Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>On 20 April, Chile's government announced that it will be nationalizing the country's lithium industry. Chile is the second largest producer of lithium in the world. </li>
<li>The nationalization of the lithium industry in Chile will likely have a long-term negative impact on the rechargeable batteries related companies in Korea.</li>
<li>This is mainly due to greater challenges of getting access to lithium at more affordable prices. </li>
</ul>


On 20 April, Chile's government announced that it will be nationalizing the country's lithium industry. Chile is the second largest producer of lithium in the world. 
The nationalization of the lithium industry in Chile will likely have a long-term negative impact on the rechargeable batteries related companies in Korea.
This is mainly due to greater challenges of getting access to lithium at more affordable prices. 


Nationalization of Lithium Industry in Chile - Impact on Korean Rechargeable Batteries Value Chain

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we highlight the pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos in 2Q 2023.</li>
<li>Of the 38 pair trades, 21 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos YTD and 17 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 2Q 2023.
Of the 38 pair trades, 21 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos YTD and 17 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 2Q 2023

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>According to Hankyung Business Daily, Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS) is considering on issuing a CB worth 500 billion won to various private equity and asset managment companies.</li>
<li>We would be negative on the potential CB issuance of nearly 500 billion won by Ecopro BM.</li>
<li>The potential issuance of this CB is a signal from the management that it is trying to capitalize on the recent sharp increases in share price to raise more capital.</li>
</ul>


According to Hankyung Business Daily, Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS) is considering on issuing a CB worth 500 billion won to various private equity and asset managment companies.
We would be negative on the potential CB issuance of nearly 500 billion won by Ecopro BM.
The potential issuance of this CB is a signal from the management that it is trying to capitalize on the recent sharp increases in share price to raise more capital.


Ecopro BM: Considering on a CB Issuance of 500 Billion Won

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>
<strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ecopro-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19029:1" rel="noopener">Ecopro (086520 KS)</a></strong> is up an eye-watering 590% in the past three months, primarily on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ecopro-bm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27873:1" rel="noopener"><strong>Ecopro BM (247540 KS)</strong></a>'s outperformance, together with sentiment towards soon-to-be-listed 52.8% held Ecopro Materials. </li>
<li>Preceding my comments on Ecopro are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>



Ecopro (086520 KS) is up an eye-watering 590% in the past three months, primarily on Ecopro BM (247540 KS)'s outperformance, together with sentiment towards soon-to-be-listed 52.8% held Ecopro Materials. 
Preceding my comments on Ecopro are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


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

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>Total short interest in Hong Kong is HK$435.1bn, marginally higher from end-December. Short notional has moved in line with the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a>. </li>
<li>Total short notional of the KOSPI and KOSDAQ market has moved up since end-December and is in line with the move higher 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">KOSPI2 INDEX</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150 Index</a>.</li>
<li>Short notional in Taiwan is lower over the quarter even as the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-stock-exchange-weighted-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26056:1" rel="noopener">TWSE INDEX</a> has moved higher over the period. There has been big short covering on some stocks.</li>
</ul>


Total short interest in Hong Kong is HK$435.1bn, marginally higher from end-December. Short notional has moved in line with the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX). 
Total short notional of the KOSPI and KOSDAQ market has moved up since end-December and is in line with the move higher in the KOSPI2 INDEX and KOSDAQ 150 Index.
Short notional in Taiwan is lower over the quarter even as the TWSE INDEX has moved higher over the period. There has been big short covering on some stocks.


Short Interest Movements (Q1 2023): HK, Korea, Taiwan, Australia

South Korea

Ecopro Co., Ltd. specializes in developing chemical absorbent and NDC (Nano Carbon Ball) in the field of environmental materials for the prevention of air pollution.  The Company's products include environment-related chemical filters, second battery materials, and CO catalyst.

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Ecopro Co Ltd (086520 KS)

Nationalization of Lithium Industry in Chile - Impact on Korean Rechargeable Batteries Value Chain

The nationalization of the lithium industry in Chile will likely have a long-term negative impact on the rechargeable batteries related companies...

Douglas Kim

Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 2Q 2023

In this insight, we highlight the pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos in 2Q 2023. We highlight 38 pair trades that...

Douglas Kim

Ecopro BM: Considering on a CB Issuance of 500 Billion Won

According to Hankyung Business Daily, Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS) is considering on issuing a CB worth 500 billion won to various private equity...

Douglas Kim

StubWorld: Ecopro's Spike Makes No Sense

The current share price gain in Ecopro appears unsustainable. I would look to unwind the stub - short Ecopro Co and long Ecopro BM - once the...

David Blennerhassett

Short Interest Movements (Q1 2023): HK, Korea, Taiwan, Australia

The Insight looks at movements in short interest across HK, Korea, Taiwan and Australia stocks over Q1 and highlights large increases/decreases in...

Brian Freitas

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