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>Sumitomo Chemical issued new guidance in-line for 3/24 and xx% ahead of consensus for 3/25 EBIT, yet, the shares promptly declined by 10%.</li>
<li>Traders were probably spooked by the company’s booking of ¥340bn in impairments that was ¥200bn more than published consensus, but we argue that this was more than already priced in.</li>
<li>The only reasonable explanation for the reaction is that the market doesn't believe the new guidance for 3/25. This could prove to be a huge mistake.</li>
</ul>


Sumitomo Chemical issued new guidance in-line for 3/24 and xx% ahead of consensus for 3/25 EBIT, yet, the shares promptly declined by 10%.
Traders were probably spooked by the company’s booking of ¥340bn in impairments that was ¥200bn more than published consensus, but we argue that this was more than already priced in.
The only reasonable explanation for the reaction is that the market doesn't believe the new guidance for 3/25. This could prove to be a huge mistake.


Sumitomo Chemical (4005): To Believe Or Not To Believe, That Is the Question

<ul>
<li>Sumitomo issued new guidance for the year to 3/25 that was 40% higher than consensus estimates, but the stock cratered almost 5%.</li>
<li>We were able to think of at least 6 explanations for this odd reaction - all of them irrational.  </li>
<li>A reasonable person listening to the call should have been pleased by almost all that was new information. </li>
</ul>


Sumitomo issued new guidance for the year to 3/25 that was 40% higher than consensus estimates, but the stock cratered almost 5%.
We were able to think of at least 6 explanations for this odd reaction - all of them irrational.  
A reasonable person listening to the call should have been pleased by almost all that was new information. 


Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bristol-myers-squibb-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1133:1" rel="noopener">Bristol Myers Squibb Co (BMY US)</a> is acquiring <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/karuna-therapeutics-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28720:1" rel="noopener">Karuna Therapeutics Inc (KRTX US)</a> for $330/share in cash for equity value of ~$14B. The transaction is expected to close in 1H24. </li>
<li>Karuna’s lead asset, KarXT has FDA action date of September 26, 2024 for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. KarXT has peak annual sales potential of $6–7B.</li>
<li>Considering strong clinical efficacy and favorable risk profile of KarXT, the deal seems to be fairly valued. Current market price of Karuna shares of $318.41 represents absolute spread of ~3.6%.</li>
</ul>



Bristol Myers Squibb Co (BMY US) is acquiring Karuna Therapeutics Inc (KRTX US) for $330/share in cash for equity value of ~$14B. The transaction is expected to close in 1H24. 
Karuna’s lead asset, KarXT has FDA action date of September 26, 2024 for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. KarXT has peak annual sales potential of $6–7B.
Considering strong clinical efficacy and favorable risk profile of KarXT, the deal seems to be fairly valued. Current market price of Karuna shares of $318.41 represents absolute spread of ~3.6%.


Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX US): BMS Acquisition Offers Decent Short-Term Trading Opportunity

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>The Nikkei 225 data for the March 2024 rebalance is a wrap. The names are the same as before but there is likely less <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/disco-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15817:1" rel="noopener">DISCO Corp (6146 JP)</a> to buy.</li>
<li>It's still big, but smaller than before because of the difference between performance and the change in PAF required to be below 1%. A 4:1 share split would be optimal.</li>
<li>I recommend a few positioning changes from before, and the Fast Retailing trade loses one short-term option but the longer-term one stays in place.</li>
</ul>


The Nikkei 225 data for the March 2024 rebalance is a wrap. The names are the same as before but there is likely less DISCO Corp (6146 JP) to buy.
It's still big, but smaller than before because of the difference between performance and the change in PAF required to be below 1%. A 4:1 share split would be optimal.
I recommend a few positioning changes from before, and the Fast Retailing trade loses one short-term option but the longer-term one stays in place.


