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.

Equity Capital Markets

This insight summarizes what was going on inside Krafton and the reactions of local IPO fund managers reported in various media articles after Krafton's securities filing submission.Therefore, please note that this insight does not provide an investment opinion.<hr><h2>Inside Krafton ahead of the IPO prospectus submission</h2>The major shareholder of Krafton is a person with a lot of experience in the financial industry who has managed venture capital for a long time. Since he knows the operating structure of the local IPO market better than other CEOs, he seems to have a strong will to get everything he can get from this IPO.For example, it is said that Krafton demanded a higher IPO price from the bankers rather than achieving the so-called Double Crown. Because doing a double crown meant that they could have raised more money through an IPO but couldn't. So instead, Krafton's major shareholder intends to increase the amount of money flowing into the company as much as possible.<div class="content-highlight">Double Crown: a base price set at a +200% premium to the offering price and a further +30% premium to the base price for the closing price</div>The recent trend in the local IPO market has clearly been to set the IPO price low and then increase the opportunity for investors to realize profits. However, Krafton wants to be the first recent example of going against this market trend.This can mean two things.<ul>
<li>The first is that Krafton is confident that the price is convincing enough.</li>
<li>If not, Krafton is confident that it will attract investors even at this price.</li>
</ul>

This insight summarizes what was going on inside Krafton and the reactions of local IPO fund managers reported in various media articles after Krafton's securities filing submission.Therefore, please note that this insight does not provide an investment opinion.Inside Krafton ahead of the IPO prospectus submissionThe major shareholder of Krafton is a person with a lot of experience in the financial industry who has managed venture capital for a long time. Since he knows the operating structure of the local IPO market better than other CEOs, he seems to have a strong will to get everything he can get from this IPO.For example, it is said that Krafton demanded a higher IPO price from the bankers rather than achieving the so-called Double Crown. Because doing a double crown meant that they could have raised more money through an IPO but couldn't. So instead, Krafton's major shareholder intends to increase the amount of money flowing into the company as much as possible.Double Crown: a base price set at a +200% premium to the offering price and a further +30% premium to the base price for the closing priceThe recent trend in the local IPO market has clearly been to set the IPO price low and then increase the opportunity for investors to realize profits. However, Krafton wants to be the first recent example of going against this market trend.This can mean two things.
The first is that Krafton is confident that the price is convincing enough.
If not, Krafton is confident that it will attract investors even at this price.


Krafton's Strategic Intention Behind High Offering Price & FSS Correction Request Possibility

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

The KRX will announce the results of the September review of the BBIG indices in August and the changes will become effective after the close of trading on 9 September.The BBIG (secondary Battery, Bio, Internet and Gaming sectors) indices were launched late last year. ETFs were subsequently launched on the 5 indices and the BBIG ETF and the Secondary Battery ETF have gathered a significant amount of assets since then.At the September rebalance we expect the following changes:<ul>
<li>Secondary Battery ETF: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-ie-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29207:1" rel="noopener">SK IE Technology (361610 KS)</a> replaces <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chunbo-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27848:1" rel="noopener">Chunbo Co Ltd (278280 KS)</a>
</li>
<li>Bio ETF: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-bioscience-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31484:1" rel="noopener">SK Bioscience (302440 KS)</a> joins the index and the top 3 stocks. This moves <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-biopharmaceuticals-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28966:1" rel="noopener">SK Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd (326030 KS)</a> to the plus group; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hanmi-pharm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12476:1" rel="noopener">Hanmi Pharm (128940 KS)</a> joins the index and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seegene-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11483:1" rel="noopener">Seegene Inc (096530 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/green-cross-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2969:1" rel="noopener">Green Cross (006280 KS)</a> are deleted.</li>
<li>Internet ETF: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kg-inicis-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5234:1" rel="noopener">KG Inicis Co Ltd (035600 KS)</a> replaces <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rsupport-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14783:1" rel="noopener">Rsupport Co Ltd (131370 KS)</a> </li>
<li>Game ETF: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/devsisters-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14096:1" rel="noopener">Devsisters (194480 KS)</a> replaces <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/neptune-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28826:1" rel="noopener">Neptune Company (217270 KS)</a>.</li>
<li>BBIG ETF: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-bioscience-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31484:1" rel="noopener">SK Bioscience (302440 KS)</a> replaces <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-biopharmaceuticals-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28966:1" rel="noopener">SK Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd (326030 KS)</a> </li>
</ul>There could be more interesting changes if <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/krafton-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28956:1" rel="noopener"> Krafton Inc (1486402D KS)</a> lists before end July as expected.The first rebalance of the index took place in February this year and the inclusions outperformed the exclusions by nearly 8% between announcement of the changes and implementation. So this rebalance is something worth looking at.

The KRX will announce the results of the September review of the BBIG indices in August and the changes will become effective after the close of trading on 9 September.The BBIG (secondary Battery, Bio, Internet and Gaming sectors) indices were launched late last year. ETFs were subsequently launched on the 5 indices and the BBIG ETF and the Secondary Battery ETF have gathered a significant amount of assets since then.At the September rebalance we expect the following changes:
Secondary Battery ETF: SK IE Technology (361610 KS) replaces Chunbo Co Ltd (278280 KS)

Bio ETF: SK Bioscience (302440 KS) joins the index and the top 3 stocks. This moves SK Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd (326030 KS) to the plus group; Hanmi Pharm (128940 KS) joins the index and Seegene Inc (096530 KS) and Green Cross (006280 KS) are deleted.
Internet ETF: KG Inicis Co Ltd (035600 KS) replaces Rsupport Co Ltd (131370 KS) 
Game ETF: Devsisters (194480 KS) replaces Neptune Company (217270 KS).
BBIG ETF: SK Bioscience (302440 KS) replaces SK Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd (326030 KS) 
There could be more interesting changes if  Krafton Inc (1486402D KS) lists before end July as expected.The first rebalance of the index took place in February this year and the inclusions outperformed the exclusions by nearly 8% between announcement of the changes and implementation. So this rebalance is something worth looking at.

