Japan to ease norms on foreign investment in stocks further

Japan is going on with regulations to ease regulations in the stock markets so as to make the bourses investor friendly. The new liberalisation policy is expected to make investing in Japan more lucrative.

Japan will add exemptions to new foreign investment restrictions for companies exposed to sensitive national security issues, government sources said. The move aimed at keeping overseas capital in the country, analysts said.

The exemptions will benefit foreign hedge funds and wealth asset managers, which own or invest heavily in Japanese shares, and help underpin Tokyo’s stock market - a key element of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ‘Abenomics’ stimulus policies.

Parliament in November passed a change in law that tightens reporting requirements for foreign investment in sectors related to national security, reflecting domestic and international concerns China could gain access to key confidential technology.

Under those restrictions, which are expected to take effect in early-May, foreign investors purchasing a stake of 1% or more in Japanese firms in 12 areas crucial to national security will be subject to pre-screening, compared with the 10% threshold that applies to a wider range of listed companies now. The government has already set several exemptions, such as allowing financial institutions to invest without pre-screening, and other investors when buying stocks that are not among the 12 areas if they meet certain criteria such as not being given access to some sensitive information.

Sources told Reuters that the government now plans to widen these exemptions to include foreign investors in the 12 sectors if they agree to certain conditions.

Those conditions would require foreign investors not to participate in company committees that have key decision-making power and not make written proposals to boards relating to major business decisions, the sources said.

The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak publicly. Japan’s Ministry of Finance declined to comment.

The broader exemptions follow concerns from some foreign investors that tighter rules may make it difficult for them to invest in Japan.

Those changes would be included in a government decree stipulating details of the revised law, which is expected to be made public in March, the sources said.

Japan’s move to impose tighter regulation on foreign investment follows similar steps taken by the United States and some European nations, to allow greater scrutiny of ownership in industries deemed as critical to national security.

The industries covered by Japan’s foreign investment restrictions include sectors like defence, nuclear power, aerospace, utilities, gas, cyber security and telecommunications.

About 500 of Japan’s 3,703 listed companies would fall under this criteria. The government plans to publish the list of the firms in April.

Japan’s Nikkei share average fell to a four-month low on Tuesday, as investors reduced their equity holdings on their first trade after a long weekend and as a spike in coronavirus cases beyond mainland China threatened the global economy.

The Nikkei share average tumbled 3.3% to 22,605.41, its biggest intraday drop in 14 months, and closed at its lowest since late October.

The index showed a catch-up reaction to falls in global stocks on Monday, when Japanese markets were closed for the emperor’s birthday celebrations. The broader Topix declined 3.33% to 1,618.26, with 98% of the stocks on the main board in the red, the highest ratio in more than two years.

The coronavirus death toll climbed to seven in Italy on Monday and several Middle East countries were dealing with their first infections, feeding worries it could turn into a pandemic.

“In addition to rising infections, day by day more companies are refraining from events and business trips. That will surely have an impact on upcoming economic indicators,” said Seiji Arai, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

Railway operators, normally seen as defensive plays, were hit hard after the Japanese government advised citizens and companies against unnecessary large gatherings, prompting the cancellation of many events and trips.

Central Japan Railway, which runs bullet trains between Tokyo and Osaka, fell 6.3% to its lowest close in nearly four years. East Japan Railway dropped 2.9% to a three-and-a-half-year low, while Keisei Electric Railway ended 5.5% weaker.

Beer makers also came under pressure, with Asahi Group Holdings, Kirin Holdings and Suntory Beverage falling between 3.9% and 6.3%.

Reuters