Strategic Capital, set up by Tsuyoshi Maruki, who used to work with Japanese prominent activist investor Yoshiaki Murakami, said recent gains in Keihanshin’s stock price were only driven by the expectation for a higher bid.
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The bid will now run until Jan. 12.
Shares in Keihanshin, which rose as much as 17% to 2,200 yen after the bid was launched, have been trading above the offer price until Wednesday. They closed down at 1,900 yen on Thursday.
“Keihanshin shares rose on expectation the developer would find a white-knight that would offer a higher bid,” Strategic Capital said. “Or on the expectation we might raise the offer price.”
The activist fund has been pushing Keihanshin to withdraw from low-profit margin leasing business, sell all the rental properties and transform into a management of the real estate trust.
Although some analysts say the proposal is too drastic, its bid highlights Japan’s corporate practice of cross-shareholdings among many companies. Companies typically argue cross shareholders are needed to cement business ties but critics say it often functions to fend off hostile proposals.
The tender offer is conducted by Strategic Capital and
another fund, which together own a 9.7% stake in the company.
They are seeking to acquire a roughly 20% stake.
($1 = 103.1500 yen)
Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Elaine Hardcastle
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