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

I grouped Korea's closely correlated sector pairs within the same GICS sub-category. I applied the additional filtering: 1. a market cap of ₩1T or more and 2. stocks eligible to short-selling (KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150). This grouping returns 141 sector pairs worthy of close monitoring for a long/short trade.<div class="content-highlight">You can find all the 141 sector pairs with the 180-day correlation coefficients and the sigma on a 20-day moving average in the attached file.</div><hr>Below are the top 10 most correlated sector pairs above a 180-day correlation coefficient of 0.95 or higher. They are mostly cyclical stocks, which are in line with our conventional thinking that cyclical stocks have a stronger tendency to move together than growth stocks.<table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="200">
<col width="200">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Comp 1"}'>Comp 1</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Comp 2"}'>Comp 2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"180-day correlation coefficient"}'>180-day correlation coefficient</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Business type"}'>Business type</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd."}'>Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd.</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Korea Shipbuilding &amp;Offshore Engn Co Ltd"}'>Korea Shipbuilding &amp;Offshore Engn Co Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.97405}'>0.97405</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Shipbuilding"}'>Shipbuilding</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hyundai Department Store Co Ltd"}'>Hyundai Department Store Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Lotte Shopping Co Ltd"}'>Lotte Shopping Co Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.97033}'>0.97033</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Retail"}'>Retail</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"GS Engineering &amp; Construction Corp"}'>GS Engineering &amp; Construction Corp</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hyundai Engineering &amp; Construction Co."}'>Hyundai Engineering &amp; Construction Co.</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.96379}'>0.96379</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Construction"}'>Construction</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD."}'>HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hyundai Motor Co"}'>Hyundai Motor Co</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.96145}'>0.96145</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Automotive"}'>Automotive</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd."}'>Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"KB Financial Group Inc"}'>KB Financial Group Inc</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.95989}'>0.95989</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Commercial bank"}'>Commercial bank</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"LG Innotek Co., Ltd."}'>LG Innotek Co., Ltd.</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"LG Electronics Inc."}'>LG Electronics Inc.</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.95986}'>0.95986</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"IT"}'>IT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hansol Chemical Co Ltd"}'>Hansol Chemical Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Posco Chemical Co Ltd"}'>Posco Chemical Co Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.95374}'>0.95374</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Chemical"}'>Chemical</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd"}'>Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd"}'>Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.95243}'>0.95243</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Aerospace"}'>Aerospace</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"KG DongbuSteel Co Ltd"}'>KG DongbuSteel Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"POSCO"}'>POSCO</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.95174}'>0.95174</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Steel"}'>Steel</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"KG DongbuSteel Co Ltd"}'>KG DongbuSteel Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hyundai Steel Co"}'>Hyundai Steel Co</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.94972}'>0.94972</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Steel"}'>Steel</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" rowspan="1" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: KRX"}'>Source: KRX</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>Below are the top 10 stocks suffering the harshest diversion on a 20-day moving average among those having a 180-day correlation coefficient of 0.80 or higher. E-Mart and Lotte Shopping top the list with a -3.27σ and a correlation coefficient of 0.85. Silicon Works/LG Electronics and BGF Retail/E-Mart follow as they are also in a heavy diversion at +2.79σ and +2.58σ, respectively. Woori Financial/KB Financial and Pan Ocean/HMM aren't far away either.<table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="200">
<col width="200">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Comp 1"}'>Comp 1</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Comp 2"}'>Comp 2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"180-day correlation coefficient"}'>180-day correlation coefficient</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Sigma on a 20-day moving average"}'>Sigma on a 20-day moving average</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"E-Mart Inc"}'>E-Mart Inc</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Lotte Shopping Co Ltd"}'>Lotte Shopping Co Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.8512795053699035}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0.00000",1]'>0.85128</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-3.2691212591928522}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>-3.27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Silicon Works Co Ltd"}'>Silicon Works Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"LG Electronics Inc."}'>LG Electronics Inc.</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.8241051481549174}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00000","3":1}'>0.82411</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2.794228170493331}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>2.79</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"BGF Retail Co Ltd"}'>BGF Retail Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"E-Mart Inc"}'>E-Mart Inc</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.847331528848073}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00000","3":1}'>0.84733</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2.5786176868102397}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>2.58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Woori Financial Group Inc"}'>Woori Financial Group Inc</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"KB Financial Group Inc"}'>KB Financial Group Inc</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.8451741524292201}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0.00000",1]'>0.84517</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-2.465145723060455}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>-2.47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Pan Ocean Co Ltd"}'>Pan Ocean Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"HMM Co Ltd"}'>HMM Co Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.935905540581882}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0.00000",1]'>0.93591</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-2.33130934144712}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>-2.33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd."}'>Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd.</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Korea Shipbuilding &amp;Offshore Engn Co Ltd"}'>Korea Shipbuilding &amp;Offshore Engn Co Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.9740462682980674}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0.00000",1]'>0.97405</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2.2401490556241117}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>2.24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"SK Innovation Co Ltd"}'>SK Innovation Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Samsung SDI Co Ltd"}'>Samsung SDI Co Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.9458691690353619}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00000","3":1}'>0.94587</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2.1867120471913637}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>2.19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd"}'>Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd"}'>Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.9524282780324967}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0.00000",1]'>0.95243</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2.086128932784612}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>2.09</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd."}'>Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd.</td>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Daewoo Engineering &amp; Construction Co Ltd"}'>Daewoo Engineering &amp; Construction Co Ltd</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.8206840084895756}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0.00000",1]'>0.82068</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1.9737577992711182}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"#,##0.00","3":1}'>1.97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Woori Financial Group Inc</td>
<td>Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0.87902</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">-1.93</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: KRX"}'>Source: KRX</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

