Securities executive accused of leak / KBS 2025.10.28.　#KBSNews

The joint investigation team on stock manipulation has conducted a search and seizure of senior executives at a major securities firm.

They are accused of leaking information about upcoming tender offers—which typically drive stock prices up—to acquaintances for profit.

Reporter Park Chan has the story.

[Report]

Korea Zinc, the world’s leading integrated smelting company, became the center of a management dispute in September last year.

Private equity firm MBK Partners announced plans to tender an offer to purchase shares at 660,000 won per share.

A tender offer is a proposal to buy shares from existing shareholders at a specified price, usually higher than the market price, often resulting in a rise in stock value.

On the day of the announcement, Korea Zinc’s stock rose by 110,000 won, reaching 2.4 million won per share by the end of the year.

The tender offer was arranged by NH Investment & Securities, where the leak allegedly occurred.

The joint task force on stock manipulation suspects that executive Lee, who led the corporate finance division, leaked confidential information to colleagues and acquaintances.

These individuals are accused of buying Korea Zinc shares in advance and selling them after the sharp price increase.

Over a period of two years, the executive is believed to have leaked information on 11 tender offers, with the recipients allegedly earning around 2 billion won in illicit profits.

The task force conducted a search and seizure of the executive’s office and related locations.

[Lee Seung-woo/Head of the Joint Stock Manipulation Response Team: “Currently, there is one senior executive involved. (Did he personally profit from the leaks?) He is accused of sharing the profits with acquaintances.”]

As mergers and acquisitions and management disputes increase, tender offers have also become more frequent—rising from about 10 cases annually in previous years to around 20 since 2023. Last year, half of all tender offers were investigated by financial authorities for unfair trading practices.

This is KBS News, Park Chan.

▣ KBS 기사 원문보기 : https://ift.tt/AiTX8Gl

▣ 제보 하기
◇ 카카오톡 : ‘KBS제보’ 검색
◇ 전화 : 02-781-1234
◇ 홈페이지 : https://goo.gl/4bWbkG
◇ 이메일 : kbs1234@kbs.co.kr