Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Naver's CHZZK has been increasing its market share in the Korean live game streaming sector. This improving momentum is likely to continue to positively impact Naver's share price. </li>
<li>CHZZK was the top ranking live streaming platform in Korea in December 2024 with about 2.5 million MAU.</li>
<li>Naver is currently trading at EV/EBITDA of 11.4x and P/E of 18.3x, which are 50% and 51% lower respectively than its historical average valuation multiples from 2020 to 2023.</li>
</ul>


Naver's CHZZK has been increasing its market share in the Korean live game streaming sector. This improving momentum is likely to continue to positively impact Naver's share price. 
CHZZK was the top ranking live streaming platform in Korea in December 2024 with about 2.5 million MAU.
Naver is currently trading at EV/EBITDA of 11.4x and P/E of 18.3x, which are 50% and 51% lower respectively than its historical average valuation multiples from 2020 to 2023.


Naver: CHZZK Increasing Market Share in the Korean Live Game Streaming Sector

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US listed China companies.</li>
<li>The Hong Kong visit was on the back of the 26th Aug 2022 announcement by PCAOB and CSRC that they had entered into an agreement with US authorities for access.</li>
<li>In this note, we'll talk about the latest developments, possible outcomes and implications.</li>
</ul>


PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US listed China companies.
The Hong Kong visit was on the back of the 26th Aug 2022 announcement by PCAOB and CSRC that they had entered into an agreement with US authorities for access.
In this note, we'll talk about the latest developments, possible outcomes and implications.


China ADRs Delisting - Friday Could Be Judgment Day for over US$800bn Mcap of Stocks

<ul>
<li>On 8 May, it was mentioned in numerous local media that Naver is under pressure from the Japanese government to sell its stake in LINE.</li>
<li>One of the reasons behind Japanese government's efforts to force Naver to sell its stake in LINE is due a major data breach incident in November 2023.</li>
<li>Based on our current understanding of this situation, the most likely scenario is for Naver to sell about 20-30% stake in A Holdings (the controlling shareholder of LINE) to SoftBank.</li>
</ul>


On 8 May, it was mentioned in numerous local media that Naver is under pressure from the Japanese government to sell its stake in LINE.
One of the reasons behind Japanese government's efforts to force Naver to sell its stake in LINE is due a major data breach incident in November 2023.
Based on our current understanding of this situation, the most likely scenario is for Naver to sell about 20-30% stake in A Holdings (the controlling shareholder of LINE) to SoftBank.


Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE

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>Naver doesn't view the sale of its A Holdings stake unfavorably; insiders suggest it's been planning this move since last year.</li>
<li>Market speculation suggests Naver was disappointed by Softbank's rejection of CLOVA X in LINE, prompting plans to sell A Holdings stake for AI development. A sale agreement is expected soon.</li>
<li>The method through which Softbank secures funds for this acquisition is worth the attention from a short-term trading perspective.</li>
</ul>


Naver doesn't view the sale of its A Holdings stake unfavorably; insiders suggest it's been planning this move since last year.
Market speculation suggests Naver was disappointed by Softbank's rejection of CLOVA X in LINE, prompting plans to sell A Holdings stake for AI development. A sale agreement is expected soon.
The method through which Softbank secures funds for this acquisition is worth the attention from a short-term trading perspective.


Local Reports in Korea Regarding A Holdings Stake Sale Between Naver & Softbank

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a> opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.</li>
<li>A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.</li>
<li>Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.</li>
</ul>


Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.
A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.
Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

South Korea

Naver Corp. provides Internet site with web portal services, such as search engine, online game and content development.  The Company also offers marketing service through text and banner advertisement.

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Naver Corp (035420 KS)

China ADRs Delisting - Friday Could Be Judgment Day for over US$800bn Mcap of Stocks

PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US...

Sumeet Singh

Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE

Seong Tae-Yoon (a senior official at South Korean Presidential Office) confirmed that Naver will not be forced to sell its stake in Line Yahoo. He...

Douglas Kim

Local Reports in Korea Regarding A Holdings Stake Sale Between Naver & Softbank

This post offers insights and updates sourced locally regarding the ongoing A Holdings stake sale negotiations between Naver and Softbank.

Sanghyun Park

Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

Not a lot of shorts were covered on Monday. There could be more covering in the near term as the market drifts lower. KOSPI200 underperformed...

Brian Freitas

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Naver: CHZZK Increasing Market Share in the Korean Live Game Streaming Sector

Naver's CHZZK has been increasing its market share in the Korean live game streaming sector. This improving momentum is likely to continue to...

Douglas Kim

China ADRs Delisting - Friday Could Be Judgment Day for over US$800bn Mcap of Stocks

PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US...

Sumeet Singh

Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE

Seong Tae-Yoon (a senior official at South Korean Presidential Office) confirmed that Naver will not be forced to sell its stake in Line Yahoo. He...

Douglas Kim

Local Reports in Korea Regarding A Holdings Stake Sale Between Naver & Softbank

This post offers insights and updates sourced locally regarding the ongoing A Holdings stake sale negotiations between Naver and Softbank.

Sanghyun Park

Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

Not a lot of shorts were covered on Monday. There could be more covering in the near term as the market drifts lower. KOSPI200 underperformed...

Brian Freitas