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

<p>SK Discovery is a pure holding company and consists of two major subsidiaries: </p><ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-chemicals-co-ltd-new" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26190:1" rel="noopener">SK Chemicals Co Ltd/New (285130 KS)</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-gas-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4088:1" rel="noopener">SK Gas Ltd (018670 KS)</a></li>
</ul><p>Since the stake value of these two subsidiaries is almost the same at this point, SK Discovery's share price should be affected by the share price of these two subsidiaries in a 5:5 ratio.</p><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Holdings"}'>Holdings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Ticker"}'>Ticker</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Stake"}'>Stake</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value"}'>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"SK Chemicals Co Ltd"}' data-sheets-formula='=googlefinance(R[0]C[1], "name")'><strong>SK Chemicals Co Ltd</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"285130"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula='="285130"'><strong>285130</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.3345}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'><strong>33.45%</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1132.082485056}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B",1]' data-sheets-formula='=googlefinance(R[0]C[-2], "price")*googlefinance(R[0]C[-2], "shares")*R[0]C[-1]/1000000000'><strong>₩1,132.1B</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"SK Gas Ltd."}' data-sheets-formula='=googlefinance(R[0]C[1], "name")'><strong>SK Gas Ltd.</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"018670"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula='="018670"'><strong>018670</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.722}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'><strong>72.20%</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1139.584384728}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B",1]' data-sheets-formula='=googlefinance(R[0]C[-2], "price")*googlefinance(R[0]C[-2], "shares")*R[0]C[-1]/1000000000'><strong>₩1,139.6B</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="4"><strong> </strong></td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Huvis Corp"}' data-sheets-formula='=googlefinance(R[0]C[1], "name")'>Huvis Corp</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"079980"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula='="079980"'>079980</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.255}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'>25.50%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":91.933875}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B",1]' data-sheets-formula='=googlefinance(R[0]C[-2], "price")*googlefinance(R[0]C[-2], "shares")*R[0]C[-1]/1000000000'>₩91.9B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Other - unlisted"}'>Other - unlisted</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"-"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"#,##0",1]'>-</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"-"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'>-</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":186.394}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B",1]' data-sheets-formula="=186.394">₩186.4B</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: KRX &amp; DART"}'>Source: KRX &amp; DART</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Assets"}'>Assets</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"% NAV"}'>% NAV</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"% GAV"}'>% GAV</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"% Holdings"}'>% Holdings</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"SK Chemicals Co Ltd"}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[5]"><strong>SK Chemicals Co Ltd</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.4642058632163233}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[7]/R13C[-3]"><strong>46.42%</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.4439548306409918}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[6]/R8C[-4]"><strong>44.40%</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.4439548306409918}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[5]/SUM(R2C[5]:R5C[5])"><strong>44.40%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"SK Gas Ltd."}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[5]"><strong>SK Gas Ltd.</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.4672819869608142}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[7]/R13C[-3]"><strong>46.73%</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.44689675814391905}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[6]/R8C[-4]"><strong>44.69%</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.44689675814391905}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[5]/SUM(R2C[5]:R5C[5])"><strong>44.69%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="4"><strong> </strong></td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Huvis Corp"}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[5]">Huvis Corp</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.037697115154189074}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[7]/R13C[-3]">3.77%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.03605257429963345}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[6]/R8C[-4]">3.61%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.03605257429963345}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[5]/SUM(R2C[5]:R5C[5])">3.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Other - unlisted"}' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[5]">Other - unlisted</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.07643010894569513}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[7]/R13C[-3]">7.64%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.07309583691545556}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[6]/R8C[-4]">7.31%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.07309583691545556}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[5]/SUM(R2C[5]:R5C[5])">7.31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Operation"}' data-sheets-formula="=R[6]C[0]">Operation</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[6]C[2]/R13C[-3]">0.00%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[6]C[1]/R8C[-4]">0.00%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"-"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Holdco net cash/debt (deconsolidated)"}' data-sheets-formula="=R[6]C[0]">Holdco net cash/debt (deconsolidated)</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-0.022470519277573812}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[6]C[2]/R13C[-3]">-2.25%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"-"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'>-</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"-"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of pref shares"}' data-sheets-formula="=R[4]C[-3]">Value of pref shares</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-0.023144554999447935}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=-R[4]C[-3]/R13C[-3]">-2.31%</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"-"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'>-</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"-"}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]'>-</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: DART &amp; KRX"}'>Source: DART &amp; KRX</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table><p>However, a significant price divergence has recently occurred between SK Discovery and them. Even with SK Chemicals' recent price fluctuations caused by the activist fund (Metrica), SK Discovery did not fully synchronize. However, what is more striking is that SK Discovery's share price is not at all in sync with the recent surge in SK Gas's share price.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/230/636/original/1.png?1632009568" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="230636"></figure></section><p>SK Discovery is currently at a 61% discount to NAV. Of course, this discount rate is at a historic high.</p><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"NAV"}' data-sheets-note="Sang Hyun Park: Cases when a company's net cash position and the value of its publically traded interests are worth more than its market cap create the opportunity of a stub trade, in which investors can take a view that the company's core business will rise by shorting the minority stakes whilst going long the underlying. Such an opportunity has arisen in the wake of the Alibaba listing which has seen early investing company Yahoo trade at a discount to the value of its stake in Alibaba.">NAV</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of listed holdings"}'>Value of listed holdings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2363.600744784}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=SUM(R[0]C[10]:R[2])">₩2,363.6B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":" - % of Holdco market cap"}'>- % of Holdco market cap</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2.4633468515379344}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]/((R[3]C[-3]*R[0]C[-3])/1000000000)">246.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of unlisted holdings"}'>Value of unlisted holdings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":186.394}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=SUM(R[1]C[10])">₩186.4B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Stub value"}'>Stub value</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-1590.4868527840001}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=(R[1]C[-3]*R[-2]C[-3]/1000000000)-R[-3]C[0]-R[-1]C[0]">-₩1,590.5B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Stub value per share"}'>Stub value per share</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-83543.3851546826}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"[$₩-412]#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1000000000/R[-3]C[-3]">-₩83,543</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of operating assets"}'>Value of operating assets</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=SUM(R[5]C[5])">₩0.0B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"GAV"}'>GAV</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2549.9947447840004}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-6]C[0]+R[-4]C[0]+R[-1]C[0]">₩2,550.0B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"GAV per share"}'>GAV per share</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":134028.83112132747}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"[$₩-412]#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]/R[4]C[-3]*1000000000">₩134,029</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Discount to GAV (excl. treasury shares)"}'>Discount to GAV (excl. treasury shares)</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.6239615045633263}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=(R[-1]C[0]-R[-4]C[-3])/R[-1]C[0]">62.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Holdco net cash/debt (de-consolidated)"}'>Holdco net cash/debt (de-consolidated)</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-54.8}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=R[2]C[5]">-₩54.8B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of pref shares"}'>Value of pref shares</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":56.44380525}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=(R[-5]C[-3]*R[-2]C[-3]+R[-5]C[-2]*R[-2]C[-2])/1000000000">₩56.4B</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"NAV"}'><strong>NAV</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":2438.7509395340003}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-5]C[0]+R[-2]C[0]-R[-1]C[0]"><strong>₩2,438.8B</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"NAV per share (excl. treasury shares)"}'><strong>NAV per share (excl. treasury shares)</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":128181.80840975358}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"[$₩-412]#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]/R[-1]C[-3]*1000000000"><strong>₩128,182</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Discount to NAV"}'><strong>Discount to NAV</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.606808480662963}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=(R[-1]C[0]-R[-9]C[-3])/R[-1]C[0]"><strong>60.68%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: KRX &amp; DART","6":1}'>Source: KRX &amp; DART</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table><p>The sigma on a 20-day moving average calculated by synthesizing these two affiliates at 50:50 is -1.35 at present, and the relative price ratio compared to this synthesis has diverged sharply over the past two weeks.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/230/640/original/image_9329493321632010559259.png?1632010561" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="230640"></figure>

SK Discovery is a pure holding company and consists of two major subsidiaries: 

SK Chemicals Co Ltd/New (285130 KS) 
SK Gas Ltd (018670 KS)
Since the stake value of these two subsidiaries is almost the same at this point, SK Discovery's share price should be affected by the share price of these two subsidiaries in a 5:5 ratio.