KRX BBIG Index Rebalance Preview: Worth a Look

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

In this insight, we discuss our initial thoughts on the Krafton IPO. According to the bankers' valuation, the expected market cap of the company is expected to be from 23.7 trillion won to 28.8 trillion won (IPO price range of 458,000 won to 557,000 won).<div class="content-highlight">Our base case valuation of Krafton is an implied market cap of 24.1 trillion won or 465,055 won per share. Our valuation sensitivity suggests a valuation range from 18.3 trillion won to 30.6 trillion won. Our base case valuation of 465,055 won is close to the low end of the IPO price range of 458,000 won to 557,000 won. Given the lack of upside, we would PASS on this IPO deal. </div>

In this insight, we discuss our initial thoughts on the Krafton IPO. According to the bankers' valuation, the expected market cap of the company is expected to be from 23.7 trillion won to 28.8 trillion won (IPO price range of 458,000 won to 557,000 won).Our base case valuation of Krafton is an implied market cap of 24.1 trillion won or 465,055 won per share. Our valuation sensitivity suggests a valuation range from 18.3 trillion won to 30.6 trillion won. Our base case valuation of 465,055 won is close to the low end of the IPO price range of 458,000 won to 557,000 won. Given the lack of upside, we would PASS on this IPO deal. 

Initial Thoughts on the Krafton IPO Valuation

<div class="content-highlight">In this insight, we discuss the 9 major risks (excluding valuation issues) for Krafton. Overall, we believe these significant risk factors could result in much lower than expected demand for the Krafton IPO shares, especially among the institutional investors unless the IPO price range is lowered significantly. </div>1) Too much dependent on one game PUBG2) Krafton's big political risk with China (Game for Peace)3) Political risks of operating PUBG in overseas countries such as India  4) Company's sales growth in 2020 helped by COVID-195) Declining sales and profit growth in 1Q 20216) Comparable companies' worsening sales and profit trend in 1Q 20217) Potential acquisitions may not add value8) Expansion into other entertainment related business may involve execution risks9) Insiders are selling too much in this IPO

In this insight, we discuss the 9 major risks (excluding valuation issues) for Krafton. Overall, we believe these significant risk factors could result in much lower than expected demand for the Krafton IPO shares, especially among the institutional investors unless the IPO price range is lowered significantly. 1) Too much dependent on one game PUBG2) Krafton's big political risk with China (Game for Peace)3) Political risks of operating PUBG in overseas countries such as India  4) Company's sales growth in 2020 helped by COVID-195) Declining sales and profit growth in 1Q 20216) Comparable companies' worsening sales and profit trend in 1Q 20217) Potential acquisitions may not add value8) Expansion into other entertainment related business may involve execution risks9) Insiders are selling too much in this IPO 

As soon as Krafton submitted its IPO book, it sparked a valuation controversy. Krafton's revenue is still unusually dependent on a single game, PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds). However, even PUBG, which accounts for a significant portion of sales, has markedly slowed its sales growth. Nevertheless, Krafton unreasonably set a high IPO price. The atmosphere of the local street is clear. This level of public offering price is difficult to accept in the market.So, the below DETAIL section details several talking points causing the current valuation controversy.

As soon as Krafton submitted its IPO book, it sparked a valuation controversy. Krafton's revenue is still unusually dependent on a single game, PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds). However, even PUBG, which accounts for a significant portion of sales, has markedly slowed its sales growth. Nevertheless, Krafton unreasonably set a high IPO price. The atmosphere of the local street is clear. This level of public offering price is difficult to accept in the market.So, the below DETAIL section details several talking points causing the current valuation controversy.

Several Controversial Issues About Krafton IPO Valuation

South Korea

Krafton, Inc. operates as a game development company. The Company develops console games, mobile games, computer games, and other related products. Krafton markets its products throughout South Korea.

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Krafton (259960 KS)

Krafton's Strategic Intention Behind High Offering Price & FSS Correction Request Possibility

This insight summarizes what was going on inside Krafton and the reactions of local IPO fund managers reported in various media articles after...

Sanghyun Park

KRX BBIG Index Rebalance Preview: Worth a Look

There are lots of changes expected to the KRX BBIG indices at the September review. With a large amount of assets tracking the indices, some of the...

Brian Freitas

Initial Thoughts on the Krafton IPO Valuation

Our base case valuation of Krafton is an implied market cap of 24.1 trillion won or 465,055 won per share. Given the lack of upside relative to the...

Douglas Kim

Krafton IPO - 9 Major Risks

We discuss the 9 major risks (excluding valuation issues) for Krafton. Overall, we believe these significant risk factors could result in much...

Douglas Kim

Several Controversial Issues About Krafton IPO Valuation

This post details several talking points causing the ongoing valuation controversy in the local market concerning the Krafton IPO.

Sanghyun Park

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