Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>NCsoft plans to launch the highly anticipated new MMORPG game called Throne and Liberty in Korea on 7 December 2023.</li>
<li>NCsoft reported operating profit of 16.5 billion won (down 89% YoY) and  revenue of 423.1 billion won (down 30% YoY) in 3Q 2023. </li>
<li>Throne and Liberty has a solid chance to become successful globally through Amazon Game platform, which is likely to drive a strong turnaround of NCsoft's sales and profits.</li>
</ul>


NCsoft plans to launch the highly anticipated new MMORPG game called Throne and Liberty in Korea on 7 December 2023.
NCsoft reported operating profit of 16.5 billion won (down 89% YoY) and  revenue of 423.1 billion won (down 30% YoY) in 3Q 2023. 
Throne and Liberty has a solid chance to become successful globally through Amazon Game platform, which is likely to drive a strong turnaround of NCsoft's sales and profits.


NCsoft: Launch of Highly Anticipated Throne and Liberty MMORPG Game

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

Event-Driven

<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?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>The founder and former chairman and CEO of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nexon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16032:1" rel="noopener">Nexon (3659 JP)</a> passed away according to both Nexon and his holding company NXC. Both announced it late afternoon 1 March.</li>
<li>NXC - the near-parent  (47+% stake) of Nexon tried to sell Nexon/NXC in H1 2019 to no avail. Since then, profits have rebounded somewhat, and investments have multiplied. </li>
<li>The estate may wish to sell Nexon shares, or its entire stake, at some point near-term.</li>
</ul>


The founder and former chairman and CEO of Nexon (3659 JP) passed away according to both Nexon and his holding company NXC. Both announced it late afternoon 1 March.
NXC - the near-parent  (47+% stake) of Nexon tried to sell Nexon/NXC in H1 2019 to no avail. Since then, profits have rebounded somewhat, and investments have multiplied. 
The estate may wish to sell Nexon shares, or its entire stake, at some point near-term.


Nexon - Founder Kim Jung-Ju Passes, Raises Question if Nexon Deal Is Back In Play

<ul>
<li>The review period for the March rebalance ends on 31 January, the changes will be announced early March and implemented at the close of trading on 14 March.</li>
<li>There is one change currently for each of the Secondary Battery, Bio, Internet and Game indices. There are two changes for the BBIG Index.</li>
<li>There will be big flow on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ecopro-bm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27873:1" rel="noopener">Ecopro BM (247540 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/posco-future-m-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12421:1" rel="noopener">Posco Future M (003670 KS)</a> and big impact 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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dearu-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34381:1" rel="noopener">DearU (376300 KS)</a>. </li>
</ul>


The review period for the March rebalance ends on 31 January, the changes will be announced early March and implemented at the close of trading on 14 March.
There is one change currently for each of the Secondary Battery, Bio, Internet and Game indices. There are two changes for the BBIG Index.
There will be big flow on Ecopro BM (247540 KS) and Posco Future M (003670 KS) and big impact on Douzone Bizon (012510 KS) and DearU (376300 KS). 


KRX New Deal Index Rebalance Preview: Changes with Flow & Impact

<ul>
<li>There is a high likelihood of the Indian authorities fully approving the BGMI game after three months of trial. Plus, it has a solid pipeline of new games under development. </li>
<li>Krafton is improving its shareholder return policy. In addition, the consensus is likely to raise the company's earnings estimates post its excellent results in 1Q 2023. </li>
<li>We maintain our Positive view of Krafton and its shares are likely to continue to outperform the market this year. </li>
</ul>


There is a high likelihood of the Indian authorities fully approving the BGMI game after three months of trial. Plus, it has a solid pipeline of new games under development. 
Krafton is improving its shareholder return policy. In addition, the consensus is likely to raise the company's earnings estimates post its excellent results in 1Q 2023. 
We maintain our Positive view of Krafton and its shares are likely to continue to outperform the market this year. 


Krafton: India & Improving Shareholder Return Policy Likely to Lead to Further Outperformance

South Korea

NCSOFT Corporation develops and markets on-line games that enable users to play over the Internet and computer software, such as web editing software.  The Company also designs and constructs databases, Intranet, and commercial Internet access systems.

NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS)

NCsoft: Launch of Highly Anticipated Throne and Liberty MMORPG Game

We believe that Throne and Liberty has a solid chance to become successful globally through Amazon Game platform, which is likely to drive a strong...

Douglas Kim

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

Nexon - Founder Kim Jung-Ju Passes, Raises Question if Nexon Deal Is Back In Play

Nexon's founder Kim Jung-ju has passed away. This raises the question of the disposition of the 47+% stake belonging to his holding company NXC. If...

Travis Lundy

KRX New Deal Index Rebalance Preview: Changes with Flow & Impact

With just over a week to go in the review period, the potential changes to the index are moving. Douzone Bizon is up 39% in two weeks and appears...

Brian Freitas

Krafton: India & Improving Shareholder Return Policy Likely to Lead to Further Outperformance

Krafton's share price is up 11% today after better than expected results in 3Q 2023. It had sales of 450 billion won (up 3.8% YoY) and operating...

Douglas Kim