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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trend-micro-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13172:1" rel="noopener">Trend Micro Inc (4704 JP)</a> shares rose 14.8% on Friday after Reuters reported that it is exploring a sale after attracting buyout interest. </li>
<li>The interest is unsurprising due to the weak share price. Since ValueAct disclosed a stake on 8 August 2022, the shares are down 0.7% vs the Nikkei 225’s 23.6% increase.</li>
<li>The lack of a controlling shareholder and increased cybersecurity M&amp;A activity support the buyout interest. A privatisation price is likely to be around JPY9,000. Valuation is undemanding at last close.</li>
</ul>



Trend Micro Inc (4704 JP) shares rose 14.8% on Friday after Reuters reported that it is exploring a sale after attracting buyout interest. 
The interest is unsurprising due to the weak share price. Since ValueAct disclosed a stake on 8 August 2022, the shares are down 0.7% vs the Nikkei 225’s 23.6% increase.
The lack of a controlling shareholder and increased cybersecurity M&amp;A activity support the buyout interest. A privatisation price is likely to be around JPY9,000. Valuation is undemanding at last close.


Trend Micro (4704 JP): Evaluating the Privatisation Rumours

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Japan's tech market sees major movement with Carlyle's 120% premium bid for Kaonavi, highlighting the stark valuation gap between Japanese and US SaaS companies.</li>
<li>Many Japanese software firms trade at significantly lower multiples (4x) versus US peers (8x), attracting private equity attention.</li>
<li>Japanese stocks ended the week up around 1%. Global macro concerns and inflation lifting bond yields and raising concern over a stronger yen. </li>
</ul>


Japan's tech market sees major movement with Carlyle's 120% premium bid for Kaonavi, highlighting the stark valuation gap between Japanese and US SaaS companies.
Many Japanese software firms trade at significantly lower multiples (4x) versus US peers (8x), attracting private equity attention.
Japanese stocks ended the week up around 1%. Global macro concerns and inflation lifting bond yields and raising concern over a stronger yen. 


Japan Strategy Weekly | Carlyle's Kaonavi Deal Signals a Shift in Japanese Valuations

Japanese Equity Specialist, Ortus Advisors

Andrew Jackson

Japanese Equity Specialist

Ortus Advisors

<ul>
<li>Applied Digital landing a big data center order from CoreWeave lifting AI related plays setting upbeat tone for SPE.</li>
<li>Big Chinese SiC capacity coming online further adding to the price pressures for Rohm.</li>
<li>Square Enix cancelling its 'Project Gemini' with Polish developer another foreign flop reminiscent of Avengers?</li>
</ul>


Applied Digital landing a big data center order from CoreWeave lifting AI related plays setting upbeat tone for SPE.
Big Chinese SiC capacity coming online further adding to the price pressures for Rohm.
Square Enix cancelling its 'Project Gemini' with Polish developer another foreign flop reminiscent of Avengers?


Japan Morning Connection: Markets Rising from Morning Lows on Expectations for a Trump-Xi Call

Tracking developments across tech supply chains, Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tracking developments across tech supply chains

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>DeepSeek app revolutionizes smart vehicles with advanced technology for a seamless driving experience and enhanced safety features.</li><li>Primarius enhances EDA consolidation in China through the acquisition of Actt, accelerating innovation and growth in the semiconductor industry.</li><li>SMIC experiences record revenue growth in 2024, but sees a 23% decline in profit, highlighting the challenges faced by the company in a competitive market. Trend Micro warns of AI security risks and 'grandma prompt' threat at the AI Expo 2025. Uni-President Group strengthens e-commerce presence through strategic acquisitions and investments in Yahoo Taiwan and PChome Online.</li></ul>

DeepSeek app revolutionizes smart vehicles with advanced technology for a seamless driving experience and enhanced safety features.Primarius enhances EDA consolidation in China through the acquisition of Actt, accelerating innovation and growth in the semiconductor industry.SMIC experiences record revenue growth in 2024, but sees a 23% decline in profit, highlighting the challenges faced by the company in a competitive market. Trend Micro warns of AI security risks and 'grandma prompt' threat at the AI Expo 2025. Uni-President Group strengthens e-commerce presence through strategic acquisitions and investments in Yahoo Taiwan and PChome Online.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (29-Mar-2025): Smart cars use DeepSeek apps.

