Pan-Asia Index Flows & Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Pan-Asia Index Flows & Special Situations

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Event-Driven

Shin Kong Financial Holding / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The T50 index represents the top 50 largest stocks by market capitalization in the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE). The T100 index represents the next 100 largest names (51-150 ranks).</li>
<li>In this insight, we take a look at the potential ADDs and DELs for the June 2025 index rebal event.</li>
<li>Currently, we see one change for T50 and one change for T100.</li>
</ul>


The T50 index represents the top 50 largest stocks by market capitalization in the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE). The T100 index represents the next 100 largest names (51-150 ranks).
In this insight, we take a look at the potential ADDs and DELs for the June 2025 index rebal event.
Currently, we see one change for T50 and one change for T100.


Quiddity Leaderboard T50/​​​100 Jun25: Taishin-Shin Kong Merger Could Cause Two Changes

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

<ul>
<li>Late Monday, The Financial Supervisory Commission approved the merger where <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shin-kong-financial-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15351:1" rel="noopener">Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT)</a> is to be absorbed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taishin-financial-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:715:1" rel="noopener">Taishin Financial Holding (2887 TT)</a>. Announcement <a href="https://www.fsc.gov.tw/ch/home.jsp?id=96&amp;parentpath=0,2&amp;mcustomize=news_view.jsp&amp;dataserno=202503310004&amp;aplistdn=ou=news,ou=multisite,ou=chinese,ou=ap_root,o=fsc,c=tw&amp;dtable=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</li>
<li>Yesterday, the chairmen of both Shin Kong and Taishin decided the merger base date, which has been set a bit further out than even I expected, at 24 July 2025.</li>
<li>The terms tightened yesterday. There is still a worthwhile switch to be done (or arb if you have cheap borrow), and NEWCO is cheap to peers, STILL.</li>
</ul>


Late Monday, The Financial Supervisory Commission approved the merger where Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT) is to be absorbed by Taishin Financial Holding (2887 TT). Announcement here.
Yesterday, the chairmen of both Shin Kong and Taishin decided the merger base date, which has been set a bit further out than even I expected, at 24 July 2025.
The terms tightened yesterday. There is still a worthwhile switch to be done (or arb if you have cheap borrow), and NEWCO is cheap to peers, STILL.


Shin Kong (2888 TT)/Taishin (2887 TT) Deal Gets FSC Approval - Still A Good Swap

<ul>
<li>The TFTC approved in early January, The TFTC <a href="https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/202501080360.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> market power would be limited and competition unrestricted. Another <a href="https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/202501070351.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNA article</a> suggested the two FHCs were completing employee placement plans.</li>
<li>Apparently, as of a month ago, only the Shin Kong <em>Bank</em> employee settlement plan had not been completed but the FSC has rules about that. Consideration likely proceeds.</li>
<li>There are specific rules about how these things are dealt with. In the meantime, the spread - still wide - is narrowing.</li>
</ul>


The TFTC approved in early January, The TFTC said market power would be limited and competition unrestricted. Another CNA article suggested the two FHCs were completing employee placement plans.
Apparently, as of a month ago, only the Shin Kong Bank employee settlement plan had not been completed but the FSC has rules about that. Consideration likely proceeds.
There are specific rules about how these things are dealt with. In the meantime, the spread - still wide - is narrowing.


Shin Kong (2888 TT) / Taishin (2887 TT) - Waiting on the FSC

<ul>
<li>After rumours were rekindled a week earlier, on 22 August 2024, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taishin-financial-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:715:1" rel="noopener">Taishin Financial Holding (2887 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shin-kong-financial-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15351:1" rel="noopener">Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT)</a> announced they would merge.</li>
<li>The ratio is 0.6022 shares of Taishin for every share of Shin Kong putting NEWCO assets at about the level of Taiwan #3 CTBC Financial. That's bad.</li>
<li>There's history here. LOTS of history. This would need approvals from the FSC and FTC, but CTBC is already a spoiner, and the SKFH Board Meeting was anything but clean.</li>
</ul>


After rumours were rekindled a week earlier, on 22 August 2024, Taishin Financial Holding (2887 TT) and Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT) announced they would merge.
The ratio is 0.6022 shares of Taishin for every share of Shin Kong putting NEWCO assets at about the level of Taiwan #3 CTBC Financial. That's bad.
There's history here. LOTS of history. This would need approvals from the FSC and FTC, but CTBC is already a spoiner, and the SKFH Board Meeting was anything but clean.


