AVI launches a campaign calling for Rohto Pharmaceutical (TSE: 4527, hereinafter “Rohto”) to focus on its core businesses rather than allocating resources to the unsuccessful regenerative medicine business, and to engage with shareholders more constructively to comply with the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s (“TSE”) request for management that is conscious of the cost of capital and stock price.
Since we started investing in Rohto in June 2024, AVI has sought to engage in dialogue with the company, sending letters and presentations, with the aim of improving corporate value in a sustainable manner. However, AVI is deeply concerned by the company continuing to invest in regenerative medicine, a business with no clear path to success, announcing M&A deals at high valuations, and the sudden issuance of potentially dilutive convertible bonds despite the low share price, resulting in a stagnant share price.
We have sought to constructively engage in private dialogue with the board of directors, however, to date, AVI has been able to meet with just one board member, with the company repeatedly citing scheduling challenges. It is clear to AVI that the company continues to neglect engaging in constructive dialogue with investors, which is not in line with the TSE’s request to listed companies in Japan for “management that is conscious of the cost of capital and stock price.”
In light of this, AVI has decided to launch a public campaign with the aim of encouraging the sustainable improvement of corporate value.
The potential value of Rohto’s core businesses, cosmetics and eye care, is significant. However, the continued blind investment in its regenerative medicine business is weighing on shareholder value and is restricting the company’s potential to realise its intrinsic value.
We are confident Rohto’s full valuation potential will be realised by refocusing management’s strategy and communicating this clearly to investors, while urgently ending its disregard for the cost of capital and share price conscious management requested by the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
8th April 2025
Asset Value Investors Limited
Head of Japan Research
Kaz Sakai
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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”).
THE MATERIALS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, AND MUST NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO US PERSONS OR INTO OR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON TO WHOM, TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION.
The contents of this website are communicated by Asset Value Investors Limited (“AVI”), which is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, with registered number 01881101 and which has its registered office at 2 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PU, United Kingdom.
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.
This website is provided for your use “as is” without any warranties (whether express or implied) of any kind including, but not limited to, the warranty of non-infringement of third party rights or freedom from computer virus. As a result, neither the Company nor AVI accepts any ongoing obligation or responsibility in respect of any errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in service which may occur. Internet is not a secure medium of communication unless the data being sent is encrypted. Neither the Company nor AVI accepts any responsibility for unauthorised access by a third party or the corruption of data sent to it.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to the exclusion by the Company and AVI, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation, of any and all liability for any direct, indirect, punitive, consequential, incidental, special or other damages, or any loss of profits, revenue or data arising out of or relating to your use of and our provision of this website and its content. The Company may change these terms and conditions from time to time and any such changes will be posted on this website. Your access to this website is governed by the version of these terms and conditions then in force.
By clicking “Agree” below, you represent, warrant, undertake and agree that (1) you have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions and other information set out herein, (2) you are permitted under applicable laws and regulations to receive the information contained in this website, (3) you are located outside the United States and are not a US Person, and (4) you will not transmit or otherwise send any information contained in this website to any persons in the United States or who are US Persons or to any publications with a general circulation in the United States. If you cannot so represent, warrant, undertake and agree, you must click the button labelled “Decline” or otherwise exit this website.