I grouped Korea's closely correlated sector pairs within the same GICS sub-category. I applied the additional filtering: 1. a market cap of ₩1T or more and 2. stocks eligible to short-selling (KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150). This grouping returns 141 sector pairs worthy of close monitoring for a long/short trade.You can find all the 141 sector pairs with the 180-day correlation coefficients and the sigma on a 20-day moving average in the attached file.Below are the top 10 most correlated sector pairs above a 180-day correlation coefficient of 0.95 or higher. They are mostly cyclical stocks, which are in line with our conventional thinking that cyclical stocks have a stronger tendency to move together than growth stocks.








Comp 1
Comp 2
180-day correlation coefficient
Business type


Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd.
Korea Shipbuilding &amp;Offshore Engn Co Ltd
0.97405
Shipbuilding


Hyundai Department Store Co Ltd
Lotte Shopping Co Ltd
0.97033
Retail


GS Engineering &amp; Construction Corp
Hyundai Engineering &amp; Construction Co.
0.96379
Construction


HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
Hyundai Motor Co
0.96145
Automotive


Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.
KB Financial Group Inc
0.95989
Commercial bank


LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
LG Electronics Inc.
0.95986
IT


Hansol Chemical Co Ltd
Posco Chemical Co Ltd
0.95374
Chemical


Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd
Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd
0.95243
Aerospace


KG DongbuSteel Co Ltd
POSCO
0.95174
Steel


KG DongbuSteel Co Ltd
Hyundai Steel Co
0.94972
Steel

Source: KRX

Below are the top 10 stocks suffering the harshest diversion on a 20-day moving average among those having a 180-day correlation coefficient of 0.80 or higher. E-Mart and Lotte Shopping top the list with a -3.27σ and a correlation coefficient of 0.85. Silicon Works/LG Electronics and BGF Retail/E-Mart follow as they are also in a heavy diversion at +2.79σ and +2.58σ, respectively. Woori Financial/KB Financial and Pan Ocean/HMM aren't far away either.








