Regardless of Kakao‘s official denial of the rumors, hypothesis continues to flow into amongst funding bankers and business insiders.
Following rumors of Kakao Leisure seeking to promote its stake in SM Leisure, Kakao has formally declared the rumors should not true. Nonetheless, based on funding bankers and business insiders on February 2nd, a number of strategic traders and monetary traders are contemplating shopping for SM Leisure.
HYBE Labels, who stepped out from final yr’s acquisition bidding warfare towards Kakao, is one in every of them. Allegedly, Bang Si Hyuk has instructed personal fairness funds to amass SM Leisure. One IB business insider commented, “I heard Bang Si Hyuk instructed in personal conferences with just a few monetary traders that they collectively purchase the leisure as a result of it would not look good in public if he himself stepped up.”
MGM and F&F Hldgs are the opposite few. F&F Hldgs not too long ago launched F&F Leisure to broaden its enterprise into the leisure business. Buying SM Leisure would enhance their standing within the business.
Nonetheless, rumors of NCSOFT buying or Lee Soo Man shopping for again his stakes are unlikely based on the insiders. IB insiders say each NCSOFT and Lee Soo Man lack the capital to amass SM Leisure, as NCSOFT didn’t have a worthwhile yr whereas Lee Soo Man paid large taxes when he bought off his shares so he doubtless has much less money now.
In the meantime, Kakao has continued to disclaim rumors concerning the sale of SM Leisure, and it appears any notable resolution could be made solely after the Chief Government of Kakao Funding will get bailed out from his inventory manipulation expenses.
