Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Capital Markets

<p>It was mentioned in numerous local media today that Kakao Pay will delay its<a href="https://finance.naver.com/news/news_read.nhn?article_id=0003962660&amp;office_id=011&amp;mode=LSS2D&amp;type=0&amp;section_id=101&amp;section_id2=258&amp;section_id3=&amp;date=20210914&amp;page=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> IPO</a> once again to sometime in November/December 2021. Kakao Pay was planning to complete its IPO on 14 October. It is expected that Kakao Pay will revise its IPO prospectus. The current IPO price range is 60,000 won to 90,000 won per share, which suggested IPO offering range of $879 million to $1,319 million. In our view, the company is likely to lower the IPO price even further by about 10-20% in order to attract more investors. </p><div class="content-highlight">
<p><strong>Kakao Group announces a plan to support SMEs and self-employed </strong>- In order to soothe the regulators, <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210914000805" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kakao Group</a> announced its plan to spend 300 billion won over five years to support SMEs and the self-employed. Kakao Group also plans to turn K-Cube Holdings into a social enterprise.</p>
<p>Overall, Kakao Group has provided a quick response to the Korean government's efforts to crack down on the Kakao Group. The key points include to change K-Cube Holdings into a social enterprise as well as the formation of a 300 billion won fund to help the SMEs and self-employed. Despite these efforts, it remains to be seen if these measures will be sufficient to appease the Korean regulators. In other words, there could be more negative regulatory related issues related to the Kakao Group in the months ahead.</p>
</div>

It was mentioned in numerous local media today that Kakao Pay will delay its IPO once again to sometime in November/December 2021. Kakao Pay was planning to complete its IPO on 14 October. It is expected that Kakao Pay will revise its IPO prospectus. The current IPO price range is 60,000 won to 90,000 won per share, which suggested IPO offering range of $879 million to $1,319 million. In our view, the company is likely to lower the IPO price even further by about 10-20% in order to attract more investors. 
Kakao Group announces a plan to support SMEs and self-employed - In order to soothe the regulators, Kakao Group announced its plan to spend 300 billion won over five years to support SMEs and the self-employed. Kakao Group also plans to turn K-Cube Holdings into a social enterprise.
Overall, Kakao Group has provided a quick response to the Korean government's efforts to crack down on the Kakao Group. The key points include to change K-Cube Holdings into a social enterprise as well as the formation of a 300 billion won fund to help the SMEs and self-employed. Despite these efforts, it remains to be seen if these measures will be sufficient to appease the Korean regulators. In other words, there could be more negative regulatory related issues related to the Kakao Group in the months ahead.


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.

Event-Driven

<p>There is a lot of confusion about exactly in which areas Kakao is under investigation by the Fair Trade Commission.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>The Fair Trade Commission is investigating K Cube Holdings from two angles.</strong></p></div><hr><h2>First: Non-disclosure of data on affiliates</h2><p>The FTC requires every business group whose total assets exceed ₩10T to submit data on all affiliates to designate a cross-ownership restricted business group every year. In particular, the FTC requires detailed shareholder status data for companies (wholly or partially) owned by the family members of the head of a business group.</p><p>This purpose is clear. This is intended to regulate the exploitation of private interests by an owner family. That is, the FTC intends to prevent an unfair transfer of wealth.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p><strong>However, the Fair Trade Commission argues that detailed data on K Cube Holdings, the de facto holding company of Kakao, have not been submitted for a long time.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The FTC is planning to intensively investigate whether K Cube Holdings has received profits from Kakao in an unfair way.</strong></p>
</div><p>K Cube Holdings was established in January 2007 for the purpose of software development, and Kim Beom-soo (Kakao founder and chairman) owns 100% of the shares. K Cube Holdings currently owns a 10.59% stake in Kakao.</p><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Kakao shareholding"}'>Kakao shareholding</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Kim Beom-su"}'>Kim Beom-soo</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.1329}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}'>13.29%</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"K Cube Holdings"}'><strong>K Cube Holdings</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.1057}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}'><strong>10.57%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><strong> </strong></td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"NPS"}'>NPS</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.084}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}'>8.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"MAXIMO PTE (Tencent)"}'>MAXIMO PTE (Tencent)</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.0629}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}'>6.29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BlackRock"}'>BlackRock</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.051652177348374975}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":3,"2":"0.00%","3":1}'>5.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: KRX FIND"}'>Source: KRX FIND</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table><p>Most of K Cube Holdings' seven employees (as of April of this year) are the family members of Chairman Kim. Chairman Kim's younger brother, Kim Hwa-young, served as the CEO until the end of last year. Chairman Kim and his wife (Hyoung Mi-sun) are part-time directors. Chairman Kim's son Kim Sang-bin and his daughter Kim Ye-bin also serve at the company.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/229/621/original/1.jpeg?1631585050" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="229621"></figure><h2>Second: Violation of the Separation of Industrial &amp; Financial Capital</h2>
<p>The second is actually more fatal. The FTC is also investigating allegations that Kakao violated the 'Regulation on Separation of Industrial and Financial Capital'.</p>
<div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>K Cube Holdings changed its business registration type this year from management consulting to financial investment. As a result, K Cube Holdings, a financial company, came to govern the non-financial company, Kakao.</strong></p></div>
<p>The Fair Trade Act stipulates that financial companies belonging to a cross-ownership restricted business group cannot exercise their voting rights over non-financial companies in accordance with the principle of Separation of Industrial and Financial Capital.</p>
<p><strong>Violation of the Separation of Industrial and Financial Capital is way more serious than an unfair transfer of wealth and is subject to severe penalties.</strong></p></section>

