The Corporate Governance Wave in Japan: Capitalising on change
* As of 31/05/2025
** Ongoing charges as of 30 June 2024
AVI Japan Opportunity Trust (“A JOT” or “the Company”) invests in a focussed portfolio of over-capitalised small-cap Japanese equities. Asset Value Investors will leverage its three decades of experience investing in asset-backed companies to engage with company management and help to unlock value in this under-researched area of the market.
| Label | 31/05/2025 |
|---|---|
| Consumer Discretionary | 28 |
| Industrials | 19 |
| Communication Services | 16 |
| Information Technology | 9 |
| Health Care | 9 |
| Materials | 7 |
| Real Estate | 6 |
| Consumer Staples | 6 |
Asset Value Investors (“AVI”) investment process for AJOT emphasizes bottom up fundamental research, using both quantitative and qualitative techniques.
AVI’s screening process starts by looking at the c.3,475 non-financial companies in Japan. This is then narrowed down to the c.2,180 companies with an average daily trading volume greater than £300k. We then take a closer look at the c.470 companies that have net cash and securities greater than 30% of their market cap. We have detailed models on approximately 60 companies out of this universe, which track stock prices and earnings information.
Throughout the filtering process AVI asks the following questions:
AVI’s analysts track stock prices, earnings and balance sheet information with an aim to identify good quality companies trading on a discount to their NAV which exhibit clear trends to create long-term value.
Research includes:
We want to have a reasonably concentrated portfolio (typically 15-25 core holdings) of our best ideas.
The objective of AVI’s portfolio construction process is to end up with a concentrated portfolio of about 15-25 core holdings, facilitating a clear monitoring process of the entire portfolio. AVI picks stocks that meet our investment criteria and once we decide to invest we seek a minimum position size of approximately 2% of the portfolio; however, the timing of the catalyst and the liquidity of the stock can result in the holding being greater or lesser than 2%.
The investment philosophy employed by Asset Value Investors (“AVI”), the managers of AVI Japan Opportunity Trust (“AJOT”), strives to identify valuation anomalies and focuses on investing where the market price does not reflect the estimated intrinsic value.
Asset Value Investors (“AVI”) deep value investment process strives to identify and mitigate downside risks in all market environments.
We seek to construct a discounted portfolio of stocks consisting of companies which due to the geographic and sector diversification of their underlying assets are less likely to display high correlations to the market.
AVI’s risk management techniques include thorough qualitative fundamental bottom up research to establish a company’s real value. We monitor our holdings on an on-going basis and our in-house OMS system contains an automatic alert system which alerts us of any breaches of built-in risk parameters.
The investment management team holds regular meetings discussing the portfolio with a view to reassess, sell or buy securities and to discuss current cash position as well as sector weighting.
Exclusionary screening is not our guiding framework, however there are certain exceptions to this. AVI will not invest in a company with direct involvement* in:
Or companies that engage in child labour or human exploitation as defined by the relevant ILO conventions.
* whereby more than 5% of that company’s NAV is derived from these activities.
As part of our in-depth research into companies, we consider and discuss material ESG risks and opportunities, including climate-related risks and opportunities. Supported by ISS Norms-based research, we also assess any involvement in actual or potential violations of international norms and standards.
We have developed a bespoke ESG monitoring system built into our proprietary database to ensure ESG factors are considered alongside financial analysis. We conduct ongoing ESG assessments of portfolio companies’ performance against defined ESG metrics. A scoring system is used to assess trends and highlight potential areas for engagement.
Based on our assessments, we send tailored questionnaires to all portfolio companies to request additional ESG information and promote improved sustainability disclosure. This can provide a useful starting point for deeper engagement on ESG issues.
Controversies can bring major reputational damage and a loss of consumer trust which can have a significant effect on a company’s value. We promote responsible conduct by actively engaging and encouraging our companies to strengthen their focus on ESG issues.
We seek to build constructive relationships with the boards and management of our portfolio companies, offering detailed suggestions to sustainably increase corporate value by building resilience to ESG risks and promoting responsible business practices.
