Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Despite differences in views on the legacy of Abenomics, many people agree that Abenomics played a key role and was a clear tipping point for corporate governance improvements in Japan.</li>
<li>Likewise, we believe Yoonomics will follow similar steps and make significant efforts to improve corporate governance reforms in Korea. </li>
<li>So far in 2023,<strong> CORPORATE ACTIVISM</strong> has been <strong>THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPIC</strong> in Korea's equity markets. </li>
</ul>


Despite differences in views on the legacy of Abenomics, many people agree that Abenomics played a key role and was a clear tipping point for corporate governance improvements in Japan.
Likewise, we believe Yoonomics will follow similar steps and make significant efforts to improve corporate governance reforms in Korea. 
So far in 2023, CORPORATE ACTIVISM has been THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPIC in Korea's equity markets. 


Abenomics Vs Yoonomics: Tipping Points of Corporate Governance Reforms in Japan and Korea

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we discuss the five most aggressive corporate activist firms that have been moving the Korean equity market in the past year.</li>
<li>They include Align Partners Capital Management, KCGI, Flashlight Capital Partners, Truston, and LIFE Asset Management.</li>
<li>Share prices of 15 companies that the corporate activist firms have invested in Korea are up on average 9.7% YTD, outperforming KOSPI which is up 7.1% in the same period.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we discuss the five most aggressive corporate activist firms that have been moving the Korean equity market in the past year.
They include Align Partners Capital Management, KCGI, Flashlight Capital Partners, Truston, and LIFE Asset Management.
Share prices of 15 companies that the corporate activist firms have invested in Korea are up on average 9.7% YTD, outperforming KOSPI which is up 7.1% in the same period.


Five Most Aggressive Corporate Activists Moving the Korean Market: Align, KCGI, FCP, Truston, & LIFE

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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jb-financial-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16104:1" rel="noopener">Jb Financial Group (175330 KS)</a> will replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meritz-fire-marine-insurance-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20468:1" rel="noopener">Meritz Fire &amp; Marine Insurance (000060 KS)</a> in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">Korea Stock Exchange Kospi 200 Index (KOSPI2 INDEX)</a> at the close on 27 January.</li>
<li>We estimate passive <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI2 INDEX</a> trackers will need to buy 3.494m shares (KRW 36.34bn; 4.04 days of ADV) of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jb-financial-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16104:1" rel="noopener">Jb Financial Group (175330 KS)</a> at the close on 27 January.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dgb-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6138:1" rel="noopener">DGB Financial Group (139130 KS)</a> could be added to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI2 INDEX</a> in April, replacing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meritz-securities-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19692:1" rel="noopener">Meritz Securities (008560 KS)</a> following its merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meritz-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11776:1" rel="noopener">Meritz Financial Group (138040 KS)</a>. </li>
</ul>



Jb Financial Group (175330 KS) will replace Meritz Fire &amp; Marine Insurance (000060 KS) in the Korea Stock Exchange Kospi 200 Index (KOSPI2 INDEX) at the close on 27 January.
We estimate passive KOSPI2 INDEX trackers will need to buy 3.494m shares (KRW 36.34bn; 4.04 days of ADV) of Jb Financial Group (175330 KS) at the close on 27 January.

DGB Financial Group (139130 KS) could be added to the KOSPI2 INDEX in April, replacing Meritz Securities (008560 KS) following its merger with Meritz Financial Group (138040 KS). 


KOSPI200 Index Rebalance: JB Financial (175330 KS) To Replace Meritz F&M (000060 KS)

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) held a media presentation and a Q&amp;A session with both the investors community and the media today.</li>
<li>Align Partners' corporate activism of the Korean banks has been one of the biggest stories in the Korean stock market this year.</li>
<li>The Korean banks are likely to outperform the market in 1H23. Nonetheless, if there are further signs of housing price declines in Korea, this outperformance may not continue in 2H23. </li>
</ul>


Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) held a media presentation and a Q&amp;A session with both the investors community and the media today.
Align Partners' corporate activism of the Korean banks has been one of the biggest stories in the Korean stock market this year.
The Korean banks are likely to outperform the market in 1H23. Nonetheless, if there are further signs of housing price declines in Korea, this outperformance may not continue in 2H23. 


Align Partners' Corporate Activism on Korean Banks: A Media Presentation and Q&A Session

<ul>
<li>On 2 January, Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) started to go activist on seven leading Korean banking group companies.</li>
<li>According to APCM, the major Korean banking groups could pay out at least half of their net income to their shareholders, which would be more than double the current levels.</li>
<li>Korean banks are trading at deep discount to global peers, now trading at PBR of 0.2~0.4x whereas global peers trade at 1.3x. </li>
</ul>


On 2 January, Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) started to go activist on seven leading Korean banking group companies.
According to APCM, the major Korean banking groups could pay out at least half of their net income to their shareholders, which would be more than double the current levels.
Korean banks are trading at deep discount to global peers, now trading at PBR of 0.2~0.4x whereas global peers trade at 1.3x. 


Align Partners Goes Activist on Seven Banking Group Companies in Korea

South Korea

Hana Financial Group Inc., in accordance with Financial Holding Companies Act, was established on December 1, 2005, through stock transfer with the former shareholders of its subsidiaries in order to provide management services and financing to associated companies.

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Hana Financial (086790 KS)

Abenomics Vs Yoonomics: Tipping Points of Corporate Governance Reforms in Japan and Korea

Similar to how Abe left a legacy of significant improvements to corporate governance reforms in Japan, Yoon is also likely to seek a major...

Douglas Kim

Five Most Aggressive Corporate Activists Moving the Korean Market: Align, KCGI, FCP, Truston, & LIFE

In this insight, we discuss the five most aggressive corporate activist firms that have been moving the Korean equity market in the past year.

Douglas Kim

KOSPI200 Index Rebalance: JB Financial (175330 KS) To Replace Meritz F&M (000060 KS)

JB Financial will replace Meritz F&M Insurance in the KOSPI200 at the close on 27 Jan. JB is +32% in the last 13 trading days & trades at a higher...

Brian Freitas

Align Partners' Corporate Activism on Korean Banks: A Media Presentation and Q&A Session

Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) held a media presentation and a Q&A session with both the investors community and the media today.

Douglas Kim

Align Partners Goes Activist on Seven Banking Group Companies in Korea

On 2 January, Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) started to go activist on seven leading Korean banking group companies.

Douglas Kim

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