Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

I investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Noteworthy Flow Trend: Korea NPS Overweighting Local Equity

Assessing the Korea NPS-Originated Flow Trends and Allocation Breakdown

TIGER Top 10 Rebalancing: A Big Change Awaits

NPS Plans to Expand Domestic Equity Benchmark from KOSPI200 to KOSPI250

Why I Estimate Total Local Passive Money Tracking KOSPI 200 at ₩80T? Here Is a Breakdown

Korea NPS: Asset Allocation Targets & Negative Screening on Coal

Battle Lines Drawn As BABA Builds Out First/Last-Mile Capacity; But Who Will Fund 75+ Bn CNY CapEx?

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

Hyundai Construction Equipment / Event-Driven

Hyundai Construction Equipment (267270 KS)

<h2>New benchmarks for domestic equity</h2><p>The National Pension Service has disclosed the following reform plan about the direct and consignment management benchmarks for domestic stocks.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/220/338/original/1.png?1627188167" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="220338"></figure></section><ul>
<li><strong>As for the direct management, the National Pension Plan plans to internally develop and use a new index called NPS-KR250 by adding additional 50 KOSPI stocks to the KOSPI 200 constituents.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Regarding the consignment management, the KOSPI + KOSDAQ 100 stocks are currently used as benchmarks. This benchmark is reorganized into KOSPI + KOSDAQ 150, with 50 KOSDAQ stocks added.</strong></li>
</ul><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 248.688px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Benchmark"}'>Benchmark</td>
<td style="width: 170.792px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Previous"}'>Previous</td>
<td style="width: 326.521px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"New"}'>New</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 248.688px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Internal (direct) management"}' data-sheets-formula="='KOSPI 200 Mirroring'!R[0]C[0]"><strong>Direct management</strong></td>
<td style="width: 170.792px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"KOSPI 200"}'>KOSPI 200</td>
<td style="width: 326.521px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"KOSPI 200 + KOSPI 50"}'><div><div><strong>NPS-KR250 = KOSPI 200 + additional 50 KOSPI stocks</strong></div></div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 248.688px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Global Equity"}'><strong>Consignment management</strong></td>
<td style="width: 170.792px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"KOSPI + KOSDAQ 100"}'>KOSPI + KOSDAQ 100</td>
<td style="width: 326.521px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"KOSPI + KOSDAQ 150"}'><div><div><strong>KOSPI + KOSDAQ 100 + additional 50 KOSDAQ stocks</strong></div></div></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width: 746px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: NPS"}'>Source: NPS</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table><h2>NPS size in the local stock market</h2><p>As of the end of April 2021, the National Pension Service has ₩883.6T in assets under management, of which ₩178T is invested in domestic stocks. Considering that the market capitalization of the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets is currently around ₩2,800T, the national pension account for 6% of the Korean stock market.</p><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="150">
<col width="80">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="width: 364px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Asset allocation status"}'>Asset allocation status as of the end-April, 2021</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 364px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Domestic Equity"}'><strong>Domestic Equity</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 382px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":178014.6}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0B","3":1}'><strong>₩178.1T</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 364px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Global Equity"}'>Global Equity</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 382px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":222407.5}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0B","3":1}'>₩222.4T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 364px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Domestic fixed income"}'>Domestic fixed income</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 382px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":340524.2}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0B","3":1}'>₩340.5T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 364px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Global fixed income"}'>Global fixed income</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 382px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":48826.4}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0B","3":1}'>₩48.8T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 364px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Alternatives"}'>Alternatives</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 382px;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":92768.2}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0B","3":1}'>₩92.8T</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="width: 364px;">Source: NPS</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table><p>The proportion of local equity is 20.17%, down slightly from the end of last year, but still far exceeding the target of 16.80% this year.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/220/339/original/image_74411821721627188510268.png?1627188511" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="220339"></figure><h2>Direct vs. consignment for local equity</h2><p>As of the end of April this year, 52.03% of the funds invested in domestic stocks are direct management, then divided into active (19.43%) and passive (32.60%). The proportion of consignment management is 47.97%, and all of it is operated as active.</p><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="200">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Direct vs. consignment for local equity"}'>Direct vs. consignment for local equity</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"2019 yearend"}'>2019 yearend</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Weight"}'>Weight</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"2020 yearend"}'>2020 yearend</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Weight"}'>Weight</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"April-end, 2021"}'><strong>April-end, 2021</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Weight"}'><strong>Weight</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Direct management"}'>Direct management</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":71.61210000000001}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩71.6T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">55.15%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":93.37660000000001}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩93.4T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">52.95%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":92.6208}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'><strong>₩92.6T</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><strong>52.03%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":" - Active"}'>- Active</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":26.9769}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩27.0T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.20397795151753445}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C2">20.40%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":35.0249}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩35.0T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.19824502419133916}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C4">19.82%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":34.58823678}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'><strong>₩34.6T</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.1943}'><strong>19.43%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":" - Passive"}'>- Passive</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":44.6352}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩44.6T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.3374960303658113}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C2">33.75%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":58.351699999999994}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩58.4T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.3302774362840654}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C4">33.03%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":58.032759600000006}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'><strong>₩58.0T</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.326}'><strong>32.60%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Consignment management"}'>Consignment management</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":60.6419}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩60.6T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">45.85%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":83.2982}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩83.3T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">47.15%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":85.3938}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'><strong>₩85.4T</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><strong>47.97%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":" - Active"}'>- Active</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":60.6419}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩60.6T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.45852601811665433}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C2">45.85%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":83.2982}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩83.3T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.4714775395245955}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C4">47.15%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":85.3938}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'><strong>₩85.4T</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.4797011031679424}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C6"><strong>47.97%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":" - Passive"}'>- Passive</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩0.0T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C2">0.00%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩0.0T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C4">0.00%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'><strong>₩0.0T</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]/R8C6"><strong>0.00%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Total domestic Equity"}'>Total domestic equity</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":132.254}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩132.3T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1}' data-sheets-formula="=sum(R[-5]C[0]:R[-1]C[0])">100.00%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":176.67479999999998}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'>₩176.7T</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1}' data-sheets-formula="=sum(R[-5]C[0]:R[-1]C[0])">100.00%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":178.0146}' data-sheets-numberformat='{"1":2,"2":"₩#,##0.0T","3":1}'><strong>₩178.0T</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1.0000011031679423}' data-sheets-formula="=sum(R[-5]C[0]:R[-1]C[0])"><strong>100.00%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="7" rowspan="1" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: NPS"}'>Source: NPS</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table><p>The passively operated funds (32.60% of the total funds allocated to the domestic equity) are about ₩58T, and the benchmark is KOSPI 200. But not all amounts mechanically track the KOSPI 200. NPS employs various enhanced passive strategies, such as dividends, active quant, and factor model-based, in addition to conventional passive operations. To this end, NPS has developed and used various indices on its own since two years ago.</p>

