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>Given Korea's blanket ban on short-selling, we should concentrate on the likelihood of these ADRs being significantly discounted compared to their underlying shares.</li>
<li>It should persist for an extended period, highlighting the importance of continuously monitoring ADR spreads over the next 2-3 months to seize the opportune entry timing.</li>
<li>Since all these carry single-stock futures, a flexible setup targeting this spread can be designed, ideally incorporating currency hedges.</li>
</ul>


Given Korea's blanket ban on short-selling, we should concentrate on the likelihood of these ADRs being significantly discounted compared to their underlying shares.
It should persist for an extended period, highlighting the importance of continuously monitoring ADR spreads over the next 2-3 months to seize the opportune entry timing.
Since all these carry single-stock futures, a flexible setup targeting this spread can be designed, ideally incorporating currency hedges.


Trading Opportunities Targeting Potential ADR Discount Increases from Korea's Short-Selling Ban

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we discuss the increasing probability of Kakao Corp (035720 KS) losing its controlling shareholding of KakaoBank (323410 KS).</li>
<li>The FSS Chairman Lee Bok-Hyun emphasized that the FSS may punish Kakao Corp for a potential stock manipulation of S.M.Entertainment amid the M&amp;A tender offer process earlier this year.</li>
<li>At this point, the higher probability event appears to be a combination of fine and Kakao Corp selling at least 10% of its stake in Kakao Bank to another company.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we discuss the increasing probability of Kakao Corp (035720 KS) losing its controlling shareholding of KakaoBank (323410 KS).
The FSS Chairman Lee Bok-Hyun emphasized that the FSS may punish Kakao Corp for a potential stock manipulation of S.M.Entertainment amid the M&amp;A tender offer process earlier this year.
At this point, the higher probability event appears to be a combination of fine and Kakao Corp selling at least 10% of its stake in Kakao Bank to another company.


Increasing Probability of Kakao Corp Losing Its Controlling Shareholding of Kakao Bank

<ul>
<li>While Ecopro Co's stock has undergone significant corrections since August, KB Financial has sustained an upward trajectory, leading to a significant reversal in float-adjusted market cap.</li>
<li>The current disparity between the two exceeds ₩2T, making it challenging to anticipate another reversal until the screening period.</li>
<li>Ecopro Co and LG Energy Solution also warrant attention due to the narrow gap in their float-adjusted market capitalization. We should monitor any changes in their market capitalization moving forward.</li>
</ul>


While Ecopro Co's stock has undergone significant corrections since August, KB Financial has sustained an upward trajectory, leading to a significant reversal in float-adjusted market cap.
The current disparity between the two exceeds ₩2T, making it challenging to anticipate another reversal until the screening period.
Ecopro Co and LG Energy Solution also warrant attention due to the narrow gap in their float-adjusted market capitalization. We should monitor any changes in their market capitalization moving forward.


A Shift in TIGER Top 10 ETF December Rebalancing: KB Financial Newly In But Not Ecopro Co

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Major pressure on net interest income where deposits are growing much faster than loans in the past six months, especially with term deposits, is creating major NIM contraction</li>
<li>Earnings may disappoint based on weakening net interest income, weakening margins, and where the overlay is far higher credit costs; from KRW17bn to KRW59bn in 2 yrs to 2Q23</li>
<li>Operating costs are not helping to support ROA and with a new virtual bank investment in Thailand, costs can remain high; fixing operational risks can also keep costs high.</li>
</ul>


Major pressure on net interest income where deposits are growing much faster than loans in the past six months, especially with term deposits, is creating major NIM contraction
Earnings may disappoint based on weakening net interest income, weakening margins, and where the overlay is far higher credit costs; from KRW17bn to KRW59bn in 2 yrs to 2Q23
Operating costs are not helping to support ROA and with a new virtual bank investment in Thailand, costs can remain high; fixing operational risks can also keep costs high.


KakaoBank - Term Deposits +47% | Net Int Inc/Assets -80bps | Provisions: 10% to 23% of Net Int Inc

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

Brilliance China Automotive / Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>It was a busy Friday with a bunch of indices rebalancing at the close and big volumes trading on a lot of stocks.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/brilliance-china-automotive" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:469:1" rel="noopener">Brilliance China Automotive (1114 HK)</a> had a good week with the stock rallying on Thursday and Friday on huge volumes amid expectations of upcoming passive buying.</li>
<li>A quiet week for ETFs with mainland China ETFs seeing some outflows after the huge inflows over the last couple of months.</li>
</ul>


It was a busy Friday with a bunch of indices rebalancing at the close and big volumes trading on a lot of stocks.

Brilliance China Automotive (1114 HK) had a good week with the stock rallying on Thursday and Friday on huge volumes amid expectations of upcoming passive buying.
A quiet week for ETFs with mainland China ETFs seeing some outflows after the huge inflows over the last couple of months.


Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: HSCEI, HSTECH, CSI500, STAR50, FnGuide Top10

South Korea

KB Financial Group Inc. (the "Company"), in accordance with Financial Holding Companies Act, was established on September 29, 2008, through stock transfer with the former shareholders of its subsidiaries including Kookmin Bank in order to provide management services and financing to associated companies. The headquarters are located at Seoul, Korea

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KB Financial ADR (KB US)

Trading Opportunities Targeting Potential ADR Discount Increases from Korea's Short-Selling Ban

This post explores trading opportunities targeting potential ADR discount increases resulting from Korea's blanket ban on short selling.

Sanghyun Park

Increasing Probability of Kakao Corp Losing Its Controlling Shareholding of Kakao Bank

In this insight, we discuss the increasing probability of Kakao Corp losing its controlling shareholding of Kakao Bank. Kakao Corp could be forced...

Douglas Kim

A Shift in TIGER Top 10 ETF December Rebalancing: KB Financial Newly In But Not Ecopro Co

This article examines a significant change observed in the TIGER Top 10 ETF December rebalancing, with KB Financial replacing Celltrion, as opposed...

Sanghyun Park

KakaoBank - Term Deposits +47% | Net Int Inc/Assets -80bps | Provisions: 10% to 23% of Net Int Inc

Major net interest income pressure, NIM down sharply in past 6 months. Operating costs not supporting ROA. Credit metrics worsening: LLP from 10%...

Daniel Tabbush

Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: HSCEI, HSTECH, CSI500, STAR50, FnGuide Top10

This recap highlights Insights covering Asian index rebalances (announcements/ forecasts/ IPO Fast Entry/ M&A driven changes). We also highlight...

Brian Freitas

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