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

Hyundai Motor Company manufactures, sells, and exports passenger cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles. The Company also sells various auto parts and operates auto repair service centers throughout South Korea. Hyundai Motor provides financial services through its subsidiaries.

<ul>
<li>Korea FSC announced on the 24th that the updated Capital Markets Act rules, approved by the Cabinet, will take effect on the 31st.</li>
<li>Banning new shares to treasury stocks during spin-offs could shift board focus in Korea, reducing big shareholder influence and prioritizing the broader shareholder base.</li>
<li>The capital markets law change could shift shareholder returns from buybacks to dividends, marking a key inflection point for traders, especially in Korea’s preferred stock market.</li>
</ul>


Korea FSC announced on the 24th that the updated Capital Markets Act rules, approved by the Cabinet, will take effect on the 31st.
Banning new shares to treasury stocks during spin-offs could shift board focus in Korea, reducing big shareholder influence and prioritizing the broader shareholder base.
The capital markets law change could shift shareholder returns from buybacks to dividends, marking a key inflection point for traders, especially in Korea’s preferred stock market.


Korea FSC Official: New Rule to Block "Treasury Stock Magic" Takes Effect on 31st

SAMSUNG KODEX KOREA Value-Up ETF / Event-Driven

SAMSUNG KODEX KOREA Value-up ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in South Korea. The objective of the fund is to achieve return that closely replicates the performance of KOREA Value-up Index. The fund invest more than 60 % in equity.

SAMSUNG KODEX KOREA Value-Up ETF (495850 KS)

<ul>
<li>They ditched the rulebook, used a market cap filter to pick the top 5, and watered down PBR and ROE, making them irrelevant. Market cap was the real deciding factor.</li>
<li>KRX hasn't confirmed it, but local sources say the special rebalancing was based on the top 50 KOSPI market caps as of the December 13th close.</li>
<li>The shift was driven by local pension funds, especially NPS, which pushed for more big-cap exposure to trigger Value-Up investments, signaling a potential ramp-up in their involvement.</li>
</ul>


They ditched the rulebook, used a market cap filter to pick the top 5, and watered down PBR and ROE, making them irrelevant. Market cap was the real deciding factor.
KRX hasn't confirmed it, but local sources say the special rebalancing was based on the top 50 KOSPI market caps as of the December 13th close.
The shift was driven by local pension funds, especially NPS, which pushed for more big-cap exposure to trigger Value-Up investments, signaling a potential ramp-up in their involvement.


Behind the Scenes of KRX Value-Up Index Special Rebalancing: What It Means for Flow Dynamics

Hanwha Corporation imports and exports petrochemicals, machinery, automotives, electronics, and steel.  The Company also produces explosives for the defense and construction industries.  In addition, Hanwha manufactures automotive airbag inflators and telecommunication equipment, such as wireless phones and provides financial services through its subsidiaries.

<ul>
<li>During the public hearing, Lee Jae-myung asked Simpac's CFO about their 0.3x PBR, then remarked, "That’s prime territory for a hostile M&amp;A."</li>
<li>With PBRs under 0.3x, these companies may roll out shareholder returns to manage political pressure—definitely worth tracking from a value-up trading perspective.</li>
<li>Hanwha is interesting due to its room for shareholder returns and potential merger with Hanwha Energy. With the new Commercial Act, a public tender offer is likely. Worth watching closely.</li>
</ul>


During the public hearing, Lee Jae-myung asked Simpac's CFO about their 0.3x PBR, then remarked, "That’s prime territory for a hostile M&amp;A."
With PBRs under 0.3x, these companies may roll out shareholder returns to manage political pressure—definitely worth tracking from a value-up trading perspective.
Hanwha is interesting due to its room for shareholder returns and potential merger with Hanwha Energy. With the new Commercial Act, a public tender offer is likely. Worth watching closely.


