Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

ORIENTAL LAND CO., LTD. operates Tokyo Disney Resort.  The Company also operates restaurants within the complex and sells Disney merchandise.

<ul>
<li>In mid-January, the TSE announced a "name-and-shame" list where they listed all the companies which had put forth a disclosure about 【資本コストや株価を意識した経営の実現に向けた対応】. But they did not actually shame.</li>
<li>The list shows which companies have disclosed a policy/consideration. But no data/links. We are weeks ahead of the TSE and we have all the links.</li>
<li>We created a tool to name <em>everyone</em>, show their reports, provide links to every document, and now a new tool. Put in a name, see the difference between the Old/New Reports.</li>
</ul>


In mid-January, the TSE announced a "name-and-shame" list where they listed all the companies which had put forth a disclosure about 【資本コストや株価を意識した経営の実現に向けた対応】. But they did not actually shame.
The list shows which companies have disclosed a policy/consideration. But no data/links. We are weeks ahead of the TSE and we have all the links.
We created a tool to name everyone, show their reports, provide links to every document, and now a new tool. Put in a name, see the difference between the Old/New Reports.


Updated Tool (30Apr24) & "Diff File Generator" For TSE "Mgmt Conscious of Capital Cost/Stock Price"

Chilled & Frozen Logistics Holdings / Event-Driven

Chilled & Frozen Logistics Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides freight transportation and trucking services.

Chilled & Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chilled-frozen-logistics-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40987:1" rel="noopener">Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP)</a> had been sending out questions, and trying to get <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/az-com-maruwa-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17280:1" rel="noopener">AZ-Com Maruwa Holdings (9090 JP)</a> to delay the start until at least late-May.</li>
<li>AZ-Com Maruwa answered questions (<a href="https://contents.xj-storage.jp/xcontents/AS96767/8ab1adb2/511f/4c2b/b41d/8ee9b69afa57/140120240419573330.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first</a> and <a href="https://contents.xj-storage.jp/xcontents/AS96767/84331775/46b3/43bb/9e72/0366975d1bfa/140120240426577630.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second</a> set) and on the 24th, C&amp;F asked AZ-Com to extend. They did not extend. AZ-Com announced the Tender Offer at ¥3,000 today.</li>
<li>C&amp;F responded today saying the TOB is launched without C&amp;F Board approval. Then they said some other things that might be disclosed when C&amp;F's Board presents its Target Opinion.</li>
</ul>



Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP) had been sending out questions, and trying to get AZ-Com Maruwa Holdings (9090 JP) to delay the start until at least late-May.
AZ-Com Maruwa answered questions (first and second set) and on the 24th, C&amp;F asked AZ-Com to extend. They did not extend. AZ-Com announced the Tender Offer at ¥3,000 today.
C&amp;F responded today saying the TOB is launched without C&amp;F Board approval. Then they said some other things that might be disclosed when C&amp;F's Board presents its Target Opinion.


AZ-Com Maruwa Launches Hostile TOB on Chilled & Frozen Logistics (9099) - Expect More Fun To Come

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.

<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

IDP Education Limited provides student placement services to enroll into universities, schools, and colleges. The Company offers student services, such as university and course guidance, visa application and scholarships assistance, and pre-departure support services. IDP Education operates worldwide.

<ul>
<li>I am not a tax advisor and I do not play one on TV but it is a subject of interest in Australia, as <a href="https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/opportunities-as-investors-sell-stocks-for-tax-losses-before-june-30-20220527-p5ap0w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an AFR article</a> from June 2022 shows.</li>
<li>The general gist: retail investors in Australia will take gains on stocks which run up in price, or get taken over, then look for losses to offset.</li>
<li>Below I present a study using data from 2012-2023 and this year's portfolio.</li>
</ul>


I am not a tax advisor and I do not play one on TV but it is a subject of interest in Australia, as an AFR article from June 2022 shows.
The general gist: retail investors in Australia will take gains on stocks which run up in price, or get taken over, then look for losses to offset.
Below I present a study using data from 2012-2023 and this year's portfolio.


Tax-Loss Selling in Australia 2024 - Historical Analysis and A Trade Basket

KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd. operates chain stores of fried chicken restaurant.  The  Company also operates Pizza Hut restaurant chain.

<ul>
<li>On 28 Feb, the Nikkei <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-deals/Mitsubishi-readies-sale-of-stake-in-KFC-restaurant-chain-in-Japan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> (an article I missed) <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)</a> would seek to unload its 35% stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kfc-holdings-japan-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12358:1" rel="noopener">Kfc Holdings Japan (9873 JP)</a> </li>
<li>The stock popped, then continued to rise further. After the close Friday, the Nikkei <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-deals/Carlyle-nears-deal-to-buy-KFC-Japan-s-shares-from-Mitsubishi-Corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> MitCorp was close to a deal with Carlyle. A deal is apparently expected imminently.</li>
<li>I expect this could be a "Split Price Deal" (like Hitachi Transport and Pasona).</li>
</ul>


On 28 Feb, the Nikkei reported (an article I missed) Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP) would seek to unload its 35% stake in Kfc Holdings Japan (9873 JP) 
The stock popped, then continued to rise further. After the close Friday, the Nikkei reported MitCorp was close to a deal with Carlyle. A deal is apparently expected imminently.
I expect this could be a "Split Price Deal" (like Hitachi Transport and Pasona).


Carlyle Reportedly To Buy KFC Japan (9873) From MitCorp (8058) - Deal Likely Imminent

HK Type 4 license through Ballingal Investment Advisors Ltd. ("BIA" or "BIAL")

BACKGROUND
I have 20+yrs experience in Asia doing alternative strategies (i.e. non-delta1 non long-only) in fixed income, equity derivatives, and activist/catalyst/event-driven and long-short equity strategies with most of that time spent managing money. 

4 years in fixed income macro, 8 years running internal hedge fund and 4yrs investment banking at Citi in Japan, 3 years running an Asia multi-strat portfolio at a hedge fund, 4+yrs as an independent special situations analyst.

Travis Lundy
Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events
• Quiddity Advisors

Updated Tool (30Apr24) & "Diff File Generator" For TSE "Mgmt Conscious of Capital Cost/Stock Price"

The TSE request for "Management Conscious of Stock Price and Cost of Capital" announcements mid-month just show a list of who did. No links. No way...

Travis Lundy

AZ-Com Maruwa Launches Hostile TOB on Chilled & Frozen Logistics (9099) - Expect More Fun To Come

AZ-Com Maruwa has launched its hostile TOB for C&F Logistics without C&F Board support. There may be counterproposals and C&F crossholders hold the...

Travis Lundy

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

Tax-Loss Selling in Australia 2024 - Historical Analysis and A Trade Basket

There appears to be seasonality in Australia due to the phenomenon of tax-loss selling. I am not a tax advisor nor accountant, but I present the...

Travis Lundy

Carlyle Reportedly To Buy KFC Japan (9873) From MitCorp (8058) - Deal Likely Imminent

The Nikkei reported two months ago that MitCorp would sell its 35% KFC Japan (9873) stake. Two months later, we may have a deal imminent.

Travis Lundy