Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we discuss the alpha generation through companies that announced share buybacks in the Korean stock market in September and October 2024.</li>
<li>On average, the share buyback announcements by 25 companies represented 1.9% of their outstanding shares.</li>
<li>Major companies that have announced share buybacks in Korea in the past two months include Celltrion, Kangwon Land, and Naver. </li>
</ul>


In this insight, we discuss the alpha generation through companies that announced share buybacks in the Korean stock market in September and October 2024.
On average, the share buyback announcements by 25 companies represented 1.9% of their outstanding shares.
Major companies that have announced share buybacks in Korea in the past two months include Celltrion, Kangwon Land, and Naver. 


Alpha Generation Through Share Buybacks in Korea: Bi-Monthly (September and October 2024)

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>On 4 November, the Chinese government suddenly announced it will waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens entering China. </li>
<li>This is likely to have a major positive impact on major travel/airline stocks including Hana Tour Service, Korean Air Lines,  Very Good Leisure, Yellow Balloon Tour, and Modetour Network.</li>
<li>A no-visa policy by China for South Korean citizens could also imply a reciprocal policy by the South Korean government. </li>
</ul>


On 4 November, the Chinese government suddenly announced it will waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens entering China. 
This is likely to have a major positive impact on major travel/airline stocks including Hana Tour Service, Korean Air Lines,  Very Good Leisure, Yellow Balloon Tour, and Modetour Network.
A no-visa policy by China for South Korean citizens could also imply a reciprocal policy by the South Korean government. 


Chinese Government Announces a No-Visa Policy for South Korean Citizens Entering China

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

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paradise-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14940:1" rel="noopener">Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS)</a> will move from the KOSDAQ Market to the KOSPI Market from the open of trading on 24 June.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/e-d-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29151:1" rel="noopener">E&amp;D Co Ltd (101360 KS)</a> will be added to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150 Index (KOSDQ150 INDEX)</a> at the close on 21 June to replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paradise-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14940:1" rel="noopener">Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS)</a>. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paradise-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14940:1" rel="noopener">Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS)</a> belongs to the Consumer Discretionary sector and there is a possibility of inclusion to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX)</a> in December.</li>
</ul>



Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS) will move from the KOSDAQ Market to the KOSPI Market from the open of trading on 24 June.

E&amp;D Co Ltd (101360 KS) will be added to the KOSDAQ 150 Index (KOSDQ150 INDEX) at the close on 21 June to replace Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS). 

Paradise Co Ltd (034230 KS) belongs to the Consumer Discretionary sector and there is a possibility of inclusion to the Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX) in December.


KOSDAQ150 Adhoc Index Rebalance: Eco&Dream to Replace Paradise Co

Cross Asset Strategy

<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

<ul>
<li>There is an important potential change in dividend income taxes that may finally be passed into law in Korea.</li>
<li>The Democratic Party of Korea (led by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-Young) is pushing legislation to separate the taxation of dividends from comprehensive income for publicly listed companies.</li>
<li>Among the top 100 companies in KOSPI (by market cap), there are 21 companies with more than 35% estimated dividend payout in 2025, including SK Telecom, POSCO Holdings, and KT&amp;G.</li>
</ul>


There is an important potential change in dividend income taxes that may finally be passed into law in Korea.
The Democratic Party of Korea (led by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-Young) is pushing legislation to separate the taxation of dividends from comprehensive income for publicly listed companies.
Among the top 100 companies in KOSPI (by market cap), there are 21 companies with more than 35% estimated dividend payout in 2025, including SK Telecom, POSCO Holdings, and KT&amp;G.


Potential Change in Dividend Income Taxes in Korea - Will the Lawmakers Finally Make the Change?

South Korea

Kangwon Land Inc. is a casino and hotel services provider located in the Kangwon province area of South Korea.  The Company develops abandoned mines and builds gaming and entertainment facilities.  Kangwon Land operates a number of game tables and slot machines for domestic and international customers under its gaming licenses.

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Kangwon Land (035250 KS)

Chinese Government Announces a No-Visa Policy for South Korean Citizens Entering China

The Chinese government suddenly announced it will waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens entering China. This is likely to have a major...

Douglas Kim

KOSDAQ150 Adhoc Index Rebalance: Eco&Dream to Replace Paradise Co

Eco&Dream will replace Paradise Co in the KOSDAQ150 Index at the close on Friday. Paradise Co could be added to the KOSPI200 Index in December...

Brian Freitas

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

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%.

Douglas Kim

Potential Change in Dividend Income Taxes in Korea - Will the Lawmakers Finally Make the Change?

Under the revised proposed law, it would apply separate tax rates to the dividends of listed companies with dividend payout ratios of more than 35%.

Douglas Kim

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Alpha Generation Through Share Buybacks in Korea: Bi-Monthly (September and October 2024)

In this insight, we discuss the alpha generation through companies that announced share buybacks in the Korean stock market in September and...

Douglas Kim

Chinese Government Announces a No-Visa Policy for South Korean Citizens Entering China

The Chinese government suddenly announced it will waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens entering China. This is likely to have a major...

Douglas Kim

KOSDAQ150 Adhoc Index Rebalance: Eco&Dream to Replace Paradise Co

Eco&Dream will replace Paradise Co in the KOSDAQ150 Index at the close on Friday. Paradise Co could be added to the KOSPI200 Index in December...

Brian Freitas

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

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%.

Douglas Kim

Potential Change in Dividend Income Taxes in Korea - Will the Lawmakers Finally Make the Change?

Under the revised proposed law, it would apply separate tax rates to the dividends of listed companies with dividend payout ratios of more than 35%.

Douglas Kim