The last time I did this was with Noel Gifts which went pretty well.
The idea is to ride on the catalysts ahead which I think there may be further upside to share price and gain from it. Of course, if it doesn’t play out well, then I’d be staring at the dark sky. Pinpoint accuracy in reading their financial statement, studying their recent development and forecasting future outlook will be key in this one.
I bought the shares at a price of $0.137 for 150,000 shares.
Company’s Overview
Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (SEGL) is a leading entertainment production company that is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea.
Below is the structure of the company’s overview:
One of the Group’s main gem is Zip Cinema, one of the most recognized production labels in Korea and has originated and produced some of Korea’s most commercially successful production. For instance, movies such as “The Priests (2015)”, “Cold Eyes (2013)” and “All About My Wife (2012)”.
The Group is also a strategic shareholder (27.3% interest) of Spackman Media Group Limited (SMGL), a company which is now incorporated in HK. SMGL is a leading talent agency and entertainment content production company in Korea, collectively managing 50 artistes including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry such as Son Ye Jin. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SMGL owns a 51% majority stake in Breakfast film Co. Ltd, a leading marketing and media company and a 99% interest in Demedia Co. Ltd, a leading variety show and entertainment program production.
Catalysts (Why I am buying)
There are a couple of catalysts which I am awaiting for them to crystallize:
1.) On April 2016, SEGL announced a proposed restructuring of its loss making assets pursuant to which the company would sell its entire 100% equity interest in Opus Pictures Limited and its 51.5% equity interest in UAA Korean Co. Ltd. The divestment has just been completed recently.
The restructuring will allow SEGL to streamline its core operations and better focus its resources on its better profitable production in Zip Cinema and Novus Mediacorp. The restructuring will also enable them to save an estimated overhead costs of around $2.5 million (by working backwards) and I calculated that it will bring them back to profit in FY2017.
2.) The company is also releasing major hit blockbuster in Dec 2016, a movie titled “The Masters”.
Since the company is listed 2 years ago, their released movie have been rather lackluster. These were mostly produced via Opus, which thankfully they have divested now.
One of the decent movie is titled “The Priests”, released in 2015. From here, I am able to use the margins as a case study example.
The idea with the movie production business model is they earned revenue not only from the production of movie, but also through distribution of the movies to regional countries and earned the royalty from the distribution, rights and documentary sales.
If they are successful, they are able to earn a gross margin of around 50% which is extremely decent.
Unfortunately, not all movie can be a blockbuster so if the movie doesn’t appeal, then the company will be in loss making position or if slightly better at a low single digit margin for most of the time.
The movie starred heavyweight actors like Kim Woo Bin, Kang Dong Woon and Lee Byung Hun. If you ask your crazy movie fanatic friend, she’ll be already shouting “Dong Woon, Saranghaeyo” even before the release.
3.) The third catalyst is the likelihood to divest Spackman Media Group Limited (SMGL), a leading talent agency and entertainment content production company in Korea, collectively managing 50 artistes including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry such as Son Ye Jin.
The company’s stake in SMGL stands at 27.3% and may be worth at about $45 million.
Management has already guided that they are in a talk with a potential private equity investors who are looking to take a stake into SMGL.
Son Ye Jin <3
Risks
One of the main risk with the business model is they require huge capital commitment upfront to make and produce the movies. I’d equate this to something similar to developer’s model. Managing working capital would be key in this one.
The other risks is with the key-man risks.
A good movie production is usually credited to the top producers, who will be key in retaining their services.
Then there are also the industry and business risks with competition and low entry to barriers.
Summary
This should be a short term play for me until the catalysts are played out.
Only then I’ll be able to see if the thesis proves to be right.
At the moment, the company is still making losses, so it’s hard to put a valuation up there.
If they can return to the black (which is my main thesis), then we’ll start looking at what their valuation might justify. Some of the peers are trading in at about 40x earnings and that’s how high it can go in terms of the industry.
