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

Emart: A Turnaround Story With Improvement in Profit Margins

An Update to Our Pair Trade Between Emart & Coupang

Emart: Double Catalysts Of "Open on Sundays" + Focus on Low P/B Stocks

Ebay Korea To Be Sold to Emart Consortium & Why Did Bom Kim Resign as the Director of Coupang Corp?

Who Will Acquire Ebay Korea -  Shinsegae/Naver Consortium or Lotte Group?

Tea/Coffee Chains: As Asians Acquire a Taste for Coffee, Novelty Seems Like the Way Forward for Tea

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

Event-Driven

<p>On 27 July, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/e-mart-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6993:1" rel="noopener">E Mart Inc (139480 KS)</a> announced that it will take over the control of Starbucks Korea. Prior to this announcement, Emart and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/starbucks-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7641:1" rel="noopener">Starbucks Corp (SBUX US)</a> owned 50% of Starbucks Korea, respectively. In this transaction, Emart will purchase an additional 17.5% stake in Starbucks Korea for 474.3 billion won (US$421 million) and GIC (Singapore) will purchase the remaining 32.5% stake in Starbucks Korea.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p>The implied valuation of 2.7 trillion won for Starbucks Korea in the acquisition of the additional 17.5% stake from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/starbucks-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7641:1" rel="noopener">Starbucks Corp (SBUX US)</a> by Emart suggests a P/E of 23.5x, using the average annual net profit of Starbucks Korea in the past three years. Hence, this M&amp;A deal for Starbucks Korea was completed at nearly 50% discount to the valuation of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/starbucks-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7641:1" rel="noopener">Starbucks Corp (SBUX US)</a>.</p>
<p><strong>IPO of Starbucks Korea &amp; SSG.com/Ebay Korea in the Next 3 Years - </strong>In the next three years, Emart is likely to IPO its key affiliates including Starbucks Korea (67.5% ownership) and SSG.com/Ebay Korea. Emart has agreed to acquire an 80% in Ebay Korea. We believe that these IPOs are likely to have a positive impact on the Emart shares as more investors try to value them on their potential market values, rather than book values. </p>
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On 27 July, E Mart Inc (139480 KS) announced that it will take over the control of Starbucks Korea. Prior to this announcement, Emart and Starbucks Corp (SBUX US) owned 50% of Starbucks Korea, respectively. In this transaction, Emart will purchase an additional 17.5% stake in Starbucks Korea for 474.3 billion won (US$421 million) and GIC (Singapore) will purchase the remaining 32.5% stake in Starbucks Korea.
The implied valuation of 2.7 trillion won for Starbucks Korea in the acquisition of the additional 17.5% stake from Starbucks Corp (SBUX US) by Emart suggests a P/E of 23.5x, using the average annual net profit of Starbucks Korea in the past three years. Hence, this M&amp;A deal for Starbucks Korea was completed at nearly 50% discount to the valuation of Starbucks Corp (SBUX US).
IPO of Starbucks Korea &amp; SSG.com/Ebay Korea in the Next 3 Years - In the next three years, Emart is likely to IPO its key affiliates including Starbucks Korea (67.5% ownership) and SSG.com/Ebay Korea. Emart has agreed to acquire an 80% in Ebay Korea. We believe that these IPOs are likely to have a positive impact on the Emart shares as more investors try to value them on their potential market values, rather than book values. 


Starbucks Korea - Emart Takes Ownership Control & Prepares for an IPO