Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

It has been reported in the past few days that <a href="https://finance.naver.com/item/news_read.nhn?article_id=0000715983&amp;office_id=366&amp;code=180640&amp;sm=title_entity_id.basic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cho Hyun-Ah</a> sold 12 billion won worth ($1.1 million) of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hanjin-kal-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19086:1" rel="noopener">Hanjin KAL Corp (180640 KS)</a> shares in 2021. It appears that one of the reasons why she may have sold these shares was to pay for the inheritance tax of the late Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-Ho. Cho Hyun-Ah needs to pay a total of nearly 60 billion won in inheritance taxes, broken down into 12 billion won payment per year.Although Korean Air has been infused with new, fresh capital, it is not all certain whether the company will best use the resources in the best ways possible. In other words, she may be waiting for her brother to make another mistake in managing the company. If one or two years later if enough shareholders decide that Cho Won-Tae and his assigned managers are not acting in the best interest of the shareholders, then his sister Cho Hyun-Ah may be waiting for an another shareholders battle against his brother. All in all, from a pair-trade perspective, the short term momentum is on the side of long Hanjin Kal and short Korean Air, which has worked so far since the end of the ban on many Korean stocks starting May 3. Given the huge price disparity between these two stocks in the past year, we think that this could be a nice trade as many investors look to close the gap on the two prices which have diverged greatly in the past year.

It has been reported in the past few days that Cho Hyun-Ah sold 12 billion won worth ($1.1 million) of Hanjin KAL Corp (180640 KS) shares in 2021. It appears that one of the reasons why she may have sold these shares was to pay for the inheritance tax of the late Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-Ho. Cho Hyun-Ah needs to pay a total of nearly 60 billion won in inheritance taxes, broken down into 12 billion won payment per year.Although Korean Air has been infused with new, fresh capital, it is not all certain whether the company will best use the resources in the best ways possible. In other words, she may be waiting for her brother to make another mistake in managing the company. If one or two years later if enough shareholders decide that Cho Won-Tae and his assigned managers are not acting in the best interest of the shareholders, then his sister Cho Hyun-Ah may be waiting for an another shareholders battle against his brother. All in all, from a pair-trade perspective, the short term momentum is on the side of long Hanjin Kal and short Korean Air, which has worked so far since the end of the ban on many Korean stocks starting May 3. Given the huge price disparity between these two stocks in the past year, we think that this could be a nice trade as many investors look to close the gap on the two prices which have diverged greatly in the past year.

Hanjin Kal: Why Is Cho Hyun-Ah Selling A Partial Stake?

Global Special Situations & Strategy, SR Services Ltd

David Lepper

Global Special Situations & Strategy

SR Services Ltd

SR Services provides Strategic Knowledge and Solutions services for Family Offices and Corporate Business. 

We deliver this via advisory services, strategic planning, opportunity analysis/sourcing, as well as solution implementation. 

Whilst, we create intellectual discipline and operational leverage for your projects or daily activities, our ultimate objective is to empower whilst enhancing your decision making. 

Strategic Knowledge and Solutions

Cross Asset Strategy

2020 saw Asia Pacific activist campaigns down 9.7% YoY. Considering the issues which played out over the year this is a better than expected result. What is key is that Asia remained resilient compared to Europe which saw a 16% YoY decline, in activism campaigns respectively. Sifting through the data highlights some interesting and share price impactful trends when looking at how Activism may play out in 2021.

2020 saw Asia Pacific activist campaigns down 9.7% YoY. Considering the issues which played out over the year this is a better than expected result. What is key is that Asia remained resilient compared to Europe which saw a 16% YoY decline, in activism campaigns respectively. Sifting through the data highlights some interesting and share price impactful trends when looking at how Activism may play out in 2021.

Notes from the Silk Road: Activism - 2020 Review Reveals Some Interesting Trends

Whilst Q4's list posted strong price performance it was a case that a rising tide floated most boats. As in the previous few quarters, we are on the watch for the risk of deteriorating credit metrics, but in particular during H1 2021. In Q1, the Altman Z score is at a market-cap-weighted 1.03 times, a significant decrease on the 1.52 in Q4. This deterioration needs to be monitored since earnings continue to be adjusted by analysts and their limited visibility of any bottoming. 25 stocks appear in our Q1 2021 screen, versus 15 in Q4 2020.

Whilst Q4's list posted strong price performance it was a case that a rising tide floated most boats. As in the previous few quarters, we are on the watch for the risk of deteriorating credit metrics, but in particular during H1 2021. In Q1, the Altman Z score is at a market-cap-weighted 1.03 times, a significant decrease on the 1.52 in Q4. This deterioration needs to be monitored since earnings continue to be adjusted by analysts and their limited visibility of any bottoming. 25 stocks appear in our Q1 2021 screen, versus 15 in Q4 2020.

Screening the Silk Road: Q1 2021 High Risk Names to Avoid

Event-Driven

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It is not often that a Korean company goes activist on another publicly listed company so it pays attention to this new development where HYK Partners (with major investment backing from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kyungbang-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16840:1" rel="noopener">Kyungbang Ltd (000050 KS)</a>) has publicly declared that it is going activist on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hanjin-transportation-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12583:1" rel="noopener">Hanjin Transportation Co (002320 KS)</a>. 
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hanjin-transportation-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12583:1" rel="noopener">Hanjin Transportation Co (002320 KS)</a> is an interesting stock right now. Its fundamentals are improving as evidenced by higher sales and profits of its delivery/parcel, shipping, and unloading services. Plus, HYK Partners is going activist on Hanjin Transportation. Another hedge fund (KCGI) has been reducing its stake in Hanjin Transportation (down to 9.79% as of 6 November). There may be an increasing possibility that HYK Partners could partner with KCGI in trying to improve corporate governance of Hanjin Transportation. Meanwhile, Hanjin Transportation is trading at only 0.7x P/B. Overall, we think that there are numerous positive catalysts with Hanjin Transportation and it is a stock that we believe could outperform the market over the next 6-12 months. 
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It is not often that a Korean company goes activist on another publicly listed company so it pays attention to this new development where HYK Partners (with major investment backing from Kyungbang Ltd (000050 KS)) has publicly declared that it is going activist on Hanjin Transportation Co (002320 KS). 
Hanjin Transportation Co (002320 KS) is an interesting stock right now. Its fundamentals are improving as evidenced by higher sales and profits of its delivery/parcel, shipping, and unloading services. Plus, HYK Partners is going activist on Hanjin Transportation. Another hedge fund (KCGI) has been reducing its stake in Hanjin Transportation (down to 9.79% as of 6 November). There may be an increasing possibility that HYK Partners could partner with KCGI in trying to improve corporate governance of Hanjin Transportation. Meanwhile, Hanjin Transportation is trading at only 0.7x P/B. Overall, we think that there are numerous positive catalysts with Hanjin Transportation and it is a stock that we believe could outperform the market over the next 6-12 months. 


HYK Partners (Kyungbang) Goes Activist on Hanjin Transportation

Q3 delivered marked underperformanceOur Q3-2020 Small-Mid Cap High-Risk list of stocks produced an average price increase of 0.3%. In comparison, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index posted an increase of 6.3% over the same period. 15 stocks appear in our Q4 2020 screen, versus 21 in Q3 2020. As we highlighted in the previous three quarters, we are specifically on the watch for the risk of deteriorating credit metrics during 2020. This screen presents names which are worthy of investigation as they present with fundamentals which are at risk.

Q3 delivered marked underperformanceOur Q3-2020 Small-Mid Cap High-Risk list of stocks produced an average price increase of 0.3%. In comparison, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index posted an increase of 6.3% over the same period. 15 stocks appear in our Q4 2020 screen, versus 21 in Q3 2020. As we highlighted in the previous three quarters, we are specifically on the watch for the risk of deteriorating credit metrics during 2020. This screen presents names which are worthy of investigation as they present with fundamentals which are at risk.

Screening the Silk Road: Q4 2020 High Risk Names to Avoid

South Korea

KCTC provides inland transportation services, such as container and freight forwarding, bonded warehouses, and stevedoring services.  The Company also provides and manages logistics services.

Hansol Logistics Co., Ltd. provides domestic and international logistic services including loading and unloading, storing, and forwarding services. The Company also operates an Internet-based shopping mall.

SG&G Corp. is operating holding company. The company engages in logistics business, automobile parts manufacturing, electronic lottery business, and exporting apparel and textile through its subsidiaries.

Sebang Co., Ltd. provides inland transportation services specializing in carrying containers and bulk cargos.  The Company also offers stevedoring services along with container storage services in the local ports.  Sebang also operates construction business and manufactures battery parts including separators and containers.

