Meritz Securities is preparing to establish its first overseas entity in Hong Kong as it steps up efforts to expand its presence in global markets.
According to financial industry sources on Tuesday, the brokerage is working toward setting up a Hong Kong subsidiary in the second half of this year. If regulatory approval proceeds as planned, the company aims to establish an operating base as early as this year.
The move is significant as it marks Meritz Securities’ first overseas expansion. The brokerage has traditionally focused on the domestic market, unlike other major Korean comprehensive investment banking firms that have established overseas operations.
The Hong Kong entity is expected to focus on bonds and alternative investment assets, identifying local investment opportunities, facilitating transactions and sourcing overseas deals. It will also support Meritz Securities’ investment banking (IB) and sales and trading (S&T) operations in Korea.
Hong Kong’s position as a major Asian financial hub, with a concentration of global financial institutions, institutional investors and asset managers, is expected to provide Meritz Securities with greater access to overseas investment opportunities. The company plans to use its local network to identify overseas bonds and alternative assets that may be difficult to source directly from Korea.
Meritz Securities’ improving earnings also provide a foundation for its overseas expansion. The company reported consolidated operating profit of 501.3 billion won and net profit of 514 billion won for the first half of 2026, up 11.8% and 15.9%, respectively, from a year earlier. Growth in its retail and asset management businesses contributed to the stronger results.
The Hong Kong expansion is expected to serve as a first step in transforming Meritz Securities from a predominantly domestic player into a more globally connected investment platform. Its key challenge will be to turn investment opportunities sourced in Hong Kong into actual transactions and synergies with its domestic IB and S&T businesses.
