Founder/CEO of ROK Advisory, ROK Advisory LLC

Ken S. Kim

Founder/CEO of ROK Advisory

ROK Advisory LLC

ROK is an independent research advisory firm. We guide you to minimize the information gap between foreign and local investors in Northeast Asia with a focus in Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

Independent Research Advisory Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

The inheritance tax due for the late KH Lee is set at W11.4 trillion.  The market is interested in how this $10 billion bill will be paid by the Lee family and ensconced a general take on how to pay for this without a big cash outlay

The inheritance tax due for the late KH Lee is set at W11.4 trillion.  The market is interested in how this $10 billion bill will be paid by the Lee family and ensconced a general take on how to pay for this without a big cash outlay

Samsung Inheritance Tax Set Is Good News for Samsung Dividends

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

*Reversing Course Again: On April 3, 2020, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) - the European Union’s financial regulatory body which replaced the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) – in the context of the corona virus, released a statement urging insurers to “temporarily suspend all discretionary dividend distributions and share buybacks aimed at remunerating shareholders” in order to preserve capital. In an odd reversal of course, EIOPA has updated its commentary surrounding European insurance capital management; and  *Asia-Pacific Insurers Still At Risk: Asia-Pacific insurance counterparts previously acted in capital solidarity with their Western peer during COVID-19. Many Asia-Pacific insurers purchased USD-denominated assets in their desperate search for yield in this low/negative rate environment where the impact of credit default and ratings agency downgrades on their investment portfolios is likely to continue to be outsized and challenge capital their ratios. We are hopeful that the Asia-Pacific insurers - particularly in Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea – don’t behave as desperately as their European counterparts have.

*Reversing Course Again: On April 3, 2020, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) - the European Union’s financial regulatory body which replaced the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) – in the context of the corona virus, released a statement urging insurers to “temporarily suspend all discretionary dividend distributions and share buybacks aimed at remunerating shareholders” in order to preserve capital. In an odd reversal of course, EIOPA has updated its commentary surrounding European insurance capital management; and  *Asia-Pacific Insurers Still At Risk: Asia-Pacific insurance counterparts previously acted in capital solidarity with their Western peer during COVID-19. Many Asia-Pacific insurers purchased USD-denominated assets in their desperate search for yield in this low/negative rate environment where the impact of credit default and ratings agency downgrades on their investment portfolios is likely to continue to be outsized and challenge capital their ratios. We are hopeful that the Asia-Pacific insurers - particularly in Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea – don’t behave as desperately as their European counterparts have. 

*Weak Great Eastern Returns: Great Eastern Life (GE.SP) [Great Eastern] reported 3Q20 bottom-line results of SGD 287.9 mn, declining SGD 9.6 mn (3.2%) linked quarter. On an operating basis excluding market-related gains, the decline in profits was even more pronounced at SGD 24.6 mn or 9.4% over the period due to new business strain. Earnings were materially weaker than what consensus has built in for Overseas Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) (earnings release date November 5, 2020) – and pose a modest consensus miss for OCBC. Higher volatility in reported Great Eastern earnings decreases confidence in forecasts; and*Better Readacross to Regional Insurers: MTM gains would imply a negative readacross to AIA (1299.HK), Prudential (PRU.LN), ManuLife (MFC.CN), and of course the mainland Chinese insurers.

*Weak Great Eastern Returns: Great Eastern Life (GE.SP) [Great Eastern] reported 3Q20 bottom-line results of SGD 287.9 mn, declining SGD 9.6 mn (3.2%) linked quarter. On an operating basis excluding market-related gains, the decline in profits was even more pronounced at SGD 24.6 mn or 9.4% over the period due to new business strain. Earnings were materially weaker than what consensus has built in for Overseas Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) (earnings release date November 5, 2020) – and pose a modest consensus miss for OCBC. Higher volatility in reported Great Eastern earnings decreases confidence in forecasts; and*Better Readacross to Regional Insurers: MTM gains would imply a negative readacross to AIA (1299.HK), Prudential (PRU.LN), ManuLife (MFC.CN), and of course the mainland Chinese insurers. 

