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>The index focuses on qualitative factors like capital efficiency and shareholder returns, but efforts to impose sector balance may have overextended its market benchmark role.</li>
<li>Some companies not fitting the 'value-up' narrative got included, while market favorites were sidelined by sector rankings, which is puzzling given the index's original goal.</li>
<li>Still, with rebalancing cut down to once a year, we should expect the flow impact on the index names to hit harder than initially thought compared to their sector peers.</li>
</ul>


The index focuses on qualitative factors like capital efficiency and shareholder returns, but efforts to impose sector balance may have overextended its market benchmark role.
Some companies not fitting the 'value-up' narrative got included, while market favorites were sidelined by sector rankings, which is puzzling given the index's original goal.
Still, with rebalancing cut down to once a year, we should expect the flow impact on the index names to hit harder than initially thought compared to their sector peers.


All the Scoop on the Korea Value-Up Index

<ul>
<li>Woori Financial's value-up plan centers on improving the CET1 ratio to boost shareholder returns, with the total return ratio directly tied to the CET1 ratio.</li>
<li>The market believed that if the acquisition cost stayed under ₩1.9 trillion, the CET1 ratio impact would be minimal, potentially leading to mid-term gains from non-banking profits.</li>
<li>Though this may hurt Tongyang Life's short-term stock, it opened the door for local institutional investors, especially NPS, to consider Woori Financial for value-up investments.</li>
</ul>


Woori Financial's value-up plan centers on improving the CET1 ratio to boost shareholder returns, with the total return ratio directly tied to the CET1 ratio.
The market believed that if the acquisition cost stayed under ₩1.9 trillion, the CET1 ratio impact would be minimal, potentially leading to mid-term gains from non-banking profits.
Though this may hurt Tongyang Life's short-term stock, it opened the door for local institutional investors, especially NPS, to consider Woori Financial for value-up investments.


Impact of Woori Financial’s Tongyang Life Acquisition Below ₩1.5T on Value-Up Flows

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

Woori Financial Group  / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In our latest South Korean banks screener; we add Woori Financial to existing buy KB Financial as our preferred Korean banks picks</li>
<li>Delinquency ratios continued to worsen QoQ, with only Woori bucking the 4Q23 NPL trend; Woori has lagged in terms of returns, but we expect CoR control to support 2024 returns</li>
<li>KB has a low PBV ratio relative to its ROE, it delivers rising post-provision returns,  it has a high CET1 ratio and it maintains a healthy LDR</li>
</ul>


In our latest South Korean banks screener; we add Woori Financial to existing buy KB Financial as our preferred Korean banks picks
Delinquency ratios continued to worsen QoQ, with only Woori bucking the 4Q23 NPL trend; Woori has lagged in terms of returns, but we expect CoR control to support 2024 returns
KB has a low PBV ratio relative to its ROE, it delivers rising post-provision returns,  it has a high CET1 ratio and it maintains a healthy LDR


South Korean Banks; Woori Financial (316140 KS) Added to Buy List, Joining KB Financial (105560 KS)

<ul>
<li>NPS is concerned that aggressive value-up measures by bank holding companies and ongoing cancellations might quickly use up their room up to the 10% ownership limit.</li>
<li>With their stake already at mid-8%, they may not buy as much as the index suggests, creating new trading opportunities in the four major bank holding companies.</li>
<li>Woori Financial has more room for buying, so as the year ends, NPS's skewed-buying could give it a better price impact than other bank holding companies.</li>
</ul>


NPS is concerned that aggressive value-up measures by bank holding companies and ongoing cancellations might quickly use up their room up to the 10% ownership limit.
With their stake already at mid-8%, they may not buy as much as the index suggests, creating new trading opportunities in the four major bank holding companies.
Woori Financial has more room for buying, so as the year ends, NPS's skewed-buying could give it a better price impact than other bank holding companies.