Shin Kong (2888.TW) And Taishin (2887.TW) Agree to Merge, But It Isn't Clean, And It's A Bad Price

<ul>
<li>Once shareholders of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shin-kong-financial-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15351:1" rel="noopener">Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taishin-financial-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:715:1" rel="noopener">Taishin Financial Holding (2887 TT)</a> agreed to the merger two months ago, that meant an FSC submission would come shortly.</li>
<li>It came on 3rd December. Normally it takes two months, but can be extended. It appears the TFTC submission (which is considered wholly separately) was made as early as September.</li>
<li>This should get approved within the timeframe or not long afterwards. There is one known "document" missing from the application as of submission, but it shouldn't be a problem.</li>
</ul>


Once shareholders of Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT) and Taishin Financial Holding (2887 TT) agreed to the merger two months ago, that meant an FSC submission would come shortly.
It came on 3rd December. Normally it takes two months, but can be extended. It appears the TFTC submission (which is considered wholly separately) was made as early as September.
This should get approved within the timeframe or not long afterwards. There is one known "document" missing from the application as of submission, but it shouldn't be a problem.


Shin Kong/Taishin Merger - Proceeding Apace

Taiwan

Shin Kong Financial Holding Co., Ltd. is a holding company.  Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides traditional life, health, group and accident insurance products and services, as well as acts as a broker, dealer and underwriter for financial securities.

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Shin Kong Financial Holding (2888 TT)

Quiddity Leaderboard T50/100 Jun25: Taishin-Shin Kong Merger Could Cause Two Changes

Shin Kong could get added to T50 in June and then get deleted from T50 in July when the Taishin-Shin Kong merger becomes effective. This could...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Shin Kong (2888 TT)/Taishin (2887 TT) Deal Gets FSC Approval - Still A Good Swap

The Shin Kong/Taishin Deal has been approved. The merger base date has been set for late July. There is still a good gross spread to take and NEWCO...

Travis Lundy

Shin Kong (2888 TT) / Taishin (2887 TT) - Waiting on the FSC

The FSC is considering the merger case for Shin Kong and Taishin according to local press reports. The timing of the articles suggest approval...

Travis Lundy

Shin Kong (2888.TW) And Taishin (2887.TW) Agree to Merge, But It Isn't Clean, And It's A Bad Price

Shin Kong Financial and Taishin Financial have agreed to merge, but the Board decision and price aren't pretty. Looks a bit like a coup. And CTBC...

Travis Lundy

Shin Kong/Taishin Merger - Proceeding Apace

The Shin Kong/Taishin spread is wide but contracting slowly. The Taishin vs Peers trade is rebounding off 10+yr lows. TFTC and FSC applications are...

Travis Lundy

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Quiddity Leaderboard T50/​​​100 Jun25: Taishin-Shin Kong Merger Could Cause Two Changes

Shin Kong could get added to T50 in June and then get deleted from T50 in July when the Taishin-Shin Kong merger becomes effective. This could...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Shin Kong (2888 TT)/Taishin (2887 TT) Deal Gets FSC Approval - Still A Good Swap

The Shin Kong/Taishin Deal has been approved. The merger base date has been set for late July. There is still a good gross spread to take and NEWCO...

Travis Lundy

Shin Kong (2888 TT) / Taishin (2887 TT) - Waiting on the FSC

The FSC is considering the merger case for Shin Kong and Taishin according to local press reports. The timing of the articles suggest approval...

Travis Lundy

Shin Kong (2888.TW) And Taishin (2887.TW) Agree to Merge, But It Isn't Clean, And It's A Bad Price

Shin Kong Financial and Taishin Financial have agreed to merge, but the Board decision and price aren't pretty. Looks a bit like a coup. And CTBC...

Travis Lundy

Shin Kong/Taishin Merger - Proceeding Apace

The Shin Kong/Taishin spread is wide but contracting slowly. The Taishin vs Peers trade is rebounding off 10+yr lows. TFTC and FSC applications are...

Travis Lundy

Quiddity Leaderboard T50/100 Jun25: Taishin-Shin Kong Merger Could Cause Two Changes