The deal would exceed last year’s blockbuster share debut of subway operator Tokyo Metro, and be the largest since SoftBank’s listing in December 2018.
The share offering points to another stellar year for Japanese IPOs, which outperformed the region in 2024. The mega deal from the metals company is being closely watched by other firms seeking to go public, and as a guide to whether the market’s bullishness will be sustained.
This large deal would set the tone for upcoming IPOs, said Takamasa Ikeda, a senior portfolio manager at GCI Asset Management. He added that if JX’s share performance after listing is solid, it should support sentiment, especially for retail investors.
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Japan’s biggest oil refiner Eneos is selling as much as 534.9 million shares in JX, and has said it would use funds raised to improve shareholder returns and investment in decarbonisation. Tokyo-based Eneos reported Friday that its third-quarter operating income beat estimates.
The listing should help promote corporate value for both firms, Eneos said in October as JX shifts its focus to become a market leader in the semiconductor and technology sectors.
JX has about 60% of the global market share for so-called sputtering target materials, which are used in the circuitry of semiconductors, according to its website. This means the IPO will also reflect demand for chips, a critical component in the fast-developing AI sector.
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Joint global coordinators on the deal are Daiwa Securities Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley and Mizuho Financial Group Inc.
The nation’s IPO market saw more than JPY960 billion of offerings last year, with major deals including Kioxia Holdings and Rigaku Holdings. The total proceeds was the largest since 2018 as private equity fund-backed listings like MBK Partners-backed Kuroda Group took place.
Chart: Bloomberg
