Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>At current prices, we like a pair trade between SK Telecom (go long) and LG Uplus (go short). </li>
<li>We believe the share price gap has widened too much in the past month in favor of LG Uplus and this gap is likely to close in the coming weeks.</li>
<li>While LG Uplus tries to expand its non-telecom businesses, this may involve greater spending on marketing and promotions (as % of sales), which could be a drag on its earnings.</li>
</ul>


At current prices, we like a pair trade between SK Telecom (go long) and LG Uplus (go short). 
We believe the share price gap has widened too much in the past month in favor of LG Uplus and this gap is likely to close in the coming weeks.
While LG Uplus tries to expand its non-telecom businesses, this may involve greater spending on marketing and promotions (as % of sales), which could be a drag on its earnings.


A Pair Trade Between SK Telecom & LG Uplus

Equity Capital Markets

SAMG Entertainment / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>SAMG Entertainment is getting ready for an IPO on the KOSDAQ market. SAMG Entertainment is a leading children animation and digital contents focused entertainment company targeting young children.</li>
<li>The IPO offering amount is from 37.8 billion won to 46.7 billion won. The book building for the institutional investors starts on 1 November.</li>
<li>The company operates 42 Youtube channels including 15 domestic channels and 27 overseas channels. The total number of subscribers for these 42 Youtube channels exceeds 39 million.</li>
</ul>


SAMG Entertainment is getting ready for an IPO on the KOSDAQ market. SAMG Entertainment is a leading children animation and digital contents focused entertainment company targeting young children.
The IPO offering amount is from 37.8 billion won to 46.7 billion won. The book building for the institutional investors starts on 1 November.
The company operates 42 Youtube channels including 15 domestic channels and 27 overseas channels. The total number of subscribers for these 42 Youtube channels exceeds 39 million.


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

<ul>
<li>On 20 May, we recommended selling <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-telecom-co-ltd-bbccd86c-474d-4a4d-946d-10e911a225a2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:395:1" rel="noopener">SK Telecom (017670 KS)</a> and buying <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kt-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1112:1" rel="noopener">KT Corp (030200 KS)</a>. That trade is up 12% over the last month.</li>
<li>Foreign investors have sold 2.5m shares of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-telecom-co-ltd-bbccd86c-474d-4a4d-946d-10e911a225a2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:395:1" rel="noopener">SK Telecom (017670 KS)</a> in the last month while buying 2.8m shares of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kt-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1112:1" rel="noopener">KT Corp (030200 KS)</a>. </li>
<li>With the price ratio trading at a 4 year low, we feel is is time to start unwinding the trade and waiting for a little bit before reversing it.</li>
</ul>


On 20 May, we recommended selling SK Telecom (017670 KS) and buying KT Corp (030200 KS). That trade is up 12% over the last month.
Foreign investors have sold 2.5m shares of SK Telecom (017670 KS) in the last month while buying 2.8m shares of KT Corp (030200 KS). 
With the price ratio trading at a 4 year low, we feel is is time to start unwinding the trade and waiting for a little bit before reversing it.


SK Telecom / KT Corp: Foreign Room, Passive Flow & Trade Update

<ul>
<li>It was reported that KT will provide an extra 15% to its employees who purchase KT's treasury shares worth 5 million won ($4,000) to 20 million won ($16,000).</li>
<li>We have a positive view of this extra 15% bonus for ESOP treasury shares purchase. It has the positive effect of increasing demand for KT shares among its employees.</li>
<li>If 10,000 employees purchase 10 million won per person, this would be 115 billion won in total (including 15% extra provided by KT). </li>
</ul>


It was reported that KT will provide an extra 15% to its employees who purchase KT's treasury shares worth 5 million won ($4,000) to 20 million won ($16,000).
We have a positive view of this extra 15% bonus for ESOP treasury shares purchase. It has the positive effect of increasing demand for KT shares among its employees.
If 10,000 employees purchase 10 million won per person, this would be 115 billion won in total (including 15% extra provided by KT). 


KT Grants Extra 15% for ESOP Treasury Shares Purchase

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the different share price movements of SK Telecom relative to KT and LG Uplus from 2005 to 2022 when foreign ownership of SK Telecom remained above 99%.</li>
<li>From 2005 to 2022, KT and LG Uplus outperformed SKT in 7 and 6 out of 11 periods, respectively when the foreign ownership of SKT was above 99%.</li>
<li>Once KT's foreign ownership rises to the 93-95% range, there will be more concerns about foreign ownership limit which means that LG Uplus could be in focus once again. </li>
</ul>


We analyzed the different share price movements of SK Telecom relative to KT and LG Uplus from 2005 to 2022 when foreign ownership of SK Telecom remained above 99%.
From 2005 to 2022, KT and LG Uplus outperformed SKT in 7 and 6 out of 11 periods, respectively when the foreign ownership of SKT was above 99%.
Once KT's foreign ownership rises to the 93-95% range, there will be more concerns about foreign ownership limit which means that LG Uplus could be in focus once again. 


