Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

<p>February has seen several <em>very</em> large ESG-linked and sustainability bond issuances, some in double-digits billions of dollars and setting records. Issuers include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-chem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3583:1" rel="noopener">LG Chem (051910 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anheuser-busch-inbev-sa-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:865:1" rel="noopener">Anheuser Busch Inbev (ABI BB)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hennes-mauritz-ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22380:1" rel="noopener">Hennes &amp; Mauritz Ab (HMB SS)</a>.</p><p>Unlike green bonds, the proceeds from which usually finance one specific project, these deals allow issuers to invest proceeds in multiple areas of sustainability/ESG like renewable energy, recycling, and various Social-pillar initiatives. This has the potential to create a virtuous cycle, as it were.</p><p>Importantly, a common characteristic of the deals discussed herein is that interest rates are tied to sustainability or ESG performance; if issuers fall short of targets the cost of servicing the debt goes up. Demand has been strong; H&amp;M's was seven times over, and it was able to price at lower rates.</p><p>More than US$15 billion, just one month into the year.</p>

February has seen several very large ESG-linked and sustainability bond issuances, some in double-digits billions of dollars and setting records. Issuers include LG Chem (051910 KS), Anheuser Busch Inbev (ABI BB), and Hennes &amp; Mauritz Ab (HMB SS).Unlike green bonds, the proceeds from which usually finance one specific project, these deals allow issuers to invest proceeds in multiple areas of sustainability/ESG like renewable energy, recycling, and various Social-pillar initiatives. This has the potential to create a virtuous cycle, as it were.Importantly, a common characteristic of the deals discussed herein is that interest rates are tied to sustainability or ESG performance; if issuers fall short of targets the cost of servicing the debt goes up. Demand has been strong; H&amp;M's was seven times over, and it was able to price at lower rates.More than US$15 billion, just one month into the year.

Recent ESG-Linked and Sustainable Bond Issues Are Breaking Records in Size and Demand

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

<p>The Korea Exchange (KRX) launched 5 indices last year following the New Deal initiative that the Government launched to digitalise social infrastructure and jumpstart the transition to green energy.</p><p>The KRX created 4 indices tracking the Secondary Battery, Biotech, Internet and Gaming sectors that are expected to benefit from the New Deal initiative plus an additional index (BBIG) that includes the top 3 stocks from each sector.</p><p>All indices have performed well since then. The KRX announced changes to the 5 indices late last week and the changes become effective post the close of trading on 25 February.</p><div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-games-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26730:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Games Corp (293490 KS)</a> replaces <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pearl-abyss-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24391:1" rel="noopener">Pearl Abyss (263750 KS)</a> in the BBIG Index.</p></div><div><p>In the Secondary Battery index, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/soulbrain-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16883:1" rel="noopener">Soulbrain (036830 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-f-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14300:1" rel="noopener">L&amp;F Co Ltd (066970 KS)</a> replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/doosan-solus-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28947:1" rel="noopener">Doosan Solus Co Ltd (336370 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/foosung-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16811:1" rel="noopener">Foosung Co Ltd (093370 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>In the Biotech index, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinpoong-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7296:1" rel="noopener">Shinpoong Pharmaceutical (019170 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> replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alteogen-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15886:1" rel="noopener">Alteogen Inc (196170 KS)</a> and <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>.</p></div><div><p>In the Internet index, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ace-technologies-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7868:1" rel="noopener">Ace Technologies (088800 KS)</a> and <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> replace <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ubiquoss-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14341:1" rel="noopener">Ubiquoss Holding (078070 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>In the Gaming index, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-games-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26730:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Games Corp (293490 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/neptune-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28826:1" rel="noopener">Neptune Company (217270 KS)</a> replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/neowiz-games-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12425:1" rel="noopener">Neowiz Games (095660 KS)</a> and Golfzon (215000 KS).</p></div>

