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>
<strong>The rebalancing cycle of the KODEX Secondary Battery ETF was changed from semi-annual to quarterly.</strong> Also, the rebalancing trading takes place for three trading days instead of one trading day.</li>
<li>
<strong>This passive impact will be different from the previous rebalancing.</strong> LG Energy and SK Innovation will likely experience a significant passive outflow. Then, most small-cap constituents will receive an inflow. </li>
<li>
<strong>Among the top weighting stocks, Samsung SDI and SKIET deserve attention</strong>. Sangsin Energy, E&amp;D, and TSI will face exclusion, while C&amp;I, Sang-A Frontec, and Enchem will likely join the ETF.</li>
</ul>



The rebalancing cycle of the KODEX Secondary Battery ETF was changed from semi-annual to quarterly. Also, the rebalancing trading takes place for three trading days instead of one trading day.

This passive impact will be different from the previous rebalancing. LG Energy and SK Innovation will likely experience a significant passive outflow. Then, most small-cap constituents will receive an inflow. 

Among the top weighting stocks, Samsung SDI and SKIET deserve attention. Sangsin Energy, E&amp;D, and TSI will face exclusion, while C&amp;I, Sang-A Frontec, and Enchem will likely join the ETF.


KODEX Battery ETF Rebalancing Cycle Changed to Quarterly: Preview for March Rebalancing

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The review period for the March rebalance ends on 31 January, the announcement of the changes will be end February/beginning March, implementation will be at the close on 10 March.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-energy-solution" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33464:1" rel="noopener">LG Energy Solution (LGENERGY KS)</a> will be included in the Battery index, and there will be other changes to the Bio, Internet, Game and BBIG indices.</li>
<li>The largest selling is expected to be on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/douzone-bizon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20161:1" rel="noopener">Douzone Bizon (012510 KS)</a> due to a potential downweight in the Internet index and a deletion from the BBIG index.</li>
</ul>


The review period for the March rebalance ends on 31 January, the announcement of the changes will be end February/beginning March, implementation will be at the close on 10 March.

LG Energy Solution (LGENERGY KS) will be included in the Battery index, and there will be other changes to the Bio, Internet, Game and BBIG indices.
The largest selling is expected to be on Douzone Bizon (012510 KS) due to a potential downweight in the Internet index and a deletion from the BBIG index.


KRX BBIG Index Rebalance Preview (March): LG Energy Should Be Added; Plus Other Changes

<p>The Korea Exchange (KRX) launched 5 indices last year following the New Deal initiative that the Government launched to digitalise social infrastructure and jumpstart the transition to green energy.</p><p>The KRX created 4 indices tracking the Secondary Battery, Biotech, Internet and Gaming sectors that are expected to benefit from the New Deal initiative plus an additional index (BBIG) that includes the top 3 stocks from each sector.</p><p>All indices have performed well since then. The KRX announced changes to the 5 indices late last week and the changes become effective post the close of trading on 25 February.</p><div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-games-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26730:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Games Corp (293490 KS)</a> replaces <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pearl-abyss-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24391:1" rel="noopener">Pearl Abyss (263750 KS)</a> in the BBIG Index.</p></div><div><p>In the Secondary Battery index, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/soulbrain-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16883:1" rel="noopener">Soulbrain (036830 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-f-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14300:1" rel="noopener">L&amp;F Co Ltd (066970 KS)</a> replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/doosan-solus-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28947:1" rel="noopener">Doosan Solus Co Ltd (336370 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/foosung-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16811:1" rel="noopener">Foosung Co Ltd (093370 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>In the Biotech index, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinpoong-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7296:1" rel="noopener">Shinpoong Pharmaceutical (019170 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/green-cross-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2969:1" rel="noopener">Green Cross (006280 KS)</a> replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alteogen-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15886:1" rel="noopener">Alteogen Inc (196170 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hanmi-pharm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12476:1" rel="noopener">Hanmi Pharm (128940 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>In the Internet index, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ace-technologies-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7868:1" rel="noopener">Ace Technologies (088800 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rsupport-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14783:1" rel="noopener">Rsupport Co Ltd (131370 KS)</a> replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kg-inicis-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5234:1" rel="noopener">KG Inicis Co Ltd (035600 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ubiquoss-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14341:1" rel="noopener">Ubiquoss Holding (078070 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>In the Gaming index, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-games-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26730:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Games Corp (293490 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/neptune-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28826:1" rel="noopener">Neptune Company (217270 KS)</a> replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/neowiz-games-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12425:1" rel="noopener">Neowiz Games (095660 KS)</a> and Golfzon (215000 KS).</p></div>

The Korea Exchange (KRX) launched 5 indices last year following the New Deal initiative that the Government launched to digitalise social infrastructure and jumpstart the transition to green energy.The KRX created 4 indices tracking the Secondary Battery, Biotech, Internet and Gaming sectors that are expected to benefit from the New Deal initiative plus an additional index (BBIG) that includes the top 3 stocks from each sector.All indices have performed well since then. The KRX announced changes to the 5 indices late last week and the changes become effective post the close of trading on 25 February.Kakao Games Corp (293490 KS) replaces Pearl Abyss (263750 KS) in the BBIG Index.In the Secondary Battery index, Soulbrain (036830 KS) and L&amp;F Co Ltd (066970 KS) replace Doosan Solus Co Ltd (336370 KS) and Foosung Co Ltd (093370 KS).In the Biotech index, Shinpoong Pharmaceutical (019170 KS) and Green Cross (006280 KS) replace Alteogen Inc (196170 KS) and Hanmi Pharm (128940 KS).In the Internet index, Ace Technologies (088800 KS) and Rsupport Co Ltd (131370 KS) replace KG Inicis Co Ltd (035600 KS) and Ubiquoss Holding (078070 KS).In the Gaming index, Kakao Games Corp (293490 KS) and Neptune Company (217270 KS) replace Neowiz Games (095660 KS) and Golfzon (215000 KS).

