Samsung Asset Management

Samsung Asset Management Co., Ltd. is a South Korean investment-management company headquartered in Seoul. It operates within Samsung Group and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Life Insurance. The company is described as South Korea's largest asset manager and provides investment vehicles for retail, institutional, and other professional investors. The business originated in September 1998 as Samsung Life Investment Trust Management. In March 2000, it adopted the name Samsung Investment Trust Management and became part of Samsung Securities. Its development coincided with the expansion of Korea's investment-trust and exchange-traded-fund markets. In January 2002, the company listed KODEX 200 on the Korea Exchange. The product became an important part of the company's ETF platform and helped establish the KODEX brand in Korean passive investing. Samsung Investment Trust Management began its international expansion in November 2007 by opening an office in Hong Kong, followed by an office in Singapore in 2008. In April 2010, the company changed its name to Samsung Asset Management, reflecting a broader asset-management remit beyond its earlier investment-trust identity. In 2014, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Life Insurance, bringing the company more directly into the insurance group's financial-services structure. The company has used partnerships to extend its investment capabilities and distribution reach. In 2015, it entered a strategic partnership with Capital Group to develop active investment strategies for Korean investors. The same year, it agreed to work with China Construction Bank on ETF products in China. In 2016, it formed a strategic relationship with Edmond de Rothschild Group covering the cross-selling of mutual funds in Korea and Europe. Samsung Asset Management also reorganized parts of its business in 2017 through the spin-off of Samsung Active Asset Management and Samsung Hedge Asset Management. More recently, it expanded into thematic and digital-asset-related exchange-traded products. In 2022, it launched the Samsung Blockchain Technologies ETF in Hong Kong, described as the first ETF of its kind in that market. In January 2023, it launched the Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF in Hong Kong. Its principal activities include mutual funds, ETFs, active investment strategies, and related investment solutions. The company serves Korean investors while maintaining an international presence through overseas offices, cross-border partnerships, and products listed outside South Korea. Its market positioning combines the Samsung brand, a large domestic distribution and financial-services network, ETF expertise through the KODEX franchise, and access to global investment capabilities.

Samsung Asset Management traces its origins to September 1998, when Samsung Life Investment Trust Management was established in South Korea. The company initially operated in the investment-trust sector, an area that later developed into a broader asset-management business encompassing mutual funds, ETFs, and active strategies. In March 2000, the company was renamed Samsung Investment Trust Management and became part of Samsung Securities. This period marked an important stage in its integration into Samsung's financial-services activities. In January 2002, the company listed KODEX 200 on the Korea Exchange. The ETF gave Samsung Asset Management an early position in Korea's developing exchange-traded-fund market and became a central offering of the KODEX platform. The company began building an overseas presence in November 2007, when it opened its first international office in Hong Kong. It followed this move with a Singapore office in 2008. These offices supported the company's efforts to develop cross-border investment and distribution capabilities in Asian markets. In April 2010, Samsung Investment Trust Management adopted the name Samsung Asset Management. The change reflected the company's expanded business scope and its identity as a full-service asset manager rather than an investment-trust specialist. In 2014, Samsung Asset Management became a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Life Insurance, strengthening its position within Samsung Group's financial businesses. The company pursued several international strategic partnerships during the middle of the 2010s. In 2015, it worked with Capital Group on active investment strategies for Korean investors and separately partnered with China Construction Bank on ETF products intended for the Chinese market. In 2016, it agreed with Edmond de Rothschild Group to support the cross-selling of mutual funds in Korea and Europe. These arrangements broadened the company's access to external investment expertise and international distribution channels. Samsung Asset Management reorganized portions of its operations in 2017 through the spin-off of Samsung Active Asset Management and Samsung Hedge Asset Management. The restructuring separated selected active and hedge-fund activities while leaving Samsung Asset Management as the principal asset-management company identified with the group. The company later expanded its ETF range into blockchain and cryptocurrency-related themes. In 2022, it launched the Samsung Blockchain Technologies ETF in Hong Kong, described as the first ETF of its kind in that market. In January 2023, it launched the Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF in Hong Kong. These products represented an extension of its ETF strategy into newer technology and digital-asset categories. Today, Samsung Asset Management's business includes ETFs, mutual funds, active strategies, thematic products, and institutional investment solutions. It remains headquartered in Seoul and combines a large domestic platform with overseas offices and cross-border partnerships. Its history is characterized by the transition from investment-trust management to diversified asset management, the development of the KODEX ETF franchise, closer alignment with Samsung Life Insurance, and international expansion through partnerships and products.

• 2023

  Bitcoin futures ETF launches in Hong Kong

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF is launched in Hong Kong in January.

• 2022

  Blockchain-themed ETF launches in Hong Kong

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The company launches Samsung Blockchain Technologies ETF in Hong Kong.

• 2017

  Active and hedge-management businesses are spun off

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Samsung Active Asset Management and Samsung Hedge Asset Management are separated from the company.