There is a lot of confusion about exactly in which areas Kakao is under investigation by the Fair Trade Commission.The Fair Trade Commission is investigating K Cube Holdings from two angles.First: Non-disclosure of data on affiliatesThe FTC requires every business group whose total assets exceed ₩10T to submit data on all affiliates to designate a cross-ownership restricted business group every year. In particular, the FTC requires detailed shareholder status data for companies (wholly or partially) owned by the family members of the head of a business group.This purpose is clear. This is intended to regulate the exploitation of private interests by an owner family. That is, the FTC intends to prevent an unfair transfer of wealth.
However, the Fair Trade Commission argues that detailed data on K Cube Holdings, the de facto holding company of Kakao, have not been submitted for a long time.
The FTC is planning to intensively investigate whether K Cube Holdings has received profits from Kakao in an unfair way.
K Cube Holdings was established in January 2007 for the purpose of software development, and Kim Beom-soo (Kakao founder and chairman) owns 100% of the shares. K Cube Holdings currently owns a 10.59% stake in Kakao.





Kakao shareholding

Kim Beom-soo
13.29%



K Cube Holdings
10.57%

 

NPS
8.40%


MAXIMO PTE (Tencent)
6.29%


BlackRock
5.17%

Source: KRX FIND

Most of K Cube Holdings' seven employees (as of April of this year) are the family members of Chairman Kim. Chairman Kim's younger brother, Kim Hwa-young, served as the CEO until the end of last year. Chairman Kim and his wife (Hyoung Mi-sun) are part-time directors. Chairman Kim's son Kim Sang-bin and his daughter Kim Ye-bin also serve at the company.Second: Violation of the Separation of Industrial &amp; Financial Capital
The second is actually more fatal. The FTC is also investigating allegations that Kakao violated the 'Regulation on Separation of Industrial and Financial Capital'.
K Cube Holdings changed its business registration type this year from management consulting to financial investment. As a result, K Cube Holdings, a financial company, came to govern the non-financial company, Kakao.
The Fair Trade Act stipulates that financial companies belonging to a cross-ownership restricted business group cannot exercise their voting rights over non-financial companies in accordance with the principle of Separation of Industrial and Financial Capital.
Violation of the Separation of Industrial and Financial Capital is way more serious than an unfair transfer of wealth and is subject to severe penalties.

Kakao's De Facto Holding Company K Cube Holdings: Exactly What Are They Accused Of?

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>In this insight, we analyze why the Korean FTC is investigating K-Cube Holdings, which is 100% owned by the Kakao Group Chairman Kim Beom-Soo (born in 1966). It was reported on 13 September that the Korean Fair Trade Commission (FTC) may be taking sanctions against the Kakao Group Chairman Kim Beom-Soo, which comes after the Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced measures last week that unless Kakao Pay changes the way it currently provides its financial services, there could be further sanctions on the company.</p><p>Following this news, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>'s share price fell another 4.2% today. Since the recent peak share price of 173,000 won on 24 June, Kakao Corp's share price has declined 28%. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>In our view, the two biggest issues potentially facing K-Cube Holdings is the <em>'separation of the industrial and financial capital' (금산분리)</em> as well as concerns about K-Cube Holdings that could be used to benefit the children of Kakao Group's Chairman at the expense of the minority shareholders of Kakao Cop. </p></div>

In this insight, we analyze why the Korean FTC is investigating K-Cube Holdings, which is 100% owned by the Kakao Group Chairman Kim Beom-Soo (born in 1966). It was reported on 13 September that the Korean Fair Trade Commission (FTC) may be taking sanctions against the Kakao Group Chairman Kim Beom-Soo, which comes after the Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced measures last week that unless Kakao Pay changes the way it currently provides its financial services, there could be further sanctions on the company.Following this news, Kakao Corp (035720 KS)'s share price fell another 4.2% today. Since the recent peak share price of 173,000 won on 24 June, Kakao Corp's share price has declined 28%. In our view, the two biggest issues potentially facing K-Cube Holdings is the 'separation of the industrial and financial capital' (금산분리) as well as concerns about K-Cube Holdings that could be used to benefit the children of Kakao Group's Chairman at the expense of the minority shareholders of Kakao Cop. 