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>In a big surprise, there is only one change for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> in March with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baycurrent-consulting-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25985:1" rel="noopener">BayCurrent Consulting (6532 JP)</a> replacing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-logistics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11909:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi Logistics (9301 JP)</a>. </li>
<li>The non-inclusion of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> is a big surprise given that the stock was ranked among the top 75 stocks by liquidity. There could be selling near-term.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baycurrent-consulting-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25985:1" rel="noopener">BayCurrent Consulting (6532 JP)</a> has been added at a 0.5 PAF and that will increase to 1 in September. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> could be capped yet again in September.</li>
</ul>


In a big surprise, there is only one change for the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) in March with BayCurrent Consulting (6532 JP) replacing Mitsubishi Logistics (9301 JP). 
The non-inclusion of Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) is a big surprise given that the stock was ranked among the top 75 stocks by liquidity. There could be selling near-term.

BayCurrent Consulting (6532 JP) has been added at a 0.5 PAF and that will increase to 1 in September. Fast Retailing (9983 JP) could be capped yet again in September.


Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance: Baycurrent (6532) Replaces Mitsubishi Logistics (9301); Kokusai Elec👎

Japan

Trend Micro Incorporated develops and markets anti-virus computer software and internet security software.  The Company also sells its products in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

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Trend Micro Inc (4704 JP)

Trend Micro (4704 JP): Evaluating the Privatisation Rumours

The lack of a controlling shareholder and increased cybersecurity M&A activity support the buyout interest. A privatisation price is likely to be...

Arun George

Japan Strategy Weekly | Carlyle's Kaonavi Deal Signals a Shift in Japanese Valuations

Carlyle's bid for Kaonavi underscores valuation gap between Japanese and US SaaS companies, attracting private equity interest. Japanese stocks up...

Mark Chadwick

Japan Morning Connection: Markets Rising from Morning Lows on Expectations for a Trump-Xi Call

Applied Digital secures big data center order, setting a good tone for AI and SPE. Chinese SiC capacity increase adds pressure for Rohm. Potential...

Andrew Jackson

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (29-Mar-2025): Smart cars use DeepSeek apps.

DeepSeek app enhances smart vehicle capabilities. Primarius accelerates EDA consolidation with Actt acquisition in China while SMIC's profit...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance: Baycurrent (6532) Replaces Mitsubishi Logistics (9301); Kokusai Elec👎

Baycurrent replaces Mitsubishi Logistics in the NKY at the close 31 March. Kokusai Electric misses out and Fast Retailing is capped. One-way...

Brian Freitas

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Market Cap (USDm)

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Trend Micro (4704 JP): Evaluating the Privatisation Rumours

The lack of a controlling shareholder and increased cybersecurity M&A activity support the buyout interest. A privatisation price is likely to be...

Arun George

Japan Strategy Weekly | Carlyle's Kaonavi Deal Signals a Shift in Japanese Valuations

​Carlyle's bid for Kaonavi underscores valuation gap between Japanese and US SaaS companies, attracting private equity interest. Japanese stocks up...

Mark Chadwick

Japan Morning Connection: Markets Rising from Morning Lows on Expectations for a Trump-Xi Call

​Applied Digital secures big data center order, setting a good tone for AI and SPE. Chinese SiC capacity increase adds pressure for Rohm. Potential...

Andrew Jackson

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (29-Mar-2025): Smart cars use DeepSeek apps.

DeepSeek app enhances smart vehicle capabilities. Primarius accelerates EDA consolidation with Actt acquisition in China while SMIC's profit...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance: Baycurrent (6532) Replaces Mitsubishi Logistics (9301); Kokusai Elec👎

Baycurrent replaces Mitsubishi Logistics in the NKY at the close 31 March. Kokusai Electric misses out and Fast Retailing is capped. One-way...

Brian Freitas

Carlyle's bid for Kaonavi underscores valuation gap between Japanese and US SaaS companies, attracting private equity interest. Japanese stocks up...

Applied Digital secures big data center order, setting a good tone for AI and SPE. Chinese SiC capacity increase adds pressure for Rohm. Potential...