Founder/CEO of ROK Advisory, ROK Advisory LLC

Ken S. Kim

Founder/CEO of ROK Advisory

ROK Advisory LLC

ROK is an independent research advisory firm. We guide you to minimize the information gap between foreign and local investors in Northeast Asia with a focus in Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

Independent Research Advisory Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Has SK Innovation raised enough money for its longer term ambitions? </li>
<li>What is the stock pricing in that is not apparent on the balance sheet? </li>
<li>It seems really given their capex outlet, dilutive cap raising is the only solution</li>
</ul>


Has SK Innovation raised enough money for its longer term ambitions? 
What is the stock pricing in that is not apparent on the balance sheet? 
It seems really given their capex outlet, dilutive cap raising is the only solution


Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we highlight the pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos in 4Q 2023.</li>
<li>Of the 38 pair trades, 18 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos YTD and 20 of them involved opcos outperforming holdcos in the same period.</li>
<li>We highlight 38 pair trades that involve Korean holdcos and opcos.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we highlight the pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos in 4Q 2023.
Of the 38 pair trades, 18 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos YTD and 20 of them involved opcos outperforming holdcos in the same period.
We highlight 38 pair trades that involve Korean holdcos and opcos.


Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 4Q 2023

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Back on the 7 June, <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chindata-group-holdings-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29274:1" rel="noopener">Chindata Group (CD US)</a></strong> announced Bain Capital's NBIO to buy all shares of the Chinese data center provider it does not already own for $8/ADS.</li>
<li>On the <a href="https://investor.chindatagroup.com/news-releases/news-release-details/chindata-group-receives-non-binding-take-private-proposal-cmc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13 July</a>, Chindata announced that China Merchants Capital has made an NBIO at $9.20/ADS.</li>
<li>Now Bain has entered into a definitive agreement with Chindata at US$8.60/ADS. Bain holds more than 2/3s of Chindata to vote this through. And there is no PRC regulator approval.</li>
</ul>


Back on the 7 June, Chindata Group (CD US) announced Bain Capital's NBIO to buy all shares of the Chinese data center provider it does not already own for $8/ADS.
On the 13 July, Chindata announced that China Merchants Capital has made an NBIO at $9.20/ADS.
Now Bain has entered into a definitive agreement with Chindata at US$8.60/ADS. Bain holds more than 2/3s of Chindata to vote this through. And there is no PRC regulator approval.


IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chindata-group-holdings-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29274:1" rel="noopener">Chindata Group (CD US)</a> has entered a definite agreement with Bain Capital at US$8.60 per ADS, 7.5% higher than its previous offer of US$8.00 per ADS.</li>
<li>Completion is conditional on shareholder approval, dissenting shareholders representing less than 12% of outstanding shares and any applicable regulatory approvals. The completion conditions should be met.</li>
<li>CMC’s offer, while higher, does not meet the "<em>superior proposal</em>" criterion. At the last close price and December-end completion, the gross and annualised spread is 6.0% and 16.6%, respectively.</li>
</ul>



Chindata Group (CD US) has entered a definite agreement with Bain Capital at US$8.60 per ADS, 7.5% higher than its previous offer of US$8.00 per ADS.
Completion is conditional on shareholder approval, dissenting shareholders representing less than 12% of outstanding shares and any applicable regulatory approvals. The completion conditions should be met.
CMC’s offer, while higher, does not meet the "superior proposal" criterion. At the last close price and December-end completion, the gross and annualised spread is 6.0% and 16.6%, respectively.


Chindata (CD US): Bain’s Binding Proposal at US$8.60 Per ADS

Private Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>SK Ecoplant is getting ready to complete its IPO sometime in late 2023/1H 2024.</li>
<li>Local media have mentioned that SK Ecoplant's market cap could range from 5 trillion won to 10 trillion won.</li>
<li>At the end of 2022, SK Inc's 44.5% stake in SK Ecoplant had a book value of 545 billion won, which is much less the market value of SK Ecoplant.</li>
</ul>


SK Ecoplant is getting ready to complete its IPO sometime in late 2023/1H 2024.
Local media have mentioned that SK Ecoplant's market cap could range from 5 trillion won to 10 trillion won.
At the end of 2022, SK Inc's 44.5% stake in SK Ecoplant had a book value of 545 billion won, which is much less the market value of SK Ecoplant.


Initial Thoughts on the SK Ecoplant IPO - Impact on SK Inc

South Korea

Posco DX Company Ltd. provides information and technology services. The Company provides computer systems design, computer and server merchant wholesale, computer and office machine repair and maintenance services. Posco DX also offers eic engineering, smart factory, wireless networking equipment, steel manufacturing, and digital video recorder manufacturing services.

