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Smartkarma Daily Briefs

Daily Brief Thematic (Sector/Industry): APAC Healthcare Weekly (April 13)- Daiichi Sankyo and more

By | Daily Briefs, Thematic (Sector/Industry)

In today’s briefing:

  • APAC Healthcare Weekly (April 13)- Daiichi Sankyo, Kaken, ABL Bio, Samsung Biologics, Sun Pharma


APAC Healthcare Weekly (April 13)- Daiichi Sankyo, Kaken, ABL Bio, Samsung Biologics, Sun Pharma

By Tina Banerjee

  • Daiichi Sankyo received EU approval for Enhertu in breast cancer. Kaken Pharmaceutical in-licensed hereditary angioedema drug candidate sebetralstat for Japan from KalVista Pharmaceuticals for an upfront payment of $11M.
  • ABL Bio signed £2B+ outlicensing licensing deal with GSK to develop novel medicines for neurodegenerative diseases. Samsung Biologics launched Epysqli, a biosimilar referencing Soliris in the U.S.
  • U.S. court ruled in favor of Sun Pharma regarding the launch of alopecia areata drug Leqselvi. Mayne Pharma has been involved in a legal proceeding in U.S., brought by TherapeuticsMD.

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Daily Brief ECM: MNTN IPO Preview: Fidelity-Backed Category Creator of Performance TV and more

By | Daily Briefs, ECM

In today’s briefing:

  • MNTN IPO Preview: Fidelity-Backed Category Creator of Performance TV, Watch This Offering Closely


MNTN IPO Preview: Fidelity-Backed Category Creator of Performance TV, Watch This Offering Closely

By Andrei Zakharov

  • MNTN, Inc. (pronounced “mountain”), leader in OTT advertising software and first mover of PTV in the United States, filed to go public.
  • Founder-Led adtech company was backed by Fidelity, BlackRock, Greycroft, SV Angel, Qualcomm Ventures, and Baroda Ventures, among others.
  • I like the company’s leadership position,  high growth, FCF positive business and $60B+ near-term market opportunity centering around SMBs in the United States.

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Daily Brief Equity Bottom-Up: Meitetsu Transport (9077JP) Confirms Closure of Last Department Store and more

By | Daily Briefs, Equity Bottom-Up

In today’s briefing:

  • Meitetsu Transport (9077JP) Confirms Closure of Last Department Store
  • Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical (4530 JP): Salonpas Holds Fort; New Products Ramp-Up; Stable FY26 Expected
  • Korea: Short Selling Data Analysis (Which Stocks Are the Gainers and the Losers?)


Meitetsu Transport (9077JP) Confirms Closure of Last Department Store

By Michael Causton

  • Until quite recently, Nagoya had seven department stores but will soon have just four. 
  • This follows Meitetsu’s decision to close its flagship store to clear the way for a major redevelopment of the station area.
  • The new development will include retail and so bring some competition to Takashimaya, which now dominates department store retailing in the city, but not before 2033.

Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical (4530 JP): Salonpas Holds Fort; New Products Ramp-Up; Stable FY26 Expected

By Tina Banerjee

  • Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co (4530 JP) reported double digit revenue growth in FY25 on the back of 16% YoY growth in Salonpas focused OTC pharmaceutical products.
  • Rx business revenues grew 5% YoY as Zicthoru, Apohide, Combipatch, Vivelle-Dot etc clocked healthy numbers excepting Mohrus product line.
  • Hisamitsu expects FY26 revenue to be ¥165B, up 6% YoY, driven by new products, with net profit growth to decelerate on higher cost.

Korea: Short Selling Data Analysis (Which Stocks Are the Gainers and the Losers?)

By Douglas Kim

  • We provide the short selling data analysis of the Korean stock market including the top 20 stocks in KOSPI with the highest short interest ratios in KOSPI and KOSDAQ, respectively. 
  • There have been noticeable shorting on the Ecopro Group companies and other key names in the rechargeable battery sector including Posco Future M, L&F, and SK IE Technology. 
  • Shorting has generally worked for KOSDAQ names with higher short interest ratios but not for KOSPI names in the past two weeks. 

