IBK Industrial Bank of Korea Launches Task Force to Boost KOSDAQ Research and IR Support

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea said Tuesday it has formed an "IBK KOSDAQ Activation Task Force" to reduce information gaps in the KOSDAQ market and support growth for small and venture companies.

The task force will target KOSDAQ-listed companies and firms preparing initial public offerings, aiming to improve investors' access to information and broaden companies' funding options.

IBK plans to hold two joint investor relations events with the IBK Financial Group in May and December for KOSDAQ-listed companies to expand communication between companies and investors. It will also survey difficulties such as attracting investment and promoting companies among about 1,600 KOSDAQ-listed firms that do business with the bank, and publish a policy report on steps to revitalize the market.

IBK Investment & Securities, which recently opened a KOSDAQ research center, will work with the bank to expand its analysis reports on KOSDAQ-listed companies to 350 by the end of this year. The bank said the planned coverage would be among the largest by a domestic securities firm and is intended to help close information gaps in the KOSDAQ market, where investor information is relatively limited.

IBK CEO Jang Min-young said the bank will "ease the shortage of investment information in the KOSDAQ market" and strengthen links between companies and investors to build a healthy investment ecosystem centered on small and venture companies. He added that, as a policy finance institution, IBK will continue providing support to help invigorate the KOSDAQ market.