Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>SK Square (402340 KS) announced a solid corporate value up plan pushing up its share price by 8.8% to 87,500 won on 22 November.</li>
<li>Major highlights of the corporate value up plan included cancellation of 200 billion won of treasury shares, higher ROE target, and achieve 1x PBR ratio (nearly double the current ratio).</li>
<li>Our NAV analysis of SK Square suggests NAV of 15.2 trillion won or 112,822 won per share, representing 29% higher than current share price.</li>
</ul>


SK Square (402340 KS) announced a solid corporate value up plan pushing up its share price by 8.8% to 87,500 won on 22 November.
Major highlights of the corporate value up plan included cancellation of 200 billion won of treasury shares, higher ROE target, and achieve 1x PBR ratio (nearly double the current ratio).
Our NAV analysis of SK Square suggests NAV of 15.2 trillion won or 112,822 won per share, representing 29% higher than current share price.


SK Square: A Solid Corporate Value Up Plan Likely to Lead to Continued Outperformance

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Hynix's potential 15% stake in Kioxia doesn't violate the 20% rule because KFTC's mandatory stake rule doesn't apply to foreign investments.</li>
<li>SK Group may transfer Hynix's 15% Kioxia stake to SK Square by splitting Hynix and merging its investment arm with SK Square for future AI investments.</li>
<li>SK Square may attract more attention than Hynix short-term, as Kioxia's stake via Hynix could boost market expectations for value transfer to SK Square.</li>
</ul>


Hynix's potential 15% stake in Kioxia doesn't violate the 20% rule because KFTC's mandatory stake rule doesn't apply to foreign investments.
SK Group may transfer Hynix's 15% Kioxia stake to SK Square by splitting Hynix and merging its investment arm with SK Square for future AI investments.
SK Square may attract more attention than Hynix short-term, as Kioxia's stake via Hynix could boost market expectations for value transfer to SK Square.


Understanding Potential Issues Within SK Group from Hynix's Kioxia CB Conversion

<ul>
<li>Our NAV analysis of SK Square suggests NAV of 15.6 trillion won or 115,605 won per share, representing 48% higher than current share price.</li>
<li>SK Square's market cap is only 39% of SK Square's stake in SK Hynix. SK Square's share price has declined by 27% since reaching its recent peak on 11 July. </li>
<li>SK Square had excellent results in 2Q 2024, driven by improving results of its affiliates including SK Hynix. </li>
</ul>


Our NAV analysis of SK Square suggests NAV of 15.6 trillion won or 115,605 won per share, representing 48% higher than current share price.
SK Square's market cap is only 39% of SK Square's stake in SK Hynix. SK Square's share price has declined by 27% since reaching its recent peak on 11 July. 
SK Square had excellent results in 2Q 2024, driven by improving results of its affiliates including SK Hynix. 


SK Square: Updated NAV Valuation Post Recent Share Price Decline

<ul>
<li>Regardless of the divorce proceedings, SK still urgently needs SK Inc's stock price to rise for other reasons. That reason is to position SK Hynix directly under SK Inc.</li>
<li>SK Inc boosts stake in SK Square with SK Telecom shares, followed by a public tender offer to exchange SK Square shares for new SK Inc shares.</li>
<li>SK Inc's involvement in the divorce lawsuit makes it a focus for traders seeking relative outperformance among the SK companies involved in this situation.</li>
</ul>


Regardless of the divorce proceedings, SK still urgently needs SK Inc's stock price to rise for other reasons. That reason is to position SK Hynix directly under SK Inc.
SK Inc boosts stake in SK Square with SK Telecom shares, followed by a public tender offer to exchange SK Square shares for new SK Inc shares.
SK Inc's involvement in the divorce lawsuit makes it a focus for traders seeking relative outperformance among the SK companies involved in this situation.


Potential Merger Dynamics Involving SK Inc, SK Square, & SK Hynix

<ul>
<li>SK Inc is selling SK Siltron to cut its 68% debt-to-equity ratio. The sale could reduce borrowings below ₩5T and lower debt ratio to 30-40%.</li>
<li>Chey Tae-won's divorce lawsuit risks his majority stake in SK Inc. Selling Siltron helps raise ₩1T for alimony without touching his SK Inc shares, potentially reducing the holding company discount.</li>
<li>SK Inc-SK Square merger is unlikely soon, despite asset sales and preparation on both sides, as SK Square recently reaffirmed no current merger plans. Setting a position now seems premature.</li>
</ul>


SK Inc is selling SK Siltron to cut its 68% debt-to-equity ratio. The sale could reduce borrowings below ₩5T and lower debt ratio to 30-40%.
Chey Tae-won's divorce lawsuit risks his majority stake in SK Inc. Selling Siltron helps raise ₩1T for alimony without touching his SK Inc shares, potentially reducing the holding company discount.
SK Inc-SK Square merger is unlikely soon, despite asset sales and preparation on both sides, as SK Square recently reaffirmed no current merger plans. Setting a position now seems premature.


Key Implications of SK Inc's Disposal of SK Siltron

South Korea

SK Square Co., Ltd. operates as an investment company. The Company invests in semiconductors, information and communications technologies, and other industries. SK Square conducts businesses in South Korea.

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SK Square (402340 KS)

SK Square: A Solid Corporate Value Up Plan Likely to Lead to Continued Outperformance

SK Square announced a solid corporate value up plan including a cancellation of 200 billion won of treasury shares, higher ROE target, and higher...

Douglas Kim

Understanding Potential Issues Within SK Group from Hynix's Kioxia CB Conversion

This post dives into the potential issues about how Kioxia's IPO could affect Hynix and the whole SK Group that the market needs to clear up.

Sanghyun Park

Potential Merger Dynamics Involving SK Inc, SK Square, & SK Hynix

This post delves into the prospective merger among SK Inc, SK Square, and SK Telecom, examining intriguing trading perspectives.

Sanghyun Park

Key Implications of SK Inc's Disposal of SK Siltron

This post explores the key implications of SK Inc's decision to dispose of its stake in SK Siltron, a move that made waves in the local market late...

Sanghyun Park

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Dividend (Yield)

SK Square: A Solid Corporate Value Up Plan Likely to Lead to Continued Outperformance

SK Square announced a solid corporate value up plan including a cancellation of 200 billion won of treasury shares, higher ROE target, and higher...

Douglas Kim

Understanding Potential Issues Within SK Group from Hynix's Kioxia CB Conversion

This post dives into the potential issues about how Kioxia's IPO could affect Hynix and the whole SK Group that the market needs to clear up.

Sanghyun Park

SK Square: Updated NAV Valuation Post Recent Share Price Decline

Our NAV analysis of SK Square suggests NAV of 15.6 trillion won or 115,605 won per share, representing 48% higher than current share price. The...

Douglas Kim

Potential Merger Dynamics Involving SK Inc, SK Square, & SK Hynix

This post delves into the prospective merger among SK Inc, SK Square, and SK Telecom, examining intriguing trading perspectives.

Sanghyun Park

Key Implications of SK Inc's Disposal of SK Siltron

This post explores the key implications of SK Inc's decision to dispose of its stake in SK Siltron, a move that made waves in the local market late...

Sanghyun Park