Daily Brief Japan: Central Glass, Chubu Steel Plate, Softbank Group and more

In today’s briefing:

Central Glass (4044 JP) – Huge Buyback Tender, Meant For Murakami-San’s Exit, Not Yours
Chubu Steel Plate (5461) – Unusual TOPIX Inclusion Possibility
Softbank Group – A Surplus of VC Cash Could Re-Energize Vision Fund’s Investment Pace

Central Glass (4044 JP) – Huge Buyback Tender, Meant For Murakami-San’s Exit, Not Yours

Activist Murakami-san and entities spent 4+ years going from 2% to 30% of Central Glass (4044 JP). In that period, they helped management change governance.
There were buybacks, asset sales, cross-holding sale decisions, and a new Mid-Term Management Plan. The stock went up, so now it is time to get out.
True to Murakami-san style/form, it is an own-share Tender Offer by the TargetCo which means most other active holders can’t really participate. It’s high-quality greenmailgagement.

Today, Nagoya Premier-listed Chubu Steel Plate (5461 JP) announced that it had applied today to be listed in Tokyo.
It is one of very few Japan names not listed in Tokyo. A TSE listing examination will be conducted, and there is a possibility it moves to TSE Prime.
There are 6 key segment transfer and listing requirements to gain a listing in TSE Prime. Chubu Steel Plate is really close.

News reports indicate venture capital firms are sitting in cash reserves 2x normal levels and that needs to be put to work
We expected a narrowing of public v private valuation levels was needed for Softbank to pivot from recent defensive but competition for deals may be more relevant
Access to investment capital is easier after settling of Alibaba-linked derivative contracts and Softbank has showed as recently as 2020 asset sales that it can lever up quickly

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