Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Hanwha Energy, which is 100% owned by the Hanwha Group owner family members, has started the process of going public. Hanwha Energy could complete its IPO in 2025/2026. </li>
<li>One of the scenarios involving Hanwa Energy is that once it completes its IPO, it could merge with Hanwha Corporation (000880 KS). </li>
<li>Hanwha Energy generated revenue of 4.7 trillion won (up 20% YoY) and operating profit of 215 billion won (up 306.5% YoY). </li>
</ul>


Hanwha Energy, which is 100% owned by the Hanwha Group owner family members, has started the process of going public. Hanwha Energy could complete its IPO in 2025/2026. 
One of the scenarios involving Hanwa Energy is that once it completes its IPO, it could merge with Hanwha Corporation (000880 KS). 
Hanwha Energy generated revenue of 4.7 trillion won (up 20% YoY) and operating profit of 215 billion won (up 306.5% YoY). 


Initial Thoughts on the Hanwha Energy IPO

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we provide the top 10 stocks picks in the Korean stock market for the two weeks starting 17 February.</li>
<li>The top 10 stock picks (bi-weekly) include Hyundai G.F. Holding, Binggrae, Cheil Worldwide, Hana Tour, Samsung Electronics (pref), Samsung E&amp;A, Hyundai Elevator, KT Corp, Orion Corp, and Samsung Life Insurance. </li>
<li>We started to incorporate top negative catalysts along with positive catalysts in our top stock picks bi-weekly. Top negative catalyst is tariffs. We tried to exclude companies exposed to tariffs.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we provide the top 10 stocks picks in the Korean stock market for the two weeks starting 17 February.
The top 10 stock picks (bi-weekly) include Hyundai G.F. Holding, Binggrae, Cheil Worldwide, Hana Tour, Samsung Electronics (pref), Samsung E&amp;A, Hyundai Elevator, KT Corp, Orion Corp, and Samsung Life Insurance. 
We started to incorporate top negative catalysts along with positive catalysts in our top stock picks bi-weekly. Top negative catalyst is tariffs. We tried to exclude companies exposed to tariffs.


Top 10 Korean Stock Picks Bi-Weekly (17 February 2025)

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 1Q 2025.</li>
<li>The recent martial law cancellation and numerous impeachments of acting Presidents have raised political uncertainty in Korea resulting in widening of some gaps among numerous holdcos and opcos in Korea.</li>
<li>Of the 38 pair trades, 25 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos in the past six months and the other 13 opcos outperforming holdcos in the same period.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 1Q 2025.
The recent martial law cancellation and numerous impeachments of acting Presidents have raised political uncertainty in Korea resulting in widening of some gaps among numerous holdcos and opcos in Korea.
Of the 38 pair trades, 25 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos in the past six months and the other 13 opcos outperforming holdcos in the same period.


Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 1Q 2025

Korea / Special Situations, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Situations

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

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

Event-Driven

<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

<ul>
<li>S&amp;P500 is up 27.7% YTD, outperforming KOSPI which is down 6.9% YTD. Global fund flow continues to pour into top quality US stocks such as Palantir, Tesla, and NVIDIA.</li>
<li>The top 20 best performing stocks in KOSPI 200 are up on average 106.8% YTD. However, the remaining 180 stocks in KOSPI 200 are down on average 9.2% YTD. </li>
<li>There is no large Palantir-like company that deals with AI/data analytics in Korea. However, large cap IT services and telcos in Korea are increasingly expanding their AI/data analytics related business.</li>
</ul>


S&amp;P500 is up 27.7% YTD, outperforming KOSPI which is down 6.9% YTD. Global fund flow continues to pour into top quality US stocks such as Palantir, Tesla, and NVIDIA.
The top 20 best performing stocks in KOSPI 200 are up on average 106.8% YTD. However, the remaining 180 stocks in KOSPI 200 are down on average 9.2% YTD. 
There is no large Palantir-like company that deals with AI/data analytics in Korea. However, large cap IT services and telcos in Korea are increasingly expanding their AI/data analytics related business.


A Comparison of KOSPI 200 and S&P 500 Companies Performances in 2024

South Korea

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.

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

Hanwha Corporation (000880 KS)

Initial Thoughts on the Hanwha Energy IPO

Hanwha Energy, which is 100% owned by the Hanwha Group owner family members, has started the process of going public. Hanwha Energy could complete...

Douglas Kim

Top 10 Korean Stock Picks Bi-Weekly (17 February 2025)

The top 10 stock picks (bi-weekly) include Hyundai G.F. Holding, Binggrae, Cheil Worldwide, Hana Tour, Samsung Electronics (pref), Samsung E&A,...

Douglas Kim

Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 1Q 2025

In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in...

Douglas Kim

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

A Comparison of KOSPI 200 and S&P 500 Companies Performances in 2024

There is no large Palantir-like company that deals with AI/data analytics in Korea. However, large cap IT services and telcos in Korea are...

Douglas Kim

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)