Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>It has been reported in numerous local media that the Korean government is seriously considering on merging Korea Gas (036460 KS) (KOGAS) with Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC).</li>
<li>I have a negative view on this merger since it worsens KOGAS's balance significantly. As such, the speculation about a potential merger is likely to push KOGAS's share price lower.</li>
<li>KNOC already faces meaningful bankruptcy risks. Therefore, if these two companies merge, one of the worst case scenarios is a massive capital raise at the expense of diluting existing shareholders. </li>
</ul>


It has been reported in numerous local media that the Korean government is seriously considering on merging Korea Gas (036460 KS) (KOGAS) with Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC).
I have a negative view on this merger since it worsens KOGAS's balance significantly. As such, the speculation about a potential merger is likely to push KOGAS's share price lower.
KNOC already faces meaningful bankruptcy risks. Therefore, if these two companies merge, one of the worst case scenarios is a massive capital raise at the expense of diluting existing shareholders. 


A Merger of KOGAS and KNOC Could Destroy Shareholder Value for KOGAS

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun mentioned that too many companies in Korea are trading below book value and the FSC plans to implement changes to improve upon this issue. </li>
<li>According to Korea Exchange, 1,111 companies out of total listed in KOSPI and KOSDAQ in Korea (2,538) are trading at below 1x book value (PBR) (liquidation value). </li>
<li>According to the Capital Group, about 39% of companies in the TOPIX trade below book value, compared to just 5% for companies in the S&amp;P 500 Index. </li>
</ul>


FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun mentioned that too many companies in Korea are trading below book value and the FSC plans to implement changes to improve upon this issue. 
According to Korea Exchange, 1,111 companies out of total listed in KOSPI and KOSDAQ in Korea (2,538) are trading at below 1x book value (PBR) (liquidation value). 
According to the Capital Group, about 39% of companies in the TOPIX trade below book value, compared to just 5% for companies in the S&amp;P 500 Index. 


44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

ESG Intelligence RA, Who's Good

Yujin Oh

ESG Intelligence RA

ASIA’S FIRST AI-DRIVEN ESG INSIGHT PROVIDER

Who's Good

Using AI technologies and public data, Who’s Good provides objective and up-to-date corporate ESG insights on Asian companies.

WHY WHO'S GOOD

* Time-sensitive: Time is the essence in finance. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can process vast amount of information in a short span of time. Our powerful algorithm offers real-time in-depth corporate ESG analysis with out compromising its quality.
* Objective: We turned to public big data and news big data as source to base our analysis on and to preserve impartiality. We leverage 350 public big data sources and 93 news data sources in Korea to uncover insights.
* Insightful: Who’s Good ESG analysis coverage extends to all listed and non-listed companies in Korea. This allows us to provide a comprehensive insight into the Korean market.
* Global approach to ESG: Our ESG research framework is built on international standards and principles including UN Global Compact, ISO 26000, ICGN and CFA Guidelines on Corporate Governance to meet the global standards.

HDC Hyundai Development Co-Engineering & Construction / ESG

HDC Hyundai Development Co-Engineering & Construction (294870 KS)

HDC Hyundai Development Co-Engineering & Construction

<ul>
<li>The result of analyzing 23,940 news articles on 2,722 Korean listed companies released between 1 January and 31 December 2022, reveal that 565 companies (20.7%) had ESG risks.</li>
<li>Companies with ESG risks has decreased compared to 2021, which is the first time a decrease trend has been recorded since Who's Good began conducting ESG analysis in 2015.</li>
<li>Social risk ranked as the highest risk among ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) with the highest ranking ESG issue being 'Supply Chain Management'.</li>
</ul>


The result of analyzing 23,940 news articles on 2,722 Korean listed companies released between 1 January and 31 December 2022, reveal that 565 companies (20.7%) had ESG risks.
Companies with ESG risks has decreased compared to 2021, which is the first time a decrease trend has been recorded since Who's Good began conducting ESG analysis in 2015.
Social risk ranked as the highest risk among ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) with the highest ranking ESG issue being 'Supply Chain Management'.


South Korea's Top ESG Risk Trend in 2022: Analysis of News Articles on More than 2,000 Entities

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we discuss the recent buying and selling by the Korea National Pension Service (NPS) of Korean stocks.</li>
<li>Of the 176 Korean stocks in which NPS reported changes in ownerships in 2Q 2022, NPS increased its stakes in 115 companies and reduced stakes in 61 companies.</li>
<li>NPS mostly increased stakes in aerospace, defense, construction equipment, and energy sectors while reducing stakes in telecom and tourism related stocks.</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we discuss the recent buying and selling by the Korea National Pension Service (NPS) of Korean stocks.
Of the 176 Korean stocks in which NPS reported changes in ownerships in 2Q 2022, NPS increased its stakes in 115 companies and reduced stakes in 61 companies.
NPS mostly increased stakes in aerospace, defense, construction equipment, and energy sectors while reducing stakes in telecom and tourism related stocks.


NPS Sells SK Bioscience, Naver, & LG Electronics and Buys Kakao Bank, Lotte Corp, & Samyang Foods

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p><a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/Japan-taps-Australia-and-Brunei-for-hydrogen-import-goal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Momentum is building within East Asia to propel the Hydrogen economy forward</a> as Japan, Korea and China have demonstrated interest in investing heavily in the technology, a call that is being answered by a variety of players through the supply chain. We examine below the key investment opportunities and timelines for these players.</p>

Momentum is building within East Asia to propel the Hydrogen economy forward as Japan, Korea and China have demonstrated interest in investing heavily in the technology, a call that is being answered by a variety of players through the supply chain. We examine below the key investment opportunities and timelines for these players.

South Korea

Korea Gas Corporation manufactures, wholesales, and distributes liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) throughout South Korea. The Company also constructs and operates LNG receiving terminals and supplying networks for domestic distribution.  Korea Gas invests in LNG suppliers in Oman and Qatar.

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Korea Gas (036460 KS)

A Merger of KOGAS and KNOC Could Destroy Shareholder Value for KOGAS

It has been reported in numerous local media that the Korean government is seriously considering on merging Korea Gas (036460 KS) (KOGAS) with...

Douglas Kim

44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

A 44% of Korean stocks are trading below book value. FSC wants to improve this, following Japan's "name and shame" policy.

Douglas Kim

South Korea's Top ESG Risk Trend in 2022: Analysis of News Articles on More than 2,000 Entities

Presenting insights into various ESG incidents of Korean companies in 2022, and analysis on trending ESG issue of the year. The analysis is based...

Yujin Oh

NPS Sells SK Bioscience, Naver, & LG Electronics and Buys Kakao Bank, Lotte Corp, & Samyang Foods

NPS moves the Korean stock market more than any other investor. In this insight, we discuss the recent buying and selling by the Korea National...

Douglas Kim

Asia’s Hydrogen Economy

China's increasing favour towards hydrogen is starting to generate investor interest in potential hydrogen economy and FCV plays. We examine...

Mio Kato

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