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Daily Brief Event-Driven: Tsuruha (3391 JP): Welcia (3141 JP) Share Exchange and Aeon (8267 JP) Partial Offer Unattractive and more

By | Daily Briefs, Event-Driven

In today’s briefing:

  • Tsuruha (3391 JP): Welcia (3141 JP) Share Exchange and Aeon (8267 JP) Partial Offer Unattractive
  • Fengxiang (9977 HK): PAG’s Preconditional Privatisation Offer at HK$2.00
  • (Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Abacus Storage, Gold Road, Mayne Pharma, Canvest, ESR, Shibaura Electronics
  • Last Week in Event SPACE: James Hardie/Azek, China’s Maritime/Shipping Sectors, CK Hutch, HKBN


Tsuruha (3391 JP): Welcia (3141 JP) Share Exchange and Aeon (8267 JP) Partial Offer Unattractive

By Arun George

  • Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP) and Welcia Holdings (3141 JP) announced a merger through a share exchange followed by a partial tender offer by Aeon for a 50.90% stake of the merged entity.
  • The share exchange terms favour Welcia over Tsuruha shareholders. The Tsuruha shareholder vote is high risk as Orbis, the second-largest shareholder, intends to vote NO
  • Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)’s follow-up partial offer for Tsuruha is unattractive compared to its previous offer for the Oasis stake, peer multiples and premium to the undisturbed price.   

Fengxiang (9977 HK): PAG’s Preconditional Privatisation Offer at HK$2.00

By Arun George

  • Shandong Fengxiang (9977 HK) has disclosed a preconditional privatisation offer from PAG, the controlling shareholder, at HK$2.00 per H share, a 33.3% premium to the undisturbed price.  
  • The precondition relates to regulatory approvals. The key conditions for the privatisation will be approval by at least 75% independent H Shareholders (<10% of all independent H Shareholders rejection). 
  • The shareholders with blocking stakes which have not provided irrevocables will likely be supportive as the offer is reasonable and there is a potential scrip alternative. 

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Abacus Storage, Gold Road, Mayne Pharma, Canvest, ESR, Shibaura Electronics

By David Blennerhassett


Last Week in Event SPACE: James Hardie/Azek, China’s Maritime/Shipping Sectors, CK Hutch, HKBN

By David Blennerhassett

  • James Hardie (JHX AU)‘s merger with Azek (AZEK US) isn’t inherently a “bad” deal; but arguably risky and expensive. Yet JHX is down a massive 23% on the news.
  • The Biden Administration’s USTR Report (bad data/analytics) was a disaster. But true to form, if it allows the USG to stomp on China, Trump is going to take it.
  • The irony is that CKH (1 HK)s Panama-port sale was probably prompted, at least in part, by a desire to get out of a situation which was becoming increasingly political.

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Daily Brief Macro: Overview #22 – The Lunatics Have Taken over the Asylum and more

By | Daily Briefs, Macro

In today’s briefing:

  • Overview #22 – The Lunatics Have Taken over the Asylum


Overview #22 – The Lunatics Have Taken over the Asylum

By Rikki Malik

  • A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook
  • The new Trump Administration’s “plan” for China is becoming clearer
  • What’s next for markets after the tumultuous events of the last week

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Daily Brief Australia: James Hardie Industries Plc and more

By | Australia, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Last Week in Event SPACE: James Hardie/Azek, China’s Maritime/Shipping Sectors, CK Hutch, HKBN


Last Week in Event SPACE: James Hardie/Azek, China’s Maritime/Shipping Sectors, CK Hutch, HKBN

By David Blennerhassett

  • James Hardie (JHX AU)‘s merger with Azek (AZEK US) isn’t inherently a “bad” deal; but arguably risky and expensive. Yet JHX is down a massive 23% on the news.
  • The Biden Administration’s USTR Report (bad data/analytics) was a disaster. But true to form, if it allows the USG to stomp on China, Trump is going to take it.
  • The irony is that CKH (1 HK)s Panama-port sale was probably prompted, at least in part, by a desire to get out of a situation which was becoming increasingly political.

