Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun mentioned that too many companies in Korea are trading below book value and the FSC plans to implement changes to improve upon this issue. </li>
<li>According to Korea Exchange, 1,111 companies out of total listed in KOSPI and KOSDAQ in Korea (2,538) are trading at below 1x book value (PBR) (liquidation value). </li>
<li>According to the Capital Group, about 39% of companies in the TOPIX trade below book value, compared to just 5% for companies in the S&amp;P 500 Index. </li>
</ul>


FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun mentioned that too many companies in Korea are trading below book value and the FSC plans to implement changes to improve upon this issue. 
According to Korea Exchange, 1,111 companies out of total listed in KOSPI and KOSDAQ in Korea (2,538) are trading at below 1x book value (PBR) (liquidation value). 
According to the Capital Group, about 39% of companies in the TOPIX trade below book value, compared to just 5% for companies in the S&amp;P 500 Index. 


44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The total amount of share cancellations by Korean companies increased sharply in the past three years. Share cancellations of 6.1 trillion won in 2023 represented a 140% increase from 2021.</li>
<li>Although the total amount of share cancellations of 6.1 trillion won in 2023 seems fairly large, this represented only 0.24% of total market caps of Korean companies. </li>
<li>We also provide a list of seven Korean companies that have been targeted by activist investors  to cancel more shares and improve corporate governance. </li>
</ul>


The total amount of share cancellations by Korean companies increased sharply in the past three years. Share cancellations of 6.1 trillion won in 2023 represented a 140% increase from 2021.
Although the total amount of share cancellations of 6.1 trillion won in 2023 seems fairly large, this represented only 0.24% of total market caps of Korean companies. 
We also provide a list of seven Korean companies that have been targeted by activist investors  to cancel more shares and improve corporate governance. 


A 140% Increase in Share Cancellations by Korean Companies from 2021 to 2023

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

Samsung Electronics / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.</li>
<li>On the IPO front, a number of large filings over the holidays is somewhat positive for 2024 prospects.</li>
<li>On the placement front, 2024 picked up where 2023 left off, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a> leading the way.</li>
</ul>


Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.
On the IPO front, a number of large filings over the holidays is somewhat positive for 2024 prospects.
On the placement front, 2024 picked up where 2023 left off, with Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) leading the way.


ECM Weekly (14th Jan 2024) - Samsung, Lasertec, Ayala, Indigo, Amer, IPO Pipeline, 2023 Performance

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX Stocks as of Jan 5th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD9.6bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in Sk Hynix, Samsung Electron, Naver, Kia.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX Stocks as of Jan 5th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD9.6bn.
We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in Sk Hynix, Samsung Electron, Naver, Kia.


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Jan 5th): Sk Hynix, Samsung Electron, Naver, Kia

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>The data is crucial for year-end dividend arbitrage. We can strategically target Single-stock futures' spread basis widening due to information timeliness disparities, focusing on companies with high dividend yields.</li>
<li>Furthermore, it offers valuable insights into assessing the December-March spread levels, potentially leading to a rollover distortion in KOSPI 200 futures' calendar spread trading.</li>
<li>Postponed yearend dividend record dates to March may clash with first-quarter dividends, offering a new trading opportunity. this unique situation could significantly impact spot and futures prices.</li>
</ul>


The data is crucial for year-end dividend arbitrage. We can strategically target Single-stock futures' spread basis widening due to information timeliness disparities, focusing on companies with high dividend yields.
Furthermore, it offers valuable insights into assessing the December-March spread levels, potentially leading to a rollover distortion in KOSPI 200 futures' calendar spread trading.
Postponed yearend dividend record dates to March may clash with first-quarter dividends, offering a new trading opportunity. this unique situation could significantly impact spot and futures prices.


Comprehensive List: 359 Companies on KOSPI & KOSDAQ Deferring Yearend Dividend Record Dates

South Korea

KB Financial Group Inc. (the "Company"), in accordance with Financial Holding Companies Act, was established on September 29, 2008, through stock transfer with the former shareholders of its subsidiaries including Kookmin Bank in order to provide management services and financing to associated companies. The headquarters are located at Seoul, Korea

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KB Financial ADR (KB US)

44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

A 44% of Korean stocks are trading below book value. FSC wants to improve this, following Japan's "name and shame" policy.

Douglas Kim

ECM Weekly (14th Jan 2024) - Samsung, Lasertec, Ayala, Indigo, Amer, IPO Pipeline, 2023 Performance

Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.

Sumeet Singh

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Jan 5th): Sk Hynix, Samsung Electron, Naver, Kia

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Sk Hynix, Samsung Electron, Naver, Kia.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Comprehensive List: 359 Companies on KOSPI & KOSDAQ Deferring Yearend Dividend Record Dates

I've obtained the latest list of companies rescheduling dividend record dates to next year. Please check the attached Excel file. In the KOSPI, 119...

Sanghyun Park

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

A 44% of Korean stocks are trading below book value. FSC wants to improve this, following Japan's "name and shame" policy.

Douglas Kim

A 140% Increase in Share Cancellations by Korean Companies from 2021 to 2023

The total amount of share cancellations by Korean companies increased sharply in the past three years. Share cancellations of 6.1 trillion won in...

Douglas Kim

ECM Weekly (14th Jan 2024) - Samsung, Lasertec, Ayala, Indigo, Amer, IPO Pipeline, 2023 Performance

Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.

Sumeet Singh

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Jan 5th): Sk Hynix, Samsung Electron, Naver, Kia

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Sk Hynix, Samsung Electron, Naver, Kia.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Comprehensive List: 359 Companies on KOSPI & KOSDAQ Deferring Yearend Dividend Record Dates

I've obtained the latest list of companies rescheduling dividend record dates to next year. Please check the attached Excel file. In the KOSPI, 119...

Sanghyun Park