Comp 1
Comp 2
180-day correlation coefficient
Sigma on a 20-day moving average


E-Mart Inc
Lotte Shopping Co Ltd
0.85128
-3.27


Silicon Works Co Ltd
LG Electronics Inc.
0.82411
2.79


BGF Retail Co Ltd
E-Mart Inc
0.84733
2.58


Woori Financial Group Inc
KB Financial Group Inc
0.84517
-2.47


Pan Ocean Co Ltd
HMM Co Ltd
0.93591
-2.33


Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd.
Korea Shipbuilding &amp;Offshore Engn Co Ltd
0.97405
2.24


SK Innovation Co Ltd
Samsung SDI Co Ltd
0.94587
2.19


Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd
Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd
0.95243
2.09


Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd.
Daewoo Engineering &amp; Construction Co Ltd
0.82068
1.97


Woori Financial Group Inc
Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.
0.87902
-1.93

Source: KRX



Korea Sector Long/Short Pairs Trade Ideas

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

Our top five picks for Additional Tier 1 (AT1) price accretion comprise bonds issued by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tmb-bank-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8090:1" rel="noopener">TMB Bank PCL (TMB TB)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-santander-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27709:1" rel="noopener">Banco Santander Brasil SA (SANB11 BZ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/citizens-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16004:1" rel="noopener">Citizens Financial (CFG US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grupo-financiero-banorte-o" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24780:1" rel="noopener">Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-do-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24564:1" rel="noopener">Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)</a>.  Three banks issued AT1 notes with coupons lower than yields on their respective shorter callable bonds over the last two weeks. The result was a jump in the price of the shorter callable bonds. Information price discovery drove this impact. For more on this, please see: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/chong-hing-bank-at1-alchemy" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:41645" rel="noopener">Chong Hing Bank: AT1 Alchemy</a>. The alchemy behind these moves requires deconstructing bond spread components to separate the underlying credit risk of the firm from the non-call risk of the security. We then model the possible impact from issuing new AT1 bonds on the price of already outstanding securities.

Our top five picks for Additional Tier 1 (AT1) price accretion comprise bonds issued by TMB Bank PCL (TMB TB), Banco Santander Brasil SA (SANB11 BZ), Citizens Financial (CFG US), Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF) and Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ).  Three banks issued AT1 notes with coupons lower than yields on their respective shorter callable bonds over the last two weeks. The result was a jump in the price of the shorter callable bonds. Information price discovery drove this impact. For more on this, please see: Chong Hing Bank: AT1 Alchemy. The alchemy behind these moves requires deconstructing bond spread components to separate the underlying credit risk of the firm from the non-call risk of the security. We then model the possible impact from issuing new AT1 bonds on the price of already outstanding securities. 

Bank Credit Strategy: Pre-Positioning for AT1 Price Accretion

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

During 2020 there will be dramatically higher bad loans for global banks. This is despite less strict NPL recognition, interest payment holidays, and general forbearance. It is not operational that banks do not report major deterioration in credit metrics. The greatest risk in NPL delta is for banks with essentially no bad loans at present, holding all else equal. The delta can be exponential, and can be mirrored by credit costs as well as other impairment costs. This may be the only time where India’s banks stand out relatively well compared with Asian and global peers. Hong Kong is where we are most concerned, but also Korea, Australia and UK.

During 2020 there will be dramatically higher bad loans for global banks. This is despite less strict NPL recognition, interest payment holidays, and general forbearance. It is not operational that banks do not report major deterioration in credit metrics. The greatest risk in NPL delta is for banks with essentially no bad loans at present, holding all else equal. The delta can be exponential, and can be mirrored by credit costs as well as other impairment costs. This may be the only time where India’s banks stand out relatively well compared with Asian and global peers. Hong Kong is where we are most concerned, but also Korea, Australia and UK.  

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Orange Life Insurance, Ltd.  / Event-Driven

