Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas, Azabu Research

Michael Allen

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas

Azabu Research

Azabu Research is a publishing and consulting firm focused on distressed equities in the Japanese market. We specialize in turnaround strategies, corporate combinations, divestitures, and restructuring.

Publisher of the Tokyo Turnaround Letter, which conducts the most thorough research possible of publicly available information, including forensic tests for fraudulent overstatement of assets and understatement of liabilities, as well as rigorous market and industry analysis to assess the underlying strengths of the company’s products or services, the appropriateness of the company’s turnaround strategy, and the skill of its current management team. The average length of a report exceeds 25 pages of text and tables, excluding any disclosures or executive summaries.

We have more than 30 years of experience in applying this process to distressed equities in Japan. Additionally, subscribers have free access to detailed, yet easily navigated earnings models for the target company as well as the top five comparable companies, and unlimited access to the analyst for follow-up questions.

Azabu Research also conducts be-spoke research on a project basis, and provides consulting services to companies looking to restructure, divest, make acquisitions, go public, or improve investor sentiment toward their stock.

Independent Research and Consulting Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>2025 will start with more attractive turnaround opportunities than we have seen in a long time. </li>
<li>An uptick in TOBs, MBOs and merger discussions makes it suddenly no longer safe to short low-PBR companies indiscriminately.</li>
<li>Investors are noticing. More than two-dozen large- and medium-cap stocks with deep discounts to the benchmark began to bounce off well-defined support levels in late December.</li>
</ul>


2025 will start with more attractive turnaround opportunities than we have seen in a long time. 
An uptick in TOBs, MBOs and merger discussions makes it suddenly no longer safe to short low-PBR companies indiscriminately.
Investors are noticing. More than two-dozen large- and medium-cap stocks with deep discounts to the benchmark began to bounce off well-defined support levels in late December.


Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

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>Following up on our earlier cross-shareholding work, in this note we look to summarize our work so far by looking at where most of the selling will likely come.</li>
<li>Of the seven companies that we have looked at so far, collectively they have around US$102bn worth of shares to sell in 118 companies. </li>
<li>Of these, they have a combined stake of over US$1bn in 23 companies.</li>
</ul>


Following up on our earlier cross-shareholding work, in this note we look to summarize our work so far by looking at where most of the selling will likely come.
Of the seven companies that we have looked at so far, collectively they have around US$102bn worth of shares to sell in 118 companies. 
Of these, they have a combined stake of over US$1bn in 23 companies.


Japan Cross-Shareholding - Summary Matrix - Over US$100bn of Selling in 118 Companies

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>We believe the price floor of RMB1.4/parcel shipment set by the Guangdong’s authority is a forceful move to put the brakes on the price war in the express delivery sector.</li><li>Most importantly, we believe Guangdong, being the largest province in terms of both parcel volume and revenue, will set an example of “anti-involution”, which will potentially trigger more provinces to follow suit.</li><li>We reiterate our view that this round of “anti-involution” campaign will be similar to the one in 2021, which will boost parcel price hike and serve as a positive catalyst over the coming 3-6 months. </li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

We believe the price floor of RMB1.4/parcel shipment set by the Guangdong’s authority is a forceful move to put the brakes on the price war in the express delivery sector.Most importantly, we believe Guangdong, being the largest province in terms of both parcel volume and revenue, will set an example of “anti-involution”, which will potentially trigger more provinces to follow suit.We reiterate our view that this round of “anti-involution” campaign will be similar to the one in 2021, which will boost parcel price hike and serve as a positive catalyst over the coming 3-6 months. Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Logistics - Price Floor in Guangdong Likely Set an Example for Other Regions...

