Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>There are signs that the South Korean REIT market may have bottomed in the past 3-6 months after significant market underperformance from 2021 to 4Q 2023.</li>
<li>The 16 major Korean REIT stocks are up on average 5% YTD, outperforming KOSPI which is up 1.4% in the same period.</li>
<li>Differential in REIT dividend yield/Korean bond yield, meaningful discount to NAV, and increased capital allocation from Corporate Value Up program have been driving outperformance of Korean REIT stocks this year.</li>
</ul>


There are signs that the South Korean REIT market may have bottomed in the past 3-6 months after significant market underperformance from 2021 to 4Q 2023.
The 16 major Korean REIT stocks are up on average 5% YTD, outperforming KOSPI which is up 1.4% in the same period.
Differential in REIT dividend yield/Korean bond yield, meaningful discount to NAV, and increased capital allocation from Corporate Value Up program have been driving outperformance of Korean REIT stocks this year.


Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The new head of Woori Financial Group (316140 KS) Chairman Lim Jong-Ryong recently revealed his willingness to acquire a major/mid-scale securities company.</li>
<li>Among these potential acquisition candidates, Samsung Securities is considered to be the most likely securities companies that could be purchased by Woori Financial Group.</li>
<li>In the long term (next 2-3 years), there is a good probability that Woori Financial Group could acquire Samsung Securities, which is not a core business of the Samsung Group.</li>
</ul>


The new head of Woori Financial Group (316140 KS) Chairman Lim Jong-Ryong recently revealed his willingness to acquire a major/mid-scale securities company.
Among these potential acquisition candidates, Samsung Securities is considered to be the most likely securities companies that could be purchased by Woori Financial Group.
In the long term (next 2-3 years), there is a good probability that Woori Financial Group could acquire Samsung Securities, which is not a core business of the Samsung Group.


Will Woori Financial Group Acquire Samsung Securities?

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst

KT Capital Group

Principal investments and advisory firm that focuses on connecting the CIS countries with East Asia.

Principal investments and advisory firm

Equity Bottom-Up

PICC Property & Casualty H / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The insurance sector should definitely warrant more investor attention going forward as some insurance names in the region have had a very strong year in 2022.</li>
<li>Two key markets we view positively in 2023 are China's P&amp;C and Korea's L&amp;H insurance markets, given their favorable industry catalysts and tailwinds. </li>
<li>Among all the insurance stocks in these two markets, we believe PICC P&amp;C and Samsung Life will continue to have an exciting year ahead.</li>
</ul>


The insurance sector should definitely warrant more investor attention going forward as some insurance names in the region have had a very strong year in 2022.
Two key markets we view positively in 2023 are China's P&amp;C and Korea's L&amp;H insurance markets, given their favorable industry catalysts and tailwinds. 
Among all the insurance stocks in these two markets, we believe PICC P&amp;C and Samsung Life will continue to have an exciting year ahead.


APAC Insurers Series (#1): A Hidden Gem in This Bear Market?

Research from Asian Century Stocks, Asian Century Stocks

Michael Fritzell

Research from Asian Century Stocks

Providing financial journalism in the Asia-Pacific

Asian Century Stocks

Asian Century Stocks is a newsletter providing financial journalism for companies and stocks in the Asia-Pacific. 
The Asian Century Stocks logotype “百” stands for “one hundred” or a “century”. The economic centre of gravity is moving towards Asia. Yet most global investors are missing out.

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<p>I just read the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Rising-Inside-Korean-Conquer-ebook/dp/B07T9WTTZC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=samsung+rising&amp;qid=1623743594&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Rising-Inside-Korean-Conquer-ebook/dp/B07T9WTTZC/ref%3Dsr_1_1?dchild%3D1%26keywords%3Dsamsung%2Brising%26qid%3D1623743594%26sr%3D8-1&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1624323969123000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGC2aiiwDMsNjEfaxR0gESTgnBzqg" rel="noopener">Samsung Rising</a> by Geoffrey Cain and found it enlightening.</p>
<p>Samsung is a unique company: one of the best brand names to ever come out of East Asia.</p>
<p>This post will give you a brief history of how Samsung made the journey from a post-war trading company to an international technology giant. I will then describe where Samsung is today and where it could be heading in the future.</p>




I just read the book Samsung Rising by Geoffrey Cain and found it enlightening.
Samsung is a unique company: one of the best brand names to ever come out of East Asia.
This post will give you a brief history of how Samsung made the journey from a post-war trading company to an international technology giant. I will then describe where Samsung is today and where it could be heading in the future.

Mirae Asset Securities / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>It has been reported in numerous local media outlets that WeBull is discussing with the local financial authorities to enter the Korean retail stock brokerage market.</li>
<li>If the Korean financial authorities provide a license to WeBull to directly provide stock brokerage services to the Korean retail market, this would be the first case ever.</li>
<li>If FSC grants a full license to WeBull to operate stock brokerage services to retail investors in Korea, this could result in the local brokerages losing market shares to WeBull</li>
</ul>


It has been reported in numerous local media outlets that WeBull is discussing with the local financial authorities to enter the Korean retail stock brokerage market.
If the Korean financial authorities provide a license to WeBull to directly provide stock brokerage services to the Korean retail market, this would be the first case ever.
If FSC grants a full license to WeBull to operate stock brokerage services to retail investors in Korea, this could result in the local brokerages losing market shares to WeBull


WeBull In Discussions With Financial Authorities to Enter the Korean Retail Stock Brokerage Market

South Korea

Samsung Securities Co.,Ltd. provides personalized asset management services. The Company provides brokerage, investment trust, underwriting services, and other services. Samsung Securities also provides cyber trading, mutual funds, asset backed securities issuing, municipal bonds trading services.

Samsung Securities (016360 KS)

South Korean REITs May Have Bottomed

There are signs that the South Korean REIT market may have bottomed in the past 3-6 months after significant market underperformance from 2021 to...

Douglas Kim

Will Woori Financial Group Acquire Samsung Securities?

In the long term (next 2-3 years), there is a good probability that Woori Financial Group could acquire Samsung Securities, which is not a core...

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APAC Insurers Series (#1): A Hidden Gem in This Bear Market?

China P&C and Korea L&H are two insurance markets in Asia that we view positively in 2023, thanks to the continued catalysts. PICC P&C and Samsung...

Alec Tseung

Samsung Is In A Crucial Transition

Samsung is a unique company: one of the best brand names to ever come out of East Asia, covering Samsung's history, where it is today and its future

Asian Century Stocks

WeBull In Discussions With Financial Authorities to Enter the Korean Retail Stock Brokerage Market

If the Korean financial authorities provide a license to WeBull to directly provide stock brokerage services to the Korean retail market, this...

Douglas Kim