At AJOT, we believe that integrating ESG and sustainability factors into our investment process, alongside traditional financial factors, is important to enable us to deliver strong and durable performance to our clients and to meet our broader investment responsibilities. ESG matters, including climate change, are part of our analysis and risk assessment when deciding whether an investment should be made. Climate change poses both risks and opportunities. The transition to a low-carbon economy will affect all businesses, irrespective of their size, sector, or geographic location. Therefore, no company’s revenues are immune, and the assessment of such risks must be considered within any effective investment approach.
As active investors, once we have invested in a company, we take our stewardship responsibilities seriously. AJOT acknowledges that it can have an indirect impact on communities and the environment through the companies it holds in its portfolio. We look to engage with boards and management on an ongoing basis and create an active dialogue on various ESG factors. Often, engagement with investee boards is undertaken with a view to helping realise value or to address potential issues with governance. We seek to ensure good governance practices are being upheld and encourage adherence to responsible and ethical conduct. AJOT also views voting at company meetings to be an important lever in our stewardship responsibilities and will vote at company meetings when we have the opportunity to do so.
See the sections below for further insights into the ESG work at AJOT.
AVI has developed a proprietary ESG monitoring system that allows us to track the extent to which our portfolio companies are effectively managing ESG issues and their progress against defined ESG metrics. This process helps to highlight trends and identify weaknesses where we can engage constructively with companies to build resilience to ESG risks and promote responsible business practices.
AVI became a signatory to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) on 09 April 2021.
We are aligned with the PRI’s belief that an economically efficient, sustainable global financial system is a necessity for long-term value creation. Such a system will reward long-term, responsible investment and benefit the environment and society as a whole.
We consider proxy voting to be an important lever in engaging with our portfolio companies and ensuring that our perspectives on environmental, social and governance issues are represented.
As responsible, active stewards of our clients’ capital, we have a duty to vote carefully and thoughtfully on their behalf, and we take this duty seriously. We aim to vote at every general meeting for which we are eligible.
As part of our responsible investing initiative, we have compiled a new report detailing our approach to ESG and sustainability at AVI.
To read the full report, please click the button below.
Intermediaries participating in the Initial Issue as announced on 3 March 2020 include:
There are two ways that the value of a share in an investment trust is often expressed:
It’s the role of the asset management company, AVI ,appointed by AJOT to plan, manage the assets and oversee the investments on behalf of investment trust.
They are quoted companies listed on the London Stock Exchange with Boards of Directors; they are subject to the listing rules of the UK Listing Authority established under the Financial Services and Markets Act. ‘Investment Trusts’ are also subject to the Companies Act 1985, as amended. The conduct of investment managers in promoting packaged products (‘ISA’, Share Plans) with underlying investment trust investments are regulated by the FCA.
Investment trusts can borrow money and invest the proceeds. This will magnify returns to investors in a rising market (and vice versa in falling markets). This is known as financial gearing. Typically the ‘gearing’ is described as a ratio (of borrowing to assets) – a gearing factor of 120 means that on a trust with equity of £100 million it has £20 million of debt (bank borrowings).
Typically anything from 50 to 100 shares. The ‘Fund Manager’ must have regard to the objective of the trust. To that end the underlying stocks are bought or sold to deliver either capital growth or income. Within those portfolios the managers will assess the stocks on a regular basis to ensure that they will deliver the objective, hopefully selling in advance of profit warnings or any other adverse market change that could impact on either the ability to deliver income or capital appreciation. Sometimes that can’t be achieved; that’s why ‘investment trusts’ have a spread of investments.
The spread is set by the market makers. There is no standard spread; it depends on the ‘liquidity’ of a particular stock. It does not include stamp duty, which is a tax at 0.5% of the value of all share purchases.
The dividend yield is the last 12 months dividends (historic) divided by the share price.
All are calculated with reference to the previous closing mid price.
The company secretary has the responsibility for co-ordinating all aspects of the investment trust to ensure that it complies with its legal and financial reporting including any circulars etc., report and accounts, interim reports; convening board meetings, minutes and follow up there from, as well as liaison with the Board and external advisers.
The Board is responsible to shareholders; it oversees the external relationships, principally the fund management relationship, to ensure that the trust’s objective is met.
Under the Companies Act all public companies must maintain a register of their shareholders to record title to the security; to determine entitlement to dividends or capital distributions.
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USE OF THIS WEBSITE:
THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO OFFER OR TO PROMOTE THE OFFER OR SALE OF THE SHARES (THE “SHARES”) OF AVI JAPAN OPPORTUNITY TRUST PLC (THE “COMPANY”) IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO ANY “U.S. PERSONS” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S (“US PERSONS”) UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”).
