. This happens periodically....

Travis Lundy

Aeon is revamping its retail operations and focusing on customer experience and efficiency, while rival Seven & I struggles to maintain market...

Recent years have seen a surge in deals between Japanese and foreign companies in lifestyle/fashion, driven by consolidation and category...