Why Is the Korean FTC Investigating K-Cube Holdings? (Owned by Kakao Group Chairman Kim Beom-Soo)

Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity indices. </p><p><strong><em>Companies mentioned this week:</em></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netease" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29030:1" rel="noopener">NetEase (9999 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nio-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27399:1" rel="noopener">NIO Inc (NIO US)</a> </p>

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity indices. Companies mentioned this week:Kakao Corp (035720 KS), Naver Corp (035420 KS), Tencent (700 HK), NetEase (9999 HK), NIO Inc (NIO US) 

Global Emerging Markets Weekly: 10 September 2021

<p>The Fair Trade Commission has warned that it will intensively monitor the abuse of such big techs as Coupang, Naver, and Kakao. In particular, the Fair Trade Commission pointed out that these big techs are unfairly selling their own products/services by manipulating search algorithms on their platforms.</p><p>This was directly mentioned by Cho Sung-wook, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission. Chairman Cho Seong-wook mentioned at the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea breakfast meeting on Friday that the FTC's top priority for the second half of this year would be regulating local big tech platforms.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/229/193/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-10+at+11.37.01+PM.png?1631331436" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="229193"></figure></section><div class="content-caption">(Courtesy Dong-A Ilbo)</div><div class="content-highlight"><p><a href="https://www.donga.com/news/Economy/article/all/20210911/109199629/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here is the link to the news article by Dong-A Ilbo about this matter.</a></p></div><p>In addition, Kim Jae-shin, vice-chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, pointed out that “the possibility of platform operators manipulating the search algorithm in a way that is advantageous to them cannot be ruled out.” He also said, "The FTC will strictly respond to the platform operators' act of adjusting and distorting the rules to give preference to their products and services."</p><p>The following remarks from vice-chairman Kim are critical. He directly mentioned Coupang and Naver as examples of search algorithm manipulation. In fact, Coupang has been under investigation by the Fair Trade Commission since July on charges of manipulating the search algorithm to expose its own brand (PB) products before the products of 3rd-party sellers.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/229/199/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-10+at+11.46.40+PM.png?1631332146" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="229199"></figure></section><div class="content-caption">(Courtesy Dong-A Ilbo)</div>

The Fair Trade Commission has warned that it will intensively monitor the abuse of such big techs as Coupang, Naver, and Kakao. In particular, the Fair Trade Commission pointed out that these big techs are unfairly selling their own products/services by manipulating search algorithms on their platforms.This was directly mentioned by Cho Sung-wook, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission. Chairman Cho Seong-wook mentioned at the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea breakfast meeting on Friday that the FTC's top priority for the second half of this year would be regulating local big tech platforms.(Courtesy Dong-A Ilbo)Here is the link to the news article by Dong-A Ilbo about this matter.In addition, Kim Jae-shin, vice-chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, pointed out that “the possibility of platform operators manipulating the search algorithm in a way that is advantageous to them cannot be ruled out.” He also said, "The FTC will strictly respond to the platform operators' act of adjusting and distorting the rules to give preference to their products and services."The following remarks from vice-chairman Kim are critical. He directly mentioned Coupang and Naver as examples of search algorithm manipulation. In fact, Coupang has been under investigation by the Fair Trade Commission since July on charges of manipulating the search algorithm to expose its own brand (PB) products before the products of 3rd-party sellers.(Courtesy Dong-A Ilbo)

Korea FTC Says It Will Regulate Coupang on Search Algorithm Manipulation

South Korea

Kakao Corp. provides Internet portal services such as news, free e-mail, and leisure information.  The Company also offers cross-platform mobile messaging application that allows users to exchange messages.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Kakao Corp (035720 KS)

Kakao Pay IPO Will Be Delayed Again

It was mentioned in numerous local media today that Kakao Pay will delay its IPO once again to sometime in November/December 2021. The IPO price...

Douglas Kim

Kakao's De Facto Holding Company K Cube Holdings: Exactly What Are They Accused Of?

This post discusses exactly what K Cube Holdings and chairman Kim are accused of by the FTC and why this issue is so critical that Kakao's share...

Sanghyun Park

Why Is the Korean FTC Investigating K-Cube Holdings? (Owned by Kakao Group Chairman Kim Beom-Soo)

In this insight, we analyze why the Korean FTC is investigating K-Cube Holdings, which is 100% owned by the Kakao Group Chairman Kim Beom-Soo.

Douglas Kim

Global Emerging Markets Weekly: 10 September 2021

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity...

Wium Malan, CFA

Korea FTC Says It Will Regulate Coupang on Search Algorithm Manipulation

The FTC has warned that it will intensively monitor the abuse of such big techs as Coupang for their search algorithm manipulation. We should use...

Sanghyun Park

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