12 thoughts on “Recent Action – Spackman Entertainment (SEGL)”
Hi, interesting viewpoint of trying to buy into a movie success before it becomes popular. While "The priests" was indeed one of the highest gross for 2015, it was not even the top 50 (all time grossing films) for Korean movies. Furthermore, unlike Singapore where it has mainly one local film maker, who has the backing of a certain Ministry who likes to send its people to watch their films during their "cohesion event", there are many film production companies in Korea catering to the Korean audience. Its difficult to break beyond the Korean market due to the language barrier for movies due to it not being a serial which allows well pacing and developing of characters.
Hi CY
Thanks for your insights.
Indeed the korean market is a lot dominated by big industry player and they are not an easy market to break into, less gain market share.
Seems like though they may be gaining peak with the korean cult across the world.
Good luck in your catalyst!
Thanks SR.
Beautiful! We are considering our next trip to Spain so this was really timely for me! Thank you!
Hi B, just a tiny TA view…watch 1.45 carefully, could be very strong resistance. If still cant break through upwards in the next attempt, may consider exiting from a trading viewpoint.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wonder what's your view on the recent share placement. How would it affect share price?
Hi GY
I have actually divested this last month plus after the share price failed to break the 20 cents.
The recent placement at 16.1 will bring a knee jerk reaction in the short term as existing shareholders are diluted. The proposal to acquire more stake in SMGL on the other hand is good as I think it's one of their right arm gem should thry decide to divest the whole stake to a private equity, which the management has been priding along whole year.
Hi GY
How much did The Priests contribute to Spackman's revenue after the screenings had been completed. For 2016, it was mentioned that Masters' revenues would only come in after the screening i.e. in first quarter of 2017.
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Hi, interesting viewpoint of trying to buy into a movie success before it becomes popular. While "The priests" was indeed one of the highest gross for 2015, it was not even the top 50 (all time grossing films) for Korean movies. Furthermore, unlike Singapore where it has mainly one local film maker, who has the backing of a certain Ministry who likes to send its people to watch their films during their "cohesion event", there are many film production companies in Korea catering to the Korean audience. Its difficult to break beyond the Korean market due to the language barrier for movies due to it not being a serial which allows well pacing and developing of characters.
Hi CY
Thanks for your insights.
Indeed the korean market is a lot dominated by big industry player and they are not an easy market to break into, less gain market share.
Seems like though they may be gaining peak with the korean cult across the world.
Good luck in your catalyst!
Thanks SR.
Beautiful! We are considering our next trip to Spain so this was really timely for me! Thank you!
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Hi B, just a tiny TA view…watch 1.45 carefully, could be very strong resistance. If still cant break through upwards in the next attempt, may consider exiting from a trading viewpoint.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wonder what's your view on the recent share placement. How would it affect share price?
Hi GY
I have actually divested this last month plus after the share price failed to break the 20 cents.
The recent placement at 16.1 will bring a knee jerk reaction in the short term as existing shareholders are diluted. The proposal to acquire more stake in SMGL on the other hand is good as I think it's one of their right arm gem should thry decide to divest the whole stake to a private equity, which the management has been priding along whole year.
Hi GY
How much did The Priests contribute to Spackman's revenue after the screenings had been completed. For 2016, it was mentioned that Masters' revenues would only come in after the screening i.e. in first quarter of 2017.
eToro is the ultimate forex broker for new and professional traders.
Hi,
This might sound controversial to some people, but remember, I’ve spent half a lifetime surrounded by people who have achieved great success (financial included), so I know what I’m talking about here…
Positive thinking is NOT enough to bring you wealth.
No matter what other self-help experts out there tell you, it is NOT enough.
Positive Thinking by itself = Future disappointment
What you need is…
Positive Thinking + Skills/Mindset + Action = Great wealth
Here’s how to become a complete and total MAGNET for money…
==> The REAL secret to Total Money Magnetism
If you want to become wealthy then you need to learn how to reprogram your mind to THINK like a millionaire.
Society has programmed so many incorrect thoughts about how money works that it takes a lot more than just positive thinking for you to become a magnet for it.
But… If you’re willing to change your way of thinking…
If you’re willing to forget the well meaning advice from your friends, family, school teachers, and so forth……If you’re willing to implant the brain of a millionaire into your head…
Then follow this link while it’s still online:
==> The REAL secret to Total Money Magnetism
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