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☆ Lawson shares surge 18% after Japan's KDDI launches $3.4 billion privatization offer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A customer exits a Lawson Inc. convenience store in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Shares of Japan's third-largest convenience store chain Lawson surged 18% it received an offer to go private. The offer would see conglomerate Mitsubishi and mobile carrier KDDI jointly manage the convenience store chain, with each owning a 50% stake. This represents a 16% premium to Lawson's closing share price of 8,913 yen on Tuesday, valuing the offer at about 500 billion yen ($3.4 billion). KDDI currently owns a 2.11% stake in Lawson, while Mitsubishi owns 50.11%.

Persons: Lawson, KDDI Organizations: Lawson Inc, Mitsubishi, KDDI Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Lawson

☆ Japan wants higher returns for investors — here's what it's doing
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

3D render Da-kuk | E+ | Getty ImagesJapan is stepping up efforts to ensure its listed companies become more efficient with capital allocation and increase shareholder returns this year. "It's not just the Tokyo stock exchange, but the entire Japan government is pushing for better corporate governance right now," said Toru Yoshikawa, a business professor at Waseda University in Tokyo. watch nowWith this move, the onus also falls on Japan's government to ensure steady and reliable returns from Japan's companies. Corporate governance pushMonday's disclosures will be based on information as of December and the releases will be a monthly affair. "If rival companies are doing great improvements in corporate governance, others will tend to follow that move."

Persons: It's, Toru Yoshikawa, Fumio, Yoshikawa, Warren Buffet, Yunosuke Ikeda, Goldman Organizations: Getty, Japan, TSE, Waseda University, The Tokyo Stock Exchange, kickstarted, Japan Inc, Nippon, Savings, Corporate, Tokyo Stock Exchange, CNBC, Toyota, Goldman Sachs Locations: Japan, Tokyo, Denso, Goldman Sachs Japan

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota is selling a part of its stake in components maker Denso to raise cash for its drive toward electric vehicles and other innovations, Japan's top automaker said Wednesday. The move is estimated to raise about 290 billion yen ($2 billion), given recent share prices. Toyota affiliates, Toyota Industries and Aisin, are also selling a portion of their Denso shares, officials said. Toyota officials have acknowledged they have fallen behind in the industry shift toward electric vehicles, and they have been aggressively playing catch-up. Toyota officials hinted other such offers may be in the works but declined to give specifics.

Persons: ”, Masahiro Yamamoto, Yamamoto, Yamamato, Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Toyota, Toyota Motor Corp, Denso Corp, Toyota Industries, Lexus, KDDI Corp

☆ Rakuten's mobile misadventure: from ambitious plan to millstone
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

By any measure, cash-bleeding Rakuten Mobile is deeply troubled. Rakuten is set for another tough year in 2024 with investors keen to see if it can achieve its goal of having the mobile unit break even. Those steps have raised some 800 billion yen ($5.4 billion). Then in October, SoftBank Corp (9434.T), Japan's No.3 mobile network provider, began offering a generous reward campaign for most mobile users using SoftBank Group's (9984.T) PayPay online payment system. Without profits, the mobile unit is not likely to entice would-be suitors and competition laws would probably prevent the likes of SoftBank and Docomo from bidding.

Persons: Japan's Rakuten, Hiroshi, Mickey, Rakuten, Mitsunobu Tsuruo, Rakuten's, NTT Docomo, Mikitani, Amir Anvarzadeh, Anton Bridge, David Dolan, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Citi, Amazon Japan, Rakuten Securities, Rakuten Bank, SBI Securities, GUNNING, Rakuten Mobile, Reuters, NTT, SoftBank Corp, Asymmetric Advisors, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, ARPU

Toyota, Toyota Industries and Aisin will sell Denso shares worth a total of about 700 billion yen ($4.7 billion) at current market prices, the two sources said. In a statement, Denso said it was considering a share sale, a buyback and other capital measures, but that nothing had yet been decided. At $4.7 billion, it would be the second-biggest such share offering in Japan this year, after the more than $9 billion sale of shares in Japan Post Bank (7182.T) in March, according to LSEG data. Denso shares, which were down almost 4% before the news, extended losses after the Reuters report and fell as much as 6.8% on the day, closing 4.9% lower. Toyota shares finished little changed, as did the benchmark Nikkei 225 (.N225).

