Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

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

<ul>
<li>In early December, the divorce settlement between SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-Won and his former wife Roh So-Young was finalized after 6+ years of long proceedings.</li>
<li>The end of the divorce settlement means that there is now a greater probability of SK Inc materially cancelling some of its treasury shares in 2023. </li>
<li>Our SoTP valuation of SK Inc suggests an implied valuation of 260,712 won per share, suggesting 28.1% upside from current levels.</li>
</ul>


In early December, the divorce settlement between SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-Won and his former wife Roh So-Young was finalized after 6+ years of long proceedings.
The end of the divorce settlement means that there is now a greater probability of SK Inc materially cancelling some of its treasury shares in 2023. 
Our SoTP valuation of SK Inc suggests an implied valuation of 260,712 won per share, suggesting 28.1% upside from current levels.


SK Inc: Chairman Chey's Divorce Settlement Finalized + SoTP Valuation Analysis

Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

SK Biopharmaceuticals   / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-biopharmaceuticals-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28966:1" rel="noopener">SK Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd (326030 KS)</a> is reporting continued stellar performance of its flagship drug cenobamate in US, with Q2 sales rising 114% y/y and 27% q/q to KRW40.3 billion.</li>
<li>Thus far, cenobamate has been launched in the U.S. and EU. The company is looking to launch the drug in Korea, China, and Japan in 2025.</li>
<li>Going forward, the company is expected to narrow its losses, and should turn profitable in 2024. The company is expected to launch new drug, carisbamate in global market in 2025.</li>
</ul>



SK Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd (326030 KS) is reporting continued stellar performance of its flagship drug cenobamate in US, with Q2 sales rising 114% y/y and 27% q/q to KRW40.3 billion.
Thus far, cenobamate has been launched in the U.S. and EU. The company is looking to launch the drug in Korea, China, and Japan in 2025.
Going forward, the company is expected to narrow its losses, and should turn profitable in 2024. The company is expected to launch new drug, carisbamate in global market in 2025.


SK Biopharmaceuticals (326030 KS): Strong Xcopri US Sales Not Reflected in Share Price Performance

<ul>
<li>Our base case target price of 276,567 won suggests a 37% upside from current levels for SK Inc. Our base case valuation assumes a 30% holdco discount.</li>
<li>At DPS of 8,000 won, this would represent dividend yield of 4% at current price of 202,000 won.</li>
<li>The three largest holdcos/quasi holdcos in Korea which include Samsung C&amp;T, SK Inc, and LG Corp have strongly outperformed KOSPI this year. </li>
</ul>


Our base case target price of 276,567 won suggests a 37% upside from current levels for SK Inc. Our base case valuation assumes a 30% holdco discount.
At DPS of 8,000 won, this would represent dividend yield of 4% at current price of 202,000 won.
The three largest holdcos/quasi holdcos in Korea which include Samsung C&amp;T, SK Inc, and LG Corp have strongly outperformed KOSPI this year. 


SK Inc: Solid Dividends, Ongoing Buyback, and Emphasis on Value Should Lead to 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.

<ul>
<li>In the wake of this incident, the presidential office suggested that Kakao Corp should be brought into the framework of regulation as a national infrastructure operator.</li>
<li>This is likely to be the leading investment point that attracts the most attention from the market for Kakao.</li>
<li>Regulatory risks will inevitably act as a structural and long-term discount factor for Kakao Corp, and we need to design a short position based on this angle.</li>
</ul>


In the wake of this incident, the presidential office suggested that Kakao Corp should be brought into the framework of regulation as a national infrastructure operator.
This is likely to be the leading investment point that attracts the most attention from the market for Kakao.
Regulatory risks will inevitably act as a structural and long-term discount factor for Kakao Corp, and we need to design a short position based on this angle.


Shorting Angle on Kakao Corp in the Wake of an Unprecedented Server Failure Incident

South Korea

SK Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holdings company that is engaged in various industries including energy, chemicals, information technology, semiconductors, marketing, and services businesses in South Korea and internationally.

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SK Inc (034730 KS)

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

SK Inc: Chairman Chey's Divorce Settlement Finalized + SoTP Valuation Analysis

In early December, the divorce settlement between SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-Won and his former wife Roh So-Young was finalized after 6+ years of...

Douglas Kim

SK Inc: Solid Dividends, Ongoing Buyback, and Emphasis on Value Should Lead to Outperformance

Our base case target price of 276,567 won suggests a 37% upside from current levels for SK Inc. Our base case valuation assumes a 30% holdco discount.

Douglas Kim

Shorting Angle on Kakao Corp in the Wake of an Unprecedented Server Failure Incident

This post summarizes Kakao's unprecedented server failure incident and examines the leading investment point based on the imminent regulatory risks.

Sanghyun Park

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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

SK Inc: Chairman Chey's Divorce Settlement Finalized + SoTP Valuation Analysis

In early December, the divorce settlement between SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-Won and his former wife Roh So-Young was finalized after 6+ years of...

Douglas Kim

SK Biopharmaceuticals (326030 KS): Strong Xcopri US Sales Not Reflected in Share Price Performance

Flagship drug Xcopri is on high gear in US, thanks to strong efficacy and aggressive promotion. SK Biopharmaceuticals targets Xcopri sales of...

Tina Banerjee

SK Inc: Solid Dividends, Ongoing Buyback, and Emphasis on Value Should Lead to Outperformance

Our base case target price of 276,567 won suggests a 37% upside from current levels for SK Inc. Our base case valuation assumes a 30% holdco discount.

Douglas Kim

Shorting Angle on Kakao Corp in the Wake of an Unprecedented Server Failure Incident

This post summarizes Kakao's unprecedented server failure incident and examines the leading investment point based on the imminent regulatory risks.

Sanghyun Park