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

<ul>
<li>KT's foreign room has been exhausted due to value-up trading inflows, NPS selling shares, and KT canceling treasury stocks.</li>
<li>Hyundai Motor may sell 0.5% of its KT stake, likely to overseas investors. KT's 700,000 share cancellation will lower foreign ownership to the low-4% range, possibly below 3.75% by November.</li>
<li>Focus on the stock price surge from ETF recall requests around the effective date, and note that passive outflow corrections typically occur afterward.</li>
</ul>


KT's foreign room has been exhausted due to value-up trading inflows, NPS selling shares, and KT canceling treasury stocks.
Hyundai Motor may sell 0.5% of its KT stake, likely to overseas investors. KT's 700,000 share cancellation will lower foreign ownership to the low-4% range, possibly below 3.75% by November.
Focus on the stock price surge from ETF recall requests around the effective date, and note that passive outflow corrections typically occur afterward.


Reasons Why KT's Foreign Room Is Likely to Fall Below the 3.75% Cutoff Level

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<ul>
<li>Hyundai Motor Group has become the largest shareholder of KT Corp, as the National Pension Service has recently reduced its stake in KT from 8.53% previously to 7.51%. </li>
<li>Despite this recent change in the largest shareholder status of KT Corp, this requires the approval from the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT. </li>
<li>Although the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) has become the largest owner in KT Corp, the most likely scenario is for HMG to remain a passive investor in KT.</li>
</ul>


Hyundai Motor Group has become the largest shareholder of KT Corp, as the National Pension Service has recently reduced its stake in KT from 8.53% previously to 7.51%. 
Despite this recent change in the largest shareholder status of KT Corp, this requires the approval from the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT. 
Although the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) has become the largest owner in KT Corp, the most likely scenario is for HMG to remain a passive investor in KT.


Hyundai Motor Group Becomes the Largest Shareholder of KT Corp

<ul>
<li>KT's foreign ownership declined since January, below 7.5% by last month. If it remains, the adjustment factor halves to 0.25, impacting KT's Global Index weight.</li>
<li>With the May review screening date estimated for April 17th, swift reversal of foreign inflows seems improbable. Thus, KT's adjustment factor dropping to 0.25 is likely.</li>
<li>This could lead to an outflow of 1.6M shares, approximately 3x ADTV. Given the prolonged price impact on telcos, exploring a long-short setup with SKT might be prudent.</li>
</ul>


KT's foreign ownership declined since January, below 7.5% by last month. If it remains, the adjustment factor halves to 0.25, impacting KT's Global Index weight.
With the May review screening date estimated for April 17th, swift reversal of foreign inflows seems improbable. Thus, KT's adjustment factor dropping to 0.25 is likely.
This could lead to an outflow of 1.6M shares, approximately 3x ADTV. Given the prolonged price impact on telcos, exploring a long-short setup with SKT might be prudent.


KT's Foreign Room Below 7.5%, Weight Down-Adjustment Expected in May, Resulting in 3x ADTV Outflow

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>KT Corp (030200 KS)'s shares were up 4.1% today to 32,000 won driven by better than expected results in 2Q 2023 and the nomination of a new CEO. </li>
<li>KT has nominated Kim Young-Seop, the former CEO of LG CNS as the new CEO of the company.</li>
<li>KT Corp has attractive valuations. It is trading at only 2.6x EV/EBITDA, 6.7x P/E, and 0.5x P/B in 2023. These valuation multiples are much cheaper than SK Telecom.</li>
</ul>


KT Corp (030200 KS)'s shares were up 4.1% today to 32,000 won driven by better than expected results in 2Q 2023 and the nomination of a new CEO. 
KT has nominated Kim Young-Seop, the former CEO of LG CNS as the new CEO of the company.
KT Corp has attractive valuations. It is trading at only 2.6x EV/EBITDA, 6.7x P/E, and 0.5x P/B in 2023. These valuation multiples are much cheaper than SK Telecom.


KT Corp: A New CEO Nominated and Stronger Than Expected Results in 2Q 2023

Douglas Research Advisory

<ul>
<li>On 12 June, SK Telecom (017670 KS) confirmed that its affiliate Sapeon plans to merge with its competitor Rebellions by end of this year.</li>
<li>Sapeon and Rebellions' largest global competitor is Nvidia. A key aim of the merger is to challenge Nvidia and try to take away its global dominance in AI chips.</li>
<li>If the combined Sapeon and Rebellion can take away just 1% market share resulting in 1% of Nvidia's market cap, this would suggest valuation of US$31 billion.</li>
</ul>


On 12 June, SK Telecom (017670 KS) confirmed that its affiliate Sapeon plans to merge with its competitor Rebellions by end of this year.
Sapeon and Rebellions' largest global competitor is Nvidia. A key aim of the merger is to challenge Nvidia and try to take away its global dominance in AI chips.
If the combined Sapeon and Rebellion can take away just 1% market share resulting in 1% of Nvidia's market cap, this would suggest valuation of US$31 billion.


Proposed Merger Between Rebellions and Sapeon - To Challenge Nvidia

South Korea

LG Uplus Corp., an affiliate of LG Group, provides a wide range of personal communications services (PCS) using code division multiple access (CDMA) technology.  The Company offers call forwarding, call and data transfer, call waiting, voice mail, Internet-phone, prepaid call, and authentication text-to-speech (TTS) services.