Holdings
Ticker
Stake
Value


SK Chemicals Co Ltd
285130
33.45%
₩1,132.1B


SK Gas Ltd.
018670
72.20%
₩1,139.6B

 

Huvis Corp
079980
25.50%
₩91.9B


Other - unlisted
-
-
₩186.4B

Source: KRX &amp; DART










Assets
% NAV
% GAV
% Holdings


SK Chemicals Co Ltd
46.42%
44.40%
44.40%


SK Gas Ltd.
46.73%
44.69%
44.69%

 

Huvis Corp
3.77%
3.61%
3.61%


Other - unlisted
7.64%
7.31%
7.31%


Operation
0.00%
0.00%
-


Holdco net cash/debt (deconsolidated)
-2.25%
-
-


Value of pref shares
-2.31%
-
-

Source: DART &amp; KRX

However, a significant price divergence has recently occurred between SK Discovery and them. Even with SK Chemicals' recent price fluctuations caused by the activist fund (Metrica), SK Discovery did not fully synchronize. However, what is more striking is that SK Discovery's share price is not at all in sync with the recent surge in SK Gas's share price.SK Discovery is currently at a 61% discount to NAV. Of course, this discount rate is at a historic high.





NAV

Value of listed holdings
₩2,363.6B


- % of Holdco market cap
246.33%


Value of unlisted holdings
₩186.4B


Stub value
-₩1,590.5B


Stub value per share
-₩83,543


Value of operating assets
₩0.0B


GAV
₩2,550.0B


GAV per share
₩134,029


Discount to GAV (excl. treasury shares)
62.40%


Holdco net cash/debt (de-consolidated)
-₩54.8B


Value of pref shares
₩56.4B



NAV
₩2,438.8B


NAV per share (excl. treasury shares)
₩128,182


Discount to NAV
60.68%

Source: KRX &amp; DART

The sigma on a 20-day moving average calculated by synthesizing these two affiliates at 50:50 is -1.35 at present, and the relative price ratio compared to this synthesis has diverged sharply over the past two weeks.

SK Discovery in a Massive Price Divergence Vs. The Synthetic Involving SK Gas

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<p>On 13 September, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-chemicals-co-ltd-new" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26190:1" rel="noopener">Sk Chemicals Co Ltd/New (285130 KS)</a> announced after the market close that it will be spinning off its utility business that makes industrial boilers and power generation facilities that produce electricity.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p>Overall, we believe this spin-off of the utility business will have a positive impact on the company. The utility business is a non-core business of the company and it can realize higher value for this business as it separates this operation into a stand-alone unit.</p>
<p><em>With the six months lock-up ending on September 18th for SK Bioscience shares, investors will be watching carefully to see if indeed SK Chemicals partially sells its shares of SK Bioscience. There are still four trading days left this week and it is likely that investors will likely drive up price of SK Chemicals while drive down the share price of SK Bioscience this week.</em></p>
</div>

On 13 September, Sk Chemicals Co Ltd/New (285130 KS) announced after the market close that it will be spinning off its utility business that makes industrial boilers and power generation facilities that produce electricity.
Overall, we believe this spin-off of the utility business will have a positive impact on the company. The utility business is a non-core business of the company and it can realize higher value for this business as it separates this operation into a stand-alone unit.
With the six months lock-up ending on September 18th for SK Bioscience shares, investors will be watching carefully to see if indeed SK Chemicals partially sells its shares of SK Bioscience. There are still four trading days left this week and it is likely that investors will likely drive up price of SK Chemicals while drive down the share price of SK Bioscience this week.


