Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>More than 20 trillion won (US$16 billion) worth of deals are up for M&amp;As in 2023.</li>
<li>However, due to high interest rates and differences on valuations among buyers and sellers, the M&amp;A market in Korea is likely to continue to be weak in 2023.</li>
<li>In this insight, we discuss 24 companies that are up for M&amp;As this year in Korea, including Hanon Systems, SK Shieldus, and K Car.</li>
</ul>


More than 20 trillion won (US$16 billion) worth of deals are up for M&amp;As in 2023.
However, due to high interest rates and differences on valuations among buyers and sellers, the M&amp;A market in Korea is likely to continue to be weak in 2023.
In this insight, we discuss 24 companies that are up for M&amp;As this year in Korea, including Hanon Systems, SK Shieldus, and K Car.


Korea M&A Outlook in 2023: What's for Sale?

<ul>
<li>On 2 January, Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) started to go activist on seven leading Korean banking group companies.</li>
<li>According to APCM, the major Korean banking groups could pay out at least half of their net income to their shareholders, which would be more than double the current levels.</li>
<li>Korean banks are trading at deep discount to global peers, now trading at PBR of 0.2~0.4x whereas global peers trade at 1.3x. </li>
</ul>


On 2 January, Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) started to go activist on seven leading Korean banking group companies.
According to APCM, the major Korean banking groups could pay out at least half of their net income to their shareholders, which would be more than double the current levels.
Korean banks are trading at deep discount to global peers, now trading at PBR of 0.2~0.4x whereas global peers trade at 1.3x. 


Align Partners Goes Activist on Seven Banking Group Companies in Korea

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.

<ul>
<li>Targetable names on KOSPI for dividend arbitrage: SK Telecom (017670), Woori Financial (316140), SK Hynix (000660), KB Financial (105560), Korea Zinc (010130), and HMM (011200) </li>
<li>
Samsung Electronics (005930)' basis does not reflect special dividends, even though speculations have not disappeared entirely.</li>
<li>As the current basis hasn't widened to an entirely sufficient level, we need to target arb trade openings focusing on the above stocks a bit more aggressively.</li>
</ul>


Targetable names on KOSPI for dividend arbitrage: SK Telecom (017670), Woori Financial (316140), SK Hynix (000660), KB Financial (105560), Korea Zinc (010130), and HMM (011200) 

Samsung Electronics (005930)' basis does not reflect special dividends, even though speculations have not disappeared entirely.
As the current basis hasn't widened to an entirely sufficient level, we need to target arb trade openings focusing on the above stocks a bit more aggressively.


Targetable Names on KOSPI for Dividend Arbitrage: DPS Estimates & Current Basis

<ul>
<li>We'd better pay attention to trading for price gain by building a position 2-3 weeks towards ex-dividend and getting out of it before ex-dividend, which often provides higher returns.</li>
<li>For this, we should focus on high dividend yield stocks, which also feature a high borrow rate, but on a decreasing trend.</li>
<li>They are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyosung-tnc-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27749:1" rel="noopener">Hyosung TNC (298020)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24075:1" rel="noopener">HD Hyundai (267250)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bnk-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:386:1" rel="noopener">BNK Financial (138930)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/woori-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27995:1" rel="noopener">Woori Financial (316140)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dl-e-c-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31375:1" rel="noopener">DL E&amp;C (375500)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lx-semicon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20670:1" rel="noopener">LX Semicon (108320)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kb-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:718:1" rel="noopener">KB Financial (105560 KS)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hdc-hyundai-development-co-engineering-construction" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27397:1" rel="noopener">HDC Hyundai Development (294870)</a>.        </li>
</ul>


We'd better pay attention to trading for price gain by building a position 2-3 weeks towards ex-dividend and getting out of it before ex-dividend, which often provides higher returns.
For this, we should focus on high dividend yield stocks, which also feature a high borrow rate, but on a decreasing trend.
They are Hyosung TNC (298020), HD Hyundai (267250), BNK Financial (138930), Woori Financial (316140), DL E&amp;C (375500), LX Semicon (108320), KB Financial (105560 KS), and HDC Hyundai Development (294870).        


Yearend Dividend Play on Korean Stocks with High Yield/Borrow Rate

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Six of the seven South Korean banks screen favourably on valuation versus returns metrics to June 2022; we like KB Financial, whilst Woori Financial is a wait and see story</li>
<li>KB has undemanding valuations, and one of the lowest PEG ratios; it delivers steady pre-provision returns, has sound core capital ratio of close to 13% and healthy credit quality ratios</li>
<li>Woori Financial and potentially KakaoBank are two names to review post 3Q22 results, with Woori and KakaoBank having seen their 2Q22 cost of risk rise sharply; we seek positive catalysts</li>
</ul>


Six of the seven South Korean banks screen favourably on valuation versus returns metrics to June 2022; we like KB Financial, whilst Woori Financial is a wait and see story
KB has undemanding valuations, and one of the lowest PEG ratios; it delivers steady pre-provision returns, has sound core capital ratio of close to 13% and healthy credit quality ratios
Woori Financial and potentially KakaoBank are two names to review post 3Q22 results, with Woori and KakaoBank having seen their 2Q22 cost of risk rise sharply; we seek positive catalysts


South Korean Banks Screener; KB Financial Is Our Core Pick

South Korea

Woori Financial Group Inc. provides commercial banking services. The Company offers deposit services, loan services, bill services, settlement services, credit card, international, online banking, and other related services. Woori Financial Group also operates banking and retail banking businesses.

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Woori Financial Group (316140 KS)

Korea M&A Outlook in 2023: What's for Sale?

In this insight, we discuss 24 companies that are up for M&As this year in Korea, including Hanon Systems, SK Shieldus, and K Car.

Douglas Kim

Align Partners Goes Activist on Seven Banking Group Companies in Korea

On 2 January, Align Partners Capital Management (APCM) started to go activist on seven leading Korean banking group companies.

Douglas Kim

Targetable Names on KOSPI for Dividend Arbitrage: DPS Estimates & Current Basis

This post screens targetable names on KOSPI for dividend arbitrage based on relatively reliable DPS estimates and current basis widening.

Sanghyun Park

Yearend Dividend Play on Korean Stocks with High Yield/Borrow Rate

This post discusses the yearend dividend play on Korean stocks with a high dividend yield and a high borrow rate on a decreasing trend.

Sanghyun Park

South Korean Banks Screener; KB Financial Is Our Core Pick

Of the seven South Korean banks, we like KB Financial for its attractive valuations, and low PEG ratio; it delivers steady pre-provision returns,...

Victor Galliano

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