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp – Still Not A Great Eastern

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Cross Asset Strategy

October continued to see sector rotation in Korea with growth-oriented stocks under performing value-oriented stocks. The following were the top 10 issues related to Korean stock market, economy, and politics in October 2020.1) DEATH OF SAMSUNG GROUP CHAIRMAN LEE KUN HEE2) BIG HIT ENTERTAINMENT IPO3) REGULATORS GOING AFTER THE OPTIMUS FUNDS 4) MAJOR POTENTIAL CHANGE IN TAX LAWS THAT COULD RESULT IN BIG SELLING BY RETAIL IN DECEMBER 5) LG CHEM APPROVES TO SEPARATE THE BATTERY BUSINESS 6) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NAVER &amp; THE CJ GROUP7) SK TELECOM SPINS OFF MOBILITY BUSINESS &amp; PARTNERS WITH UBER 8) PAYPAL ALLOWS TRANSACTIONS IN CRYPTOS 9) INCREASED NEWS FLOW ABOUT THE NEED TO RECOUNT VOTES OF 4.15 (15 April 2020) PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 10) SOCAR BECOMES THE NEXT UNICORN

October continued to see sector rotation in Korea with growth-oriented stocks under performing value-oriented stocks. The following were the top 10 issues related to Korean stock market, economy, and politics in October 2020.1) DEATH OF SAMSUNG GROUP CHAIRMAN LEE KUN HEE2) BIG HIT ENTERTAINMENT IPO3) REGULATORS GOING AFTER THE OPTIMUS FUNDS 4) MAJOR POTENTIAL CHANGE IN TAX LAWS THAT COULD RESULT IN BIG SELLING BY RETAIL IN DECEMBER 5) LG CHEM APPROVES TO SEPARATE THE BATTERY BUSINESS 6) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NAVER &amp; THE CJ GROUP7) SK TELECOM SPINS OFF MOBILITY BUSINESS &amp; PARTNERS WITH UBER 8) PAYPAL ALLOWS TRANSACTIONS IN CRYPTOS 9) INCREASED NEWS FLOW ABOUT THE NEED TO RECOUNT VOTES OF 4.15 (15 April 2020) PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 10) SOCAR BECOMES THE NEXT UNICORN 

Korea Stock Market Monthly Recap #53 (October 2020)

3 Key takeaways - NAND aggression, very conservative smartphone guide, shareholder return plan and foundry business.   We go over each of the above and read through for some of the competitors and supply chain.

3 Key takeaways - NAND aggression, very conservative smartphone guide, shareholder return plan and foundry business.   We go over each of the above and read through for some of the competitors and supply chain. 

Samsung Electronics Earnings Review and Read Thru

South Korea

Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd. provides insurance services. The Company offers life and health insurance services. Samsung Life Insurance serves customers in South Korea.

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Samsung Life Insurance (032830 KS)

Samsung Inheritance Tax Set Is Good News for Samsung Dividends

Samsung Electronics has to double dividends over next 5-10 years which again goes to prove that in Korea ride with the best interest of the family...

Ken S. Kim

Asian Insurers – Mea, Mea EIOPA

ASIA INSURERS: On April 3, 2020, EIOPA temporarily suspended capital management activities," but just reversed course. Many Asia-Pacific insurers...

Thomas J. Monaco

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp – Still Not A Great Eastern

OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING CORP: Great Eastern Life Posts Another Weak Quarter; Margins Were Weaker and EPS Reliant On Gains. OCBC Consensus Appear...

Thomas J. Monaco

Korea Stock Market Monthly Recap #53 (October 2020)

In this insight, it provides the summary of the top 10 issues related to Korean stock market, economy, and politics in October 2020.

Douglas Kim

Samsung Electronics Earnings Review and Read Thru

Samsung Electronics - moves for the long term signaled in most recent third quarter earnings with regards to their NAND business as well as holding...

Ken S. Kim

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