SK Chemicals - Spinning Off Its Utility Business & Creating Higher Value

<p>SK Chemicals will spin out the electricity and steam (utility) supply business unit through a physical division, which means the newly created entity will be SK Chemicals' wholly-owned subsidiary. The name of the subsidiary is SK Multi-Utility Co., Ltd. (tentative name).</p><div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>This announcement came out at 4:30 pm after the market close today.</strong></p></div><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/229/531/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-13+at+8.19.49+AM.png?1631536475" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="229531"></figure></section><p>SK Multi-Utility has been producing the energy necessary for plant operation at the SK Chemicals Ulsan plant. It<span> has been supplying the energy needed for the Ulsan plant and selling the surplus energy to SK chemicals' affiliates. Last year, the division's sales were ₩37.3B. </span>If the spin-off is approved at the SK Chemicals extraordinary general meeting held on October 25, SK multi-utility will be officially launched on December 1.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/229/550/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-13+at+9.04.36+AM.png?1631538429" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="229550"></figure></section><p><strong>Then, the closing date of the shareholder register for the general meeting was set as September 28.</strong></p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/229/552/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-13+at+9.03.31+AM.png?1631538441" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="229552"></figure></section><p>In addition, SK Chemicals announced that after this split, SK Multi-Utility would invest ₩428.1B in facilities to convert the current business structure to an eco-friendly business structure. This investment will begin in May next year.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/229/553/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-13+at+9.09.51+AM.png?1631538608" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="229553"></figure></section>

SK Chemicals will spin out the electricity and steam (utility) supply business unit through a physical division, which means the newly created entity will be SK Chemicals' wholly-owned subsidiary. The name of the subsidiary is SK Multi-Utility Co., Ltd. (tentative name).This announcement came out at 4:30 pm after the market close today.SK Multi-Utility has been producing the energy necessary for plant operation at the SK Chemicals Ulsan plant. It has been supplying the energy needed for the Ulsan plant and selling the surplus energy to SK chemicals' affiliates. Last year, the division's sales were ₩37.3B. If the spin-off is approved at the SK Chemicals extraordinary general meeting held on October 25, SK multi-utility will be officially launched on December 1.Then, the closing date of the shareholder register for the general meeting was set as September 28.In addition, SK Chemicals announced that after this split, SK Multi-Utility would invest ₩428.1B in facilities to convert the current business structure to an eco-friendly business structure. This investment will begin in May next year.

SK Chemicals' Timely Spinoff Announcement Amid Metrica's Activist Move: What to Make of It