KRX BBIG K-NewDeal Index Rebalance: First Set of Changes Announced

<p>The short sell ban in Korea that was instated on 16 March 2020 is set to expire on 15 March.</p><p>However, with mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan around the corner, politicians are said to be leaning on the FSC to extend the short sell ban. Add to that the retail outrage - from petitions to the Blue House, bus tours, and posts on K-Streetbets of targeting stocks with high short interest.</p><p>There is a high likelihood that the short sell ban gets extended by three more months to tide the politicians over the mayoral elections.</p><p>In the event that the short sell ban expires, we highlight stocks that have seen the most short covering since the start of the short sell ban, stocks with high short interest as a percentage of market cap and free float, and high days of ADV to cover.</p><p>This will have implications for many strategies and will open the door to trade the ordinaries vs preferred shares, long/short and other related strategies.</p>

The short sell ban in Korea that was instated on 16 March 2020 is set to expire on 15 March.However, with mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan around the corner, politicians are said to be leaning on the FSC to extend the short sell ban. Add to that the retail outrage - from petitions to the Blue House, bus tours, and posts on K-Streetbets of targeting stocks with high short interest.There is a high likelihood that the short sell ban gets extended by three more months to tide the politicians over the mayoral elections.In the event that the short sell ban expires, we highlight stocks that have seen the most short covering since the start of the short sell ban, stocks with high short interest as a percentage of market cap and free float, and high days of ADV to cover.This will have implications for many strategies and will open the door to trade the ordinaries vs preferred shares, long/short and other related strategies.

Korea Short Sell Ban: Elections, Public Outrage, Bus Tours, Blue House Petitions, K-Streetbets

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<strong>The bookbuilding of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/27873" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27873:1">Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS)</a> IPO starts on February 14th.</strong> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/27873" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27873:1">Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS)</a> specializes in making cathode active materials for rechargeable batteries that are used in EVs and electrical energy storage systems (ESS). Ecopro BM is the second largest global player after Sumitomo in the NCA high nickel-based cathode materials with market share of nearly 35%.</li>
<li>Our base case valuation of the company suggests a market cap of 1.2 trillion won or implied price per share of 56,003 won, which is 31% higher than the high end of the IPO price range of 42,900 won. Therefore, we would take this deal. We used an estimated P/E of 25.3x (10% premium to the comps' average of 23x) and an estimated net profit of 49.3 billion won in 2019 to derive our base case valuation. The high end of the valuation sensitivity analysis is 67,764 won, which would be 58% higher than the high end of the IPO price range of 42,900 won. </li>
<li>Ecopro BM has stronger sales growth and operating margins than its peers. However, its peers have stronger balance sheet with slightly higher returns on equity. We would give special points to the company's stronger sales growth which is an indication of greater customer demand. Therefore, we think it is appropriate to provide a 10-20% premium valuation to Ecopro BM versus its peers based on the P/E analysis. </li>
</ul>



The bookbuilding of the Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS) IPO starts on February 14th. Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS) specializes in making cathode active materials for rechargeable batteries that are used in EVs and electrical energy storage systems (ESS). Ecopro BM is the second largest global player after Sumitomo in the NCA high nickel-based cathode materials with market share of nearly 35%.
Our base case valuation of the company suggests a market cap of 1.2 trillion won or implied price per share of 56,003 won, which is 31% higher than the high end of the IPO price range of 42,900 won. Therefore, we would take this deal. We used an estimated P/E of 25.3x (10% premium to the comps' average of 23x) and an estimated net profit of 49.3 billion won in 2019 to derive our base case valuation. The high end of the valuation sensitivity analysis is 67,764 won, which would be 58% higher than the high end of the IPO price range of 42,900 won. 
Ecopro BM has stronger sales growth and operating margins than its peers. However, its peers have stronger balance sheet with slightly higher returns on equity. We would give special points to the company's stronger sales growth which is an indication of greater customer demand. Therefore, we think it is appropriate to provide a 10-20% premium valuation to Ecopro BM versus its peers based on the P/E analysis. 


South Korea

L&F Co., Ltd. develops and manufactures battery materials. The Company produces and sells cathode active materials, anode materials, electrolyte, separator, and other products. L&F markets its products throughout Korea.

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L&F (066970 KS)

KODEX Battery ETF Rebalancing Cycle Changed to Quarterly: Preview for March Rebalancing

The rebalancing cycle of the KODEX Secondary Battery ETF was changed from semi-annual to quarterly. This post previews the upcoming rebalancing...

Sanghyun Park

KRX BBIG Index Rebalance Preview (March): LG Energy Should Be Added; Plus Other Changes

LG Energy should be added to the Secondary Battery and BBIG indices. There are changes to the Bio, Internet and Game indices too. Douzone Bizon...

Brian Freitas

KRX BBIG K-NewDeal Index Rebalance: First Set of Changes Announced

The KRX has announced changes to the KRX New Deal indices that will be effective after the close of trading on 25 February. Pearl Abyss is...

Brian Freitas

Korea Short Sell Ban: Elections, Public Outrage, Bus Tours, Blue House Petitions, K-Streetbets

With the short sell ban in Korea scheduled to expire 15 March, we look at stocks that have seen the most short covering since the start of the ban,...

Brian Freitas

Ecopro BM IPO: Valuation Analysis

The bookbuilding of the Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS) IPO starts on February 14th. Ecopro BM Co Ltd (247540 KS) specializes in making cathode...

Douglas Kim

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