KINX INC is the Internet linkage and line adapter service providing firm.  The Company provides IX and Internet Data Center service to the network service providers to reduce the traffic and to contruct Internet infrastructure.  KINX also provides VoIP service.

Sejong Telecom, Inc. develops and provides various telecom service.  The Company's main service include international phone call, Internet phone call, and long distance call.

SK Telecom Co., Ltd. is a Korean mobile and telecommunications operator. The Company provides cellular voice, wireless data, and wireless internet services. SK Telecom also offers fixed line services and platform services.

ECS Telecom Co.,Ltd. is a provider of communication products and services.  The company offers private branch exchange (PBX), IP telephony, contact center solution, and trading system.

HYBE Co., Ltd. operates as an entertainment company. The Company provides music production, album distribution, entertainers management, publicity, planning, training, and other services. HYBE also makes television shows.

Netmarble Corporation develops and publishes mobile games. The Company develops and publishes casual games, action, sports games, strategy, simulation games, and social casino games. Netmarble offers services worldwide.

Pearl Abyss Corp. operates as a computer games making company. The Company offers games development, games exporting, and other services. Pearl Abyss serves customers worldwide.

KRTnet Corporation provides radio relay services for mobile phone companies by building and maintaining relay station.  The Company also manufactures telecommunication equipment used for radio relay station.

Kakao Games Corp. operates as a multiply platform gaming company. The Company provides mobile games, computer games, virtual reality games, and other related products. Kakao Games markets its products worldwide.

Telekom Malaysia Berhad establishes, provides, and maintains telecommunication and related services. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides payphone network, mobile telecommunication, public telephone, and leasing of optical fiber telecommunication system services. Telekom also manages and operates Kuala Lumpur Tower and provides intelligent security services.

Tata Communications Limited provides telecommunications services. The Company provides international telephone, telex and telegraphy services, international maritime mobile communications, INTELSAT business service and bureau fax and t-fax services. Tata Communications also provides internet access, electronic mail and electronic data interchange services.

Telecom Italia S.p.A., through subsidiaries, offers fixed line and mobile telephone and data transmission services in Italy and abroad.  The Company offers local and long-distance telephone, satellite communications, Internet access, and teleconferencing services.

Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG provides telecommunications services in Germany. The Company offers fixed-line and mobile telephone, Internet, and data transmission services to residential and corporate customers.

Telekom Austria AG offers telecommunications services.  The Company offers fixed -line and mobile telephone, Internet access, and data transmission services. Telekom Austria also offers Internet access and mobile services in Liechtenstein , Slovenia, Bulgaria, Belarus and Croatia.

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. (OTE S.A.) provides telecommunications services. The Company offers fixed-line television and mobile telecommunication services including voice, broadband, data and leased lines. OTE S.A. serves the audio-visual, communications, industrial, and residential industries as well as public customers.

Turk Telekomunikasyon A.S. is an integrated telecommunications services provider for businesses and individuals. The Company offers land and mobile telecommunications solutions, as well as Internet services.

True Corporation PCL is an integrated telecommunications provider. The Company offers a wide range of voice, video, and data services, including dial-up and broadband Internet services, pay television, fixed-line phone, online games, and mobile phone services.

HKT Trust and HKT Ltd trade together as a stapled security.  HKT Ltd provides telecommunications services.  The Company's business provides telecommunications products and services including local telephony services, local data and broadband services, international telecommunications services, and other services.

Spark New Zealand Limited (formerly Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited) provides digital communications, entertainment and IT services over its networks and the Cloud to New Zealanders and businesses. The Company's strategy is focused on mobility, data and effortless service, and cost.

KT Corporation provides telecommunication services including local, long distance, and international calling, satellite communication, data transmission, and wireless telephone services in South Korea.  The Company also offers network portal and high-speed Internet access services using asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSLs).

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KT Corp (030200 KS)

Reasons Why KT's Foreign Room Is Likely to Fall Below the 3.75% Cutoff Level

This post examines the reasons why KT's foreign room is likely to fall below the 3.75% cutoff level before the November review.

Sanghyun Park

Hyundai Motor Group Becomes the Largest Shareholder of KT Corp

On 9 May, KT Corp (030200 KS) announced that it will cancel 5.1 million treasury shares (about 2% of outstanding shares), representing...

Douglas Kim

KT's Foreign Room Below 7.5%, Weight Down-Adjustment Expected in May, Resulting in 3x ADTV Outflow

Screening base date is likely on April 17th. KT's FIF cut to 25% is certain. 3 additions might join the Global Index despite stricter extreme price...

Sanghyun Park

KT Corp: A New CEO Nominated and Stronger Than Expected Results in 2Q 2023

KT Corp (030200 KS)'s shares were up 4.1% today to 32,000 won driven by better than expected results in 2Q 2023 and the nomination of a new CEO.

Douglas Kim

Proposed Merger Between Rebellions and Sapeon - To Challenge Nvidia

On 12 June, SK Telecom confirmed that its affiliate Sapeon plans to merge with Rebellions by end of this year. A key aim of the merger is to take...

Douglas Kim

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