Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div class="content-highlight">
<p>In this insight, we provide 8 examples of how metaverse is revolutionizing numerous businesses in Korea. We also provide a list of Korean companies that are actively trying to expand their metaverse businesses. Because metaverse is in the initial stages of growth for many of these businesses, their contributions to their companies' sales and profits may not be meaningful right now. However, they are experiencing a significant popularity. Metaverse is certainly one of the key industry trends that is likely to have a multi-years impact on the companies mentioned in this insight.</p>
<p>The term "metaverse" was first coined by the writer Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel <a href="https://digiday.com/marketing/wtf-is-the-metaverse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Snow Crash </em></a>where metaverse refers to a popular virtual world where the main characters are equipped with augmented technologies. </p>
<p>Metaverse refers to a computerized domain where the users can share their virtual encounters. Still in the beginning phases of advancement, metaverse has become more important in key industries industries including technology, media, and telecom. In addition, metaverse is also impacting other major industries such as retail, gaming, and fashion. </p>
<p>Metaverse will empower its users to be more engaged in online shopping, web-based media, entertainment, and share virtual encounters. Metaverse is often considered as a "coming together" of numerous technologies including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), 5G, smartphones, and distributed computing. Up until recently, the gaming industry has been driving the demand for metaverse. However, greater improvements in technologies have allowed metaverse to flourish in other industries as well. </p>
<p>South Korea is one of the key countries driving the metaverse industry globally. This is one of the leaders in this area and there will be numerous, interesting opportunities involving metaverse in Korea. </p>
</div>


In this insight, we provide 8 examples of how metaverse is revolutionizing numerous businesses in Korea. We also provide a list of Korean companies that are actively trying to expand their metaverse businesses. Because metaverse is in the initial stages of growth for many of these businesses, their contributions to their companies' sales and profits may not be meaningful right now. However, they are experiencing a significant popularity. Metaverse is certainly one of the key industry trends that is likely to have a multi-years impact on the companies mentioned in this insight.
The term "metaverse" was first coined by the writer Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash where metaverse refers to a popular virtual world where the main characters are equipped with augmented technologies. 
Metaverse refers to a computerized domain where the users can share their virtual encounters. Still in the beginning phases of advancement, metaverse has become more important in key industries industries including technology, media, and telecom. In addition, metaverse is also impacting other major industries such as retail, gaming, and fashion. 
Metaverse will empower its users to be more engaged in online shopping, web-based media, entertainment, and share virtual encounters. Metaverse is often considered as a "coming together" of numerous technologies including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), 5G, smartphones, and distributed computing. Up until recently, the gaming industry has been driving the demand for metaverse. However, greater improvements in technologies have allowed metaverse to flourish in other industries as well. 
South Korea is one of the key countries driving the metaverse industry globally. This is one of the leaders in this area and there will be numerous, interesting opportunities involving metaverse in Korea. 


How Is Metaverse Revolutionizing Businesses in Korea? Virtual Humans Rozy & Lucy Are Just a Start

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?

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, 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

<div><p>Kakao Pay (KP), one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to listing, with Ant Financial holding the balance 45% stake.</p></div><div><p>As of 1H21, KP had a total of 36m users and around 20m monthly active users (MAU). It processed a total GMV of KRW66.9tn in 2020 and it had already generated KRW47.9tn GMV in 1H21 itself. As of the end of 1H21, it had dealings with more than 610,000 affiliated stores and 100 financial institutions.</p></div><div><p>Since spinning out from Kakao in 2017, the number of MAUs have grown 14x from 2Q17 to 2Q21, while the quarterly transaction amount grew 61x from KRW0.4tn in 2Q17 to KRW24.5tn in 2Q21. </p></div><div><p>Over the past few years the company has been expanding its offering beyond payment processing to include other financial products. On the back of this, its revenue has been growing faster than its GMV.</p></div><div>
<p>We have covered most aspects of the deal in our earlier notes, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kakao-pay-ipo-guided-by-ant-financial-to-be-a-mini-ant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kakao Pay IPO - Guided by Ant Financial to be a mini Ant </a>and  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kakao-pay-ipo-peer-comparison-local-and-international" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kakao Pay IPO - Peer comparison - local and international</a>.</p>
<p>In this note we will talk about valuations and the latest announcement by the regulators.</p>
</div>

Kakao Pay (KP), one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to listing, with Ant Financial holding the balance 45% stake.As of 1H21, KP had a total of 36m users and around 20m monthly active users (MAU). It processed a total GMV of KRW66.9tn in 2020 and it had already generated KRW47.9tn GMV in 1H21 itself. As of the end of 1H21, it had dealings with more than 610,000 affiliated stores and 100 financial institutions.Since spinning out from Kakao in 2017, the number of MAUs have grown 14x from 2Q17 to 2Q21, while the quarterly transaction amount grew 61x from KRW0.4tn in 2Q17 to KRW24.5tn in 2Q21. Over the past few years the company has been expanding its offering beyond payment processing to include other financial products. On the back of this, its revenue has been growing faster than its GMV.
We have covered most aspects of the deal in our earlier notes, Kakao Pay IPO - Guided by Ant Financial to be a mini Ant and  Kakao Pay IPO - Peer comparison - local and international.
In this note we will talk about valuations and the latest announcement by the regulators.