<p>Many of the market participants were targeting the value disparity of SK Chemical vs. SK Chemicals. In the end, Metrica Partners became the first to make a move.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/228/700/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-08+at+6.05.10+PM.png?1631139447" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="228700"></figure></section><div class="content-caption">(Source: Metrica Partners website)</div><hr><p>SK Chemicals vs. SK Bioscience was still a tight pair until the end of July, maintaining its NAV discount at around 70%. It is hard to see a NAV discount of 70% as severely distorted among Korean holding company/subsidiary pairs. Yes, it is still a harsh discount, but it isn't unprecedented either.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/228/692/original/Screen+Shot+2021-09-08+at+6.09.08+PM.png?1631138966" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="228692"></figure></section><p>But as SK Bioscience's stock price began to soar from August, the pair's coupling level completely collapsed.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/228/693/original/image_94055596421631139004681.png?1631139006" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="228693"></figure><p>Despite a significant correction in yesterday's stock prices (both SK Chemicals and SK Bioscience), thanks to Metrica, SK Chemicals is posting a discount to NAV of close to 80% based on yesterday's closing price.</p><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"NAV"}' data-sheets-note="Sang Hyun Park: Cases when a company's net cash position and the value of its publically traded interests are worth more than its market cap create the opportunity of a stub trade, in which investors can take a view that the company's core business will rise by shorting the minority stakes whilst going long the underlying. Such an opportunity has arisen in the wake of the Alibaba listing which has seen early investing company Yahoo trade at a discount to the value of its stake in Alibaba.">SK Chemicals NAV</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of listed holdings"}'>Value of listed holdings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":15024.148650000001}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=SUM(R[8]C[5])">₩15,024.1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":" - % of Holdco market cap"}'>- % of Holdco market cap</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":4.401029440164908}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]/((R[3]C[-3]*R[0]C[-3])/1000000000)">440.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of unlisted holdings"}'>Value of unlisted holdings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":82.819}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=SUM(R[7]C[5])">₩82.8B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Stub value"}'>Stub value</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-11693.187112}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=(R[1]C[-3]*R[-2]C[-3]/1000000000)-R[-3]C[0]-R[-1]C[0]">-₩11,693.2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Stub value per share"}'>Stub value per share</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-995046.6405863609}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"[$₩-412]#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1000000000/R[-3]C[-3]">-₩995,047</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of operating assets"}'>Value of operating assets</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1500}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=SUM(R[8]C[5])">₩1,500.0B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"GAV"}'>GAV</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":16606.96765}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-6]C[0]+R[-4]C[0]+R[-1]C[0]">₩16,607.0B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"GAV per share"}'>GAV per share</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1414711.2925308687}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"[$₩-412]#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]/R[4]C[-3]*1000000000">₩1,414,711</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Discount to GAV (excl. treasury shares)"}'>Discount to GAV (excl. treasury shares)</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.7946577499354616}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=(R[-1]C[0]-R[-4]C[-3])/R[-1]C[0]">79.47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Holdco net cash/debt (de-consolidated)"}'>Holdco net cash/debt (de-consolidated)</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":-6.7}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=R[5]C[5]">-₩6.7B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Value of pref shares"}'>Value of pref shares</td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":237.033875}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=(R[-5]C[-3]*R[-2]C[-3]+R[-5]C[-2]*R[-2]C[-2])/1000000000">₩237.0B</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"NAV"}'><strong>NAV</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":16363.233774999999}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"₩#,##0.0B"]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-5]C[0]+R[-2]C[0]-R[-1]C[0]"><strong>₩16,363.2B</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"NAV per share (excl. treasury shares)"}'><strong>NAV per share (excl. treasury shares)</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":1393948.1362098644}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,2,"[$₩-412]#,##0",1]' data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]/R[-1]C[-3]*1000000000"><strong>₩1,393,948</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Discount to NAV"}'><strong>Discount to NAV</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;" data-sheets-value='{"1":3,"3":0.7915991330998386}' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,3,"0.00%",1]' data-sheets-formula="=(R[-1]C[0]-R[-9]C[-3])/R[-1]C[0]"><strong>79.16%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Source: KRX &amp; DART","6":1}'>Source: KRX &amp; DART</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table><div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>The discount rate of 80% compared to NAV is still very badly distorted even with the local average. This means that, despite yesterday's price corrections, there is still more room to trade for value disparity on SK Chemicals vs. SK Bioscience.</strong></p></div>

Many of the market participants were targeting the value disparity of SK Chemical vs. SK Chemicals. In the end, Metrica Partners became the first to make a move.(Source: Metrica Partners website)SK Chemicals vs. SK Bioscience was still a tight pair until the end of July, maintaining its NAV discount at around 70%. It is hard to see a NAV discount of 70% as severely distorted among Korean holding company/subsidiary pairs. Yes, it is still a harsh discount, but it isn't unprecedented either.But as SK Bioscience's stock price began to soar from August, the pair's coupling level completely collapsed.Despite a significant correction in yesterday's stock prices (both SK Chemicals and SK Bioscience), thanks to Metrica, SK Chemicals is posting a discount to NAV of close to 80% based on yesterday's closing price.