• 2014

  Becomes wholly owned by Samsung Life Insurance

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Samsung Asset Management becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Life Insurance.

• 2010

  Company adopts the Samsung Asset Management name

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The company changes its name to Samsung Asset Management.

• 2008

  Singapore office opens

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The company extends its Asian presence with an office in Singapore.

• 2007

  First overseas office opens in Hong Kong

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Samsung Asset Management begins international expansion by opening an office in Hong Kong.

• 2002

  KODEX 200 ETF is listed

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The company's first ETF, KODEX 200, is listed on the Korea Exchange.

• 2000

  Renamed Samsung Investment Trust Management

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The company changes its name and becomes part of Samsung Securities.

• 1998

  Samsung Life Investment Trust Management is founded

  [1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins operations in South Korea under the name Samsung Life Investment Trust Management.

A leading South Korean asset manager with a strong ETF franchise, broad mutual-fund capabilities, Samsung Group backing, and growing cross-border and thematic investment activities.

• Exchange-traded fund · 2002

  KODEX 200

  KODEX 200 was Samsung Asset Management's first ETF and was listed on the Korea Exchange in January 2002. Its launch established a foundation for the company's KODEX ETF franchise and contributed to the development of indexed investment products in South Korea.

• Thematic exchange-traded fund · 2022

  Samsung Blockchain Technologies ETF

  A Hong Kong-listed thematic ETF focused on companies and activities associated with blockchain technology. Samsung Asset Management launched the product in 2022 and described it as the first ETF of its kind in Hong Kong.

• Digital-asset-related exchange-traded fund · 2023

  Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF

  An actively managed ETF linked to Bitcoin futures. Samsung Asset Management launched the product in Hong Kong in January 2023, extending the company's ETF activities into digital-asset-related investment exposure.

• Collective investment product

  Mutual funds

  Samsung Asset Management offers mutual funds as part of its broader investment-management business. The company's international partnerships have included arrangements intended to support the development and cross-selling of mutual funds in Korea and Europe.

• 2023

  Launched a Bitcoin futures active ETFProduct launch

  Background

  Samsung Asset Management continued extending its Hong Kong ETF platform into digital-asset-related products.

  Action taken

  It launched Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF in Hong Kong in January 2023.

  Aftermath

  The launch broadened the company's thematic ETF offering to include actively managed exposure linked to Bitcoin futures.

  Source

• 2022

  Entered Hong Kong's blockchain ETF segmentProduct launch

  Background

  The company was expanding its ETF range into technology-focused and emerging investment themes.

  Action taken

  It launched Samsung Blockchain Technologies ETF in Hong Kong.

  Aftermath

  The product gave Samsung Asset Management a presence in Hong Kong's blockchain-themed ETF market.

  Source

• 2017

  Spun off active and hedge-management unitsStrategy

  Background

  The company reorganized selected portions of its investment-management operations.

  Action taken

  Samsung Active Asset Management and Samsung Hedge Asset Management were spun off.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring separated the active and hedge-management businesses from the main Samsung Asset Management organization.

  Source

• 2014

  Integration into Samsung Life InsuranceM&A

  Background

  Samsung Asset Management was part of Samsung Group's financial-services structure.

  Action taken

  The company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Life Insurance.

  Aftermath

  The ownership change placed Samsung Asset Management more directly under Samsung Life Insurance within the group's financial businesses.

  Source

• 2010

  Adopted the Samsung Asset Management identityStrategy

  Background

  The company had expanded beyond its original investment-trust-management identity and had begun developing a wider asset-management platform.

  Action taken

  It changed its name from Samsung Investment Trust Management to Samsung Asset Management.

  Aftermath

  The new name aligned the corporate identity with a broader range of mutual-fund, ETF, and investment-management activities.

  Source

• 2023

  Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF launches in Hong Kong[1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The company introduced a Bitcoin futures active ETF in Hong Kong in January 2023.

• 2022

  Samsung Blockchain Technologies ETF launches in Hong Kong[1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Samsung Asset Management launched a blockchain-technology-themed ETF in Hong Kong, described as the first product of its type in that market.

• 2016

  Samsung Asset Management and Edmond de Rothschild Group establish cross-selling partnership[1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The companies entered a strategic agreement to support mutual-fund distribution across Korea and Europe.

• 2015

  Samsung Asset Management forms Capital Group partnership[1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Samsung Asset Management and Capital Group agreed to cooperate on active investment strategies for investors in Korea.

• 2015

  Samsung Asset Management partners with China Construction Bank on ETFs[1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The companies agreed to cooperate on the launch of ETF products in China.

• 2008

  Samsung Asset Management opens Singapore office[1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company opened an office in Singapore one year after establishing its Hong Kong presence.

• 2007

  Samsung Asset Management opens Hong Kong office[1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company established its first overseas office in Hong Kong as part of its international expansion.

• 2002

  Samsung Asset Management lists KODEX 200 ETF[1]Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  The company listed KODEX 200, its first ETF, on the Korea Exchange.

1. 1Samsung Asset Managementen.wikipedia.org