KEB Commerz Investment Trust Management Co., with over KRW3 trillion (USD2.6 billion) in assets, is looking to employ over-the-counter options for its newly rolled-out absolute return fund. "These days many investors are worried about the fundamentals of the domestic and global economy and are looking at absolute returns," said Jae Hyun Lee, head of equities in Seoul, commenting on the newly launched KRW60 billion fund. Lee said the firm likely will hedge domestic equity positions via index-linked OTC options, declining to elaborate. The investment house selects derivatives counterparties on such factors as pricing, research and credit lines.
The firm's primary stakeholders are Korea Exchange Bank and Germany's Commerzbank.