Value-Up Flow Trading Opportunities Arising from NPS's 10% Ownership Ceiling on Banks

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

<ul>
<li>On 30 July, it was reported that IMM Private Equity (PE) sold a 2.3% stake (16.78 million shares) of Woori Financial Group (WFG), which was worth 264 billion won. </li>
<li>Block deal sale price was 15,737 won (0.4% higher than current price). Today's block deal sale represents a second block deal sale of Woori Financial by IMM PE in 2024. </li>
<li>Under the mid-to-long term Value Up program, Woori Financial Group aims to achieve a sustainable ROE of 10% and total shareholder returns of 50%.</li>
</ul>


On 30 July, it was reported that IMM Private Equity (PE) sold a 2.3% stake (16.78 million shares) of Woori Financial Group (WFG), which was worth 264 billion won. 
Block deal sale price was 15,737 won (0.4% higher than current price). Today's block deal sale represents a second block deal sale of Woori Financial by IMM PE in 2024. 
Under the mid-to-long term Value Up program, Woori Financial Group aims to achieve a sustainable ROE of 10% and total shareholder returns of 50%.


Block Deal Sale Of 2.3% Stake in Woori Financial and Highlights of Its Corporate Value Up Program

South Korea

Woori Financial Group Inc. provides commercial banking services. The Company offers deposit services, loan services, bill services, settlement services, credit card, international, online banking, and other related services. Woori Financial Group also operates banking and retail banking businesses.

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Woori Financial Group (316140 KS)

All the Scoop on the Korea Value-Up Index

This post breaks down everything we need to know about the Korea Value-up Index that KRX just unveiled today, especially focusing on those...

Sanghyun Park

Impact of Woori Financial’s Tongyang Life Acquisition Below ₩1.5T on Value-Up Flows

This post explores the impact of Woori Financial’s acquisition of Tongyang Life Insurance at a price below ₩1.5 trillion on value-up flows for...

Sanghyun Park

South Korean Banks; Woori Financial (316140 KS) Added to Buy List, Joining KB Financial (105560 KS)

Adding Woori as a buy alongside KB; Woori shows undemanding multiples, a promising NPL trend and potential for improved 2024 returns. KB has a low...

Victor Galliano

Value-Up Flow Trading Opportunities Arising from NPS's 10% Ownership Ceiling on Banks

This post explores the flow trading opportunities likely to emerge from NPS's 10% stake ceiling on local banks, which are key targets in the value...

Sanghyun Park

Block Deal Sale Of 2.3% Stake in Woori Financial and Highlights of Its Corporate Value Up Program

On 30 July, it was reported that IMM Private Equity (PE) sold a 2.3% stake (16.78 million shares) of Woori Financial Group (WFG), which was worth...

Douglas Kim

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

All the Scoop on the Korea Value-Up Index

This post breaks down everything we need to know about the Korea Value-up Index that KRX just unveiled today, especially focusing on those...

Sanghyun Park

Impact of Woori Financial’s Tongyang Life Acquisition Below ₩1.5T on Value-Up Flows

This post explores the impact of Woori Financial’s acquisition of Tongyang Life Insurance at a price below ₩1.5 trillion on value-up flows for...

Sanghyun Park

South Korean Banks; Woori Financial (316140 KS) Added to Buy List, Joining KB Financial (105560 KS)

​Adding Woori as a buy alongside KB; Woori shows undemanding multiples, a promising NPL trend and potential for improved 2024 returns. KB has a low...

Victor Galliano

Value-Up Flow Trading Opportunities Arising from NPS's 10% Ownership Ceiling on Banks

This post explores the flow trading opportunities likely to emerge from NPS's 10% stake ceiling on local banks, which are key targets in the value...

Sanghyun Park

Block Deal Sale Of 2.3% Stake in Woori Financial and Highlights of Its Corporate Value Up Program

On 30 July, it was reported that IMM Private Equity (PE) sold a 2.3% stake (16.78 million shares) of Woori Financial Group (WFG), which was worth...

Douglas Kim

Adding Woori as a buy alongside KB; Woori shows undemanding multiples, a promising NPL trend and potential for improved 2024 returns. KB has a low...