Exchange Signs MOU to Establish Research Center Specializing in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

(From left) Ahn Sang-hwan, Chairman of the Korea IR Council; Lee Myung-ho, President of the Korea Securities Depository; Son Byung-doo, Chairman of the Korea Exchange; and Yoon Chang-ho, President of Korea Securities Finance, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing an MOU to establish a research center specialized in small and medium-sized enterprises.

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Hwajeong] The Korea Exchange announced on the 30th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly establish a Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Research Center with the Korea Securities Depository, Korea Securities Finance, and the Korea IR Council to provide investors with analytical information on SMEs.

Through this MOU, the Exchange, the Depository, and Securities Finance agreed on comprehensive mutual cooperation, including joint funding and preparation for establishing the SME Research Center as an independent organization under the IR Council.

This Research Center is expected to provide high-quality corporate analysis information free of charge to investors targeting SMEs, which have been in an information blind spot, thereby facilitating smooth fundraising and liquidity acquisition for SMEs and encouraging sound and stable investments by investors. Corporate analysis will be conducted by directly employing excellent analysts or outsourcing to securities firms and private research companies, providing professional analytical information such as objective corporate information, financial status, technical analysis, and growth potential and latent value with market consensus. The SMEs subject to analysis include 1,897 listed companies with a market capitalization under 500 billion KRW on KOSPI, KOSDAQ, and KONEX, and unlisted companies such as K-OCT and unicorn companies will also be included. The companies to be analyzed will be selected annually through deliberation by the Corporate Analysis Committee within the Research Center.

At the MOU signing ceremony, Sohn Byung-doo, Chairman of the Korea Exchange, said, “Research reports from private sectors such as securities firms are concentrated only on large companies, resulting in a vicious cycle of lack of investment information → low liquidity → difficulty in capital procurement for SMEs. Relevant organizations must actively resolve this information imbalance issue through public interest efforts.”

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