Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The Korean government announced today that it will allow a fourth telco in Korea in order to reduce the oligopoly structure dominated by the three existing telcos.</li>
<li>This decision to allow another telco in Korea will have a major negative impact on the existing three telcos in Korea.</li>
<li>On a relative basis, we think that this could have a worse impact than LG Uplus as compared to SK Telecom due to greater price sensitivity of LG Uplus' customers.</li>
</ul>


The Korean government announced today that it will allow a fourth telco in Korea in order to reduce the oligopoly structure dominated by the three existing telcos.
This decision to allow another telco in Korea will have a major negative impact on the existing three telcos in Korea.
On a relative basis, we think that this could have a worse impact than LG Uplus as compared to SK Telecom due to greater price sensitivity of LG Uplus' customers.


The Rise of the Fourth Telco in Korea - Breaking the Oligopoly

ESG Analyst, Who's Good

Heejeong (Hollie) Park

ESG Analyst

ASIA’S FIRST AI-DRIVEN ESG INSIGHT PROVIDER

Who's Good

Using AI technologies and public data, Who’s Good provides objective and up-to-date corporate ESG insights on Asian companies.

WHY WHO'S GOOD

* Time-sensitive: Time is the essence in finance. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can process vast amount of information in a short span of time. Our powerful algorithm offers real-time in-depth corporate ESG analysis with out compromising its quality.
* Objective: We turned to public big data and news big data as source to base our analysis on and to preserve impartiality. We leverage 350 public big data sources and 93 news data sources in Korea to uncover insights.
* Insightful: Who’s Good ESG analysis coverage extends to all listed and non-listed companies in Korea. This allows us to provide a comprehensive insight into the Korean market.
* Global approach to ESG: Our ESG research framework is built on international standards and principles including UN Global Compact, ISO 26000, ICGN and CFA Guidelines on Corporate Governance to meet the global standards.

<ul>
<li>Domestic telecom company faced significant fines for false advertising of 5G, the second-largest penalty ever imposed. </li>
<li>Investigations into the telecom market, dominated by a long-term duopoly, are expanding. </li>
<li>Within KT Group's subcontracting process, allegations of favoritism and manipulation in project allocation are currently under investigation by the prosecution.</li>
</ul>


Domestic telecom company faced significant fines for false advertising of 5G, the second-largest penalty ever imposed. 
Investigations into the telecom market, dominated by a long-term duopoly, are expanding. 
Within KT Group's subcontracting process, allegations of favoritism and manipulation in project allocation are currently under investigation by the prosecution.


KT CORPORATION: Fines, Favoritism, and ESG Risks

Private Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>SK Pharmteco is currently 100% owned by SK Inc. It is one of the largest CMO players in Korea. SK Pharmteco is trying to raise nearly 600 billion won. </li>
<li>SK Pharmteco is seeking valuation of about 5 trillion won which is much higher than its book value of 1.65 trillion won.</li>
<li>Our NAV valuation of SK Inc suggests an implied NAV of 21.2 trillion won or 286,636 won per share, representing 75% upside from current levels.</li>
</ul>


SK Pharmteco is currently 100% owned by SK Inc. It is one of the largest CMO players in Korea. SK Pharmteco is trying to raise nearly 600 billion won. 
SK Pharmteco is seeking valuation of about 5 trillion won which is much higher than its book value of 1.65 trillion won.
Our NAV valuation of SK Inc suggests an implied NAV of 21.2 trillion won or 286,636 won per share, representing 75% upside from current levels.


SK Pharmteco Pre-IPO Funding & Impact on SK Inc

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>In our view, the Korean government could allow a fourth major telco in Korea in the next 1-2 years. </li>
<li>The launch of the fourth major telco in Korea would have a significant negative impact on the three existing Korean telcos. </li>
<li>In the local media, the following companies have been mentioned as potential candidates to inject capital into the 4th telecom operator in Korea: Coupang, Naver, Kakao, Viva Republica, and Shinsegae.</li>
</ul>


In our view, the Korean government could allow a fourth major telco in Korea in the next 1-2 years. 
The launch of the fourth major telco in Korea would have a significant negative impact on the three existing Korean telcos. 
In the local media, the following companies have been mentioned as potential candidates to inject capital into the 4th telecom operator in Korea: Coupang, Naver, Kakao, Viva Republica, and Shinsegae.


When Will the Korean Government Allow the Fourth Telco in Korea?

<ul>
<li>The Starlink service is expected to be launched in Korea in 2Q/3Q 2023. Starlink gained more than 1 million active subscribers globally as of December 2022.</li>
<li>The launch of the Starlink service in Korea is likely to have a positive impact on  companies such as Hanwha Aerospace, Solu-M, Intellian Technologies, and Satrec Initiative.</li>
<li>We like a pair trade involving long (basket of 8 stocks above that are positively impacted by Starlink launch in Korea) and short (three major Korean telcos).</li>
</ul>


The Starlink service is expected to be launched in Korea in 2Q/3Q 2023. Starlink gained more than 1 million active subscribers globally as of December 2022.
The launch of the Starlink service in Korea is likely to have a positive impact on  companies such as Hanwha Aerospace, Solu-M, Intellian Technologies, and Satrec Initiative.
We like a pair trade involving long (basket of 8 stocks above that are positively impacted by Starlink launch in Korea) and short (three major Korean telcos).


Launch of Starlink Service by SpaceX - Impact on 11 Korean Companies

South Korea

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.

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SK Telecom (017670 KS)

The Rise of the Fourth Telco in Korea - Breaking the Oligopoly

The Korean government announced today that it will allow a fourth telco in Korea in order to reduce the oligopoly structure dominated by the three...

Douglas Kim

KT CORPORATION: Fines, Favoritism, and ESG Risks

Examining ESG Risks: KT CORPORATION (030200 KS), a leading Korean telecom company, under scrutiny for false 5G ads and favoritism investigation

Heejeong (Hollie) Park

SK Pharmteco Pre-IPO Funding & Impact on SK Inc

SK Pharmteco is seeking valuation of about 5 trillion won which is much higher than its book value of 1.65 trillion won. SK Pharmteco (100% owned...

Douglas Kim

When Will the Korean Government Allow the Fourth Telco in Korea?

The Korean government could allow a fourth major telco in Korea in the next 1-2 years which would have a significant negative impact on the three...

Douglas Kim

Launch of Starlink Service by SpaceX - Impact on 11 Korean Companies

The launch of the SpaceX's Starlink service in Korea in 2Q/3Q 2023 is likely to have a positive impact on companies such as Hanwha Aerospace, Solu...

Douglas Kim

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