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?

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

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)

<p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/woori-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27995:1" rel="noopener">Woori Financial Group (316140 KS)</a> announced that it plans a full privatization of the company by the end of 2021.</strong> Currently, Woori Financial's largest shareholder is Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) which has a 15.1% in the company. Korean government backed KDIC plans to sell at least 10% stake in <a href="https://m.stock.naver.com/index.html#/news/ranknews/view/018/0005034309" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woori Financial</a> by the end of 2021.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p>One of the positives of Woori Financial after the privatization is completed is that the new controlling shareholder may try to improve various corporate governance policies in order to boost the total shareholder returns including paying higher dividends and completing higher share buyback with cancellations. </p>
<p>With the announcement of the privatization of Woori Financial Holdings by the end of 2021, an attractive long-short trading idea in the Korean financial sector would be to go long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/woori-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27995:1" rel="noopener">Woori Financial Group (316140 KS)</a> and go short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakaobank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33501:1" rel="noopener">KakaoBank (323410 KS)</a>.</p>
</div>

Woori Financial Group (316140 KS) announced that it plans a full privatization of the company by the end of 2021. Currently, Woori Financial's largest shareholder is Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) which has a 15.1% in the company. Korean government backed KDIC plans to sell at least 10% stake in Woori Financial by the end of 2021.
One of the positives of Woori Financial after the privatization is completed is that the new controlling shareholder may try to improve various corporate governance policies in order to boost the total shareholder returns including paying higher dividends and completing higher share buyback with cancellations. 
With the announcement of the privatization of Woori Financial Holdings by the end of 2021, an attractive long-short trading idea in the Korean financial sector would be to go long Woori Financial Group (316140 KS) and go short KakaoBank (323410 KS).


Privatization of Woori Financial by the End of 2021

<p>From today, September 10, it will be possible to short sell Kakao Bank and Krafton.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>Both Kakao Bank and Krafton have rapidly increased their loan balances over the past few days. This should be due to the increase in loan transactions in line with the start date of the short sale.</strong></p></div><p>As of yesterday, Kakao Bank's loan balance was 4,336,765 shares. This represents <strong>0.91%</strong> of the total number of outstanding shares. Although the ratio of the loan balance to SO is not yet high, it is worth paying attention to the recent rate of increase. In particular, since local ETFs/index funds that have completed KOSPI 200 rebalancing trading will enter the loan transaction market from now on, the current growth rate is highly likely to be maintained for the time being.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/228/980/original/image_94683396021631210485211.png?1631210485" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="228980"></figure><p>Krafton's situation is no different. There has been a sharp increase in recent days. As of yesterday, the loan balance is 528,702, which is <strong>1.08%</strong> of the outstanding shares. Similarly, stocks owned by local ETFs/index funds, which have completed KOSPI 200 rebalancing trading, will also flow in for Krafton. Hence, an increase in loan balance is unavoidable for the time being.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/228/981/original/image_74455773731631210911666.png?1631210912" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="228981"></figure>

From today, September 10, it will be possible to short sell Kakao Bank and Krafton.Both Kakao Bank and Krafton have rapidly increased their loan balances over the past few days. This should be due to the increase in loan transactions in line with the start date of the short sale.As of yesterday, Kakao Bank's loan balance was 4,336,765 shares. This represents 0.91% of the total number of outstanding shares. Although the ratio of the loan balance to SO is not yet high, it is worth paying attention to the recent rate of increase. In particular, since local ETFs/index funds that have completed KOSPI 200 rebalancing trading will enter the loan transaction market from now on, the current growth rate is highly likely to be maintained for the time being.Krafton's situation is no different. There has been a sharp increase in recent days. As of yesterday, the loan balance is 528,702, which is 1.08% of the outstanding shares. Similarly, stocks owned by local ETFs/index funds, which have completed KOSPI 200 rebalancing trading, will also flow in for Krafton. Hence, an increase in loan balance is unavoidable for the time being.

Short-Selling Kakao Bank & Krafton Begins Today: Here Are Some Data Worth Checking

Equity Capital Markets

<p>In this insight, we provide a scenarios analysis of the current situation between Kakao Pay and the financial regulators in Korea. The timing of this uncertainty is awful as the company is getting ready to complete its IPO next month. </p><div class="content-highlight"><ul>
<li>In our view, Kakao Pay is most likely to find some kind of a compromise with the regulators in order to continue to operate its financial services. </li>
<li>The higher probability scenario is for Kakao Pay make changes to how its current app operates (including having separate buttons that guide the users to separate subsidiaries windows) so that it is very clear from the consumers' point of view what subsidiaries/companies that are purchasing various financial services from. </li>
<li>Our guess is that it is likely to add one or two extra steps/layers for the consumers that use Kakao Pay to access the various financial services under the new system, as compared to the current system. In that sense, it would remove one of the key advantages that Kakao Pay has had in making the system more convenient to use as compared to its leading competitor Toss. </li>
</ul></div>

In this insight, we provide a scenarios analysis of the current situation between Kakao Pay and the financial regulators in Korea. The timing of this uncertainty is awful as the company is getting ready to complete its IPO next month. 
In our view, Kakao Pay is most likely to find some kind of a compromise with the regulators in order to continue to operate its financial services. 
The higher probability scenario is for Kakao Pay make changes to how its current app operates (including having separate buttons that guide the users to separate subsidiaries windows) so that it is very clear from the consumers' point of view what subsidiaries/companies that are purchasing various financial services from. 
Our guess is that it is likely to add one or two extra steps/layers for the consumers that use Kakao Pay to access the various financial services under the new system, as compared to the current system. In that sense, it would remove one of the key advantages that Kakao Pay has had in making the system more convenient to use as compared to its leading competitor Toss. 


Kakao Pay - One Third of Revenues in Jeopardy or Reach a Compromise with the Regulators?

South Korea

KakaoBank Corp. operates bank businesses. The Company provides deposit money, withdraw money, credit cards, stock accounts, linked loans, and other services. KakaoBank conducts businesses in South Korea.

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KakaoBank (323410 KS)

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

Privatization of Woori Financial by the End of 2021

Woori Financial Group announced it plans a full privatization of the company by the end of 2021. An attractive long-short trading idea would be to...

Douglas Kim

Short-Selling Kakao Bank & Krafton Begins Today: Here Are Some Data Worth Checking

We can short sell Kakao Bank and Krafton from today (September 10), as they are officially KOSPI 200 members. This post contains some data worth...

Sanghyun Park

Kakao Pay - One Third of Revenues in Jeopardy or Reach a Compromise with the Regulators?

In this insight, we provide a scenarios analysis of the current situation between Kakao Pay and the regulators in Korea. The timing of this is...

Douglas Kim

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