Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In the last few days, there have been local media accounts that mentioned that HYBE may be seeking as much as 1 trillion won (US$760 million) from investors.</li>
<li>The more likely scenario is that HYBE encounters a greater backlash from the global investors in its attempts to raise nearly 1 trillion won.</li>
<li>We maintain our existing stance of Kakao eventually winning this M&amp;A battle for the controlling stake in SM Entertainment.</li>
</ul>


In the last few days, there have been local media accounts that mentioned that HYBE may be seeking as much as 1 trillion won (US$760 million) from investors.
The more likely scenario is that HYBE encounters a greater backlash from the global investors in its attempts to raise nearly 1 trillion won.
We maintain our existing stance of Kakao eventually winning this M&amp;A battle for the controlling stake in SM Entertainment.


HYBE: May Be Seeking to Raise As Much as 1 Trillion Won (Will Investors Support This Plan)?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>Fresh after the courts rejected new share issuance, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao (035720 KS)</a> has launched an Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-m-entertainment-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3500:1" rel="noopener">S.M.Entertainment (041510 KS)</a>, less than a week after <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hybe-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28959:1" rel="noopener">HYBE (352820 KS)</a>'s deal closed.</li>
<li>Kakao, holding 4.9%, is seeking to lift its stake to ~40% via a tender offer at ₩150,000/share, a 25% premium to HYBE's offer price. </li>
<li>The key question is - will HYBE counter? I would not be so sure. </li>
</ul>


Fresh after the courts rejected new share issuance, Kakao (035720 KS) has launched an Offer for S.M.Entertainment (041510 KS), less than a week after HYBE (352820 KS)'s deal closed.
Kakao, holding 4.9%, is seeking to lift its stake to ~40% via a tender offer at ₩150,000/share, a 25% premium to HYBE's offer price. 
The key question is - will HYBE counter? I would not be so sure. 


K-Pop Battle, Round 2: Kakao’s Tender Offer For S.M. Entertainment

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

<ul>
<li>Kakao and Kakao Entertainment each plan to purchase 4.167 million shares at ₩150,000 per share, totaling 8.33 million. This is a 14.5% premium to the last close.</li>
<li>The tendering ending date is March 26th, Sunday, so the actual ending date is March 24th. Since Korea adopts the T+2 settlement system, stocks must be purchased by the 22nd.</li>
<li>The price of SM may decline towards below the tender price relatively quickly as a large number of retail investors will likely bet on the prolonged proxy battle.</li>
</ul>


Kakao and Kakao Entertainment each plan to purchase 4.167 million shares at ₩150,000 per share, totaling 8.33 million. This is a 14.5% premium to the last close.
The tendering ending date is March 26th, Sunday, so the actual ending date is March 24th. Since Korea adopts the T+2 settlement system, stocks must be purchased by the 22nd.
The price of SM may decline towards below the tender price relatively quickly as a large number of retail investors will likely bet on the prolonged proxy battle.


Kakao's Tender Offer to SM Ent Shareholders: Key Details of Disclosure Filed This Morning

<ul>
<li>On 3 March, it was announced that a Korean court has ruled against SM Entertainment from issuing new shares and CB to Kakao Corp (035720 KS).</li>
<li>HYBE's tender offer period ended on 1 March. It is highly unlikely for HYBE to have successfully completed the tender offer reaching the entire 25% of outstanding shares.</li>
<li>We maintain our position of a high probability of Kakao initiating its own tender offer of SM Entertainment shares in the coming weeks at about 140,000/150,000 won or more.</li>
</ul>


On 3 March, it was announced that a Korean court has ruled against SM Entertainment from issuing new shares and CB to Kakao Corp (035720 KS).
HYBE's tender offer period ended on 1 March. It is highly unlikely for HYBE to have successfully completed the tender offer reaching the entire 25% of outstanding shares.
We maintain our position of a high probability of Kakao initiating its own tender offer of SM Entertainment shares in the coming weeks at about 140,000/150,000 won or more.


Korean Court Rules Against SM Entertainment From Issuing New Shares to Kakao

<ul>
<li>In a move to counter Lee Soo-man's influence, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-m-entertainment-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3500:1" rel="noopener">S.M.Entertainment Co (041510 KS)</a> intends to issue new shares (9.05% on a fully diluted basis) to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>.</li>
<li>Lee, with 18.4% in SM, responded by selling 14.8% to SM's rival <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hybe-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28959:1" rel="noopener">HYBE (352820 KS)</a>. HYBE concurrently announced a tender offer for an additional 25%, at ₩120,000/share, a 22% premium.</li>
<li>Kakao and SM are less than impressed. But these developments are a power grab for the pioneer of K-pop.</li>
</ul>


In a move to counter Lee Soo-man's influence, S.M.Entertainment Co (041510 KS) intends to issue new shares (9.05% on a fully diluted basis) to Kakao Corp (035720 KS).
Lee, with 18.4% in SM, responded by selling 14.8% to SM's rival HYBE (352820 KS). HYBE concurrently announced a tender offer for an additional 25%, at ₩120,000/share, a 22% premium.
Kakao and SM are less than impressed. But these developments are a power grab for the pioneer of K-pop.


K-Pop Battle: HYBE's Tender Offer For S.M. Entertainment:

South Korea

HYBE Co., Ltd. operates as an entertainment company. The Company provides music production, album distribution, entertainers management, publicity, planning, training, and other services. HYBE also makes television shows.

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HYBE (352820 KS)

HYBE: May Be Seeking to Raise As Much as 1 Trillion Won (Will Investors Support This Plan)?

The more likely scenario is that HYBE encounters a greater backlash from the global investors in its attempts to raise nearly 1 trillion won which...

Douglas Kim

K-Pop Battle, Round 2: Kakao’s Tender Offer For S.M. Entertainment

Trading tight at a <1% gross spread to terms. HYBE may bid higher. And Kakao can counter. I think Kakao wants this more than HYBE. I would not...

David Blennerhassett

Kakao's Tender Offer to SM Ent Shareholders: Key Details of Disclosure Filed This Morning

This post details Kakao's latest tender offer to SM Entertainment shareholders at a 15% premium to the last close and discusses trading angles that...

Sanghyun Park

Korean Court Rules Against SM Entertainment From Issuing New Shares to Kakao

On 3 March, it was announced that a Korean court has ruled against SM Entertainment from issuing new shares and CB to Kakao Corp (035720 KS).

Douglas Kim

K-Pop Battle: HYBE's Tender Offer For S.M. Entertainment:

Trading tight at a 2.3% gross spread to terms. HYBE may bid higher. So could Kakao. Either buy here to play the partial tender offer; or for...

David Blennerhassett

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