[New Year's Message] Kim Young-kyu, CEO of IBK Investment & Securities, "We Will Achieve a Super Gap in SME Finance Through Efficiency and Differentiation"

Youngkyu Kim, CEO of IBK Investment & Securities

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Kim Young-gyu, CEO of IBK Investment & Securities, presented the management goal for this year as "Completing the super-gap based on efficiency and differentiation" in his New Year's address on the 2nd. CEO Kim stated, "We will complete the super-gap in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) finance sector through efficient sales strategies and capability differentiation, and achieve a balanced leap as a comprehensive financial investment company." Below is the full text of the New Year's address.

◆2020 New Year's Address

Dear beloved and respected IBK Investment & Securities family!

The eventful Year of the Pig (Gihai year) has passed,

and the new Year of the Rat (Gyeongja year) has dawned.

The first year of our company's founding, 2008, was also

a Year of the Rat, and now that a 12-year cycle has returned,

it brings a fresh sense of reflection.

Since I was also born in the Year of the Rat, I somehow feel

that this year will bring great fortune to our company and all employees.

I sincerely wish health and happiness to all your families this year as well.

The fast-paced 2019 was a year in which we reaffirmed

our potential and capabilities once again.

Despite the difficult market environment, we achieved the highest performance since our founding

and maintained a high ROE of 9.6%.

As a securities firm specialized in SMEs, we established a comprehensive internal and external collaboration system,

and firmly solidified our image as a leader in policy finance.

Fostering SMEs is a long-term direction that the Korean economy must pursue,

and it is the identity we have run with a sense of mission until now.

The IBK Best Champion system, introduced just two years ago,

has certified about 60 companies,

and centered on this, the Baekdong Forum, a network meeting for enhancing the status and market development of SMEs,

has become a significant customer management hub after one year since its launch.

The scale of financial support for SMEs greatly increased to 700 billion KRW compared to the previous year,

and through non-financial support such as joint recruitment, Baekdong IR, and Baekdong Academy,

we also worked hard to enhance corporate image.

I believe all these are valuable achievements made through the sweat and effort of all employees.

I sincerely thank you for your passion and dedication.

Now, not only must we maintain our position as a leader in SME specialization and policy finance,

but also create synergy from our achievements to diversify profits

and achieve a balanced leap as a comprehensive financial investment company.

In 2020, in addition to a challenging market outlook,

we expect stricter regulatory reinforcement more than any other year.

Due to measures to strengthen investor protection following the DLF incident and management plans for real estate PF soundness,

there is a high risk of contraction in related business scales.

To respond to such a harsh business environment, this year's management strategy goal is

"Completing the super-gap based on efficiency and differentiation."

We will complete the super-gap in the SME finance sector through efficient sales strategies and our unique capability differentiation.

To this end, we have selected "growth, profit, stability, and fairness" as core keywords.

First, we will establish strategies for sustainable growth.

Please prepare various measures for exploring new business ventures, expanding capital strength,

and digitalization.

Second, to improve profitability, we will expand synergy infrastructure

and strive to diversify profit structures.

For this, we will focus on selection and concentration of resource allocation, review inefficient factors,

and devise various methods to expand PIB sales revenue.

Third, to secure stability, we will concentrate on meticulous risk management.

We will work on flexible risk management and refine post-management systems

to minimize reputational risk and enhance external recognition.

Lastly, we will foster a corporate culture that values "fairness" as the highest principle.

For a company where both customers and employees are happy,

we will operate clear and rational personnel systems and evaluation/reward systems,

and run organizational culture programs that can enhance a sense of unity among members.

Dear IBK Investment & Securities family,

There is a saying, "Jul-tak-dong-si (?啄同時)."

It means that for a chick inside an egg to break out of the shell, both the chick and the mother hen must peck together from inside and outside simultaneously.

For our identity in pioneering SME market development to shine,

not only internal and external mutual growth and cooperation but also the unity of all employees

is more necessary than ever.

Even in difficult market environments, we have always overcome crises.

As we have done so far, if we demonstrate our unique success DNA with passion and unity, any crisis will turn into an opportunity.

Let us make 2020 a year of vigorous leap forward.

Once again, I thank all employees for your hard work,

and wish health and happiness to your families.

Happy New Year.

Thank you.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.