Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Amorepacific Corporation develops, manufactures, and exports skin care, make-up, and fragrance products. The Company also produces and markets personal care and health-related products, such as shampoos, soaps, toothpastes, and health teas.

<ul>
<li>A double dose of StubWorld this week: both the implied stub for <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amorepacific-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12179:1" rel="noopener">Amorepacific Group (002790 KS)</a></strong> and the simple ratio (Group/<strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amorepacific-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20854:1" rel="noopener">Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)</a></strong>) are around lifetime low levels.</li>
<li>Preceding my comments on Amorepacific are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>


A double dose of StubWorld this week: both the implied stub for Amorepacific Group (002790 KS) and the simple ratio (Group/Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)) are around lifetime low levels.
Preceding my comments on Amorepacific are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


StubWorld's: Amorepacific's NAV Discount Plumbs New Multi-Year Low

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

Paradise Co., Ltd. is a gaming company that operates casino facilities in South Korea and Kenya.  The Company offers games, such as roulette, black jack, baccarat, and big wheel.  Paradise, through its subsidiaries, operates retail and hotel business.

<ul>
<li>On 2 July, Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS) announced that it will construct a new high end luxury hotel in Seoul spending about 500 billion won to 550 billion won. </li>
<li>We believe that this construction of the new luxury hotel will have a negative impact on shares of Paradise. </li>
<li>Rather than investing a large sum of money to build a new hotel, many investors would rather have preferred Paradise to increase share buybacks and dividends. </li>
</ul>


On 2 July, Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS) announced that it will construct a new high end luxury hotel in Seoul spending about 500 billion won to 550 billion won. 
We believe that this construction of the new luxury hotel will have a negative impact on shares of Paradise. 
Rather than investing a large sum of money to build a new hotel, many investors would rather have preferred Paradise to increase share buybacks and dividends. 


Paradise: Expansion into High End Hotel Likely to Destroy Shareholder Value

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we discuss numerous gap trades involving Korean preferred and common shares in 2Q 2024.</li>
<li>Although the discount on the preferred shares versus the common shares has been gradually narrowing in the past decade, this discount increased from end of 2021 to 1 April 2024.</li>
<li>On a longer timeframe (3-4 years), we believe this discount could narrow further to the 20-25% range, which provides additional opportunities for the Korean preferred shares to further make gains.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we discuss numerous gap trades involving Korean preferred and common shares in 2Q 2024.
Although the discount on the preferred shares versus the common shares has been gradually narrowing in the past decade, this discount increased from end of 2021 to 1 April 2024.
On a longer timeframe (3-4 years), we believe this discount could narrow further to the 20-25% range, which provides additional opportunities for the Korean preferred shares to further make gains.


Gap Trades in Korean Prefs Vs Common Share Pairs in 2Q 2024

Lotte Tour Development Co, Ltd. / Event-Driven

Lotte Tour Development Co., Ltd. provides various tour package service. The Company franchises travel agencies, offers home-based travel businesses, and provides leisure-travel information.  The Company also engages in property development and building management and operates duty-free shop business.

Lotte Tour Development Co, Ltd. (032350 KS)

<ul>
<li>Lotte Tour Development announced that it will conduct a major asset revaluation which could positively impact its share price. </li>
<li>The company's assets will increase to 2.39 trillion won and equity will increase to 569.3 billion won (up more than 8x) at end of 1Q 2024 due to asset revaluation.</li>
<li>As a result of the asset revaluation, the company's balance sheet will improve significantly and this likely result in many investors taking another look at the company for potential investments. </li>
</ul>


Lotte Tour Development announced that it will conduct a major asset revaluation which could positively impact its share price. 
The company's assets will increase to 2.39 trillion won and equity will increase to 569.3 billion won (up more than 8x) at end of 1Q 2024 due to asset revaluation.
As a result of the asset revaluation, the company's balance sheet will improve significantly and this likely result in many investors taking another look at the company for potential investments. 


Lotte Tour Development: A Major Asset Revaluation Resulting in More Than 8X Increase in Equity

<ul>
<li>On 7 March, Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS) announced that it plans to switch its listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI. </li>
<li>Paradise will be excluded from KOSDAQ150 when it makes the switch to KOSPI. However, it is not certain if and when the company will be included in KOSPI200.</li>
<li>All in all, we would argue that the valuations are not especially appealing for Paradise, despite the sharp pick-up in business in 2023.</li>
</ul>


On 7 March, Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS) announced that it plans to switch its listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI. 
Paradise will be excluded from KOSDAQ150 when it makes the switch to KOSPI. However, it is not certain if and when the company will be included in KOSPI200.
All in all, we would argue that the valuations are not especially appealing for Paradise, despite the sharp pick-up in business in 2023.


Paradise Announces A Switch in Listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI

Beneficiaries of Tourism Revival in South Korea