Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 1Q 2024. </li>
<li>We highlight 38 pair trades that involve Korean holdcos and opcos.</li>
<li>Of the 38 pair trades, 26 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos in the past six months and 12 of them involved opcos outperforming holdcos in the same period.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 1Q 2024. 
We highlight 38 pair trades that involve Korean holdcos and opcos.
Of the 38 pair trades, 26 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos in the past six months and 12 of them involved opcos outperforming holdcos in the same period.


Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 1Q 2024

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Stay long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/benefit-one-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14502:1" rel="noopener">Benefit One (2412 JP)</a>. Dai-Ichi Life can pay more, if pushed on pricing. May not be huge, but it could be a few percent or even 10%. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hankook-company-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19369:1" rel="noopener">Hankook &amp; Company (000240 KS)</a>'s family feud goes public. The public tender looks set to fail. Coal in stockings all-round.</li>
<li>If you had any <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyo-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1176:1" rel="noopener">Toyo Construction (1890 JP)</a> left over from the rally up to ¥1,300+, get out. There may be a better opportunity later, but not here.</li>
</ul>


Stay long Benefit One (2412 JP). Dai-Ichi Life can pay more, if pushed on pricing. May not be huge, but it could be a few percent or even 10%. 

Hankook &amp; Company (000240 KS)'s family feud goes public. The public tender looks set to fail. Coal in stockings all-round.
If you had any Toyo Construction (1890 JP) left over from the rally up to ¥1,300+, get out. There may be a better opportunity later, but not here.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Benefit One, Hankook, Toyo Construction, Hanwha, Tsuruha, Livent/Allkem

APAC IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Ethan Aw

APAC IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

EcoPro Materials / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ecopro-materials" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36806:1" rel="noopener">EcoPro Materials (ECO123 KS)</a> is looking to raise up to US$500m in its Korean IPO. </li>
<li>Ecopro Materials (EPM) manufactures and sells high-nickel precursors, one of the key materials for high-nickel cathode materials for secondary (rechargeable) batteries. </li>
<li>Ecopro Materials’ revenue has grown by more than three times over the track record period.  However, its parent company Ecopro and sister company Ecopro BM have been mired in controversy.</li>
</ul>



EcoPro Materials (ECO123 KS) is looking to raise up to US$500m in its Korean IPO. 
Ecopro Materials (EPM) manufactures and sells high-nickel precursors, one of the key materials for high-nickel cathode materials for secondary (rechargeable) batteries. 
Ecopro Materials’ revenue has grown by more than three times over the track record period.  However, its parent company Ecopro and sister company Ecopro BM have been mired in controversy.


Ecopro Materials IPO - Pushing Ahead with Listing Despite the Controversies

<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

Posco International Corporation / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We believe that Warren Buffett's investments in Japanese trading companies have also positively impacted several Korean trading companies in the past three years. </li>
<li>We highlighted seven Korean trading companies three years ago including Posco International and their share prices are up more than 76% on average in this period. </li>
<li>Despite their outstanding share price performance in the past three years, there could be some significant headwinds ahead, as evidenced by the steep inverted yield curve.</li>
</ul>


We believe that Warren Buffett's investments in Japanese trading companies have also positively impacted several Korean trading companies in the past three years. 
We highlighted seven Korean trading companies three years ago including Posco International and their share prices are up more than 76% on average in this period. 
Despite their outstanding share price performance in the past three years, there could be some significant headwinds ahead, as evidenced by the steep inverted yield curve.


Warren Buffett's Investments in Japanese Trading Firms: Impact on Korean Trading Companies

South Korea

Kolon Corp. is an investment holding company. The company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures a variety of chemical fibers, textiles, films, and engineering plastic products.

Hansol Chemical Co., Ltd. manufactures chemical products such as hydrogen peroxide, benzol peroxide, urea resin, polyacrylamide, trimethylolpropane, and latex.  The Company supplies its products to the paper, textile, and food industries.

Dongjin Semichem Co., Ltd. produces fine chemicals for semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing.  The Company's products include photoresist materials and epoxy molding compounds.  In addition, Dongjin Semichem also produces chemical foaming agents for plastic and rubber applications.

