The ARK effect lifts BASE
Nippon Nuggets - SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021
This Week’s Most Interesting Stories
Olympic Dreams Doomed
Nobody wants to be the first to say it, but it looks increasingly likely that the Olympics will be cancelled. Japan’s next chance to host the games could be in 2032. Japan Medical Association chief Toshio Nakagawa believes that it is almost impossible to accept foreign visitors given the current state of the Covid pandemic. Meanwhile, despite the government’s cheery view that everything will be fine, the Cabinet on Friday approved bills to penalize people (ie. Jail time) who do not comply with antivirus measures. On a positive note, the government has contracted to receive 314m doses of vaccine to roll out soon (ish).
Read More: The Times, Japan Times, Japan Times
Japan Climate Initiative
Major firms including Sony, Panasonic and Nissan on Monday urged the Japanese government to make its 2030 renewable energy target twice as ambitious. The current METI target is to have 23% of energy produced by renewable energy. The Energy Strategy will be updated this year, and a group of 92 corporations known as the Japan Climate Initiative urged ministers to double this goal to 40-50 percent. Separately, the Japan development bank has launched a $500m fund to help grow the wind industry. #carbonneutral
Read More: Yahoo Finance
Payment Wars Heat Up
The operator of Uniqlo casualwear stores will add a payment function to its smartphone app, which is currently used by around 30m shoppers. Just for comparison, Japan’s largest payment app, PayPay, has 35m users. Fast Retailing wants to increase usage of the app, enabling it to collect more customer data. #fintech
Read More: Nikkei Asia
E-Waste Recycling
Sojitz, one of the largest trading companies in Japan, has taken a stake in TES-AMM JAPAN K.K, a global leader in commissioning, deployment and retirement of IT assets. As the circular economy becomes an essential part of every company's ESG strategy, TES helps to manage IT assets through the full life cycle, maintaining compliance with data security, environmental and industry regulations. Sojitz brings its experience in metals recycling - a key source of raw material in the coming decades. #ESG
Japan Small Cap Movers
🔺+32% BASE (4477 JP) - The provider of net shops for small business, the Japanese version of Shopify (SHOP US) - rose after it was disclosed that ARK Invest, known for investing in disruptive and innovative names, took an active position in BASE, with a stake of around $30m.
🔺+25% Tokyokumo (4058 JP) - developer of products for cloud software applications - rose after it lifted FY12/20 OP guidance from JPY192mn to JPY246mn. Work-from-home, digital transformation at local governments, and rise in demand for their “kintone” safety confirmation services were the key drivers.
🔺+25% Hennge (4475 JP) - SaaS provider of authentication and single sign-in functions across various cloud services - announced that its mainstay “Henge One” service had been adopted by Kawai Musical Instruments (7952 JP).
🔺+19% ULULU (3979 JP) - the Business Process Outsourcing provider - and CRG Holdings (7041 JP) announced a business alliance, supporting the implementation of digital transformation with client companies.
🔺+19%. Makuake (4479 JP) - the unique platform that supports the launch of new products and services online - announced a business tie-up with US Crowd Funding firm Indiegogo. This will allow Makuake to develop their business in the US and Europe, giving project owners on their platform exposure to a larger market.
🔺+18% Bengo4.com (6027 JP) – the provider of online legal and accountancy services - announced it will start an electronic signature service linked to the My Number card in the summer of 2021.
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