Founder & Managing Director, AIR Control Tower, AIR Control Tower

Neil Glynn

Founder & Managing Director, AIR Control Tower

AIR Control Tower

AIR Control Tower is an independent research and analysis platform. Its mission is to provide impactful insight and analysis across the global airline industry at a company and market level via detailed financial models to aid decision making for key stake holders at a time when risks have seldom, if ever, been higher and the global sector grapples with the imperative of funding de-carbonisation. Unique analysis forecasting global carrier-level earnings/cash flows, and restructuring/de-leveraging prospects, is designed to dynamically assess the health of the industry, predict surprises and identify potential requirements for third party support.

Insights on the global airline industry

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Difficult for merger to receive approval in Europe, US and potentially Japan. But Korean Air financial recovery positions it well for the future.</li>
<li>Asiana vulnerable given it continues to struggle to make money, while its net debt is higher than 2019 revenues. South Korean precedent of focusing on one national champion in shipping.</li>
<li>Most M&amp;A destroys value. Strong argument for Korean continuing alone given stronger opportunities should Asiana be forced to retrench/cease ops, while Delta JV developmental potential attractive.</li>
</ul>


Difficult for merger to receive approval in Europe, US and potentially Japan. But Korean Air financial recovery positions it well for the future.
Asiana vulnerable given it continues to struggle to make money, while its net debt is higher than 2019 revenues. South Korean precedent of focusing on one national champion in shipping.
Most M&amp;A destroys value. Strong argument for Korean continuing alone given stronger opportunities should Asiana be forced to retrench/cease ops, while Delta JV developmental potential attractive.


Korean Air - Plan B Should Asiana Merger Fail to Gain Approval

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 3Q 2024.</li>
<li>Of the 38 pair trades, 21 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos in the past six months, suggesting increased capital allocation to Korean holdcos relative to their opcos.</li>
<li>These pairs could generate trading opportunities in terms of their pricing gaps closing reversal (Doosan Corp vs. Doosan Enerbility; Hyundai Mobis vs Hyundai Motor).</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 3Q 2024.
Of the 38 pair trades, 21 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos in the past six months, suggesting increased capital allocation to Korean holdcos relative to their opcos.
These pairs could generate trading opportunities in terms of their pricing gaps closing reversal (Doosan Corp vs. Doosan Enerbility; Hyundai Mobis vs Hyundai Motor).


Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 3Q 2024

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>For first time since 2022, carriers' cargo revenue, yield, load factor all rising</li>
<li>Asia outbound, US inbound air cargo tons both improving in early 2024</li>
<li>SHEIN, Temu could account for 40%+ of US inbound air tons from CH, HK, TW</li>
</ul>


For first time since 2022, carriers' cargo revenue, yield, load factor all rising
Asia outbound, US inbound air cargo tons both improving in early 2024
SHEIN, Temu could account for 40%+ of US inbound air tons from CH, HK, TW


Growth of SHEIN, Temu Appears to Be Boosting Asia-US Air Cargo Volume & Pricing

<ul>
<li>The European Commission has confirmed it aims to make a preliminary decision on the proposed Korean Air/Asiana merger by 14 February.</li>
<li>Plans to sell Asiana Cargo may struggle to find a buyer, while the US has also highlighted concerns regarding the merger, and Japan has yet to provide approval.</li>
<li>We continue to highlight there is a strong argument for Korean Air continuing alone, as Asiana continues to struggle to achieve profitability, with a stretched balance sheet.</li>
</ul>


The European Commission has confirmed it aims to make a preliminary decision on the proposed Korean Air/Asiana merger by 14 February.
Plans to sell Asiana Cargo may struggle to find a buyer, while the US has also highlighted concerns regarding the merger, and Japan has yet to provide approval.
We continue to highlight there is a strong argument for Korean Air continuing alone, as Asiana continues to struggle to achieve profitability, with a stretched balance sheet.


Korean Air: European Merger Review Decision Not Expected Until Mid-February

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

HD Hyundai Marine Solution  / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>After a 96.5% gain on listing day, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-marine-solution-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41002:1" rel="noopener">HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS)</a> is very close to levels needed for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX)</a> inclusion in June.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-marine-solution-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41002:1" rel="noopener">HD Hyundai Marine Solution</a> needs to outperform the 50th ranked stock in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI2 INDEX</a> by 11.4% on average over the next 15 trading days to be added to the index.</li>
<li>Retail investors sold 25% of their allocation on listing day while foreign investors sold 22% of their IPO allocation with local institutions mopping up the shares.</li>
</ul>


After a 96.5% gain on listing day, HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS) is very close to levels needed for Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX) inclusion in June.

HD Hyundai Marine Solution needs to outperform the 50th ranked stock in the KOSPI2 INDEX by 11.4% on average over the next 15 trading days to be added to the index.
Retail investors sold 25% of their allocation on listing day while foreign investors sold 22% of their IPO allocation with local institutions mopping up the shares.


HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June

South Korea

Hanjin KAL Corporation is a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in airline, hotel, and travel related services. Hanjin also invests in real estates.

Asiana Airlines, Inc. provides air cargo and passenger transportation services throughout South Korea and overseas.  The Company also offers airline catering and on-flight duty free shopping services and operates aircraft leasing business.

Jeju Air Co., Ltd. operates as an airline carrier in the aviation industry.   The Company provides air transportation services for passengers, baggage, and cargo within South Korea, Japan, and Southeastern Asian countries.

Tway Air Co., Ltd operates as an airline company. The Company offers flight, hotel, car booking services. Tway Air also provides reissuance of ticket, baggage, airport, and in-flight services. Tway Air serves customers worldwide.

Jin Air Co.,Ltd. provides air transportation services. The Company offers passenger and freight air transportation services, aviation equipment maintenance, aircraft leasing services, and other services. Jin Air also provides ticket and hotel booking and consulting services.

Air Busan Co., Ltd. operates as an airline company. The Company offers international and domestic flight, hotel, and car booking services. Air busan also provides reissuance of ticket, baggage, airport, and in flight services. Air busan offers services worldwide.

Hyundai Glovis Co., Ltd. provides domestic and international logistic services. The Company's services include domestic transportation, storage, packaging, vehicle logistic, and logistic consulting.  GLOVIS also runs automobile auction market for used vehicle.

HMM Co., Ltd. provides marine transportation services.  The Company commands different types of vessels including full container vessels, oil tankers, car carriers, LNG carriers, bulk carriers, and tramps.

Pan Ocean Co., Ltd. is a Korean shipping company that engages in marine transportation business. The Company provides bulk cargo carrier, pure car and truck carrier, container and tanker services.

CJ Logistics Corporation provides logistics services. The Company provides land transportation, maritime transportation, harbor unloading, cargo storage, international logistics processing, and other services. CJ Logistics also provides internet home shopping services. CJ Logistics serves customers worldwide.

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited operates scheduled airline services. The Company also provides related services, including airline catering, aircraft handling, and engineering.

Qantas Airways Limited provides transportation of passengers through two airlines including Qantas (full service carrier) and Jetstar (low cost carrier), operating international, domestic and regional services. The Company also includes Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Freight which generates diverse revenue streams and adds value for customers and investors.

China Southern Airlines Company Limited provides commercial airline services throughout China, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.  The Company also provides other airline related services including aircraft maintenance and air catering.

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the civil aviation industry. It offers passenger, cargo, mail delivery, ground, cargo handling, and other extended transportation services.

Japan Airlines Co. Ltd. provides air transportation services. The Company offers a variety of scheduled  flights and unscheduled flights throughout the world as well as offers air courier services. Japan Airlines also provides tickets, resort hotels, and travel agencies services.

American Airlines Group Inc. operates an airline that provides scheduled passenger, freight, and mail service throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and the Pacific.  The Company also provides connecting service throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

China Airlines Limited provides scheduled international air transportation for passengers and cargo freight throughout cities in Europe, America, Asia, and Australia.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. is an airline holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides air service to passengers in multiple destinations. Alaska Air also provide freight and mail services, primarily to and within the state of Alaska and on the West Coast.

EVA Airways Corp. is an air carrier that transports passengers and cargos. The Company operates primarily in Taiwan and serves international route networks in North America, Asia, Europe, and Australasia.

easyJet plc, a low-cost passenger airline, conducts operations throughout the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.  The Company sells the majority of its tickets through its Web site.

Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. operates air transportation services.  The Company's services include passenger and cargo transportation, aircraft maintenance, and air catering.  Korean Air Lines provides domestic and international airline services.

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Korean Air Lines (003490 KS)

Korean Air - Plan B Should Asiana Merger Fail to Gain Approval

Deep dive on prospects for Korean Air should it fail to achieve approval for planned Asiana merger. Global airline M&A perspective/organic...

Neil Glynn

Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 3Q 2024

In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in...

Douglas Kim

Growth of SHEIN, Temu Appears to Be Boosting Asia-US Air Cargo Volume & Pricing

There are signs that SHEIN and Temu are boosting Asia-to-US air cargo volume and pricing. We estimate the two platforms account for as much as 40%+...

Tracking Traffic

Korean Air: European Merger Review Decision Not Expected Until Mid-February

The Korean Air - Asiana merger saga continues with Europe confirming mid-February for a preliminary decision. We continue to see the scope for the...

Neil Glynn

HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June

A 96.5% rally on listing day as retail and foreign investors sold and domestic instis bought. The stock is now ~11% away from KOSPI200 inclusion in...

Brian Freitas

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