New benchmarks for domestic equityThe National Pension Service has disclosed the following reform plan about the direct and consignment management benchmarks for domestic stocks.
As for the direct management, the National Pension Plan plans to internally develop and use a new index called NPS-KR250 by adding additional 50 KOSPI stocks to the KOSPI 200 constituents.
Regarding the consignment management, the KOSPI + KOSDAQ 100 stocks are currently used as benchmarks. This benchmark is reorganized into KOSPI + KOSDAQ 150, with 50 KOSDAQ stocks added.








Benchmark
Previous
New


Direct management
KOSPI 200
NPS-KR250 = KOSPI 200 + additional 50 KOSPI stocks


Consignment management
KOSPI + KOSDAQ 100
KOSPI + KOSDAQ 100 + additional 50 KOSDAQ stocks

Source: NPS

NPS size in the local stock marketAs of the end of April 2021, the National Pension Service has ₩883.6T in assets under management, of which ₩178T is invested in domestic stocks. Considering that the market capitalization of the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets is currently around ₩2,800T, the national pension account for 6% of the Korean stock market.





Asset allocation status as of the end-April, 2021

Domestic Equity
₩178.1T


Global Equity
₩222.4T


Domestic fixed income
₩340.5T


Global fixed income
₩48.8T


Alternatives
₩92.8T

Source: NPS

The proportion of local equity is 20.17%, down slightly from the end of last year, but still far exceeding the target of 16.80% this year.Direct vs. consignment for local equityAs of the end of April this year, 52.03% of the funds invested in domestic stocks are direct management, then divided into active (19.43%) and passive (32.60%). The proportion of consignment management is 47.97%, and all of it is operated as active.











Direct vs. consignment for local equity
2019 yearend
Weight
2020 yearend
Weight
April-end, 2021
Weight


Direct management
₩71.6T
55.15%
₩93.4T
52.95%
₩92.6T
52.03%


- Active
₩27.0T
20.40%
₩35.0T
19.82%
₩34.6T
19.43%


- Passive
₩44.6T
33.75%
₩58.4T
33.03%
₩58.0T
32.60%


Consignment management
₩60.6T
45.85%
₩83.3T
47.15%
₩85.4T
47.97%


- Active
₩60.6T
45.85%
₩83.3T
47.15%
₩85.4T
47.97%


- Passive
₩0.0T
0.00%
₩0.0T
0.00%
₩0.0T
0.00%


Total domestic equity
₩132.3T
100.00%
₩176.7T
100.00%
₩178.0T
100.00%

Source: NPS

The passively operated funds (32.60% of the total funds allocated to the domestic equity) are about ₩58T, and the benchmark is KOSPI 200. But not all amounts mechanically track the KOSPI 200. NPS employs various enhanced passive strategies, such as dividends, active quant, and factor model-based, in addition to conventional passive operations. To this end, NPS has developed and used various indices on its own since two years ago.

NPS New Benchmarks for Local Stocks: NPS-KR250 (Direct) & KOSPI+KOSDAQ 150 (Consignment)