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The information contained in this website does not constitute or form a part of any offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of any offer to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, any securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to whom, such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful.
Nothing in this website is to be taken as investment or tax advice. If you are unclear about any of the information on this website or its suitability for you, you must contact your financial or tax adviser, or an independent financial or tax adviser before making any investment or financial decisions.
The Company has not been and will not be registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act“), and as such holders of the Shares are not and will not be entitled to the benefits of the Investment Company Act. The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, resold, pledged, delivered, assigned or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any US Persons. There has been and will be no public offer of the Shares in the United States. The offer and sale of the Shares have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. Potential users of the information contained in this website are requested to inform themselves about and to observe all applicable restrictions.
General risk warning: All investment is subject to risk. The value of the Shares may go down as well as go up. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns and there is no guarantee that the market price of the Shares will fully reflect their underlying net asset value. There is also no guarantee that the Company’s investment objective will be achieved.
The information contained in this website may contain forward-looking statements. Any statement other than a statement of historical fact is a forward-looking statement. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.
Neither the Company nor AVI undertakes any obligation to update or revise any information in this website, including without limitation, any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, and neither the Company nor AVI will confirm the accuracy or completeness of any information at any given time.
This website may contain links to third party websites. These links are provided for your information and convenience only, and do not amount to a recommendation or endorsement by the Company or AVI of that third party or its website. Neither the Company nor AVI has any control over the content of any third party website and neither the Company nor AVI has verified the accuracy of any content on any third party website. Accordingly, neither the Company nor AVI is liable for the content or availability (or lack of availability) of such third party websites.
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AJOT’s NAV increased by +0.9% (in GBP) and +3.0% (in JPY) over the month, while the benchmark returned +2.5% (in GBP) and +4.7% (in JPY).
The two largest contributors to performance over the month were Kurabo Industries (+14% share price), which announced measures to enhance capital efficiency, and Atsugi (+19%), which forecast its first operating profit in eight years for FY26. Meanwhile, Rohto Pharmaceutical (-15%) missed their original earnings guidance and was the most notable detractor, although they made positive disclosures in their medium-term plan.
AJOT’s NAV increased by +2.8% (in GBP) and +1.5% (in JPY) over the month, while the benchmark returned +1.5% (in GBP) and +0.2% (in JPY).
The two largest contributors to performance in April were Kurabo Industries (+5% share price), which announced plans to shut down its largest textiles plant, and Sharingtechnology (+9%), which completed its buyback program for 3% of the float. Meanwhile, Atsugi (-9%) was the most notable detractor, which was somewhat caught in the tariff turmoil.
AJOT’s NAV decreased by -3.1% (in GBP) and -1.4% (in JPY) over the month, while the benchmark returned -0.2% (in GBP) and +1.5% (in JPY).
The two largest contributors to performance in March were Synchro Food (+31% share price), as activists continued to build stakes, and Eiken Chemical (+5%), which continued its buyback
program. Meanwhile, TSI Holdings (-7%) was the most notable detractor, with February sales down – 11% YoY. Each of the most significant detractors over the month had enjoyed very strong share price appreciation in the preceding 12 months.
AJOT’s NAV increased by +5.1% (in GBP) and +3.7% (in JPY) over the month, while the benchmark returned -1.8% (in GBP) and -3.1% (in JPY).
The two largest contributors to performance in February were Tecnos Japan (+38% share price), which received a tender offer bid at a +39% premium, and Sharingtechnology (+14%), which announced strong earnings as EBIT grew +30% YoY. Meanwhile, Broadmedia (-11%) was the most notable detractor, as investors’ confidence in its full-year guidance waned.
AJOT’s NAV increased by +3.9% (in GBP) and +1.6% (in JPY) over the month, while the benchmark returned +2.7% (in GBP) and +0.4% (in JPY).
The two largest contributors to performance in January were TSI Holdings (+17% share price), which sold real estate equal in value to 30% of the market cap, and Broadmedia (+14%), which saw its Q3 operating income rise +7% YoY. Meanwhile, Wacom (-7%) was the most notable detractor, as it announced quarterly operating income down -24% YoY.