Korean brokerages look abroad, court foreign investors for growth
Korean brokerages are stepping up their overseas expansion and efforts to attract foreign investors as they seek to reduce their dependence on domestic trading income and sustain profits, industry officials said Monday. Meritz Securities, the only one of Korea's 10 largest brokerages without an overseas presence, is reportedly preparing to establish its first foreign subsidiary in Hong Kong. The…
Korean brokerage firms are expanding their reach abroad and targeting foreign investors in a bid to cut reliance on domestic trading profits and maintain profitability, according to officials in the industry. Meritz Securities, the lone one of Korea's top ten brokerages without an overseas presence, is reportedly in the process of setting up its maiden foreign subsidiary in Hong Kong.
The subsidiary will focus on sourcing investment opportunities in bonds and alternative assets, bolstering the firm's investment banking operations.
Mirae Asset Securities and Toss Securities are also eyeing acquisitions of local brokerages in Japan. This comes as the country's equity market shows signs of recovery, attracting increased attention from global investors. NH Investment & Securities, on the other hand, recently acquired a 32 percent stake in Choice Equity Broking, a securities division of India's Choice Group, on July 9.
The move has put the firm in third place among Korean brokerages establishing a presence in India. However, the acquisition is still pending regulatory approval.
By the end of 2025, 16 Korean securities companies will operate a total of 93 offices overseas across 15 nations, according to the latest data available.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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