Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Nearly 30 years of experience in the Korean/Asian equity research. Major sectors coverage include the following:
- Technology 
- Consumer 
- Special Situations/Deep Value Plays
- Tender Offers/M&As
- Holdcos/Stubs
- Asian Unicorns/Private Companies

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Mirae Asset Securities + Hyundai Securities = Genghis Khan of Korea Securities Sector

2017 Korea M&A Market Outlook - What's For Sale?

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

South korea It / Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>We highlight 27 Korean companies that are seeking to find new owners through M&amp;A in 2016. Key sectors of M&amp;A in Korea in 2016 include financials, shipbuilding, and logistics.&nbsp;Our analysis is based on publicly available information.&nbsp;</li><li>To recap the M&amp;A market in Korea last year, 427 M&amp;A deals were struck in 2015 worth nearly US$65 billion. 2016 is likely to fare even better.&nbsp;</li><li>Korea Inc. is becoming less of an octopus and more of a shark. Korea is still dominated by the chaebols but several chaebols such as the Samsung Group are clearly trying to become more of a shark (greater focus on key industries such as tech) and less of an octopus, being diversified in so many different industries.</li><li>Korean companies' top&nbsp;300 largest companies by market capitalization had cash of about 128 trillion won at end of 2015, up&nbsp;33% YoY.&nbsp;</li><li>Among the various M&amp;A sectors in Korea in 2016, we find logistics and securities sectors to be quite interesting. In the logistics sector, Coupang (private company) is really revolutionizing the entire competitive structure of the industry. The companies that have been competing in this&nbsp;old, dull industry of packing products in boxes and delivering them must compete effectively against Coupang and catch up to them in terms of customer service, speed, and execution or else exit the industry.</li><li>In the securities sector, the recent acquisition of KDB Securities by Mirae Asset Securities, should lead to greater consolidation of this industry. In addition, despite the weak brokerage market, the IPO and M&amp;A markets in Korea should flourish this year, barring severe economic distress. The Korean government is also trying to accelerate the M&amp;A market in Korea this year.&nbsp;The Korean National Assembly passed the revisions to the Commercial Code in November 2015 (effective March 2016) which should help to facilitate companies&rsquo; restructuring and investment through M&amp;A.</li></ul>

We highlight 27 Korean companies that are seeking to find new owners through M&amp;A in 2016. Key sectors of M&amp;A in Korea in 2016 include financials, shipbuilding, and logistics.&nbsp;Our analysis is based on publicly available information.&nbsp;To recap the M&amp;A market in Korea last year, 427 M&amp;A deals were struck in 2015 worth nearly US$65 billion. 2016 is likely to fare even better.&nbsp;Korea Inc. is becoming less of an octopus and more of a shark. Korea is still dominated by the chaebols but several chaebols such as the Samsung Group are clearly trying to become more of a shark (greater focus on key industries such as tech) and less of an octopus, being diversified in so many different industries.Korean companies' top&nbsp;300 largest companies by market capitalization had cash of about 128 trillion won at end of 2015, up&nbsp;33% YoY.&nbsp;Among the various M&amp;A sectors in Korea in 2016, we find logistics and securities sectors to be quite interesting. In the logistics sector, Coupang (private company) is really revolutionizing the entire competitive structure of the industry. The companies that have been competing in this&nbsp;old, dull industry of packing products in boxes and delivering them must compete effectively against Coupang and catch up to them in terms of customer service, speed, and execution or else exit the industry.In the securities sector, the recent acquisition of KDB Securities by Mirae Asset Securities, should lead to greater consolidation of this industry. In addition, despite the weak brokerage market, the IPO and M&amp;A markets in Korea should flourish this year, barring severe economic distress. The Korean government is also trying to accelerate the M&amp;A market in Korea this year.&nbsp;The Korean National Assembly passed the revisions to the Commercial Code in November 2015 (effective March 2016) which should help to facilitate companies&rsquo; restructuring and investment through M&amp;A.

Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS)

Hyundai Home Shopping Network (057050 KS)

Hyundai Engineering & Construction (000720 KS)

Posco International Corporation (047050 KS)

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (009540 KS)

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering

Kepco Plant Service & Engineering (051600 KS)

Kepco Engineering & Construction (052690 KS)