Persons: Denso, Miho Uranaka, Daniel Leussink, Maki Shiraki, Nobuhiro Kubo, David Dolan, Jamie Freed, Miral Fahmy, Louise Heavens Organizations: Companies, Toyota, Toyota Industries, Aisin, Japan Post Bank, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Buyers, KDDI Corp, Reuters, Nikkei, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Denso, Japan

Toyota Motor's portion will represent almost half of the roughly 10%, with the total sale seen at about 700 billion yen ($4.7 billion) at current market prices, the two sources said. A Toyota spokesperson said it was not in a position to comment on Denso, adding the contents of the Reuters report of the share sale were not something it had announced itself. Buyers of the shares are expected to largely be domestic investors, and the price has yet to be determined, the sources said. Denso shares, which were down almost 4% before the news, extended losses after the Reuters report and fell as much as 6.8% on the day, closing 4.9% lower. Toyota shares finished little changed, as did the benchmark Nikkei 225 (.N225).

Persons: Miho Uranaka, Daniel Leussink, Maki Shiraki, Nobuhiro Kubo, David Dolan, Jamie Freed Organizations: Companies, Toyota, KDDI Corp, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Reuters, Nikkei, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Denso

☆ Japan has become a gold mine for value investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Edward Chancellor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Having experienced a multi-decade decline after 1990, Japanese stocks have escaped the doldrums. Reuters GraphicsAnother shadow that has long lingered over corporate Japan is management teams which tended to neglect shareholders and prioritise the interests of other stakeholders. METI is also redefining the aim of Japanese companies, says Stephen Codrington, founder of the independent research firm Codrington Japan. Japan, whose regime was formerly unfriendly to equity investors, is moving in the opposite direction, says Drew Edwards, head of GMO Usonian Japan. Japan, as Codrington says, has become a gold mine for value investors.

Persons: Jeremy Siegel, “ Stocks, It's, Alex Kinmont, James Montier, METI, Stephen Codrington, Codrington, Toby Rodes, Edward McQuarrie, McQuarrie, Drew Edwards, there’s, Warren Buffett, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Investors, Credit Suisse Global Investment, Nikkei, U.S ., Local, Credit Suisse, Ministry, Economy, Trade, Industry, Electronics, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Investment, Toyota, Investment Fund, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Kaname, Takisawa Machine Tool, managements, Toyota Industries, Santa Clara University, U.S, Thomson Locations: Japan, U.S, Europe, Codrington Japan, United States

☆ Japan says may take China to WTO over Fukushima-driven seafood import ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that Japan would take "necessary action (on China's aquatic product ban) under various routes including the WTO framework". Filing a WTO complaint might become an option if protesting to China through diplomatic routes is ineffective, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi said separately. Japan's National Police Agency has received 225 reports of harassment calls to date, Jiji News reported, and the government said it was seeking help from telecommunications companies to block the calls. NTT and other phone companies including KDDI (9433.T) and SoftBank Corp (9434.T) are discussing measures following the government's request. "It is extremely regrettable and concerning about the large number of harassment calls that have likely come from China," Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said during a news conference.

Persons: Tom Bateman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sanae Takaichi, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Nishimura, Kantaro Komiya, Mariko Katsumura, Sakura Murakami, Chang, Ran Kim, Simon Cameron, Moore, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, World Trade Organization, Economic, Japan's National Police Agency, Jiji News, NTT Communications, Nippon Telegraph, Telephone, NTT, SoftBank Corp, Thomson Locations: Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, China, WTO

☆ Rakuten shares jump as mobile losses narrow
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Miho UranakaTOKYO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Rakuten Group (4755.T) shares surged on Monday morning after the e-commerce giant reported narrowing losses at its cash bleeding mobile unit last week alongside assurances that it can cover its debt burden for the next financial year. Rakuten has taken to publicly listing its more successful units to generate cash, listing its internet banking business - Rakuten Bank (5838.T) - in April and applying to list its securities business in July. Last week, Rakuten also announced plans to consolidate its payments and points businesses and fold them into Rakuten Card, its credit card and loans unit. Rakuten also committed to taking on no additional gross debt, instead using equity-related financing to reduce its debt burden. The group has a total of 1.9 trillion yen ($13.11 billion) in debt, with 406 billion yen due in 2024 and a further 430 billion yen in 2025, according to Refinitiv data.