LG Display Co., Ltd. develops and manufactures digital display products.  The Company's products include thin film transistor-liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD) for notebook and desktop computer monitors, TVs, mobile phones, and medical equipment.  LG Display provides its products mainly to overseas markets.

LG Innotek Co., Ltd. develops and produces cellular phone parts such as mini vibration motors, LCD modules, light emitting diode (LED), camera modules, protection circuit modules. The Company also manufactures liquid crystal displays (LCD) and plasma display panels (PDP) parts such as inverters, intelligent power modules, multi chip modules, and tuners.

Samsung SDS Co., Ltd. provides information technology services, such as consulting and technical services. The Company also offers outsourcing services including application outsourcing, IT infrastructure outsourcing, and cloud computing.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. manufactures a variety of electronic components used in computers, audio and video products, industrial electronics, and telecommunication equipment. The Company's products include multi-layer boards and capacitors, optical Pick Ups, deflection yokes (DY), keyboards, speakers, and light emitting diode (LED) products.

Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS)

IsuPetasys Co., Ltd. manufactures printed circuit boards (PCBs) specializing in high multilayer PCBs.  The Company exports its products to Cisco Systems, Brocade Communications Systems, and Sun Microsystems in the United States.

NCSOFT Corporation develops and markets on-line games that enable users to play over the Internet and computer software, such as web editing software.  The Company also designs and constructs databases, Intranet, and commercial Internet access systems.

COSMOAM&T Co., Ltd. manufactures, sells, and exports blank video & audio recording tapes including back-coated tapes, high speed recordable tapes, and video head cleaners.  The Company also produces recordable and rewritable optical discs, such as compact discs (CD), mini discs (MD), and digital video discs (DVD).

LEENO Industrial Inc. develops and manufactures various testers.  The Company's products include integrated circuit (IC) test sockets, test probe pins used in semiconductor industry.

Hyundai Autoever Corp. provides information technology services. The Company offers system integration, system management, information system development, and other services. Hyundai Autoever offers services worldwide.

Zhejiang Chint Electrics Co., Ltd. manufactures low voltage electric appliances. The Company's products include high, Medium and low voltage electrical apparatus, power transmission and distribution equipment, and measuring meters and instruments.

Mercury Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets real-time digital signal processing computer systems.  The Company's systems transform sensor generated data into information which can be displayed as images for human interpretation or subjected to additional computer analysis.  Products are marketed to the defense electronics and medical diagnostic imaging businesses.

Xinte Energy Co., Limited solar-grade polysilicon producer and PV project contractor. The Company provides polysilcon production, sales of electricity, engineering and construction contracting, inverter manufacturing, and PV wafer and module manufacturing.

SUMCO Corporation manufactures silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry. The Company produces silicon wafers used to produce solar batteries as well as ultra-high purity quartz used to produce vessels for silicon manufacturing process. SUMCO markets its products worldwide.

Yandex NV operates an Internet website in Russia.  The Company's website offers an Internet search engine, news, shopping information, blogs, photographs and videos.  Yandex earns its revenues from online advertising.

Kingsoft Corporation Ltd. develops and markets computer software.  The Company develops role-playing computer games and security, word processing, and spreadsheet software.

Technology One Limited is an Australian-based company that is engaged in the development, marketing, sales, implementation, support, and distribution of financial management and enterprise software solutions. The Company has operations in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the South Pacific, and Malaysia.

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. manufactures components for the semiconductor industry. The Company designs, manufactures and services ion implantation, dry strip, thermal processing and curing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips. Axcelis Technologies sells their products to semiconductor chip manufacturers worldwide.

MA-COM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc. provides high performance analog semiconductor solutions. The Company supplies semiconductors, active and passive components, and sub-assemblies for use in radio frequency, microwave, and millimeter wave applications. MA-COM Technology Solutions serves customers throughout the United States.

GMO Payment Gateway, Inc. provides credit card transaction services for electronic commerce firms.

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)

SK Innovation - Why It Hasn't Worked

Can SK Innovation turn from underperformer to outperformer? It seems difficult with what's being expected and the limitations due to its balance...

Ken S. Kim

Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 4Q 2023

In this insight, we highlight the pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos in 4Q 2023. We highlight 38 pair trades that...

Douglas Kim

Chindata Backs Bain's Revised Terms

Chindata is still cheap. But Bain & Co have the necessary votes to push this through. Trading at a 6% gross spread to terms, or ~13% annualised...

David Blennerhassett

Chindata (CD US): Bain’s Binding Proposal at US$8.60 Per ADS

Bain's revised offer is still unattractive, but the completion conditions should be met. At the last close price and December-end completion, the...

Arun George

Initial Thoughts on the SK Ecoplant IPO - Impact on SK Inc

SK Ecoplant is getting ready to complete its IPO sometime in late 2023/1H 2024. Local media have mentioned that SK Ecoplant's market cap could...

Douglas Kim

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