Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>I recently visited Daiso near Seoul Station. Daiso is one of the few off-line stores that has been crushing the competition in Korea in the past several years.</li>
<li>Amid continued weak economy in Korea in the past several years, Daiso has thrived through its detailed execution of focus on low priced products with highest value to consumers.</li>
<li>Able C&amp;C (078520 KS) is a prime example a company capitalizing on the strong demand for cosmetic products at Daiso. </li>
</ul>


I recently visited Daiso near Seoul Station. Daiso is one of the few off-line stores that has been crushing the competition in Korea in the past several years.
Amid continued weak economy in Korea in the past several years, Daiso has thrived through its detailed execution of focus on low priced products with highest value to consumers.
Able C&amp;C (078520 KS) is a prime example a company capitalizing on the strong demand for cosmetic products at Daiso. 


A Visit to Daiso in Seoul - A Retail Giant Crushing the Competition

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>On 28 November, the Korean National Assembly reached an agreement on a tax reform plan to officially lower taxes on dividends income. </li>
<li>The decline in tax on dividends is a definite step in the right direction. Nonetheless, the top bracket dividend tax rate cut was slightly less than what market was expecting. </li>
<li>Given that about 15%-25% dividend tax rates are more common in other developed countries,  Korea's reduction of dividend taxes is likely to be welcomed highly by many global investors.</li>
</ul>


On 28 November, the Korean National Assembly reached an agreement on a tax reform plan to officially lower taxes on dividends income. 
The decline in tax on dividends is a definite step in the right direction. Nonetheless, the top bracket dividend tax rate cut was slightly less than what market was expecting. 
Given that about 15%-25% dividend tax rates are more common in other developed countries,  Korea's reduction of dividend taxes is likely to be welcomed highly by many global investors.


Top Bracket Dividend Tax Rate Lowered to 30% in Korea [Moderately Positive]

<ul>
<li>Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hyun-jung has introduced a revised Income Tax Act that would lower the top tax rate on dividend income from 35% to 25%.</li>
<li>Given that this proposal is coming from the ruling Democratic Party, there is a fairly high probability that this could be passed into law in 3Q 2025.</li>
<li>We provide a list of 28 mid-cap/large cap stocks in Korea with more than 35% dividend payout and 3% or more dividend yield that could benefit from this new proposal.</li>
</ul>


Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hyun-jung has introduced a revised Income Tax Act that would lower the top tax rate on dividend income from 35% to 25%.
Given that this proposal is coming from the ruling Democratic Party, there is a fairly high probability that this could be passed into law in 3Q 2025.
We provide a list of 28 mid-cap/large cap stocks in Korea with more than 35% dividend payout and 3% or more dividend yield that could benefit from this new proposal.


Separate Dividend Tax Plan in Korea: A Push for a 25% Rate for Top Bracket

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>If indeed the company proceeds with 2 trillion yen buyback over five years, this would represent buyback of about 7.3% of its shares per year (37% of market cap). </li>
<li>Seven &amp; I Holdings' plans to massively buyback shares and IPO its North American CVS business are major catalysts that should have positive impact both near and long term. </li>
<li>Certainly, the company's action plan to sell its non-core assets (including supermarket, restaurant, and specialty stores) to Bain Capital for $5.5 billion is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>


If indeed the company proceeds with 2 trillion yen buyback over five years, this would represent buyback of about 7.3% of its shares per year (37% of market cap). 
Seven &amp; I Holdings' plans to massively buyback shares and IPO its North American CVS business are major catalysts that should have positive impact both near and long term. 
Certainly, the company's action plan to sell its non-core assets (including supermarket, restaurant, and specialty stores) to Bain Capital for $5.5 billion is a step in the right direction.


Seven & I Holdings: Mega Share Buyback Plan and IPO of North American CVS Unit to Boost Share Price

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Dec 20th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD3.5bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in SCD (000250 KS) , SKC (011790 KS) , Yuhan (000100 KS).</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Dec 20th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD3.5bn.
We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in SCD (000250 KS) , SKC (011790 KS) , Yuhan (000100 KS).


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Dec 20th):SCD, SKC, Yuhan

South Korea

GS Retail Co., Ltd. operates a chain of retail stores. The Company provides beauty and skincare products, candles, gifts, perfumes, ornaments, bathroom accessories, and other products. GS Retail serves its customers in the Republic of South Korea.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

GS Retail (007070 KS)

A Visit to Daiso in Seoul - A Retail Giant Crushing the Competition

I recently visited Daiso near Seoul Station. Daiso is one of the few off-line stores that has been crushing the competition in Korea in the past...

Douglas Kim

Top Bracket Dividend Tax Rate Lowered to 30% in Korea [Moderately Positive]

On 28 November, the Korean National Assembly reached an agreement on a tax reform plan to officially lower taxes on dividends income.

Douglas Kim

Separate Dividend Tax Plan in Korea: A Push for a 25% Rate for Top Bracket

The final decision to lower top bracket dividend tax from 35% to 25% could be made in the next several days. There have been increasing local news...

Douglas Kim

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Dec 20th):SCD, SKC, Yuhan

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in SCD (000250 KS) , SKC (011790 KS) , Yuhan (000100...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

A Visit to Daiso in Seoul - A Retail Giant Crushing the Competition

I recently visited Daiso near Seoul Station. Daiso is one of the few off-line stores that has been crushing the competition in Korea in the past...

Douglas Kim

Top Bracket Dividend Tax Rate Lowered to 30% in Korea [Moderately Positive]

On 28 November, the Korean National Assembly reached an agreement on a tax reform plan to officially lower taxes on dividends income.

Douglas Kim

Separate Dividend Tax Plan in Korea: A Push for a 25% Rate for Top Bracket

The final decision to lower top bracket dividend tax from 35% to 25% could be made in the next several days. There have been increasing local news...

Douglas Kim

Seven & I Holdings: Mega Share Buyback Plan and IPO of North American CVS Unit to Boost Share Price

Seven & I Holdings' plans to massively buyback shares and IPO its North American CVS business are major catalysts that should have positive impact...

Douglas Kim

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Dec 20th):SCD, SKC, Yuhan

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in SCD (000250 KS) , SKC (011790 KS) , Yuhan (000100...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM