Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Canon Marketing Japan Inc. distributes all Canon products in the domestic market.  The Company sells copying machines, printers, digital cameras, facsimile, scanner, projectors, and calculators.

<ul>
<li>Today after the close, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-marketing-japan-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3866:1" rel="noopener">Canon Marketing Japan (8060 JP)</a> announced a large Tender Offer Buyback from its parent company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a>. Canon will tender 20mm shares (15.42%). </li>
<li>This is a very capital efficient way to conduct a buyback from a parent, and an even better way for a parent to sell shares of a sub. </li>
<li>This corporate action will reduce equity by 20%, and partially clean up the messy inter-company transactions which should not exist. </li>
</ul>


Today after the close, Canon Marketing Japan (8060 JP) announced a large Tender Offer Buyback from its parent company Canon Inc (7751 JP). Canon will tender 20mm shares (15.42%). 
This is a very capital efficient way to conduct a buyback from a parent, and an even better way for a parent to sell shares of a sub. 
This corporate action will reduce equity by 20%, and partially clean up the messy inter-company transactions which should not exist. 


Canon Marketing (8060) - Finally Using Its Cash, But It Is Walking The Walk With No Talk Behind

TOHOKUSHINSHA FILM CORPORATION plans and produces TV programs, movies, and commercial films.  The Company also provides satellite broadcasting and distributes licensing rights to domestic and foreign media companies.

<ul>
<li>3D Investment Partners, known to be activist-ish-y, purchased 18% of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tohokushinsha-film-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15129:1" rel="noopener">Tohokushinsha Film (2329 JP)</a> in the 12 months to March 2024. They started a public activism campaign in February.</li>
<li>The company has started down a better governance track, but now 3D has made a takeover proposal to Tohokushinsha, which will consider it under Special Committee.</li>
<li>There are a couple of possible outcomes here which are interesting to consider. There are no other spoilers possible except those friendly to founders and management.</li>
</ul>


3D Investment Partners, known to be activist-ish-y, purchased 18% of Tohokushinsha Film (2329 JP) in the 12 months to March 2024. They started a public activism campaign in February.
The company has started down a better governance track, but now 3D has made a takeover proposal to Tohokushinsha, which will consider it under Special Committee.
There are a couple of possible outcomes here which are interesting to consider. There are no other spoilers possible except those friendly to founders and management.


Tohokushinsha (2329 JP) - 3D Investment Partners Proposes Take-Private

Apollo Global Management, Inc. operates as an alternative investment management company. The Company focuses on investing in yield, hybrid, and equity markets to generate retirement and investment income for clients. Apollo Global Management serves businesses and individuals worldwide.

<ul>
<li>The S&amp;P 500 index tracks the 500 largest names listed in the US and it is one of the most highly-tracked indices in the world.</li>
<li>In this insight, we take a look at the upcoming constituent changes in the run up to the September 2024 index rebal event.</li>
<li>We expect two regular changes during September. More interestingly, a couple of SP500 members are working on spin-offs which could trigger some high-impact deletions over the next few months.</li>
</ul>


The S&amp;P 500 index tracks the 500 largest names listed in the US and it is one of the most highly-tracked indices in the world.
In this insight, we take a look at the upcoming constituent changes in the run up to the September 2024 index rebal event.
We expect two regular changes during September. More interestingly, a couple of SP500 members are working on spin-offs which could trigger some high-impact deletions over the next few months.


Sep24 S&P500 Index Rebal - Two Changes Expected; $6bn One-Way Flow and Two Spinoffs?

The Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd. manufactures batteries.  The Company's products are used for automobiles, home appliances, office equipment, lighting, and aerospace development.  Furukawa Battery has a sales office in Thailand.

<ul>
<li>Today after the close, Advantage Partners announced the intention to launch a TOB to take over <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/furukawa-battery-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6513:1" rel="noopener">Furukawa Battery (6937 JP)</a> at ¥1,400 - a 26% premium to last.  </li>
<li>This will require substantial time to obtain regulatory and foreign investment clearances so it is anticipated the Tender Offer will be launched at end-March 2025. I expect that is conservative.</li>
<li>The price paid to minorities is a premium. But the price paid by the buyer is actually a takeunder. And it gets worse from there. </li>
</ul>


Today after the close, Advantage Partners announced the intention to launch a TOB to take over Furukawa Battery (6937 JP) at ¥1,400 - a 26% premium to last.  
This will require substantial time to obtain regulatory and foreign investment clearances so it is anticipated the Tender Offer will be launched at end-March 2025. I expect that is conservative.
The price paid to minorities is a premium. But the price paid by the buyer is actually a takeunder. And it gets worse from there. 


Furukawa Battery (6937) - Ugly Process in Virtual Take-Under Take-Private

Equity Bottom-Up

MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc. is a holding company established through reorganization of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited.  The Group writes marine, fire, casualty, automobile, life, and allied insurance policies. MS&AD Insurance Group also operates financial services and agencies.

<ul>
<li>With FY23 earnings in May, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a> announced a ¥1trn buyback (410mm shares, 3.04%). Given shares were ¥3,599 the day before, it meant fewer shares or a Tender.</li>
<li>Like Honda (who hadn't bought pre-offering), Toyota hadn't bought back in the first couple of months. We knew there was bank and insurer overhang. That overhang lasts for years. </li>
<li>Today, Toyota announced an "organised" 410mm share ¥1trln Tender Offer Buyback. Several financial institutions have announced plans to tender. This provides guidance on supply/demand for the rest of the year.</li>
</ul>


With FY23 earnings in May, Toyota Motor (7203 JP) announced a ¥1trn buyback (410mm shares, 3.04%). Given shares were ¥3,599 the day before, it meant fewer shares or a Tender.
Like Honda (who hadn't bought pre-offering), Toyota hadn't bought back in the first couple of months. We knew there was bank and insurer overhang. That overhang lasts for years. 
Today, Toyota announced an "organised" 410mm share ¥1trln Tender Offer Buyback. Several financial institutions have announced plans to tender. This provides guidance on supply/demand for the rest of the year.


Toyota's BIG Buyback Via Tender Offer from Banks & Insurers

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

Canon Marketing (8060) - Finally Using Its Cash, But It Is Walking The Walk With No Talk Behind

Canon Marketing has announced a big buyback from its parent company. There are some good points, and less good points. Good for ROE. Bad for...

Travis Lundy

Tohokushinsha (2329 JP) - 3D Investment Partners Proposes Take-Private

3D Investment Partners bought ~10% of Tohokushinsha Film in Mar-23. Then went to 18+% by Mar-24, going activist. TFC has responded. Now 3D have...

Travis Lundy

Sep24 S&P500 Index Rebal - Two Changes Expected; $6bn One-Way Flow and Two Spinoffs?

The S&P500 index rebal is coming in about 7 weeks. There are about 5 weeks of data left to tally. We expect there are two changes, but there are...

Travis Lundy

Furukawa Battery (6937) - Ugly Process in Virtual Take-Under Take-Private

Furukawa Electric is selling Furukawa Battery at weighted average purchase price which is a takeunder. It is a really UGLY calculation/process...

Travis Lundy

Toyota's BIG Buyback Via Tender Offer from Banks & Insurers

Toyota today announced an ¥800bn Tender Offer Buyback to buy back one-third of the equity stakes held by major non-life insurers. They, in turn,...

Travis Lundy