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Daily Brief South Korea: Ecopro BM and more

By | Daily Briefs, South Korea

In today’s briefing:

  • Korea: Short Selling Data Analysis (Which Stocks Are the Gainers and the Losers?)


Korea: Short Selling Data Analysis (Which Stocks Are the Gainers and the Losers?)

By Douglas Kim

  • We provide the short selling data analysis of the Korean stock market including the top 20 stocks in KOSPI with the highest short interest ratios in KOSPI and KOSDAQ, respectively. 
  • There have been noticeable shorting on the Ecopro Group companies and other key names in the rechargeable battery sector including Posco Future M, L&F, and SK IE Technology. 
  • Shorting has generally worked for KOSDAQ names with higher short interest ratios but not for KOSPI names in the past two weeks. 

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

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  • ✓ Events & Webinars



Daily Brief China: Shandong Fengxiang, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, Hang Seng Index and more

By | China, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Fengxiang (9977 HK): PAG’s Preconditional Privatisation Offer at HK$2.00
  • HSCEI Index Options Weekly (Apr 7-11): Vol Reset, Skew Reprices, and 8,000 Strike in Focus
  • HSI Index Options Weekly (Apr 07–11): Vol Shifts and Early Signs of USD Toxicity
  • Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (Apr 07–11): Vol Spikes, Breadth Cracks & ETF Activity Surges


Fengxiang (9977 HK): PAG’s Preconditional Privatisation Offer at HK$2.00

By Arun George

  • Shandong Fengxiang (9977 HK) has disclosed a preconditional privatisation offer from PAG, the controlling shareholder, at HK$2.00 per H share, a 33.3% premium to the undisturbed price.  
  • The precondition relates to regulatory approvals. The key conditions for the privatisation will be approval by at least 75% independent H Shareholders (<10% of all independent H Shareholders rejection). 
  • The shareholders with blocking stakes which have not provided irrevocables will likely be supportive as the offer is reasonable and there is a potential scrip alternative. 

HSCEI Index Options Weekly (Apr 7-11): Vol Reset, Skew Reprices, and 8,000 Strike in Focus

By John Ley

  • Brutal start to the week, with the holiday-shortened calendar and continued global weakness weighing on Monday’s open.
  • Implied vol surged early, with skew steepening and tail demand reflected in out-of-the-money Put pricing
  • We highlight significant activity at the 8,000 strike and its implications for near-term spot and vol dynamics.

HSI Index Options Weekly (Apr 07–11): Vol Shifts and Early Signs of USD Toxicity

By John Ley

  • A volatile week for HSI, with sharp moves in price, volume, and implied volatility concentrated around Monday’s gap lower.
  • We discuss the shift in spot-vol dynamics and how it may influence short-term vol trading.
  • Changes in open interest and vol structure are examined in the context of ongoing global tensions.

Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (Apr 07–11): Vol Spikes, Breadth Cracks & ETF Activity Surges

By John Ley

  • A challenging week for HK single stocks, with weak breadth and sharp losses punctuated by a gap lower to start the week.
  • Monday marked the highest options volume day of the year, with a spike in the Put/Call ratio and unusual ETF option activity.
  • Implied vols surged, with the average implied vol percentile at very elevated levels.

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Daily Brief United States: S&P 500 INDEX, MNTN and more

By | Daily Briefs, United States

In today’s briefing:

  • Global Markets: Why This Sell-Off Is Different. UPDATE
  • MNTN IPO Preview: Fidelity-Backed Category Creator of Performance TV, Watch This Offering Closely


Global Markets: Why This Sell-Off Is Different. UPDATE

By John Ley

  • We revisit key cross-asset signals as traditional safe havens fail to respond in familiar ways.
  • The past 8 days have delivered a combination of asset moves with few, if any,  historical parallels.
  • With trust in U.S. safe haven assets under pressure, we explore emerging themes and ramifications.