Kakao Pay IPO - Valuation and Likely Impact of Latest Announcement

<p>Kakao Pay (KP), one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to listing, with Ant Financial holding the balance 45% stake.</p><p>As of 1H21, KP had a total of 36m users and around 20m monthly active users (MAU). It processed a total GMV of KRW66.9tn in 2020 and it had already generated KRW47.9tn GMV in 1H21 itself. As of the end of 1H21, it had dealings with more than 610,000 affiliated stores and 100 financial institutions.</p><p>Since spinning out from Kakao in 2017, the number of MAUs have grown 14x from 2Q17 to 2Q21, while the quarterly transaction amount grew 61x from KRW0.4tn in 2Q17 to KRW24.5tn in 2Q21. </p><p>Over the past few years the company has been expanding its offering beyond payment processing to include other financial products. On the back of this, its revenue has been growing faster than its GMV.</p><p>We have covered most aspects of the deal in our earlier note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kakao-pay-ipo-guided-by-ant-financial-to-be-a-mini-ant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kakao Pay IPO - Guided by Ant Financial to be a mini Ant</a>.</p><p>In this note we will undertake a peer comparison.</p>

Kakao Pay (KP), one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to listing, with Ant Financial holding the balance 45% stake.As of 1H21, KP had a total of 36m users and around 20m monthly active users (MAU). It processed a total GMV of KRW66.9tn in 2020 and it had already generated KRW47.9tn GMV in 1H21 itself. As of the end of 1H21, it had dealings with more than 610,000 affiliated stores and 100 financial institutions.Since spinning out from Kakao in 2017, the number of MAUs have grown 14x from 2Q17 to 2Q21, while the quarterly transaction amount grew 61x from KRW0.4tn in 2Q17 to KRW24.5tn in 2Q21. Over the past few years the company has been expanding its offering beyond payment processing to include other financial products. On the back of this, its revenue has been growing faster than its GMV.We have covered most aspects of the deal in our earlier note, Kakao Pay IPO - Guided by Ant Financial to be a mini Ant.In this note we will undertake a peer comparison.

Kakao Pay IPO - Peer Comparison - Local and International

Cross Asset Strategy

<blockquote><p><a href="https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/1432647669864878083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1432647669864878083%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcgamer.com%2Fsouth-korea-passes-law-with-major-implications-for-apple-vs-epic%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Korea</a> is first in open platforms! Korea has rejected digital commerce monopolies and recognized open platforms as a right. This marks a major milestone in the 45-year history of personal computing. It began in Cupertino, but the forefront today is in Seoul. (Tim Sweeney - Founder of Epic Games)</p></blockquote><p>In a landmark case (an amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act), the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-apple-hit-in-south-korea-by-worlds-first-law-ending-their-dominance-over-app-store-payments-11630403335" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Korean government</a> announced on 31 August that Google and Apple will need to open their app stores to alternative payment systems in South Korea. This change in regulation is likely to negatively impact Google and Apple's lucrative commissions on digital sales.</p><p>A new bill was passed by the Korean National Assembly on 31 August which will significantly reduce Google and Apple's dominance of digital sales on their app platforms. The final step is for President Moon to sign this bill but it is almost a near certainty that he will sign this bill. The following are the major companies/sectors that could benefit from the change in law:</p><ul>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Korean Telcos</strong></li>
<li><strong>Korean Game Companies</strong></li>
<li><strong>Korean Entertainment/Music/Movies/Drama Companies </strong></li>
</ul>

Korea is first in open platforms! Korea has rejected digital commerce monopolies and recognized open platforms as a right. This marks a major milestone in the 45-year history of personal computing. It began in Cupertino, but the forefront today is in Seoul. (Tim Sweeney - Founder of Epic Games)In a landmark case (an amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act), the Korean government announced on 31 August that Google and Apple will need to open their app stores to alternative payment systems in South Korea. This change in regulation is likely to negatively impact Google and Apple's lucrative commissions on digital sales.A new bill was passed by the Korean National Assembly on 31 August which will significantly reduce Google and Apple's dominance of digital sales on their app platforms. The final step is for President Moon to sign this bill but it is almost a near certainty that he will sign this bill. The following are the major companies/sectors that could benefit from the change in law:
Naver Corp (035420 KS)
Kakao Corp (035720 KS)
Korean Telcos
Korean Game Companies
Korean Entertainment/Music/Movies/Drama Companies 


Korean Government Forces Google & Apple To Open Their App Stores to Alternative Payments

South Korea

Kakao Games Corp. operates as a multiply platform gaming company. The Company provides mobile games, computer games, virtual reality games, and other related products. Kakao Games markets its products worldwide.

Price Gauge
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Kakao Games (293490 KS)

How Is Metaverse Revolutionizing Businesses in Korea? Virtual Humans Rozy & Lucy Are Just a Start

In this insight, we provide 8 examples of how metaverse is revolutionizing businesses in Korea. We also provide a list of Korean companies that are...

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

Kakao Pay IPO - Valuation and Likely Impact of Latest Announcement

Kakao Pay, one of South Korea’s largest payment and financial services apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55%...

Sumeet Singh

Kakao Pay IPO - Peer Comparison - Local and International

Kakao Pay, one of South Korea’s largest payment apps, aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its South Korean IPO. Kakao held a 55% stake prior to...

Sumeet Singh

Korean Government Forces Google & Apple To Open Their App Stores to Alternative Payments

In a landmark case, the Korean government announced on 31 August that Google and Apple will need to open their app stores to alternative payment...

Douglas Kim

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