The Korea Exchange (KRX) launched 5 indices last year following the New Deal initiative that the Government launched to digitalise social infrastructure and jumpstart the transition to green energy.The KRX created 4 indices tracking the Secondary Battery, Biotech, Internet and Gaming sectors that are expected to benefit from the New Deal initiative plus an additional index (BBIG) that includes the top 3 stocks from each sector.All indices have performed well since then. The KRX announced changes to the 5 indices late last week and the changes become effective post the close of trading on 25 February.Kakao Games Corp (293490 KS) replaces Pearl Abyss (263750 KS) in the BBIG Index.In the Secondary Battery index, Soulbrain (036830 KS) and L&amp;F Co Ltd (066970 KS) replace Doosan Solus Co Ltd (336370 KS) and Foosung Co Ltd (093370 KS).In the Biotech index, Shinpoong Pharmaceutical (019170 KS) and Green Cross (006280 KS) replace Alteogen Inc (196170 KS) and Hanmi Pharm (128940 KS).In the Internet index, Ace Technologies (088800 KS) and Rsupport Co Ltd (131370 KS) replace KG Inicis Co Ltd (035600 KS) and Ubiquoss Holding (078070 KS).In the Gaming index, Kakao Games Corp (293490 KS) and Neptune Company (217270 KS) replace Neowiz Games (095660 KS) and Golfzon (215000 KS).

KRX BBIG K-NewDeal Index Rebalance: First Set of Changes Announced

<p>The short sell ban in Korea that was instated on 16 March 2020 is set to expire on 15 March.</p><p>However, with mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan around the corner, politicians are said to be leaning on the FSC to extend the short sell ban. Add to that the retail outrage - from petitions to the Blue House, bus tours, and posts on K-Streetbets of targeting stocks with high short interest.</p><p>There is a high likelihood that the short sell ban gets extended by three more months to tide the politicians over the mayoral elections.</p><p>In the event that the short sell ban expires, we highlight stocks that have seen the most short covering since the start of the short sell ban, stocks with high short interest as a percentage of market cap and free float, and high days of ADV to cover.</p><p>This will have implications for many strategies and will open the door to trade the ordinaries vs preferred shares, long/short and other related strategies.</p>

The short sell ban in Korea that was instated on 16 March 2020 is set to expire on 15 March.However, with mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan around the corner, politicians are said to be leaning on the FSC to extend the short sell ban. Add to that the retail outrage - from petitions to the Blue House, bus tours, and posts on K-Streetbets of targeting stocks with high short interest.There is a high likelihood that the short sell ban gets extended by three more months to tide the politicians over the mayoral elections.In the event that the short sell ban expires, we highlight stocks that have seen the most short covering since the start of the short sell ban, stocks with high short interest as a percentage of market cap and free float, and high days of ADV to cover.This will have implications for many strategies and will open the door to trade the ordinaries vs preferred shares, long/short and other related strategies.

Korea Short Sell Ban: Elections, Public Outrage, Bus Tours, Blue House Petitions, K-Streetbets

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/byd-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20962:1" rel="noopener">BYD (1211 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/smoore-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28241:1" rel="noopener">Smoore International (6969 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gcl-poly-energy-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3708:1" rel="noopener">Gcl Poly Energy Holdings Limited (3800 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innovent-biologics-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27452:1" rel="noopener">Innovent Biologics Inc (1801 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunny-optical-tech" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13363:1" rel="noopener">Sunny Optical (2382 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a>. Shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Financials, Consumer Staples and Industrials, while decreasing on Information Technology, Real Estate and Health Care.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/olympus-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:356:1" rel="noopener">Olympus Corp (7733 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dai-ichi-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1109:1" rel="noopener">Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nomura-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:742:1" rel="noopener">Nomura Holdings (8604 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anritsu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3700:1" rel="noopener">Anritsu Corp (6754 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lasertec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4126:1" rel="noopener">Lasertec Corp (6920 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sharp-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:391:1" rel="noopener">Sharp Corp (6753 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/square-enix-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15003:1" rel="noopener">Square Enix Holdings (9684 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased on Financials, Industrials and Health Care, while decreasing on Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, there were short positions put on in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1" rel="noopener">LG Display (034220 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gs-engineering-construct" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15916:1" rel="noopener">GS Engineering &amp; Construction (006360 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-chem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3583:1" rel="noopener">LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-mobis-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6089:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Mobis (012330 KS)</a> while shorts were covered in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netmarble-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22839:1" rel="noopener">Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-biologics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22932:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>. </p></div><div>
<p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6450:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innolux-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4509:1" rel="noopener">Innolux Corp (3481 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/e-sun-financial-holding-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:719:1" rel="noopener">E.Sun Financial Holding Co (2884 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergreen-marine-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15428:1" rel="noopener">Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/acer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15726:1" rel="noopener">Acer Inc (2353 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pegatron-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12852:1" rel="noopener">Pegatron Corp (4938 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ase-technology-holding-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27270:1" rel="noopener">ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd (3711 TT)</a>.</p>
<p>Following the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gamestop-corp-class-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13790:1" rel="noopener">GameStop Corp Class A (GME US)</a> saga, we have added tables in each market with the largest stocks in terms of days of ADV to cover.</p>
</div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on BYD (1211 HK), Meituan (3690 HK), Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Alibaba Group (9988 HK) and HKEX (388 HK) while there was short covering on Smoore International (6969 HK), Gcl Poly Energy Holdings Limited (3800 HK), Innovent Biologics Inc (1801 HK), Sunny Optical (2382 HK) and Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK). Shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Financials, Consumer Staples and Industrials, while decreasing on Information Technology, Real Estate and Health Care.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Olympus Corp (7733 JP), Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP), Nomura Holdings (8604 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) while shorts decreased on Anritsu Corp (6754 JP), Lasertec Corp (6920 JP), Sharp Corp (6753 JP) and Square Enix Holdings (9684 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased on Financials, Industrials and Health Care, while decreasing on Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary.In Korea, there were short positions put on in LG Display (034220 KS), GS Engineering &amp; Construction (006360 KS), LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS) and Hyundai Mobis (012330 KS) while shorts were covered in Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS), Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS), Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) and Kakao Corp (035720 KS). 
Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT), Innolux Corp (3481 TT), E.Sun Financial Holding Co (2884 TT) and TSMC (2330 TT) while shorts were covered on Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT), Acer Inc (2353 TT), Pegatron Corp (4938 TT) and ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd (3711 TT).
Following the GameStop Corp Class A (GME US) saga, we have added tables in each market with the largest stocks in terms of days of ADV to cover.


