Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 3Q 2024.</li>
<li>Of the 38 pair trades, 21 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos in the past six months, suggesting increased capital allocation to Korean holdcos relative to their opcos.</li>
<li>These pairs could generate trading opportunities in terms of their pricing gaps closing reversal (Doosan Corp vs. Doosan Enerbility; Hyundai Mobis vs Hyundai Motor).</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 3Q 2024.
Of the 38 pair trades, 21 of them involved holdcos outperforming opcos in the past six months, suggesting increased capital allocation to Korean holdcos relative to their opcos.
These pairs could generate trading opportunities in terms of their pricing gaps closing reversal (Doosan Corp vs. Doosan Enerbility; Hyundai Mobis vs Hyundai Motor).


Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 3Q 2024

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>SK Square's market cap exceeds SK Networks' by over 10 times, qualifying this merger as small-scale. Thus, only SK Networks needs shareholder approval and grants appraisal rights solely to shareholders.</li>
<li>The current arbitrage spread for SK Networks' appraisal rights is 1.95%, and for the swap, it's 4.16%. These are nominal values excluding trading costs and taxes.</li>
<li>Today's SK Square and SK Networks prices reflect arbitrage spreads. Yesterday's 8% spread widened, focusing on narrowing appraisal rights and swap spreads, essential before next week's announcement.</li>
</ul>


SK Square's market cap exceeds SK Networks' by over 10 times, qualifying this merger as small-scale. Thus, only SK Networks needs shareholder approval and grants appraisal rights solely to shareholders.
The current arbitrage spread for SK Networks' appraisal rights is 1.95%, and for the swap, it's 4.16%. These are nominal values excluding trading costs and taxes.
Today's SK Square and SK Networks prices reflect arbitrage spreads. Yesterday's 8% spread widened, focusing on narrowing appraisal rights and swap spreads, essential before next week's announcement.


SK Square + SK Networks Merger Swap: A Guide to Pre-Merger Arb Spread Calculations

<ul>
<li>SK Group plans to merge SK Innovation and 90%-owned SK E&amp;S by month-end. Chosun Ilbo's report solidifies market confidence due to its credibility and likely intentional leak by SK Group.</li>
<li>Initially considered but deemed lower priority than SK IE Technology sale; SK Group opts for this alternative due to challenging market conditions for SKITE sale.</li>
<li>SK Innovation and SKIET rise with hopes of resolving liquidity issues and avoiding sacrifice. SK Inc is negatively impacted by concerns over valuation double counting from this merger.</li>
</ul>


SK Group plans to merge SK Innovation and 90%-owned SK E&amp;S by month-end. Chosun Ilbo's report solidifies market confidence due to its credibility and likely intentional leak by SK Group.
Initially considered but deemed lower priority than SK IE Technology sale; SK Group opts for this alternative due to challenging market conditions for SKITE sale.
SK Innovation and SKIET rise with hopes of resolving liquidity issues and avoiding sacrifice. SK Inc is negatively impacted by concerns over valuation double counting from this merger.


Digging into Chosun Ilbo's Report on SK Group's SK Innovation & SK E&S Merger Plans

<ul>
<li>On 12 June, SK Telecom (017670 KS) confirmed that its affiliate Sapeon plans to merge with its competitor Rebellions by end of this year.</li>
<li>Sapeon and Rebellions' largest global competitor is Nvidia. A key aim of the merger is to challenge Nvidia and try to take away its global dominance in AI chips.</li>
<li>If the combined Sapeon and Rebellion can take away just 1% market share resulting in 1% of Nvidia's market cap, this would suggest valuation of US$31 billion.</li>
</ul>


On 12 June, SK Telecom (017670 KS) confirmed that its affiliate Sapeon plans to merge with its competitor Rebellions by end of this year.
Sapeon and Rebellions' largest global competitor is Nvidia. A key aim of the merger is to challenge Nvidia and try to take away its global dominance in AI chips.
If the combined Sapeon and Rebellion can take away just 1% market share resulting in 1% of Nvidia's market cap, this would suggest valuation of US$31 billion.


Proposed Merger Between Rebellions and Sapeon - To Challenge Nvidia

<ul>
<li>Regardless of the divorce proceedings, SK still urgently needs SK Inc's stock price to rise for other reasons. That reason is to position SK Hynix directly under SK Inc.</li>
<li>SK Inc boosts stake in SK Square with SK Telecom shares, followed by a public tender offer to exchange SK Square shares for new SK Inc shares.</li>
<li>SK Inc's involvement in the divorce lawsuit makes it a focus for traders seeking relative outperformance among the SK companies involved in this situation.</li>
</ul>


Regardless of the divorce proceedings, SK still urgently needs SK Inc's stock price to rise for other reasons. That reason is to position SK Hynix directly under SK Inc.
SK Inc boosts stake in SK Square with SK Telecom shares, followed by a public tender offer to exchange SK Square shares for new SK Inc shares.
SK Inc's involvement in the divorce lawsuit makes it a focus for traders seeking relative outperformance among the SK companies involved in this situation.


Potential Merger Dynamics Involving SK Inc, SK Square, & SK Hynix

South Korea

SK Square Co., Ltd. operates as an investment company. The Company invests in semiconductors, information and communications technologies, and other industries. SK Square conducts businesses in South Korea.

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SK Square (402340 KS)

Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 3Q 2024

In this insight, we highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in...

Douglas Kim

SK Square + SK Networks Merger Swap: A Guide to Pre-Merger Arb Spread Calculations

This post is a guide to pre-merger arb trading setups for merger swap events in the Korean local market, considering this potential merger...

Sanghyun Park

Digging into Chosun Ilbo's Report on SK Group's SK Innovation & SK E&S Merger Plans

This post investigates Chosun Ilbo's exclusive report on the SK Innovation and SK E&S merger plans, likely to be announced at SK Group's highest...

Sanghyun Park

Proposed Merger Between Rebellions and Sapeon - To Challenge Nvidia

On 12 June, SK Telecom confirmed that its affiliate Sapeon plans to merge with Rebellions by end of this year. A key aim of the merger is to take...

Douglas Kim

Potential Merger Dynamics Involving SK Inc, SK Square, & SK Hynix

This post delves into the prospective merger among SK Inc, SK Square, and SK Telecom, examining intriguing trading perspectives.

Sanghyun Park

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