Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Yesterday, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/west-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12077:1" rel="noopener">West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP)</a> announced <a href="https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ir/library/flash-report/pdf/fr202404.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FY23 earnings</a>, a <a href="https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ir/news/2025/pdf/en_20240430_01.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher dividend</a>, an <a href="https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ir/library/meeting/pdf/presen20240430.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">update to the Medium-Term Management Plan</a> (p10~), and a Buyback.</li>
<li>Short &amp; Sweet:  Revenues were +17.2%yoy, OP +114.1%, NP +1.6%. OPM was 11.0% and ROE 9.2% (both best since FY18). Guidance is Revenue up, OP down, NP tiny up.</li>
<li>The new FY25 (Mar26) OP guide in the MTMP is the old Mar28 target (mostly inbound tourism-driven). The Buyback is biggish. It is worth looking at the details. </li>
</ul>


Yesterday, West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP) announced FY23 earnings, a higher dividend, an update to the Medium-Term Management Plan (p10~), and a Buyback.
Short &amp; Sweet:  Revenues were +17.2%yoy, OP +114.1%, NP +1.6%. OPM was 11.0% and ROE 9.2% (both best since FY18). Guidance is Revenue up, OP down, NP tiny up.
The new FY25 (Mar26) OP guide in the MTMP is the old Mar28 target (mostly inbound tourism-driven). The Buyback is biggish. It is worth looking at the details. 


JR West (9021 JP) - Shareholder Structure Means Large-Ish Buyback Could Have Impact

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

Nippon Express Holdings / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Since the US$260 million secondary placement announcement, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-express-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18582:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Express Holdings (9147 JP)</a> shares are down 5.3% from the undisturbed price of JPY8,039 per share (1 March).</li>
<li>Looking at recent large Japanese placements is instructive to understand the potential trading pattern. So far, Nippon Express shares have followed the pattern of previous large placements.</li>
<li>The offering will likely be priced on 11 March. Investors who have participated in previous large Japanese placements tend to secure positive returns.</li>
</ul>


Since the US$260 million secondary placement announcement, Nippon Express Holdings (9147 JP) shares are down 5.3% from the undisturbed price of JPY8,039 per share (1 March).
Looking at recent large Japanese placements is instructive to understand the potential trading pattern. So far, Nippon Express shares have followed the pattern of previous large placements.
The offering will likely be priced on 11 March. Investors who have participated in previous large Japanese placements tend to secure positive returns.


Nippon Express (9147 JP): The Current Playbook

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-express-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18582:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Express Holdings (9147 JP)</a> has announced a secondary offering of up to 4.8 million shares (including overallotment). There are seven selling shareholders.</li>
<li>The secondary offering comes ahead of the implementation of regulatory restrictions on truck drivers' overtime in April 2024, which is widely known as the ‘2024 Problem’.</li>
<li>Looking at recent large Japanese placements is instructive for understanding the potential offer price. The pricing date will likely fall between 11 and 13 March (likely 11 March).</li>
</ul>



Nippon Express Holdings (9147 JP) has announced a secondary offering of up to 4.8 million shares (including overallotment). There are seven selling shareholders.
The secondary offering comes ahead of the implementation of regulatory restrictions on truck drivers' overtime in April 2024, which is widely known as the ‘2024 Problem’.
Looking at recent large Japanese placements is instructive for understanding the potential offer price. The pricing date will likely fall between 11 and 13 March (likely 11 March).


Nippon Express (9147 JP): A US$260 Million Secondary Offering

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-metro" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40930:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Metro (TKYMETRO JP)</a>’s shareholders, the Japanese and Tokyo Metropolitan Governments, could look to raise up to US$2bn by selling half of their stake via an IPO.</li>
<li>Tokyo Metro is one of the two metro network operators in the Tokyo region. It operates nine subway lines.</li>
<li>In this note, we take an early look at the possible listing.</li>
</ul>



Tokyo Metro (TKYMETRO JP)’s shareholders, the Japanese and Tokyo Metropolitan Governments, could look to raise up to US$2bn by selling half of their stake via an IPO.
Tokyo Metro is one of the two metro network operators in the Tokyo region. It operates nine subway lines.
In this note, we take an early look at the possible listing.


Tokyo Metro IPO Early Look - Could Raise Around US$2bn While Still Recovering from COVID

<ul>
<li>Since the US$550 million secondary placement announcement, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toei-animation-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18641:1" rel="noopener">Toei Animation (4816 JP)</a>’s shares are down 7.0% from the undisturbed price of JPY18,560 per share (14 February).</li>
<li>Looking at recent large Japanese placements is instructive to understand the potential trading pattern. So far, Toei Animation’s shares have followed the pattern of previous large placements.</li>
<li>The offering will likely be priced on 27 February. Investors participating in previous large Japanese placements tend to secure positive returns.</li>
</ul>


Since the US$550 million secondary placement announcement, Toei Animation (4816 JP)’s shares are down 7.0% from the undisturbed price of JPY18,560 per share (14 February).
Looking at recent large Japanese placements is instructive to understand the potential trading pattern. So far, Toei Animation’s shares have followed the pattern of previous large placements.
The offering will likely be priced on 27 February. Investors participating in previous large Japanese placements tend to secure positive returns.


Toei Animation (4816 JP): The Current Playbook

Japan

West Japan Railway Company provides rail transportation services including the shinkansen network (bullet train) in North Kyushu, Kinki, Chugoku, and Hokuriku including Kyoto and Osaka.  The Company also operates ferries in Miyajima, manages real estate, shopping centers, and hotels, and offers leisure-related services such as travel packaging products.

West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP)

JR West (9021 JP) - Shareholder Structure Means Large-Ish Buyback Could Have Impact

JR West announced b/t/e earnings, and a large-ish buyback. The stock popped. Shareholder structure is such that IF cross-holders do not start...

Travis Lundy

Nippon Express (9147 JP): The Current Playbook

The offering will likely be priced on 11 March. Investors who have participated in previous large Japanese placements tend to secure positive returns.

Arun George

Nippon Express (9147 JP): A US$260 Million Secondary Offering

Looking at recent large Japanese placements is instructive for understanding the potential offer price. The pricing date will likely fall between...

Arun George

Tokyo Metro IPO Early Look - Could Raise Around US$2bn While Still Recovering from COVID

Tokyo Metro’s shareholders, the Japanese and Tokyo Metropolitan Governments, could look to raise up to US$2bn by selling half of their stake via an...

Sumeet Singh

Toei Animation (4816 JP): The Current Playbook

The offering will likely be priced on 27 February. Investors participating in previous large Japanese placements tend to secure positive returns.

Arun George