Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>HLB Inc (028300 KS) announced that it has decided to transfer listing from KOSDAQ exchange to KOSPI exchange.</li>
<li>HLB currently has a market cap of 6.5 trillion won and HLB is likely to be included in KOSPI 200 in 2024. </li>
<li>One of the key reasons why the company has a large market cap is due to its Rivoceranib liver cancer drug which is being reviewed by the U.S. FDA. </li>
</ul>


HLB Inc (028300 KS) announced that it has decided to transfer listing from KOSDAQ exchange to KOSPI exchange.
HLB currently has a market cap of 6.5 trillion won and HLB is likely to be included in KOSPI 200 in 2024. 
One of the key reasons why the company has a large market cap is due to its Rivoceranib liver cancer drug which is being reviewed by the U.S. FDA. 


HLB: Approves to Switch Listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI in an Extraordinary General Meeting

<ul>
<li>On 20 September, HLB Inc announced that it has hired Korea Investment &amp; Securities as an advisor for a potential switch from KOSDAQ to KOSPI listing. </li>
<li>In our view, there is a 80-90%+ probability of HLB switching its listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI sometime in the next 6-12 months.</li>
<li>If HLB finally decides to switch its listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI, it is likely that HLB will be included in KOSPI 200 index in 2024. </li>
</ul>


On 20 September, HLB Inc announced that it has hired Korea Investment &amp; Securities as an advisor for a potential switch from KOSDAQ to KOSPI listing. 
In our view, there is a 80-90%+ probability of HLB switching its listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI sometime in the next 6-12 months.
If HLB finally decides to switch its listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI, it is likely that HLB will be included in KOSPI 200 index in 2024. 


HLB: Hires Korea Investment & Securities for a Potential Switch to a KOSPI Listing

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.

<ul>
<li>HLB's process of selecting a lead underwriter for the KOSPI listing has been witnessed in Yeouido.</li>
<li>The price impact becomes most evident on the board approval date as the point at which this impact is most pronounced is substantially accelerated due to the market's learning effect.</li>
<li>There is a strong likelihood that HLB will have its board decision by mid-September, necessitating our preparation for a position setup targeting this timing.</li>
</ul>


HLB's process of selecting a lead underwriter for the KOSPI listing has been witnessed in Yeouido.
The price impact becomes most evident on the board approval date as the point at which this impact is most pronounced is substantially accelerated due to the market's learning effect.
There is a strong likelihood that HLB will have its board decision by mid-September, necessitating our preparation for a position setup targeting this timing.


Positioning for the Timing of HLB, the Latest Target in the KOSDAQ Exodus

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a> opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.</li>
<li>A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.</li>
<li>Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.</li>
</ul>


Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.
A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.
Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Korea banned all short selling in March 2020 and resumed short selling only on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a> index constituents in May 2021.</li>
<li>News reports indicate that there could be another short sell ban as soon as the coming week. Indications are that the ban could last 6 months.</li>
<li>There are many implications of a total short sell ban including futures backwardation, market manipulation, and no emerging to developed market promotion.</li>
</ul>


Korea banned all short selling in March 2020 and resumed short selling only on KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 index constituents in May 2021.
News reports indicate that there could be another short sell ban as soon as the coming week. Indications are that the ban could last 6 months.
There are many implications of a total short sell ban including futures backwardation, market manipulation, and no emerging to developed market promotion.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

South Korea

HLB Inc. operates cord blood banking and clinical demonstration service. The Company also produces industrial valves, and iron manufacturing machines.  The Company's subsidiaries are engaged in a wide range of businesses including manufacturing of electric field instruments, lifeboats and agent services.

HLB Inc (028300 KS)

HLB: Approves to Switch Listing from KOSDAQ to KOSPI in an Extraordinary General Meeting

HLB Inc (028300 KS) announced that it has decided to transfer listing from KOSDAQ exchange to KOSPI exchange. HLB is likely to be included in KOSPI...

Douglas Kim

HLB: Hires Korea Investment & Securities for a Potential Switch to a KOSPI Listing

On 20 September, HLB Inc announced that it has hired Korea Investment & Securities as an advisor for a potential switch from KOSDAQ to KOSPI listing.

Douglas Kim

Positioning for the Timing of HLB, the Latest Target in the KOSDAQ Exodus

This post explores why top KOSDAQ companies are hurrying to shift to KOSPI in the second half of this year and discusses the best timing for...

Sanghyun Park

Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

Not a lot of shorts were covered on Monday. There could be more covering in the near term as the market drifts lower. KOSPI200 underperformed...

Brian Freitas

Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

Media reports indicate that there could be a temporary short sell ban in Korea. This could lead to futures backwardation, market manipulation and a...

Brian Freitas