Air Busan Co., Ltd. operates as an airline company. The Company offers international and domestic flight, hotel, and car booking services. Air busan also provides reissuance of ticket, baggage, airport, and in flight services. Air busan offers services worldwide.

Korea Airport Service Co., Ltd. provides integrated aviation support services including ground handling support, aircraft maintenance and overhaul, air cargo operations, and other airport related services in the airports of South Korea. The Company also supplies fuel to aircrafts, and operates mining business and mineral water supply business.

KSS LINE LTD provides marine transportation services.  The Company mainly transports items such as gas and chemical products.  KSS LINE provides worldwide gas product transportation, Far East and South East Asia area for chemical product shipping.

Eusu Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company, which operates marine transportation services such as container service, bulk service, terminal service, and ship lease.

Dongbang Transport Logistics Co., Ltd. provides stevedoring, forwarding, and container storage services at the local ports in South Korea.  The Company also offers inland and marine transportation services.

Dongbang Transport & Logistics (004140 KS)

RedcapTour Co., Ltd. develops, produces, and sells a variety of software, especially for a line of Internet kiosks.  The Company's products include database construction, search engine tools, and multimedia software.  Media Solution also provides touch screens, which is a touch-sensitive pad that enable user to navigate on the surface of monitors.

GD Express Carrier Bhd offers package delivery services.  The Company delivers parcels by truck throughout Malaysia.

Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company provides airport services. The Company manages airport, booking, parking, transportation, duty-free, business lounges, food and beverage, sleep zone, and other support services. Southern Airports Services serves passengers in Vietnam.

South Logistics JSC is a logistics, transport, and warehousing services company.

Tasco Berhad provides logistics services. The Company offers supply, warehousing, and haulage services to airports and automobile manufacturers. The Company also provides land transportation services.

Chuo Warehouse Co., Ltd., based in Kyoto prefecture, is a warehouse operator specializing in storage of synthetic textiles.  The Company handles imported cargo and operates its business in the Tokai and Tokyo areas as well.

Gati Corporation Limited supplies cargo distribution and logistics support services throughout India.   The Group has some 1,300 remote locations through 340 branches.

Snowman Logistics Limited provides integrated temperature controlled logistics services in India. The company offers warehousing solutions that cover ambient, chilled, frozen, and blast products.

Shenzhen Prolto Supply Chain Management Company Limited delivers supply chain management services. The Company provides integrated supply chain solutions, logistics customs clearance, procurement fulfillment, and distribution fulfillment. Prolto is predominately engaged in the IT service field side of supply chain management.

Shanghai Ace Investment & Development Co., Ltd. operates as an investment holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, conducts supply chain logistics and supply chain executive trade businesses. Shanghai Ace Investment & Development provides services to customers in phosphorus chemical and non-ferrous metals industries.

Guangdong Yueyun Transportation Co Ltd provides logistics and expressway-related services. The Company offers services including planning, procurement, and logistics management of construction materials, operates expressway service zones, and development of toll collection facilities.

Guangdong Yueyun Transportation (3399 HK)

Hanjin Transportation Co., Ltd. provides integrated transportation and logistics services.  The Company operates truck transportation, stevedoring, coastal shipping, passenger buses, and international freight services.

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Hanjin Transportation Co (002320 KS)

Hanjin Kal: Why Is Cho Hyun-Ah Selling A Partial Stake?

From a pair-trade perspective, the short term momentum is on the side of long Hanjin Kal and short Korean Air, which has worked so far since the...

Douglas Kim

Notes from the Silk Road: Activism - 2020 Review Reveals Some Interesting Trends

2020 activism numbers are in with some interesting underlying trends reflecting possibilities of how campaigns in 2021 & 2022 may evolve notably...

David Lepper

Screening the Silk Road: Q1 2021 High Risk Names to Avoid

As in the previous few quarters, we are on the watch for the risk of deteriorating credit metrics, but in particular during H1 2021. 25 stocks...

David Lepper

HYK Partners (Kyungbang) Goes Activist on Hanjin Transportation

HYK Partners (with major investment backing from Kyungbang Ltd (000050 KS)) has publicly declared that it is going activist on Hanjin...

Douglas Kim

Screening the Silk Road: Q4 2020 High Risk Names to Avoid

Our Q3 screen delivered 600bps of under performance. With volatility is set to increase as we head into H1 2020, which stocks are most at risk in...

David Lepper

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