Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

LG Corp. is a holding company, which operates subsidiaries including LG Electronics, LG Household & Health Care, LG Chem Ltd., and Dacom Corp. The Company's main business areas are electronics, chemicals, and household products manufacturing and telecommunications services.

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we provide the major highlights of the solid Corporate Value Up plan announced by LG Corp on 22 November. </li>
<li>The key highlights include about 500 billion won worth of share cancellation by 2026, improved dividend policy, and higher ROE target.</li>
<li>Our base case NAV valuation analysis of LG Corp suggests implied NAV of 16.1 trillion won or NAV per share of 102,426 won, which is 33.4% higher than current price.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we provide the major highlights of the solid Corporate Value Up plan announced by LG Corp on 22 November. 
The key highlights include about 500 billion won worth of share cancellation by 2026, improved dividend policy, and higher ROE target.
Our base case NAV valuation analysis of LG Corp suggests implied NAV of 16.1 trillion won or NAV per share of 102,426 won, which is 33.4% higher than current price.


LG Corp: Key Highlights from Its Corporate Value-Up Plan and Updated NAV Valuation

SK Square Co., Ltd. operates as an investment company. The Company invests in semiconductors, information and communications technologies, and other industries. SK Square conducts businesses in South Korea.

<ul>
<li>SK Square (402340 KS) announced a solid corporate value up plan pushing up its share price by 8.8% to 87,500 won on 22 November.</li>
<li>Major highlights of the corporate value up plan included cancellation of 200 billion won of treasury shares, higher ROE target, and achieve 1x PBR ratio (nearly double the current ratio).</li>
<li>Our NAV analysis of SK Square suggests NAV of 15.2 trillion won or 112,822 won per share, representing 29% higher than current share price.</li>
</ul>


SK Square (402340 KS) announced a solid corporate value up plan pushing up its share price by 8.8% to 87,500 won on 22 November.
Major highlights of the corporate value up plan included cancellation of 200 billion won of treasury shares, higher ROE target, and achieve 1x PBR ratio (nearly double the current ratio).
Our NAV analysis of SK Square suggests NAV of 15.2 trillion won or 112,822 won per share, representing 29% higher than current share price.


SK Square: A Solid Corporate Value Up Plan Likely to Lead to Continued Outperformance

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

KT&G Corporation processes, produces, and sells cigarettes and other tobacco products.  The Company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures ginseng products such as red ginseng tea and herbal medicines.  KT&G is also involved in real estate development of its former factory sites.

<ul>
<li>The larger-than-expected Value-Up fund will drive passive flows surpassing the KRX 300 in both size and speed.</li>
<li>Value-Up ETFs' AUM is ₩636.5B, with retail dominating. Major institutions, like pensions, are on standby, but passive flows could hit ₩1.5T post-Dec 20 rebalancing.</li>
<li>Single-Stock setups may not fit, but for alpha-seeking Value-Up strategies, focus on names with higher passive impact from the boosted AUM.</li>
</ul>


The larger-than-expected Value-Up fund will drive passive flows surpassing the KRX 300 in both size and speed.
Value-Up ETFs' AUM is ₩636.5B, with retail dominating. Major institutions, like pensions, are on standby, but passive flows could hit ₩1.5T post-Dec 20 rebalancing.
Single-Stock setups may not fit, but for alpha-seeking Value-Up strategies, focus on names with higher passive impact from the boosted AUM.


₩200B Gov-Run Value-Up Fund Starts Buying Tomorrow, with Another ₩300B Set for Year-End

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>On 19 November, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced major rule changes on corporate mergers and acquisitions have been approved by the Korean government.</li>
<li>Revised rules have three specific goals: Improve rules on calculating and determining merger prices when M&amp;As take place between nonaffiliated business entities, strengthen disclosure duties, and improve external evaluation system.</li>
<li>If the Korean government is really serious about making positive rule changes, they need to apply these new laws not just for NON-AFFILIATED companies but more importantly for AFFIILATED companies.</li>
</ul>


On 19 November, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced major rule changes on corporate mergers and acquisitions have been approved by the Korean government.
Revised rules have three specific goals: Improve rules on calculating and determining merger prices when M&amp;As take place between nonaffiliated business entities, strengthen disclosure duties, and improve external evaluation system.
If the Korean government is really serious about making positive rule changes, they need to apply these new laws not just for NON-AFFILIATED companies but more importantly for AFFIILATED companies.


Major M&A Rule Changes Approved by the Korean Government

JB Financial Group Co. Ltd., a holding company, provides a full range of consumer and commercial banking-related financial services.

<ul>
<li>Since Sep 24, 32 companies made Value-Up disclosures. After filtering, 17 remain, but KRX will keep inclusions tight. They’ll likely use PBR and ROE rankings for final selection.</li>
<li>We have 6 names—3 financials, 2 healthcare, 1 industrial. New Value-Up disclosures through Dec 6 could add more, but these 6 are the frontrunners for now.</li>
<li>KRX is likely to announce results by Dec 10-11. Start eyeing entry points 10 days prior, and if price action heats up early, consider pulling the trigger sooner.</li>
</ul>


Since Sep 24, 32 companies made Value-Up disclosures. After filtering, 17 remain, but KRX will keep inclusions tight. They’ll likely use PBR and ROE rankings for final selection.
We have 6 names—3 financials, 2 healthcare, 1 industrial. New Value-Up disclosures through Dec 6 could add more, but these 6 are the frontrunners for now.
KRX is likely to announce results by Dec 10-11. Start eyeing entry points 10 days prior, and if price action heats up early, consider pulling the trigger sooner.


KRX Value-Up Special Rebalance in December: Playbook & Screening Rundown

Impact of reforms on South Korea Companies