Asia Short Interest: BYD, Smoore, GCL Poly, Olympus, Nomura, Anritsu, Netmarble, UMC, Innolux, Acer

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

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<p><em>This week in StubWorld ...</em></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wilmar-international-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:172:1" rel="noopener">Wilmar International (WIL SP)</a> continues to outperform <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ppb-group-berhad" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:793:1" rel="noopener">Ppb Group (PEP MK)</a> after the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yihai-kerry-arawana-holdin-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29184:1" rel="noopener">Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co Ltd (300999 CH)</a> spin-off; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6653:1" rel="noopener">LG Corp (003550 KS)</a> is cheap, and there are catalysts in the pipeline apart from the recently announced demerger; and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6315:1" rel="noopener">China Motor (2204 TT)</a> is trading cheap to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yulon-motor-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18249:1" rel="noopener">Yulon Motor Company (2201 TT)</a>, which in turn is trading rich to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-acceptance-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13398:1" rel="noopener">Yulon Finance Corp (9941 TT)</a>. </p>
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<div>
<p>Preceding my comments on these holdcos are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</p>
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<p>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.</p>
</div>


This week in StubWorld ...


Wilmar International (WIL SP) continues to outperform Ppb Group (PEP MK) after the Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co Ltd (300999 CH) spin-off; LG Corp (003550 KS) is cheap, and there are catalysts in the pipeline apart from the recently announced demerger; and China Motor (2204 TT) is trading cheap to Yulon Motor Company (2201 TT), which in turn is trading rich to Yulon Finance Corp (9941 TT). 



Preceding my comments on these holdcos are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.


These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.


StubWorld: PPB/Wilmar, LG Corp, China Motor/Yulon Motor

South Korea

LG Chem Ltd. is a chemical manufacturer.  The Company's products include petrochemicals, plastic resins, and engineering plastics.  LG Chem also produces industrial and electronic materials.

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LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS)

Recent ESG-Linked and Sustainable Bond Issues Are Breaking Records in Size and Demand

Recently, three record-setting ESG-linked and sustainability-linked bond issues totaling US$15 billion. Three deals, two months into the year, and...

Kyle Rudden

KRX BBIG K-NewDeal Index Rebalance: First Set of Changes Announced

The KRX has announced changes to the KRX New Deal indices that will be effective after the close of trading on 25 February. Pearl Abyss is...

Brian Freitas

Korea Short Sell Ban: Elections, Public Outrage, Bus Tours, Blue House Petitions, K-Streetbets

With the short sell ban in Korea scheduled to expire 15 March, we look at stocks that have seen the most short covering since the start of the ban,...

Brian Freitas

Asia Short Interest: BYD, Smoore, GCL Poly, Olympus, Nomura, Anritsu, Netmarble, UMC, Innolux, Acer

The Insight looks at large short interest movements across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

StubWorld: PPB/Wilmar, LG Corp, China Motor/Yulon Motor

Wilmar continues to outperform PPB after the Yihai Kerry spin-off; and LG Corp (003550 KS) is cheap, and there are catalysts in the pipeline apart...

David Blennerhassett

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