<h2>The Delisting of Orange Life Insurance Korea</h2>
Orange Life Insurance is scheduled to be delisted on 14 February 2020. The delisting of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orange-life-insurance-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23999:1" rel="noopener">Orange Life Insurance, Ltd. (079440 KS)</a> is once again a grim reminder of how the minority shareholders in Korea get mistreated versus the controlling shareholders but there is still a lack of legal means to receive fair treatment. On 10 January 2020, there was an <a href="https://n.news.naver.com/article/016/0001622919" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EGM</a> where the shareholders agreed to the Orange Life completing a stock swap with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinhan-financial-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6978:1" rel="noopener">Shinhan Financial (055550 KS)</a> shares for the remaining 40.85% stake of Orange Life. The stock swap ratio was determined at 1 share of Orange Life Insurance to 0.66 shares of Shinhan Financial.
<h2>Who Will Acquire Prudential Life Insurance Korea? </h2>
Prudential Life Insurance Korea is up for sale and so far this is likely to be the biggest M&amp;A deal in Korea so far in 2020. There have been four companies including KB Financial Group, MBK Partners, Hahn &amp; Company, and IMM Private Equity that have been <a href="https://n.news.naver.com/article/009/0004505362" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shortlisted</a> to make preliminary bids. The deal is estimated to be at least<a href="https://www.internationalinvestment.net/news/4009303/prudential-life-korea-sale-draws-interest-firms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2 trillion won </a>(100% stake of Prudential Life Insurance Korea).
<div class="content-highlight">
Applying the recent sale of Orange Life Insurance (1x P/B), Prudential Life Insurance is likely to be valued at a range of 2.0 trillion won to 3.0 trillion won, in our view. If the buyer is able to acquire a 100% stake in Prudential Life at close to 2.0 trillion won, then it could be viewed favorably on the acquirer. However, if the M&amp;A price is close to 3.0 trillion won or more, then this could be perceived as potentially overpaying for this deal. 
</div>

The Delisting of Orange Life Insurance Korea
Orange Life Insurance is scheduled to be delisted on 14 February 2020. The delisting of Orange Life Insurance, Ltd. (079440 KS) is once again a grim reminder of how the minority shareholders in Korea get mistreated versus the controlling shareholders but there is still a lack of legal means to receive fair treatment. On 10 January 2020, there was an EGM where the shareholders agreed to the Orange Life completing a stock swap with Shinhan Financial (055550 KS) shares for the remaining 40.85% stake of Orange Life. The stock swap ratio was determined at 1 share of Orange Life Insurance to 0.66 shares of Shinhan Financial.
Who Will Acquire Prudential Life Insurance Korea? 
Prudential Life Insurance Korea is up for sale and so far this is likely to be the biggest M&amp;A deal in Korea so far in 2020. There have been four companies including KB Financial Group, MBK Partners, Hahn &amp; Company, and IMM Private Equity that have been shortlisted to make preliminary bids. The deal is estimated to be at least 2 trillion won (100% stake of Prudential Life Insurance Korea).

Applying the recent sale of Orange Life Insurance (1x P/B), Prudential Life Insurance is likely to be valued at a range of 2.0 trillion won to 3.0 trillion won, in our view. If the buyer is able to acquire a 100% stake in Prudential Life at close to 2.0 trillion won, then it could be viewed favorably on the acquirer. However, if the M&amp;A price is close to 3.0 trillion won or more, then this could be perceived as potentially overpaying for this deal. 


The Delisting of Orange Life Insurance & Who Will Acquire Prudential Life Insurance Korea?

