BlackRock expands bets on Korea's KAI, EcoPro

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has increased its stakes in Korea Aerospace Industries and battery materials maker EcoPro to more than 5 percent, becoming a major shareholder in both companies. The US asset manager now holds a 5.02 percent stake in KAI and a 5.01 percent stake in EcoPro, according to regulatory filings Tuesday. BlackRock had gradually accumulated shares in both companies over time. Its previous holdings stood at 4.95 percent in each company, and the latest purchase

2026-07-21 15:51:18:00

MBK faces fresh scrutiny over Osstem Implant restructuring

Following the Homeplus debacle, MBK Partners has come under fresh scrutiny over restructuring efforts at its portfolio company Osstem Implant, the country's largest dental manufacturer. Osstem Implant has reportedly been carrying out a de facto restructuring under which some employees are relieved of their existing duties and required to find new positions within the company on their own. Those who fail to secure a new role are reportedly placed on waiting-for-reassignment status until another p

2026-07-20 15:14:11:00

해외 부동산 부실 속 커지는 워크아웃 시장…"위기 넘어 기회로"

최근 해외 부동산 부실 자산이 잇따라 발생하면서 워크아웃 역량의 중요성이 커지고 있다. 국내 기관투자가들이 투자금 회수를 위한 파트너를 찾는 가운데, 테일윈드 리얼에스테이트 파트너스(Tailwind Real Estate Partners)는 미국 워크아웃 절차에 대한 전문성과 경험을 바탕으로 차별화된 역할을 강조하고 있다. 코로나19 팬데믹 이전 국내 기관투자가들은 해외 부동산 투자 비중을 적극적으로 확대했다. 특히 뉴욕 맨해튼의 트로피 오피스 자산 등 미국 내 핵심 부동산을 사들이며 해외 부동산 시장에 진출했다. 하지만 글로벌 긴축 기조와 재택근무 확산 추세로 높아진 오피스 공실률에 국내 금융사들이 집중 투자한 자산들이 직격탄을 맞았다. 이러한 배경 속에서 테일윈드는 부동산 워크아웃 전문 자문사로서 투자자들이 구조조정을 통해 부실 자산 문제를 해결할 수 있도록 지원하고 있다. 오종윤 공동대표는 15일 서울 여의도 사무실에서 코리아헤럴드와 가진 인터뷰에서 "저희의 역할은 자문하는 한국

2026-07-19 15:37:14:00

'Recovery, not liquidation': How Tailwind navigates US real estate workouts

As South Korean institutional investors grapple with a wave of distressed overseas real estate assets, the need for specialized workout capabilities has become increasingly important, according to Tailwind Real Estate Partners. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, local institutional investors aggressively expanded their overseas real estate exposure, snapping up high-profile properties in the US, such as trophy office assets in Manhattan. The sharp rise in interest rates and structural changes in the

2026-07-19 14:57:41:00

Leveraged chip ETFs lure W7tr in 1 month despite chip rout

Single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds tracking the country's top chipmakers drew more than 7 trillion won ($4.73 billion) in net inflows over the past month, even as the underlying shares tumbled amid a semiconductor selloff. Sixteen single-stock leveraged ETFs tracking Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, including two inverse products, attracted a combined 7.34 trillion won in net inflows between June 16 and Wednesday, according to the Korea Exchange on Friday. The Kodex SK hynix Single St

2026-07-17 14:16:09:00

What Mirae Asset's Korbit acquisition means for Korea

Mirae Asset Financial Group’s acquisition of local cryptocurrency exchange Korbit marks the first takeover of a digital asset exchange by a financial group in South Korea. The move signals regulators' growing willingness to allow traditional financial groups to expand into digital assets. Earlier this month, the country's antitrust watchdog approved Mirae Asset Consulting's acquisition of a 92.06 percent stake in Korbit. The unit is the de facto holding company of the brokerage-led financial gro

2026-07-17 11:39:12:00

Korea puts brake on leveraged chip ETFs

South Korea is tightening restrictions on single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds tracking the country's top chipmakers, which regulators have blamed for exacerbating market volatility, the Finance Ministry announced Thursday. The measures include tripling the minimum cash deposit requirement and suspending new listings of similar products. Following a meeting of the country's top financial policymakers, including the heads of the Finance Ministry, the Financial Services Commission, the Fi

2026-07-16 17:10:12:00

BOK sets first rate hike in 3 years

The Bank of Korea raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in more than three years on Thursday, as stronger-than-expected economic growth provided the central bank with greater room to tackle mounting inflationary pressures. The BOK's monetary policy board voted unanimously to raise the benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage points to 2.75 percent, ending a yearlong pause in its policy cycle. The move marked the BOK's first rate hike since January 2023, when it raised borrowing costs to

2026-07-16 14:38:42:00

BOK hikes rate after yearlong pause

The Bank of Korea on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since May 2025, ending a pause in monetary policy that had persisted for more than a year, as mounting inflationary pressures and the prolonged weakness of the won strengthened the case for further monetary tightening. The Monetary Policy Board agreed to raise the benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage point, bringing the base rate to 2.75 percent. The decision came as surging global oil prices triggered by t

2026-07-16 10:04:03:00

MBK promotes Korea Zinc project in US amid Homeplus crisis

MBK Partners is facing criticism after hosting a reception in the United States to promote Korea Zinc's US investment project while its portfolio company Homeplus remains mired in a deepening restructuring crisis in South Korea. The event took place on July 9 in Nashville, Tennessee, where MBK and Young Poong introduced themselves as Korea Zinc's "largest shareholder group" and highlighted their support for Project Crucible, the zinc producer's flagship US investment project, according to indust

2026-07-15 14:56:02:00