NH Investment & Securities Launches Full-Scale Efforts to Establish Bridge Management Company for Optimus Fund

Led the establishment of a bridge management company for investor protection and maximum asset recovery as the largest seller
Elevated the Chairperson of the Financial Consumer Protection Council to CEO to strengthen a culture of respecting investor rights

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] NH Investment & Securities announced on the 28th that, as the largest distributor of the Optimus fund, it will take the lead in establishing a bridge management company in consultation with financial authorities, bearing the responsibility of protecting investors.

With the cancellation of Optimus Asset Management's registration inevitable, the financial authorities' position was that a responsible entity must manage the fund to protect investors and recover as many assets as possible for a swift resolution of the situation. Accordingly, NH Investment & Securities, the largest distributor of the Optimus fund, has stepped forward to play a leading role in establishing the bridge management company.

NH Investment & Securities has concentrated all its capabilities to minimize the damage to Optimus investors.

Immediately after the incident occurred in June last year, the company formed the 'Optimus Asset Recovery Response Team,' deploying real estate and IB-related experts to recover assets to the fullest extent. To avoid missing the golden time for asset recovery, they identified the investment destinations where the fund money flowed and took urgent legal measures such as provisional seizure.

Additionally, since the end of November last year, they have formed a voluntary consultative body with the Financial Supervisory Service, five distributor securities firms, the custodian bank, and the administrative management company, discussing weekly the transfer of the Optimus fund and adjustment of the fund's net asset value. Through this, they decided on the adjustment of the fund's net asset value, which was processed at the end of December last year, and have been exploring various solutions including the establishment of a bridge management company through legal reviews.

Recently, the chairmanship of the Financial Consumer Protection Council was elevated from an executive officer to the CEO. Through this, they plan to respect the rights and interests of financial consumers and strengthen internal controls to establish a financial consumer-centered culture.