Price Comparisons of SK Telecom, KT, & LG Uplus When SK Telecom Reaches 99%+ Foreign Ownership

South Korea

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

LS Cable & System Asia Ltd. provides and offers cable products.  The Company manufactures and markets electric and telecommunication cables, head transmission lines, voltage cables and industrial specialty cables for the energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, railway, telecommunication and electronics industries.

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.

Iridium Communications, Inc. offers mobile satellite communications services. The Company's satellites operate in a low-earth orbit and provide 100% global coverage.  Iridium Holdings offers voice and data communications services to the United States and foreign governments; businesses; non-governmental organizations; and consumers.

Cogent Communications Holdings Inc. is a next generation optical Internet servic e provider focused on delivering ultra-high speed Internet access and transport services.The Company serves businesses in the multi-tenant marketplace and servi ce providers located in major metropolitan areas across the United States.

Proximus SA provides communication services and products to residential, business and corporate customers both domestically and internationally.  The Group offers multimedia products, payphones, pagers, operator services and calling cards.  Proximus SA also provides mobile phone and Internet services.

Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Corporation Ltd. offers local, long-distance, and international telecommunications services in Israel.  The Company also offers Internet access lines, calling cards, and high volume data transfer networks.

PCCW Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications, Internet access, multimedia services and related equipment.  The Company also offers computer, engineering, and other technical services in Hong Kong.  In addition, PCCW invests in and develops system integration and technology-related business, infrastructure and properties in Hong Kong and China.

China Communications Services Corporation Limited provides specialized telecommunications support services to telecommunications operators.  The Company offers telecommunications infrastructure services, including design, construction and project supervision and management, business process outsourcing services , and applications, content and other services.

China Communications Services Corp Ltd. (552 HK)

Globalstar, Inc. provides mobile voice and data communications services via satellite. The Company primarily provides business and recreational communications to industry, government, and individual customers located in remote areas throughout the world.

United Internet AG operates as an internet services company. The Company provides landline and mobile internet access products, as well as cloud applications at data centers with fixed monthly fees and volume-based charges. United Internet serves consumers and business clients worldwide.

NetLink NBN Trust designs, builds, owns, and operates fiber network infrastructures. The Company offers fiber network resources, including ducts, manholes, and cables. NetLink NBN Trust also focuses on leasing telecommunication infrastructures to telecommunication service providers. NetLink NBN Trust serves customers in Singapore.designs, builds, owns, and operates fiber network infrastructures. The Company offers fiber network resources, including ducts, manholes, and cables. NetLink NBN Trust also focuses on leasing telecommunication infrastructures to telecommunication service providers. NetLink NBN Trust serves customers in Singapore.

Zegona Communications plc is an investment company. The Company buys and sells businesses in the European Telecommunications, Media and Technology (''TMT'') sectors.

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.

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LG Uplus Corp (032640 KS)

A Pair Trade Between SK Telecom & LG Uplus

At current prices, we like a pair trade between SK Telecom and LG Uplus. The price gap has widened too much in the past month in favor of LG Uplus...

Douglas Kim

SAMG Entertainment IPO Preview

SAMG Entertainment is getting ready for an IPO on the KOSDAQ market. SAMG Entertainment is a leading children animation and digital contents...

Douglas Kim

SK Telecom / KT Corp: Foreign Room, Passive Flow & Trade Update

SK Telecom has underperformed KT Corp by 12% over the last month. Foreign investors have been selling SK Tel & buying KT Corp. The price ratio is...

Brian Freitas

KT Grants Extra 15% for ESOP Treasury Shares Purchase

It was reported that KT will provide an extra 15% to its employees who purchase KT's treasury shares worth 5 million won ($4,000) to 20 million won...

Douglas Kim

Price Comparisons of SK Telecom, KT, & LG Uplus When SK Telecom Reaches 99%+ Foreign Ownership

We analyzed the different share price movements of SK Telecom relative to KT and LG Uplus from 2005 to 2022 when foreign ownership of SK Telecom...

Douglas Kim

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