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>This morning, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nidec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7245:1" rel="noopener">Nidec Corp (6594 JP)</a><a href="https://www.nidec.com/-/media/www-nidec-com/corporate/news/2024/1227-01/241227-01.pdf?rev=7584315209f9405784f3e2b127136708&amp;sc_lang=ja-JP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that it intended to launch a Tender Offer on <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> without the support of Makino management.</li>
<li>The same pattern as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takisawa-machine-tool-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7344:1" rel="noopener">Takisawa Machine Tool (6121 JP)</a>. Nidec decides, relying on the METI Guidelines for Corporate Takeovers for procedure, announces, and puts the onus on the Target to accept.</li>
<li>But shareholders should hope Makino Milling takes a page from the example provided by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chilled-frozen-logistics-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40987:1" rel="noopener">Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP)</a> back in spring 2024. This could get funky.</li>
</ul>


This morning, Nidec Corp (6594 JP)announced that it intended to launch a Tender Offer on Makino Milling Machine Co (6135 JP) without the support of Makino management.
The same pattern as Takisawa Machine Tool (6121 JP). Nidec decides, relying on the METI Guidelines for Corporate Takeovers for procedure, announces, and puts the onus on the Target to accept.
But shareholders should hope Makino Milling takes a page from the example provided by Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP) back in spring 2024. This could get funky.


Nidec Goes Hostile On Makino Milling at ¥11,000/Share

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/maanshan-dingtai-rare-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4128:1" rel="noopener">S.F. Holding (002352 CH)</a> has launched its H Share listing at HK$32.30-36.30 per share. Pricing will be on 25 November, and the listing on 27 November.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the listing in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sf-holding-h-share-listing-updates-point-to-improving-fundamentals" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:166296" rel="noopener">SF Holding H Share Listing: Updates Point to Improving Fundamentals</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sf-holding-h-share-listing-ah-discount-views" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:166687" rel="noopener">SF Holding H Share Listing: AH Discount Views</a>.</li>
<li>Our valuation analysis suggests that the H Share listing range is attractive. We would participate in the listing.</li>
</ul>



S.F. Holding (002352 CH) has launched its H Share listing at HK$32.30-36.30 per share. Pricing will be on 25 November, and the listing on 27 November.
We previously discussed the listing in SF Holding H Share Listing: Updates Point to Improving Fundamentals and SF Holding H Share Listing: AH Discount Views.
Our valuation analysis suggests that the H Share listing range is attractive. We would participate in the listing.


SF Holding H Share Listing (6936 HK): Valuation Insights

Japan

SG Holdings Co., Ltd. offers courier services. The Company provides goods delivery, cargo logistics, goods pickup, and other services. SG Holdings also operates real estate development, human resources management, and other businesses.

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SG Holdings (9143 JP)

Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...

Michael Allen

Japan Cross-Shareholding - Summary Matrix - Over US$100bn of Selling in 118 Companies

Toyotal has just announced that it will buy back around 290m (around 2% of the stock) of its own shares from MS&AD, Tokio Marine, MUFG and SMFG. In...

Sumeet Singh

Logistics - Price Floor in Guangdong Likely Set an Example for Other Regions...

We believe the price floor of RMB1.4/parcel shipment set by the Guangdong’s authority is a forceful move to put the brakes on the price war in the...

CMB International

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers​ creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...

Michael Allen

Japan Cross-Shareholding - Summary Matrix - Over US$100bn of Selling in 118 Companies

Toyotal has just announced that it will buy back around 290m (around 2% of the stock) of its own shares from MS&AD, Tokio Marine, MUFG and SMFG. In...

Sumeet Singh

Logistics - Price Floor in Guangdong Likely Set an Example for Other Regions...

We believe the price floor of RMB1.4/parcel shipment set by the Guangdong’s authority is a forceful move to put the brakes on the price war in the...

CMB International

Nidec Goes Hostile On Makino Milling at ¥11,000/Share

Nidec intends a hostile early April TOB on Makino Milling to build out its machine tool portfolio. This could see an aggressive Makino response and...

Travis Lundy

SF Holding H Share Listing (6936 HK): Valuation Insights

SF aims to raise gross proceeds of US$705-792m. Our valuation analysis suggests that the H Share listing range is attractive. We would participate...

Arun George

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...