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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Consumer distribution has been transformed since 2020 through accelerated concentration of market share. While some has come about through organic growth, the real drivers have been M&amp;A and MBOs. </li>
<li>The result is a realignment of the retail leader board as companies like PPI, Welcia and Trial buy their way to the top, while others, notably Seven &amp; I, shrink.</li>
<li>Here we identify the retail leaders in driving consolidation going forward, and the intensifying pressure on both smaller retailers and the wholesalers that supply them.</li>
</ul>


Consumer distribution has been transformed since 2020 through accelerated concentration of market share. While some has come about through organic growth, the real drivers have been M&amp;A and MBOs. 
The result is a realignment of the retail leader board as companies like PPI, Welcia and Trial buy their way to the top, while others, notably Seven &amp; I, shrink.
Here we identify the retail leaders in driving consolidation going forward, and the intensifying pressure on both smaller retailers and the wholesalers that supply them.


[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who: The Growing Concentration of Power in Japanese Consumer Markets

Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

<ul>
<li>Tailwinds are turning to headwinds for the Japanese Trading companies.</li>
<li>Risks rising in the short term due to JPY strength, weakening commodity prices and the upcoming US recession.</li>
<li>Massive outperformance over the last two years, most recently due to multiple expansion</li>
</ul>


Tailwinds are turning to headwinds for the Japanese Trading companies.
Risks rising in the short term due to JPY strength, weakening commodity prices and the upcoming US recession.
Massive outperformance over the last two years, most recently due to multiple expansion


Risks Ahead for Japanese Trading Companies. Marubeni, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Sojitz is Japan’s strategic gateway to a non‑Chinese rare earth supply</li>
<li>Earnings base continues to move away from the resources business and its inherent volatility</li>
<li>The company's discount to its larger peers will narrow as the market appreciates the changes</li>
</ul>


Sojitz is Japan’s strategic gateway to a non‑Chinese rare earth supply
Earnings base continues to move away from the resources business and its inherent volatility
The company's discount to its larger peers will narrow as the market appreciates the changes


Sojitz (2768.T) — Japan’s Rare Earth Play

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The <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> to rid itself of control of the Ito-Yokado, York Benimaru, Akachan Hompo, and Denny's Japan businesses in York Holdings proceeds apace.</li>
<li>The First Round of bids is due tomorrow, apparently, and all manner of bidders have assembled. </li>
<li>This leads to the question of a deal for the rest of 7&amp;i. If a TradingCo is a natural co-investor for the Ito family (or ACT), so is Berkshire Hathaway.</li>
</ul>


The Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) to rid itself of control of the Ito-Yokado, York Benimaru, Akachan Hompo, and Denny's Japan businesses in York Holdings proceeds apace.
The First Round of bids is due tomorrow, apparently, and all manner of bidders have assembled. 
This leads to the question of a deal for the rest of 7&amp;i. If a TradingCo is a natural co-investor for the Ito family (or ACT), so is Berkshire Hathaway.


7&I (3382 JP) - A York Holdings Deal And Warren Buffett?

<ul>
<li>Yesterday a news article from Bloomberg suggested 7&amp;i was "considering" an MBO. <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> later confirmed they had received a non-binding proposal from ITO Junro/family.</li>
<li>The initial number was ¥9trln. If market cap? High. If EV, too low. That would have implied a price just over the first "grossly inadequate" ACT price.</li>
<li>There is a lot we don't know. This changes the landscape. It probably shifts the range trade, but it will shift more when we get more clarity on ITO-san's price.</li>
</ul>


Yesterday a news article from Bloomberg suggested 7&amp;i was "considering" an MBO. Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) later confirmed they had received a non-binding proposal from ITO Junro/family.
The initial number was ¥9trln. If market cap? High. If EV, too low. That would have implied a price just over the first "grossly inadequate" ACT price.
There is a lot we don't know. This changes the landscape. It probably shifts the range trade, but it will shift more when we get more clarity on ITO-san's price.


7&I (3382 JP) - An ITO Family MBO? With Itochu? At ¥9trln? Maybe. Information Is Scarce

Japan

Sumitomo Corp is a general trading company.  The Company imports and exports a wide variety of goods such as metals, machinery, chemicals, fuel,food products, and textiles.  Sumitomo also operates real estate, construction, shipping, insurance, finance, and leasing businesses.

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Sumitomo Corp (8053 JP)

[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who: The Growing Concentration of Power in Japanese Consumer Markets

Consumer distribution has shifted post-2020, with market concentration driven by M&A and MBOs. We identify the leaders of this consolidation,...

Michael Causton

Risks Ahead for Japanese Trading Companies. Marubeni, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi

The investment thesis is starting to work as the reasoning behind the trade is playing out as the Japanese Yen strengthens.

Rikki Malik

Sojitz (2768.T) — Japan’s Rare Earth Play

Lynas extended its agreement with Sojitz until 2038, agreeing to supply 75% of its heavy rare earths to Sojitz with a $110/kg NdPr price floor....

Rikki Malik

7&I (3382 JP) - A York Holdings Deal And Warren Buffett?

7&i is holding a bidding process for York Holdings. This could be priced and dealt in 3mos (with close next FY). That cleans up the process for...

Travis Lundy

7&I (3382 JP) - An ITO Family MBO? With Itochu? At ¥9trln? Maybe. Information Is Scarce

An MBO for Seven & i by the ITO family? Maybe. And the number was big (¥3450/sh), unless it was small (¥2,300/sh), and we don't know which. But it...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who: The Growing Concentration of Power in Japanese Consumer Markets

​Consumer distribution has shifted post-2020, with market concentration driven by M&A and MBOs. We identify the leaders of this consolidation,...

Michael Causton

Risks Ahead for Japanese Trading Companies. Marubeni, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi

The investment thesis is starting to work as the reasoning behind the trade is playing out as the Japanese Yen strengthens.

Rikki Malik

Sojitz (2768.T) — Japan’s Rare Earth Play

Lynas extended its agreement with Sojitz until 2038, agreeing to supply 75% of its heavy rare earths to Sojitz with a $110/kg NdPr price floor....

Rikki Malik

7&I (3382 JP) - A York Holdings Deal And Warren Buffett?

7&i is holding a bidding process for York Holdings. This could be priced and dealt in 3mos (with close next FY). That cleans up the process for...

Travis Lundy

7&I (3382 JP) - An ITO Family MBO? With Itochu? At ¥9trln? Maybe. Information Is Scarce

An MBO for Seven & i by the ITO family? Maybe. And the number was big (¥3450/sh), unless it was small (¥2,300/sh), and we don't know which. But it...

Travis Lundy

Consumer distribution has shifted post-2020, with market concentration driven by M&A and MBOs. We identify the leaders of this consolidation,...