Brief Event-Driven: Korean Stubs Spotlight: A Pair Trade Between Hyosung Corp and Hyosung TNC and more

In this briefing:

1. Korean Stubs Spotlight: A Pair Trade Between Hyosung Corp and Hyosung TNC
2. Nongshim Stub Trade: Sub Moving Up on New Hit Product, Now at Near -2σ
3. Last Week in GER Event-Driven Research: Myob, Rakuten, Delta, Graincorp and Hopewell Holding

1. Korean Stubs Spotlight: A Pair Trade Between Hyosung Corp and Hyosung TNC

In this report, we provide an analysis of our pair trade idea between Hyosung Corporation (004800 KS) (market cap of 1,612 billion won) and Hyosung TNC Co Ltd (298020 KS) (market cap of 712 billion won). Our strategy will be to be long Hyosung TNC and be short Hyosung Corp. 

In the past six months, Hyosung Corp is up 62% while Hyosung TNC is down 12%. We believe this price divergence has been excessive. The four major reasons why Hyosung Corp’s share price has surged in the past six months are mentioned below. There is a case to be made that the market has already factored into Hyosung Corp’s share price many of the positive factors mentioned below. 

• Excellent dividends 
• Corporate activism related stock 
• Strong financial results 
• Timing of the increased insider ownerships/Completion of tender offers

Hyosung TNC has underperformed the market as well as Hyosung Corp in the past six months. However, Hyosung TNC appears to be a turnaround story driven by the following factors: 

• Decline in raw material prices 
• Aggressive spandex investment in India 
• Stabilization of spandex prices in 2H19 
• Consolidation of the global spandex industry

2. Nongshim Stub Trade: Sub Moving Up on New Hit Product, Now at Near -2σ

• Shin Ramyun non-frying noodle dramatically reversed Sub’s fortune. Local street starts believing Sub will hit a ₩100bil OP milestone this year. Local institutions began to scoop up Sub shares since a week ago. Yesterday, local pension/foreign money came in. This led to the largest Sub pushing in many weeks. Holdco/Sub are not at near -2σ.
• Street consensus on Sub’s FY19e OP is already upwardly adjusted to ₩106bil. On this, Sub is already at a 17x earnings. ₩106bil OP is immaturely aggressive. 17x isn’t particularly cheap given Sub’s FY18 year-end PER (18.4x).
• Valuation wise, Sub price should be pressed down at this level until more dramatic and tangible sales data come out. Holdco discount is still hovering at 50% to NAV. I’d make a stub trade here. Holdco liquidity can be an issue.

3. Last Week in GER Event-Driven Research: Myob, Rakuten, Delta, Graincorp and Hopewell Holding

In this version of the GER weekly EVENTS research wrap, we contend that investors should cash out on the MYOB Group Ltd (MYO AU) deal and assess the NAV discount potential for Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) post the IPO launch of Lyft Inc (0812823D US) – of which Rakuten has a 13% stake. Moreover, we dig into the deals for Delta Electronics Thai (DELTA TB) , Graincorp Ltd A (GNC AU) and Hopewell Holdings (54 HK)

More details can be found below. 

Best of luck for the new week – Rickin, Venkat and Arun