OCI Holdings Company Ltd. operates chemical business. The Company manufactures inorganic chemicals, petroleum and coal chemicals, fine chemicals, renewable energy and insulation materials. OCI Holdings markets its products primarily throughout Korea with limited overseas.

Poongsan Corporation manufactures non-ferrous metal and defense-related products.  The Company also makes coin blanks, cans, stainless steel strips, lead frame alloys, tin plated strips, bars, and rods & wires.  It also produces precision products such as lead frames for semiconductors, machinery, and dies & gauges.

Hyosung Advanced Materials Corporation operates as an advanced materials production company. The Company manufactures and sells high-strength industrial yarns, fabric, steel wire materials, and other products. Hyosung Advanced Materials markets its products worldwide.

LOTTE Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. produces general and fine chemicals. The Company produces ammonia, epichlorohydrin, caustic soda, and dimethylformamide. LOTTE Fine Chemical also manufactures chemicals used in pharmaceutical and paint manufacturing areas.

Capro Corporation manufactures and exports caprolactam, a key raw material for nylon.  The Company's customers include nylon manufacturers such as Hyosung Corporation, Kolon Industries, and  Taekwang Industrial.  In addition, Capro also produces ammonia sulfate fertilizer for industrial and agricultural uses.

VT GMP Co.,Ltd. manufactures and markets laminating machines. The Company produces and sells pouch laminators, roll laminators, and other products. VT GMP also produces and sells laminating films.

Lion Chemtech Co., Ltd. manufactures plastics and paint additives for industrial applications.  The Company also produces synthetic and natural waxes with wide variety of grades. Lion Chemtech offers its products to the industrial industry in the United States, Europe and China.

Youngy Co.,Ltd. manufactures lithium battery equipments, and it is also involved in the mining of lithium ore.

Hunan Corun New Energy Co., Ltd. develops, manufactures, and retails continuous nickel foam.

Yunding Technology Co.,Ltd. engages in ore mining business. The Company provides ore mining, processing, and sales services. Yunding Technology also offers mining management consulting services.

Aliaxis SA manufactures plastic plumbing products for the construction, industrial, and public utilities sectors.

Wuhan Xianglong Power Industry Co., Ltd. produces and markets chemical products including PVC (polyvinyl chloride).  The Company also generates and distributes electricity and heat to customers in Wuhan area.

Tien Phong Plastic JSC manufactures a wide range of plastic products for the construction industry. The Company's products include plastic pipes, tubes, and fittings.

Binh Minh Plastics JSC manufactures plastic pipe.

Angang Steel Company Limited produces steel products which include cold rolled sheets, steel rail, pipe billets, wire rods, thick plates, and other steel products.

Fufeng Group Limited manufactures corn-based bio-chemical products utilizing fermentation technology. The Company's products include glutamic acid and xanthan gum.

Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited, through its subsidiaries, produces linerboard and corrugating medium.  The Company's linerboard and corrugating medium are divided into a range of grades with different specifications customized for different industrial and consumer packaging purposes.

Hanwha Corporation imports and exports petrochemicals, machinery, automotives, electronics, and steel.  The Company also produces explosives for the defense and construction industries.  In addition, Hanwha manufactures automotive airbag inflators and telecommunication equipment, such as wireless phones and provides financial services through its subsidiaries.

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Hanwha Corporation (000880 KS)

Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 1Q 2024

In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in...

Douglas Kim

Last Week in Event SPACE: Benefit One, Hankook, Toyo Construction, Hanwha, Tsuruha, Livent/Allkem

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

Ecopro Materials IPO - Pushing Ahead with Listing Despite the Controversies

Ecopro Materials opened its books today (30th Oct 23). The bookbuilding timing remains unchanged at October 30 to November 3 with pricing slated...

Ethan Aw

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

Warren Buffett's Investments in Japanese Trading Firms: Impact on Korean Trading Companies

We believe that Warren Buffett's investments in Japanese trading companies have also positively impacted several Korean trading companies in the...

Douglas Kim

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