Korea’s Dem Leader: PBR Under 0.3x Should Be Hostile M&A Targets – Names That Could Feel the Heat

Samyang Foods Co., Ltd. manufactures instant and processed food products, such as noodles, snacks, cooking oil, and feed.  The Company also produces dairy goods including milk, cheese, and ice cream.

<ul>
<li>Local hedge funds, mainly prop traders and PEs, drove the price action in LS Electric and Hyundai Rotem, and are now leading net buying in Samyang Foods and Hyundai Mipo.</li>
<li>Given the setup, it's likely Samyang Foods and HD Hyundai Mipo will follow a similar move until mid-January when screening starts, so we should stay aware of this backdrop.</li>
<li>This gives us a chance to capture upside. Plus, since Samyang Foods and Hyundai Mipo may pull back 30-40% post-screening, there’s also a solid opportunity during that dip.</li>
</ul>


Local hedge funds, mainly prop traders and PEs, drove the price action in LS Electric and Hyundai Rotem, and are now leading net buying in Samyang Foods and Hyundai Mipo.
Given the setup, it's likely Samyang Foods and HD Hyundai Mipo will follow a similar move until mid-January when screening starts, so we should stay aware of this backdrop.
This gives us a chance to capture upside. Plus, since Samyang Foods and Hyundai Mipo may pull back 30-40% post-screening, there’s also a solid opportunity during that dip.


LS Electric, Then Hyundai Rotem, Now Samyang Foods and Hyundai Mipo: Same Proactive Flow?

<ul>
<li>With the Fed shock pushing the won past 1,450 and the KOSPI down, it's time to dig into the stabilization fund—its size, timing, and which stocks will catch the flow.</li>
<li>With ₩10T in play, even spread over 10 stages, it could drive significant price impact. NPS's ₩1.5T injection in December shows how even smaller flows move the market.</li>
<li>The FSC plans to focus on KOSPI 200 and broad market ETFs, with new ETFs like the Value-Up Index likely getting more flow—target stocks in both for bigger impact.</li>
</ul>


With the Fed shock pushing the won past 1,450 and the KOSPI down, it's time to dig into the stabilization fund—its size, timing, and which stocks will catch the flow.
With ₩10T in play, even spread over 10 stages, it could drive significant price impact. NPS's ₩1.5T injection in December shows how even smaller flows move the market.
The FSC plans to focus on KOSPI 200 and broad market ETFs, with new ETFs like the Value-Up Index likely getting more flow—target stocks in both for bigger impact.


Korea FSC's Stabilization Fund: Breaking Down the Buzz and Flow Impact

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

Sanghyun Park
Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing
• Clepsydra Capital

Korea FSC Official: New Rule to Block "Treasury Stock Magic" Takes Effect on 31st

The new enforcement decree in Korea's Capital Markets Act to stop "treasury stock magic" kicks in on the 31st of this month: This post breaks down...

Sanghyun Park

Behind the Scenes of KRX Value-Up Index Special Rebalancing: What It Means for Flow Dynamics

This post provides the inside scoop on the KRX Value-Up Index special rebalancing and its implications for flow dynamics.

Sanghyun Park

Korea’s Dem Leader: PBR Under 0.3x Should Be Hostile M&A Targets – Names That Could Feel the Heat

The Democratic Party leader’s bold move: “A PBR under 0.3x is prime for a hostile M&A target.” Here are the stocks that could feel the heat.

Sanghyun Park

LS Electric, Then Hyundai Rotem, Now Samyang Foods and Hyundai Mipo: Same Proactive Flow?

LS Electric, then Hyundai Rotem, and now Samyang Foods and HD Hyundai Mipo—are they all driving the same proactive flow ahead of the Global Index's...

Sanghyun Park

Korea FSC's Stabilization Fund: Breaking Down the Buzz and Flow Impact

This post breaks down the buzz around the Korean FSC potentially triggering the stabilization fund and digging into the flow impact from a market...

Sanghyun Park