MNTN IPO Preview: Fidelity-Backed Category Creator of Performance TV, Watch This Offering Closely

By Andrei Zakharov

  • MNTN, Inc. (pronounced “mountain”), leader in OTT advertising software and first mover of PTV in the United States, filed to go public.
  • Founder-Led adtech company was backed by Fidelity, BlackRock, Greycroft, SV Angel, Qualcomm Ventures, and Baroda Ventures, among others.
  • I like the company’s leadership position,  high growth, FCF positive business and $60B+ near-term market opportunity centering around SMBs in the United States.

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Daily Brief Japan: Tsuruha Holdings, Shibaura Electronics, JX Advanced Metals, Meitetsu Transport, Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co, TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX and more

By | Daily Briefs, Japan

In today’s briefing:

  • Tsuruha (3391 JP): Welcia (3141 JP) Share Exchange and Aeon (8267 JP) Partial Offer Unattractive
  • (Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Abacus Storage, Gold Road, Mayne Pharma, Canvest, ESR, Shibaura Electronics
  • TOPIX Inclusions: Who Is Ready (Apr 2025)
  • Meitetsu Transport (9077JP) Confirms Closure of Last Department Store
  • Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical (4530 JP): Salonpas Holds Fort; New Products Ramp-Up; Stable FY26 Expected
  • Effectiveness of MBO Special Committee Is Linked to Effectiveness of Independent Directors


Tsuruha (3391 JP): Welcia (3141 JP) Share Exchange and Aeon (8267 JP) Partial Offer Unattractive

By Arun George

  • Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP) and Welcia Holdings (3141 JP) announced a merger through a share exchange followed by a partial tender offer by Aeon for a 50.90% stake of the merged entity.
  • The share exchange terms favour Welcia over Tsuruha shareholders. The Tsuruha shareholder vote is high risk as Orbis, the second-largest shareholder, intends to vote NO
  • Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)’s follow-up partial offer for Tsuruha is unattractive compared to its previous offer for the Oasis stake, peer multiples and premium to the undisturbed price.   

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Abacus Storage, Gold Road, Mayne Pharma, Canvest, ESR, Shibaura Electronics

By David Blennerhassett


TOPIX Inclusions: Who Is Ready (Apr 2025)

By Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

  • Quiddity’s “Who is Ready” series of insights aims to objectively identify names listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange that are potential additions to the TOPIX Index in future.
  • The TOPIX Inclusions of Baudroie (4413 JP) and JX Advanced Metals (5016 JP) are expected to take place at the end of April 2025.
  • Separately, the 0.75x TOPIX Liquidity Factor removal event will also take place at the same time. We expect one-way flows of US$514mn for this event.

Meitetsu Transport (9077JP) Confirms Closure of Last Department Store

By Michael Causton

  • Until quite recently, Nagoya had seven department stores but will soon have just four. 
  • This follows Meitetsu’s decision to close its flagship store to clear the way for a major redevelopment of the station area.
  • The new development will include retail and so bring some competition to Takashimaya, which now dominates department store retailing in the city, but not before 2033.

Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical (4530 JP): Salonpas Holds Fort; New Products Ramp-Up; Stable FY26 Expected

By Tina Banerjee

  • Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co (4530 JP) reported double digit revenue growth in FY25 on the back of 16% YoY growth in Salonpas focused OTC pharmaceutical products.
  • Rx business revenues grew 5% YoY as Zicthoru, Apohide, Combipatch, Vivelle-Dot etc clocked healthy numbers excepting Mohrus product line.
  • Hisamitsu expects FY26 revenue to be ¥165B, up 6% YoY, driven by new products, with net profit growth to decelerate on higher cost.

Effectiveness of MBO Special Committee Is Linked to Effectiveness of Independent Directors

By Aki Matsumoto

  • The key is whether the effectiveness of special committee can fairly guide MBO, but whether the independent outside directors are truly independent, properly informed, and skilled is an important assumption.
  • Since companies with high foreign shareholdings generally have higher corporate governance practices, there are concerns about practices in MBO cases for many companies that do not have high foreign shareholdings.
  • When a company whose “goal is IPO” conducts MBO when the stock price is lower than at IPO, there are concerns about whether the special committee will guide MBO fairly.

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