SK Chemicals NAV

Value of listed holdings
₩15,024.1B


- % of Holdco market cap
440.10%


Value of unlisted holdings
₩82.8B


Stub value
-₩11,693.2B


Stub value per share
-₩995,047


Value of operating assets
₩1,500.0B


GAV
₩16,607.0B


GAV per share
₩1,414,711


Discount to GAV (excl. treasury shares)
79.47%


Holdco net cash/debt (de-consolidated)
-₩6.7B


Value of pref shares
₩237.0B



NAV
₩16,363.2B


NAV per share (excl. treasury shares)
₩1,393,948


Discount to NAV
79.16%

Source: KRX &amp; DART

The discount rate of 80% compared to NAV is still very badly distorted even with the local average. This means that, despite yesterday's price corrections, there is still more room to trade for value disparity on SK Chemicals vs. SK Bioscience.

Metrica's Activist Move on SK Chemical Is a Well-Thought-Out Strategy

<p>A Singapore based activist hedge fund called Metrica Partners wrote a letter to the BOD of Sk Chemicals Co Ltd/New (285130 KS) which has become publicly available. The key highlights of the letter is that SK Chemicals should take partial profits on its stake in SK Bioscience (302440 KS) and pay higher dividends. Today, there was a big divergence in the share prices of SK Chemicals (up 8.8%) and SK Bioscience (down 6.7%). </p><p>Basically, the hedge fund believes that the shares of SK Chemicals are excessively undervalued, given its big stake (68.4%) in SK Bioscience. Metrica Partners currently has less than 5% stake in SK Chemicals. </p><div class="content-highlight">
<div>We believe that a higher probability scenario is for SK Chemicals to sell down about 3-5% stake in SK Bioscience which could be announced in the next 3-6 months. SK Bioscience currently has a market cap of 21.95 trillion won (287,000 won), If we take a 10% discount to this amount, it would be 19.76 trillion won and a 5% stake sale would involve 1 trillion won. </div>
<div></div>
<div>In other words, we would put a higher probability of SK Chemicals selling about 5% of its stake in SK Bioscience which could raise about 1 trillion won for the company. While this would be laudable, it would be much smaller than the measures proposed by Metrica. Of the 1 trillion won, we think that the BOD of SK Chemicals could allocate about 30-40% of this amount for special dividends.</div>
</div><div>All in all, a hedge fund going activist on SK Chemicals is likely to further rally the share price and we believe that the price gap between SK Chemicals and SK Bioscience is likely to narrow further in the weeks ahead. </div>

A Singapore based activist hedge fund called Metrica Partners wrote a letter to the BOD of Sk Chemicals Co Ltd/New (285130 KS) which has become publicly available. The key highlights of the letter is that SK Chemicals should take partial profits on its stake in SK Bioscience (302440 KS) and pay higher dividends. Today, there was a big divergence in the share prices of SK Chemicals (up 8.8%) and SK Bioscience (down 6.7%). Basically, the hedge fund believes that the shares of SK Chemicals are excessively undervalued, given its big stake (68.4%) in SK Bioscience. Metrica Partners currently has less than 5% stake in SK Chemicals. 
We believe that a higher probability scenario is for SK Chemicals to sell down about 3-5% stake in SK Bioscience which could be announced in the next 3-6 months. SK Bioscience currently has a market cap of 21.95 trillion won (287,000 won), If we take a 10% discount to this amount, it would be 19.76 trillion won and a 5% stake sale would involve 1 trillion won. 

In other words, we would put a higher probability of SK Chemicals selling about 5% of its stake in SK Bioscience which could raise about 1 trillion won for the company. While this would be laudable, it would be much smaller than the measures proposed by Metrica. Of the 1 trillion won, we think that the BOD of SK Chemicals could allocate about 30-40% of this amount for special dividends.
All in all, a hedge fund going activist on SK Chemicals is likely to further rally the share price and we believe that the price gap between SK Chemicals and SK Bioscience is likely to narrow further in the weeks ahead. 

Metrica Partners Urges SK Chemicals to Partially Sell SK Bioscience & Pay Higher Dividends

South Korea

SK Chemicals Co.,Ltd manufactures environmentally friendly materials. The Company produces and sells composites, high-performance materials, energy saving materials, and other products. SK Chemicals also offers total healthcare solutions services. SK Chemicals serves customers worldwide.

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SK Chemicals (285130 KS)

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