FINAL PREDICTIONS: March 2024 Nikkei 225 Rebal (Socionext, Disco, and 1 Consumer Goods Stock to ADD)

<ul>
<li>No changes in the rankings since last time. Socionext (6526), Disco (6146), and a Consumer Goods stock (Zozo (3092) top-ranked, Ryohin Keikaku (7453) a better choice) are ADDs.</li>
<li>The DELETEs are still Takara Holdings (2531), Pacific Metals (5541), Sumitomo Osaka Cement (5232) with a dark horse candidate in Hitachi Zosen (7004) to replace Takara.</li>
<li>There is the upweight to Nitori (9843) but now less funkiness with Fast Retailing (9983). But it will continue being an interesting Nikkei 225 influence (for years to come).</li>
</ul>


No changes in the rankings since last time. Socionext (6526), Disco (6146), and a Consumer Goods stock (Zozo (3092) top-ranked, Ryohin Keikaku (7453) a better choice) are ADDs.
The DELETEs are still Takara Holdings (2531), Pacific Metals (5541), Sumitomo Osaka Cement (5232) with a dark horse candidate in Hitachi Zosen (7004) to replace Takara.
There is the upweight to Nitori (9843) but now less funkiness with Fast Retailing (9983). But it will continue being an interesting Nikkei 225 influence (for years to come).


March 2024 Nikkei 225 Rebal:  Socionext, Disco, and a Consumer Goods Stock, Still

Japan

Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. mainly manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use. The Company also produces and sells livestock feeds, food additives, and chemical products, as well as conducts clinical pathology tests for animals. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma conducts businesses across worldwide.

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Sumitomo Pharma (4506 JP)

Sumitomo Chemical (4005): To Believe Or Not To Believe, That Is the Question

When Sumitomo Chemical announced a JPY200bn increase in impairment losses, the market was already discounting twice that much. More positive...

Michael Allen

Sumitomo Chemical (4005): Up Is Down

Sumitomo's share price dropped 5% on new guidance that was 40% higher than consensus. That's exactly as crazy as it sounds.

Michael Allen

Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX US): BMS Acquisition Offers Decent Short-Term Trading Opportunity

BMS is acquiring Karuna Therapeutics for $330/share in cash, with the deal expected to close in 1H24. Current market price of Karuna shares...

Tina Banerjee

FINAL PREDICTIONS: March 2024 Nikkei 225 Rebal (Socionext, Disco, and 1 Consumer Goods Stock to ADD)

The announcement will come out in <3 weeks. Since I published, we have an update that Yanai-san sold Fast Retailing shares, Nitori jumped 8% on...

Travis Lundy

March 2024 Nikkei 225 Rebal: Socionext, Disco, and a Consumer Goods Stock, Still

Fast Retailing reported a beat, went to 11%, expect the possibility Yanai-san will be selling this week into the end of January, picking up the...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Sumitomo Chemical (4005): To Believe Or Not To Believe, That Is the Question

When Sumitomo Chemical announced a JPY200bn increase in impairment losses, the market was already discounting twice that much. More positive...

Michael Allen

Sumitomo Chemical (4005): Up Is Down

Sumitomo's share price dropped 5% on new guidance that was 40% higher than consensus. That's exactly as crazy as it sounds.

Michael Allen

Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX US): BMS Acquisition Offers Decent Short-Term Trading Opportunity

​BMS is acquiring Karuna Therapeutics for $330/share in cash, with the deal expected to close in 1H24. Current market price of Karuna shares...

Tina Banerjee

FINAL PREDICTIONS: March 2024 Nikkei 225 Rebal (Socionext, Disco, and 1 Consumer Goods Stock to ADD)

The announcement will come out in <3 weeks. Since I published, we have an update that Yanai-san sold Fast Retailing shares, Nitori jumped 8% on...

Travis Lundy

March 2024 Nikkei 225 Rebal: Socionext, Disco, and a Consumer Goods Stock, Still

Fast Retailing reported a beat, went to 11%, expect the possibility Yanai-san will be selling this week into the end of January, picking up the...

Travis Lundy

BMS is acquiring Karuna Therapeutics for $330/share in cash, with the deal expected to close in 1H24. Current market price of Karuna shares...