Persons: Miho Uranaka, Jefferies, Rakuten, Anton Bridge, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rakuten, Rakuten Bank, Thomson Locations: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, Miho Uranaka TOKYO

☆ Typhoon Khanun kills one man, knocks out power to one-third of Japan's Okinawa homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | Thomson Reuters | Kantaro Writes About Everything Japan'S Economic Indicators To North Korea'S Missiles To Global Regulation On Ai Companies. His Previous Stories Have Been Published In The Associated Press | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - High winds hit power lines in Japan's popular tourist destination Okinawa, knocking out electricity to more than 200,000 households on Wednesday morning, as powerful and slow-moving typhoon Khanun neared the country's southwestern islands. A man was crushed under a collapsed garage and went into cardiac arrest, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. A man was crushed under a collapsed garage and went into cardiac arrest, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Local utility Okinawa Electric Power (9511.T) said 212,530 households, or 34% of all houses covered, were experiencing power outages as of 10:55 a.m. Japan time (0155 GMT), according to its website. Kyushu Electric Power (9508.T) said power supply was down for 10,030 houses in Amami islands in Kagoshima prefecture, north of Okinawa.

Persons: Co's, Khanun, Kantaro Komiya, Sonali Paul Organizations: Disaster Management Agency, Japan Meteorological Agency, Local, Okinawa Electric, Kyushu Electric Power, Mobile, SoftBank Corp, Kadena Air Base, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Okinawa, Japan's, Tokyo, Japan, Amami, Kagoshima prefecture, Naha, Okinawa's, U.S, East China, Zhejiang, Taiwan, Kyushu, China, Philippines

HONG KONG, Aug 2 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Koji Sato enjoyed a smooth ride in his first quarter behind the wheel at Toyota Motor (7203.T). Toyota now trades just shy of 10 times estimated earnings for the next 12 months, per Refinitiv. Those same Chinese brands are encroaching on emerging markets like Thailand, where Toyota has traditionally sold well. Executives told investors on Tuesday that they’re eager to review other investments, too, including cross-holdings in the Toyota group and other assets. Total sales rose by 24% to 10.5 trillion yen in the same period.

Persons: Koji Sato, Sato, Toyota’s, that’s, Encouragingly Sato, Antony Currie, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Asia, China, Thailand

☆ Allied to sell UDC portfolio to KDDI Corp for C$1.35 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 21 (Reuters) - Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (AP_u.TO) on Wednesday said it has entered into an agreement to sell its urban datacenter portfolio to Japanese telecommunications provider KDDI Corporation (9433.T) for C$1.35 billion ($1.02 billion). The portfolio comprises Toronto's 151 Front Street West and 905 King Street West, along with a leasehold interest in 250 Front Street West. Allied will use around C$1 billion of the sale proceeds to retire debt and the balance to fund its upgrade and development activity over the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, the company said. Scotiabank, CBRE and Aird & Berlis LLP are advisers to Allied for the transaction, while BofA Securities, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and Nishimura & Asahi are acting as advisers to KDDI. ($1 = 1.3222 Canadian dollars)(This story has been corrected to change to Canadian dollar from U.S. dollar throughout and adds conversion)Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Berlis, Borden Ladner Gervais, Pratyush Thakur, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Pooja Desai Organizations: Real, Investment Trust, KDDI Corporation, King Street, West, Scotiabank, BofA Securities, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Nishimura, Asahi, Thomson Locations: CBRE, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Nir EliasSINGAPORE, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Israel's Cognyte Software Ltd (CGNT.O) won a tender to sell intercept spyware to a Myanmar state-backed telecommunications firm a month before the Asian nation's February 2021 military coup, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. Intercept spyware can give authorities the power to listen in on calls, view text messages and web traffic including emails, and track the locations of users without the assistance of telecom and internet firms. MPT uses intercept spyware, a source with direct knowledge of the matter and three people briefed on the issue told Reuters although they did not identify the vendor. Reuters was unable to determine whether the sale of Cognyte intercept technology to MPT was finalised. While intercept spyware is typically described as "dual-use" technology for civilian and defence purposes, Israeli law states that "dual-use" technology is classified as defence equipment.

☆ Japan's Kyocera to invest $9.8 bln for chips over FY2023-2025 -Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Kyocera Corp (6971.T) plans to invest 1.3 trillion yen ($9.77 billion) for manufacturing facilities and development of semiconductor-related products over three years starting in the 2023/24 business year, the Nikkei daily reported on Tuesday. To fund the expansion for parts such as ceramics for chip-making equipment, Kyocera is looking to borrow up to around 1 trillion yen, using its 15% stake in KDDI Corp (9433.T) as collateral, the president Hideo Tanimoto told Nikkei in an interview. ($1 = 133.0900 yen)Reporting by Kantaro Komiya Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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