Global Bank Equity Specialist, Creative Portfolios

Paul Hollingworth

Global Bank Equity Specialist

Creative Portfolios

South Korean banks are called many things. Dull, boring, mediocre...the terms of endearment are endless. Perhaps even solid on a good day. "Value trap" on a bad day.But a core of GEM investors are sticking with South Korean banks. Less than before, it is true, as testified by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/steven-holden" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1337" rel="noopener">Steven Holden's</a> recent analysis and even less so the further you go back. Maybe the sunnier climbs of Indonesia, HDFC, and Russia (despite the recent chill news) are just too compelling in comparison. Steve's work also shows a discrete move into financials in the Philippines and in Colombia too but this is marginal versus the "big picture" of overcrowded trades based on extrapolation in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-perser" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Perser (BBRI IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-mandiri-persero-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:441:1" rel="noopener">Bank Mandiri Persero (BMRI IJ)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-negara-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8285:1" rel="noopener">Bank Negara Indonesia Persero (BBNI IJ)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-central-asia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:440:1" rel="noopener">Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ)</a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hdfc-bank-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:558:1" rel="noopener">HDFC Bank (HDFCB IN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sberbank-of-russia-pjsc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24142:1" rel="noopener">Sberbank Of Russia Pjsc (SBER LI)</a> .Recall that on a trip to the track, the higher the odds means the less chance the market thinks that a wager has, but the bigger reward if it does come off. Howard Marks in his latest memo, Charlie Munger, and Ray Dalio frequently make references to the similarities between gaming and investing.The analogy. South Korean banks would thus be outsiders (long odds) carrying a heavy weight in a steeplechase handicap. They have though good form in the past (hence the weight) over course and trip but may have been held up by a training setback or disappointing form at the stable. They are far from favourites in the market though some shrewd punters just think the odds are too high. South Korean bank shares are undervalued by all valuation metrics - cheapness means long odds. The market has determined a low value for South Korean banks as opposed to other jurisdictions. This suggests both higher risk, low expectations of growth, and a low duration payback in contrast to "short odds" higher priced, longer payback, options.Uncertainties include the spat with Japan which must be part of the discount besides the perennial governance issue, memory chip jitters, fading overseas shipments, and the interrelated Chinese slowdown. The fate of Asia’s fourth-largest economy is closely tied to global electronics demand and China, with exports representing 45 per cent of the country’s GDP and China accounting for a quarter of the country’s outbound shipments. A reduction in the aforementioned clouds could unlock relative out performance for Korean banks.To end on the analogy. Underfoot conditions will test the stamina of the outsider under so much weight but he will last home unlike many of the favourites that may not even get the trip (distance).

South Korean banks are called many things. Dull, boring, mediocre...the terms of endearment are endless. Perhaps even solid on a good day. "Value trap" on a bad day.But a core of GEM investors are sticking with South Korean banks. Less than before, it is true, as testified by Steven Holden's recent analysis and even less so the further you go back. Maybe the sunnier climbs of Indonesia, HDFC, and Russia (despite the recent chill news) are just too compelling in comparison. Steve's work also shows a discrete move into financials in the Philippines and in Colombia too but this is marginal versus the "big picture" of overcrowded trades based on extrapolation in Bank Rakyat Indonesia Perser (BBRI IJ), Bank Mandiri Persero (BMRI IJ) , Bank Negara Indonesia Persero (BBNI IJ) , Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ) HDFC Bank (HDFCB IN) and Sberbank Of Russia Pjsc (SBER LI) .Recall that on a trip to the track, the higher the odds means the less chance the market thinks that a wager has, but the bigger reward if it does come off. Howard Marks in his latest memo, Charlie Munger, and Ray Dalio frequently make references to the similarities between gaming and investing.The analogy. South Korean banks would thus be outsiders (long odds) carrying a heavy weight in a steeplechase handicap. They have though good form in the past (hence the weight) over course and trip but may have been held up by a training setback or disappointing form at the stable. They are far from favourites in the market though some shrewd punters just think the odds are too high. South Korean bank shares are undervalued by all valuation metrics - cheapness means long odds. The market has determined a low value for South Korean banks as opposed to other jurisdictions. This suggests both higher risk, low expectations of growth, and a low duration payback in contrast to "short odds" higher priced, longer payback, options.Uncertainties include the spat with Japan which must be part of the discount besides the perennial governance issue, memory chip jitters, fading overseas shipments, and the interrelated Chinese slowdown. The fate of Asia’s fourth-largest economy is closely tied to global electronics demand and China, with exports representing 45 per cent of the country’s GDP and China accounting for a quarter of the country’s outbound shipments. A reduction in the aforementioned clouds could unlock relative out performance for Korean banks.To end on the analogy. Underfoot conditions will test the stamina of the outsider under so much weight but he will last home unlike many of the favourites that may not even get the trip (distance).

South Korean Banks: You Back the Big Prices, Not the Favourites

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)

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South Korean Banks: You Back the Big Prices, Not the Favourites

South Korean banks are called many things. Dull, boring, mediocre...the terms of endearment are endless. Perhaps even solid on a good day. "Value...

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